[Anime Review] Angel Beats!

Title: Angel Beats!

Written by: Jun Maeda

Directed by: Seiji Kishi

Original Run: April 3, 2010 - June 26, 2010

Episodes: 13

Recommended by: Neko Momoiro / Estrelya Spica

(Synopsis from Wikipedia)

The story takes place in the afterlife and focuses on Otonashi, a boy who lost his memories of his life after dying. He is enrolled into the afterlife school and meets a girl named Yuri who invites him to join the Afterlife Battlefront—an organization she leads which fights against God. The Battlefront fight against the student council president Angel, a girl with supernatural powers.

 THOUGHTS

This was recommended to me by my dear friend and possibly my best friend of all time, Neko Momoiro or also called as Estrelya Spica (you can find her all around the net -- just google her). She told me that this anime greatly affect her life especially in terms of her studies and way of living. To be honest, I think our taste for animes are quite the opposite from each other. I think she's more into cute, magical, witty and crazy, care-free animes. While I, on the other hand, prefer action, adventure, dense and heavy animes. BUT, we also have this one thing in common... we want our animes to affect us in the most powerful way as possible. We want our animes to give us lessons that we can apply in our respective lives. We want our animes to be fun but thought provoking at the same time. And most of all, we want our animes to be an inspiration.

THE PLOT: The synopsis is nothing compared to the actual plot of the anime. I wouldn't give away things that actually happened from the anime itself (you have to watch it yourself). I thought the plot doesn't have a sense at all..but after watching it, it all made sense. Every episodes are full of fun stuff and action. 

The characters are all dead. And they are now, staying in this certain place where dead people stay (actually this was quite unclear for me - HAHA). And they have to fight an angel. And once you have fulfilled your soul's wish or desire.. you will disappear and be reincarnated (???)

THE CHARACTERS: I think all of them have their own sad story to tell but some characters was not given the chance to actually have an episode dedicated to them.

Otonashi's past was sad as well. For me, I think Otonashi doesn't need to have regrets about his past life. Because after the train crash, he risked his life to save others. And even at the last minute of his life, he decided to donate his organs by signing a donation paper. Even in his last breath, he thought about saving others. He lived his life well.

Neko Momoiro's favorite was Yui, she is known to be hyperactive and talks extremely fast. But behind that witty and crazy characteristics of her, lies a very sad story of her past life on Earth, she was hit by a car and was paralyzed which results to her being bedridden.

As for me, my favorite was Yuri, known as Yurippe, she acts as the leader of the pack and is a very determined girl, she knows how to take care of herself, she's fierce and protective -- and did I ever mention that she's skilled with guns and combat knife? Her past life got me. She's the eldest among her siblings. When she was still alive and at a young age, burglars broke through their house, and her three siblings was taken as hostages. The burglars gave her 30 minutes to look for a valuable thing in the house, in exchange for the lives of her three siblings. She obviously, failed and ran out of time. So her siblings were murdered in front of her. And from then on she blamed herself and God.

I think of all the characters, Yuri is the most relatable for me. I have three siblings. I am the eldest. And even if we fight a lot, I care about them the most. I always want to do something for them. I want to comfort them. I want them to need me. I want them to rely on me. And after knowing about Yuri's past, I began to think. What if that happens to us? What if that happens to my family? Will I be able to save them? Can I even risk my life for them? It's a scary thing. And just like Yurippe, I would want to be fierce enough, I want to protect my family, I want to be strong and be a leader or role model for my siblings. Just like what Holden had said (from Catcher in the Rye): "I want to be the Catcher in the Rye." Catching all the little kids that falls over the cliff. But, one thing that separates me from Yurippe is that, I will never, forever in my life, blame God. I would always blame myself. Not God.

The other characters were soooo FUNNY, I love them all! I would want to know more about them, but the anime did not gave depth in their story. Some of the episodes were so hilarious because of the side characters!

In that place, you can die as much as you want (because they are already dead...and dying for the second time will have no matter). This part was pretty cool, because in real life, we can only live once. And that sucks. You'll have to use time wisely, you have to take care of your body in order to fulfill a lot of things that you want to achieve. You have to deal with everyone around you... All of that serves as barriers in our lives. There are a lot of things a person would want to do. There are a lot of people a person would like to meet. And there are a lot of moments a person would like to make. Which is sad, because you'll have to squeeze all of that in just one shot in life. In just one chance.

Overall, I enjoyed this so much! It's not a depressing anime, nope. It is also hilarious and crazy. Enjoyed this so much. Thank You Neko Momoiro aka Estrelya Spica! :)

MY RATINGS