Year of Release: 2006
Status: Complete
Story: Noboru Yamaguchi
Art: Eiji Usatsuka
Please note that this review is for the 1st season of The Familiar of Zero. There are currently 4 seasons out but I've only had a chance to see the first season.
ART SECTION: 7.5/10
General Artwork & Backgrounds 2/4: The Familiar of Zero was an interesting find for me. While the artwork isn't exactly top-notch compared to some other series I've watched, there's something special about it; it has a very vibrant feeling to it, and I feel that it's mostly in part due to the fact that there are many warm colours used in the series. Initially, my impression was that it was going to be another form of anime similar to O-Parts Hunter, or even MÄR, but I was quite mistaken (O-Parts Hunter has a great storyline, and MÄR just plain sucked in every way). The first few episodes of Familiar don't really give you the best idea what the series has to offer (in an art-related capacity), but as the series goes on you'll notice the finer points of what the artist was going for. Namely underwear. 2/4 because who doesn't like underwear, right?
[ Now that I've said underwear several times, the only thing going through my mind is that scene in Chobits where Chi is going to buy underwear by herself, and she's marching down the street yelling out "Pantsu! Pantsu!" to herself every step of the way ^_^ ]
Character Figures 2/2: The characters definitely define the show. I mean, any good anime is about the characters and the story, and Familiar has both aspects going for it. Granted, it is a harem-style anime, but the dialogue is hilarious, and it's not just a fan-service type anime that caters to perverts that wish they had women stumbling over them all the time. The characters have a good degree of depth, and you have an opportunity to watch them change over time and can mark the exact moment when those changes began to take effect. It's got a moment or two of drama mixed in with the backstory for a couple characters, but overall, the characters are very well done. 2/2 for sheer awesomeness.
Watchability (Flow) 3.5/4: I'm giving this a 3.5/4 for watchability. In it's entirety it really deserves a 4/4, but as I got closer and closer to the end I was like "NoOOOooOooOOoOOO!!!!!1!!!11!!!!1!!!" because I could basically guess in the first episode that the two main characters would fall in love and end up together. For whatever reason, I was hoping someone who die, or they'd fall in love with other people or something. So yeah, -0.5 points for predictable love stuffs.
STORY SECTION: 7.5/10
General Scenario 2/2: Loved it. It was an interesting spin on old European folklore, and the story upheld the idea all the way through.
Pacing 2/2: I'm willing to give this a 2/2 because the pacing was pretty well planned out in advance. Unfortunately there were one or two parts where I was all Monty Python and yelled "GET ON WITH IT!" at the TV screen, but otherwise I must say I was impressed with how much information they packed into 13 episodes without giving me a headache, or making me vomit from so many flashing images in front of my eyes.
Side Stories 2/2: Tabitha. 2/2 just for that lovely piece of side story.
Plausibility 0/2: Could this ever happen? No, absolutely not. Is it possible to even pretend that this could happen? No, absolutely not. Can we pretend for the sake of this anime that it could happen? No, absolutely not. 0/2 despite the fact that I enjoyed every other angle of the series.
Conclusion 1.5/2: I saw the ending coming from halfway through the first episode. They tied up all the loose ends pretty well, and it ended on a better note than many other series' I've seen, so I'll give it a 1.5/2.
VALUE & ENJOYMENT SECTION: 9/10
In terms of value, there isn't much that the series can bring to you, unless you are a useless magic user that feels like an outcast because nobody at magic school wants to play with you. It does have strong themes of self-worth, love, independence, and correct moral judgement. For enjoyment, ignoring the super sappy ending to the season, I enjoyed every moment of it. 9/10 for you, witch bitches.
VERDICT: 24/30
I honestly feel like I should have rated this a little higher, but as much as I loved it, there was clearly something missing from it and I'm still trying to figure out what exactly that is.
SUGGESTION LIST
Nyan Koi!
Samurai Harem
Hanaukyo Maid Team
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