RahXephon

Ima be honest. I am not that familiar with mecha anime because they all make my head fuzzy and I really start to get confused with shit. Like this anime confused me on who the hell was good and who the hell was actually bad. But of course as you can see from my rating, I really liked it. (May contain spoilers.....sort of?Yes contains some spoilers) Story ---> So the story is about this guy who is just fucked up in time. Apparently Tokyo was separated with Japan or some shit like that and those in the dome, time is slowed down. So basically 1 second inside of the dome is equal to like 4 seconds outside the dome (if i did my maths right). Now to back up my statement, oh yea and before that here is kinda a spoiler but not really an important one, Ayato and Haruka's age difference is 12 years. They last met when they were 14 I think. So Ayato was trapped inside the dome until he was 16-17 and Haruka's age when he got out of the dome was 28-29. So if you subtract 29 and 17 you get 12. And if Ayato was in the dome for 3 years aging Haruka to be 29, so if you divide 12 and 3, you get 4. So one second inside the dome is four seconds outside the dome, one minute inside the dome is four minutes outside the dome, one week inside the dome is four weeks outside the dome, one month inside the dome is four months outside the dome and one year inside the dome is four year outside the dome. In this case four multiplied by three is twelve so correct me or message me if i'm wrong. Now Ayato is just a normal highschooler when he meets with Haruka whom he lost memories of. There are two kinds of people in this universe I guess. Mulians and normal humans. Mulians are basically humans with blue blood and normal humans are... well normal humans with normal blood. This being said, Ayato gets confused and 'follows' Haruka to fully understand why this is. Then after that everything goes skadaddle prap prup pam. After watching this anime I still don't know the origins or anything cause I wasn't really paying attention because I was waiting more on the romance and ho ho ho the fucking romance was amazing. I really want to see more romance anime where the male MC is with and older female MC. Well in this case Haruka is technically older but still the same age? Well basically a male Mc with a mature looking female. But the Male can't be a Shota. yea. oke. So you get the Idea. And the ending is fucking perfect. Well could have been better but it is real good since there aren't many anime with this kind of ending. You'll get what I mean when you finish it. So if the ending was shit i'd rate it a 7 or 6 but it didnt and i really liked it so I gave it a 10. If you don't agree with me go fuck yourself then. jk Art ----> The art is great. You can tell the anime is produced by Bones just by the animation. Well if you've seen Eureka Seven of course (which i recommend if you have the time). Old animations honestly are much better than the new ones these days. In my opinion of course. I like how the characters looked, It wasn't bad and seemed likable to my point. Sound ----> the voice acting is... well.... plain good I guess. It is like most anime out there so there isn't much to comment on. But I have to comment on the ending song. real fucking cool to see what they did. At times the ending would start with 'oshiete' or 'tell me', sometimes an english language, sometimes 'kotaete' which means 'answer me'. It's different lyrics but the same video. Like House M.D with they're different openings. Oh yea and the opening for this anime ain't bad. (cuz i skipped every single time sorry). Overall / Enjoyment ----> Now I know the I did not comment on character. Well, honestly it's because I am too lazy but don't tell that to anyone. I rated it 9 so i'm basically saying there weren't any people I got really irritated to. So the the anime was enjoyable, the drama was okay. Romance was fucking great. And I would recommend to you if you have nothing to watch. This is probably my longest review yet, so i've wasted some precious time. If you decide to watch this then have fun! Don't really care about details too much honestly. It's an anime. Not real life. Just go with it. heb fan

RahXephon tells the story of Ayato Kamina, a student in Tokyo who dreams of being a painter. One day, Tokyo is attacked by an unknown force and Ayato is lead by his mysterious classmate Reika Mishima to the giant clay doll called the RahXephon. With the RahXephon, Ayato discovers that the world he knew is false and he is now the deciding factor in a war between two races over the fate of the Earth. My thoughts: This anime was addicting. I started watching and couldn't stop. It's a good thing I have all the episodes on my computer. RahXephon is a 'mecha' type anime but with a more in-depth story than Evangelion. The characters are more developed and have bite to them. There are no wishy-washy characters in Rah. The art is awesome, and the supporting cast fit perfectly. The story begins and keeps going to its end. No interruptions from filler episodes you often see with other anime. Although there is lots of action with Rah fighting the invading Golems, the story revolves around Ayato and Haruka. Because of the time dilation in Tokyo Jupiter and the outside world, Haruka aged at a normal rate, while Ayato aged more slowly, which is why he looks 17 instead of being closer to mid-twenties as he should be. RahXephon has it all, action, romance, suspense, intrigue, friendships...and the emotions come across so well. This is an anime I recommend wholeheartedly.

When taking a critical lens to RahXephon it is almost impossible divorce it from comparisons to its blatant inspiration Evangelion. This show makes use of characters, themes, aesthetics, etc that can be found in Eva. Despite this, the show still deserves its flowers for not absolutely bungling the execution on most of it and standing on its own in a lot of ways. Because of this the rest of the review will not include any comparisons to Eva and let the work stand on its own. Story (6): On the surface RahXephon's story is quite confusing. For the first quarter almost nothing is explained and the viewer is dragged along as things happen. Once things progress and more information is drip-fed episode by episode it begins to become clear that the story of RahXephon is actually quite simple, but every piece is so bogged down by in-world lingo and purposeful obfuscation which makes keeping track of everything tough unless you're keeping notes. that's not to say that the story is bad within itself, but the way in which its structured made it seem more than it ended up being. The ending was really nothing to write home about, pretty much what you'd expect. Art (8): As one of studio Bones very first solo works their signature style that is present in a large chunk of their early works is on full display. Outside of the general minute to minute to art this show really shines in the D1 / monster designs where no one design really shines above the rest but as a collective are some of the most interesting monster designs of the era. It's almost impossible to predict what the gimmick of each one will be beforehand, and the action sequences themselves are always the visual apex of any given episode. This level of quality is no surprise really with Izubuchi, Yutaka (director and original creator) at the helm who has credits for mechanical designs in high profile series such as Gundam and Patlabor. Sound (7): Overall, the sound design of RahXephon was serviceable and did what it needed to do. Though the ED is particularly notable for setting the perfect mood at the end of each episode. Outside of that nothing in the soundtrack really stuck in my mind. Character (6): The characters in RahXephon were pretty trope heavy with most falling into very obvious archetypes. The classics such as tsundere, kuudere, older sister, and childhood friend all make appearances. To be fair how those tropes were used was at least interesting compared to the usual fare. But one major flaw that a lot of anime have that RahXephon doesn't escape is that the characters NEVER communicate properly. If the interpersonal conflicts of characters are predicated on no one ever having a proper conversation, well that speaks for itself. Enjoyment (7): overall RahXephon has some pretty blatant shortcomings that brings it down. But if you're watching it for the genre tags you won't be disappointed... probably. Overall (7): In conclusion RahXephon is a pretty derivative work but has enough of its own charms to make it worth watching if you like the things of its ilk.

This is a tale of love crossing and enduring time... A tale of maturation and liberation... A tale of finding your true self, discovering your true yearning and understanding and accepting oneself and finally, expressing all of that... Admittedly, this tale is not for everyone. In my younger days, I once attempted to watch this but could not quite stomach the symbol-laden style of storytelling and my experience was akin to looking for a fun tale to read and coming across a complex Shakespearean work. More than this, Rahxephon's symbolism is not one that the majority of post-Christian societies will readily understand -- much of the work's influences are derived from the Mayan/Aztecs and James Churchward's idea of the lost continent of Mu. If you are not one who is receptive to a story told partially through symbols and personifications, much of what this show has to offer may very well fly over your head. Heck, despite giving this show an objective 10, I was admittedly bored while watching and laughing at the misuse of the term Feynman diagrams (particle collision diagrams) as a sci-fi explanation for how physical dimensions work. Made in the early 2000s just when animation technology was making rapid advancements, Rahxephon was admittedly not extraordinary in terms of visual splendor. In terms of artwork, it is readily beaten by its contemporary and fellow mecha genre entry of the same year - Gundam Seed. However, this becomes irrelevant as the show does not rely on stunning animation to impress, but instead is ripe with visual symbols and juxtaposition beginning as early as the first episode, continuing all the way to the end. Sound-wise, the show employs several distinguished names for voice actors/actresses. Amongst them are voice-actresses Maaya Sakamoto, Houko Kuwashima and Ayako Kawasumi, all of whom are celebrated names today. Yoko Kanno's contribution to the opening themes leaves behind an iconic theme that perfectly captures the mystery and pensive atmosphere of the show. For otherwise shallow aspects of a show to so strongly boost the themes and mood of the work, I give the visuals and sound a solid 9/10 and 7/10 respectively. As for the "meat" of the show, the story is, as many would agree, a complex one. It is one that combines many positive themes and weaves them all into a story that is still coherent. In its essence, it is a story of a boy growing up. The many obstacles this boy faces on his journey to maturation could be said to be symbolic to many real life obstacles. The difference between an inculcated reality and the actual world, accepting this fatal difference and moving on with life afterwards... The rebellion of the people who bleed red against those who bleed blue could very much translate to the struggles of the everyday people, especially youths, against the greater world at large and those in power, the adults, the "blue bloods"... The search for Xolteotl (heart) and its reconciliation with Ixtli (face) is like a journey into oneself to understand one's innermost psyche and reconciliation with one's outwards behaviors... Even the complex nature of the main pairing of the show can be said to be a message -- the notion that true love does not care about sex or age, it will endure even the effects of time dilation. For each of these themes, the characters serve a purpose and are not just merely people, but a symbol. Ayato is the vehicle that navigates between each stop. Reika is a personification of an inner self, Haruka poses as that which is far away. Yet in between these, even though those who are non-human remain mostly symbolic, the human characters of this show still prove to be incredibly human in the way their id, ego and superegos are portrayed. I can say I was genuinely impressed; the story deserves a solid 10/10 for the artistic way it is weaved together over a mere 26 episodes and the characters, a decent 8/10.

I can't say I enjoyed this show like I thought I would. The designs are well done, the characters are hit-and-miss, and the themes are... I'm not really sure what the themes are. It could just be that I missed them, perhaps I wasn't looking in the right place, but I left this show feeling confused and not entirely satisfied. I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to take away from it, and while that's certainly not what should determine my feelings towards the show, it does cause it to leave a bit of a taste in my mouth that I don't know I'd come back for. The character interactions weave a tangle sand confusing web that lends itself to unfulfilled relationships and quite possibly incest, if I remember correctly. None of this really goes anywhere and it really just seems to exist to serve as padding in the episodes- that's not to say that I wasn't interested in these characters and how they interacted, but I was never really able to feel like I got something out of it. The thing I liked the most about this shows, I will say, was that its atmosphere was superb, like a dream that you really can't make heads or tails of, but one that's at least pleasant to look at for a while. It certainly had some good ideas, but I can't help but think that there were better ways to convey whatever it is that it was trying to get across. Maybe I'll feel differently about it a few years from now if I re watch it when I'm less self-absorbed and angsty. Who knows?

RahXephon is good. At times it gets to the point where I say wtf and other times where I am at the edge of my seat. The Ending was enjoyable as well. The highlight for me was the characters and sound of this show. The sound was very fitting with the theme for this show. The story is alright, nothing really mindblowing but it is an enjoyable ride. There was one episode towards the end where I felt really f****** bad for the MC, tough luck kid. The one thing that kept bothering me was the fact that the story kept revealing that certain people were related to the MC to the point where it was annoying and didn't really have any impact. Art was at times both good and bad. Sometimes the magic of bones animation shined and other times it looked rough. But it didn't bother me overall. For the sound, I think this show has the eeriest / mysterious soundtrack out there. Overall, the MC has balls of steel unlike Shinji, and bags a baddie. In conclusion, 7/10.

“Good artists borrow, great artists steal”- Pablo Picasso As you have most likely seen by the latter reviews, this is the Studio Bones version of Evangelion. Numerous characteristics are taken or perhaps stolen. The most obvious of them are the character models in which the narrative is woven around. Ayato and Shinji share similar feelings of loss, hopelessness, grief, and sadness. When I reflect on their journey's, I personally can relate to their coming of age voyages. Let's dig a bit, shall we? Story: There are various opinions on the story. Here's my schpeal: the story is complex, complex to the point of intriguing confusion. Sorry for not having an IQ of 690, I had to look up the more minute details on the wiki. I'm a sucker for slow burns with dialogue that causes you to pause and reflect. If ya dig, consider this series. Art: Anime has come a long way in terms of hand-drawn and CGI. RahXephon being made in 2002, the art is of lower quality compared to recent innovations. However, there is a vintage feel to the animation. The character designs and scenery are pleasant to gaze upon. Sound: The sound, in my opinion, is a highlight of the series. The theme song is composed by the notorious Yoko Kano and ost by Ichiko Hashimoto. The score is jazzy, ominous to compliment the complex narrative and dialogues. Character: While the ideas are not "original," the way the writers handled them is applaudable. I would like to note that the romance between the characters is used to propel the narrative. This is what I enjoyed that Evangelion lacked. Enjoyment: I'm man enough to say, after binge-watching this dusty gem, that I enjoyed this thoroughly. However, these series ain't for everyone. It has a rather dark tone and requires a vigilant mind to decipher the narrative and symbolism. If you enjoy genres such as psychological, romance, sci-fi, mecha, give this a shot. cheers, baba