AnimeZ0id

I really feel like this anime just has a way of getting you sucked into the story. Yes it's shoujo, yes it's romance, but it's an enchanting story being told. And it's not that typical "oh well he's a king & I'm a princess" *automatically falls in love* Not even close! He threw her in jail when Livi first met Nike xD It's a story that takes place in a distant era, but it's definitely not what you expect! Story: 8/10- What is to really admire about this story is that it's not that shoujo that's all about the romance and overly sweet moments. There's actions,and things you wouldn't expect a princess to ever do! It has a define plot, though it's pretty simple; but it gets it point across without being too complex. Just seeing the level of character building between the two protagonists and how they change gradually is just great. Nothing seems too sudden, but just right. Art: 9/10- The art is pretty colorful. Nothing is ever bland, but just a balance of beautiful colors. The animation overall is very nice and neat. But it's nothing over-the-top. Sound: 10/10- The music for this anime is hands down perfect. Maeda Rena's voice is beautiful. She's the voice actor for Nike & the singer for the opening, closing, and of course the "Tender Rain" song! The lyrics for the songs themselves are in sync for the overall anime. Character: 10/10- It's not common when I find an anime with nice development without over doing it or not enough. The main characters are a winner in this. Livi's past isn't fully exposed to the point where you know EVERYTHING, but just enough were us as the viewer is satisfied. Nike's past is also like this. But since we meet her family later in the series, hers is more developed in a way. Overall, all the supporting characters are nicely done and aren't a nuisance ^^ But even with that, there are still some questions you might be asking yourself by the last few moments of episode 12 ;) Enjoyment: 10/10- From episode one to now, I have loved every minute. Maybe it's because I am a sucker for romance, or maybe it's because this anime is a refresher. A lot of anime nowadays is becoming redundant and isn't as unique. But this anime hits home of being a new eye opener. Even with the plot being nothing completely special, just the characters themselves are enjoyable & the music. Music in this anime doesn't go wrong, at all! Overall: 9/10- Loved it! And I recommend this anime is anyone. :3

MAND4

With the glaring number of praising reviews, and a decent enough of the overall, I had thought to find at least something that would temporarily be a time-killer of sorts. Unfortunately, what I found was a show riddled with problems, unbearable story and poor characters. Throughout the entire show, the only thing that stuck out was production value - something that matters the least in the show of this genre. What Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii has is not a story - it's rather an abomination, shrouded in overlapping layers of discomfort, insanity and terrible writing. Story is crippled by its inability to stay consistent, subtleor thought-provoking in any kind of a manner. By the time the torture was finally over, I could do nothing but laugh at how terrible it was. You can go as far as calling it a disgrace to the world of literature if you will ... and you wouldn't be far off. So, what's wrong with it, you wonder? The premise in itself is not bad, and the first episode does, somewhat, provide a hook onto the show. However, it already began showcasing the major problems the story has - the writer had absolutely zero idea what the hell he/she wanted to do with it. Plot-hole galore is already present by the time you've watched half of the anime, and you can't help but wonder did anyone even have a grasp of what was supposed to be happening within the world created. If you're looking for a political warfare - forget it. If you're looking for economic discussion of kingdoms - forget it. If you're looking for wars - forget it. If you're looking for struggle to reign over kingdom - forget it. If you're looking for romance - forget it. This story doesn't offer any of those in the slightest measure of what should be considered acceptable. Ranging from the actions of characters that are just completely random, to the drama that's so forced you just cringe, to the sob-filled flashbacks that only add more confusion to what already is "why and how and what" type of a show. I won't go into much detail, but here's one: in the first episode, it's showcased that Nike is unable to use her powers while hungry. While it was done in a comical way, it still set a standard of rule within the world. Suffice to say, you can forget it. Furthermore, she made a big fuss about making rain, but each time she summons it, she's singing THE EXACT SAME SONG. The rules this world sets are ignored on every single corner. Furthermore, in the later episodes, the guards / soldiers / servants / king / everyone, let the princess partake in an event that could potentially lead to her death. No. Just, no. Then, we get the introduction of "villains". It even pains me to call them so. Their motives and reasoning are pathetic, and even more insulting is that they give up on them so quickly it feels as if it was pointless to have them to begin with. For instance, bad guy number one, was against the marriage because he felt the rain to be bad omen to the Kingdom of Sun. He even went as far as to try and assassinate the princess. Minutes come and go, rain, viola, refreshing, I approve. I won't go into more details for fear of spoiling it (to be honest, there isn't much to spoil so ... ah, well), but, rest assured, that if you're looking for a story, stay as far away as possibly can. Some may argue that this wasn't supposed to be a story-driven series, and that characters carry it (I'll come to them), but if you bother trying to put a front of the story, at least make sure that front doesn't fall apart before story even begins. The author clearly abandons the rules he/she set, and uses things on convenience of the characters, essentially nullifying any possible conflict that would arise, rendering it pointless in a nutshell. As I mentioned beforehand, the only thing worth a damn in this show is the production. I enjoyed character designs, the way they did rain on certain occasions, as well as more than a few background shots. Animation, on the other hand, is ... average at best. It does its job, but the factor of excitement is nowhere to be found, since nothing about animation excited me in this show. From the information I've gathered, another thing that's simply worth of another "what?" is that Nike is 17 years old while the King is 15 years old. Why is there such a difference in height between the two of them I cannot answer. This also ties in to the story - is someone who's 17 really that much more of an "adult" than someone who's 15? On the sound side, there were more than a few pieces I enjoyed, but I really hated the repetitive "call down the rain" song - it wasn't even that good to begin with. You'll be skipping both OP and ED one episode in, so don't even bother. Now, as far as the characters go, they aren't as terrible as the story, but they're still quite dreadful. The biggest complaint I've got is the inconsistency and the backtrack of development, or rather the sudden development. Nike is referred to as a tomboy, but as far as I'm concerned, she's a bad example of one. She's rash, at times brainless and flat out ignorant, and, while you may say it's part of her charm, I'll say it's part of why she's a terrible character. She hauls the same mistakes over and over again, seemingly, again, abandoning the principle of "follow what you set, goddamnit". For a breakdown: in one of the scenes, she wakes up next to the King, and she isn't embarrassed at all. Same thing happens the next time, she is. She gets pettily jealous when someone showcases affection for the King, but is a complete, brainless moron when it's the other way around. The fact that this show even mustered courage to say that she had charmed the Kingdom into her liking is just impossible. To begin with, I have no idea how she even charmed the King. Speaking of the King, his name is Livius, or Livi for short. He's introduced as heartless and lacking in compassion - by that introduction, he should have had Nike beheaded in the very first episode. But that's just a nitpick. His character takes turns in every episode, round and round, like an never-ending roller-coaster. He first lacks love, then he doesn't, then he suddenly does again, and so on and so forth. Honestly, with the way he is, the idea of him "conquering the world" is not just unfathomable - it's impossible. I'd rather live alone in the desert than have him act as my king. You can attribute that to the age, sure, but how was he able to conquer the world then? No, he wasn't. He acts more like a spoiled prince rather than the King, even before Nike "changed him". I won't dwell into much detail (for fear of spoiling, again, I guess ...), but rest assured that neither the characters nor the story can salvage somewhat above average production. The only other character that's worth a damn in this show is the butler, but he's mostly just a comedic relief. Other characters are there when it's convenient or when the "conflict" is required. The only and only way this "story" progresses is when a random character, unheard of before, is introduced and our heroes must find a way to overcome the obstacle. The. Only. Way. Think about it for a moment. Did I enjoy SSwU? Nope. Aside from a few funny moments, this one's nothing but the soup whose main ingredient, the characters, are terrible, coupled with even worse story, and a decent production to cheat you off the foul taste. The "resolutions" of "conflicts" aren't satisfactory, the "conflicts" themselves are just nonsensical and boring, the writing is often so over-the-top it crosses the "cringe-worthy" barricade, and a few laughs that you can get from it won't satisfy you in the tiniest bit. Do I recommend it? If you can stuff through 12 episodes of terrible writing, just to get the predictable ending you saw coming first episode in, sure. IF you can stuff through 12 episodes of nothing but random conflicts (and I mean, NOTHING else), that somehow "develop" our characters, be my guest. If you can do all those things and more, and after finishing it can still say "Yeah, I enjoyed that", I commend you. You are bigger man than I am.