Kingbeast's Lair

-== What is it? ==-

Utawarerumono is the story of a man, Hakuoro, who loses his memory and wants to figure out his past but real life threats keep getting in the way. The main plot threads involve a love interest with the woman who nurses him back to health, his rise to power, and his attempt to figure out his mysterious past.

I purchased the Hybrid bundle of all 26 episodes plus the art box. It is from Funimation.

-== What I Like ==-

Utawarerumono is full of likeable characters who are fun to see kick some serious butt. Some of the minor side characters are actually really intriguing. Karura is a minor cat girl character who wears a large metal collar around her neck and carries a MASSIVE sword. The sword is so large that nobody except for her can even lift it. Often Karura will slam the ground sending enemies flying! Benawi is the general of Hakuoro’s forces and a deft warrior. It is fun to watch him outsmart foes that might seems much more powerful. He uses a polearm type weapon. Touka is from race known to be amazing warriors but they are sworn to oaths and honor. She really throws down in several scenes. One funny thing is that I don’t feel the main characters are as interesting. If anything it should be the other way around. 😉

The main character Hakuoro has a very cool mystery about him. He wakes up with no memory and tries to piece back his life. Later in the series his past literally explodes on the scene and makes him question who and what he is…very nicely done.

The bad guys that Hakuoro meets as he rises through the ranks are particularly funny and the anime art style for these characters reflects. Often the bad guys are comic relief.

-== What I Don’t Like ==-

By far my biggest complaint with the series is that it is VERY slow in developing. You need get through first two or three DVDs before the story gets really interesting. This is a huge issue.

Some of the characters are a bit “kiddy”. In one scene three of the really young character get together and play. It almost seems out of place with the rest of the story and themes.

The art style is a bit loose and sometimes it has a juvenile feel. You don’t get the strong animation style like you get in Basilisk. (See my earlier review.) At times it can get the point of being distracting.

-== Summary ==-

Utawarerumono is really a mediocre story with an interesting cast of minor side players. If you want a fantasy romp that is a bit slow to develop the look it up. It runs for only $20 for the Collector’s Edition on RightStuf. Here is a link.

I give it 5 out of 10 paws.