Rage of Bahamut: Genesis

In depth review #2 - Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis Shingeki no Bahamut was exactly what i wanted it to be. An epic battle fantasy anime with good characters and a unique universe that blended everything together. And DRAGONS, beautifully animated hardcore FUCKING DRAGONS! Most shows with dragons in it makes their dragons look like shitty play-doh statues but this show did i right. All you need to do is see the first scene of the show and you'll know what I'm talking about. If there are any gamers reading this, imagine the game Darksiders mixed with the opening cinematic trailer of Final Fantasy XIV and thatis basically Shingeki no Bahamut in a nutshell, epic. Story: 8.25 (Very Good) The story revolves around Bahamut, an all-powerful dragon's rebirth into the world. When this dragon was alive, It's cataclysmic rampage nearly ended all life on the planet. This truth forced humans, angels, and demons to form a temporary trues to seal this dragon away forever. From the backlash of the battle, the god Zeus and Satan himself had to sacrifice themselves by sealing their spirits in two pendants to stop him. If the two keys where to merge again, then Bahamut will be reborn and fuck shit up again. The show start off with a girl how steels one of the keys from the angels and begins the process of Bahamut's inevitable resurrection. I personally thought the story was amazing. It wasn't super convoluted and was easy to understand. Yes, its kind of a genetic (seal to big bad dragon before we get rekted) story but the journey, and back-story behind the characters separated this one from the rest. Animation: 9 (Great) The animation was so clean i could of ate off of it. Nothing but stunning. The atmosphere and backgrounds are well flushed and polished. Details can be seen in the smallest of the things on the scene that most people wont even be looking at. In addition, things such as particle were shy of perfection. The sparks that flew of off swords as they clash, the radiant illuminations that where emitted from angles and demons eyes and bodies, the smoke and stones that flew threw through the air during a huge battle. All of these entities were beautifully animated. This is what initially got me watching the series in the first place. The production value for the animation was one of the best of 2014; up there with Fate/Stay Night and Nagino no Asukara. Sound: 8 (Very Good) The sound that played in the background of certain scenes set the tone of the sequence. They did a good job at doing this since some of the less notable scenes in the anime also made me feel a certain way. It wasn't what was going on, on the scene but was the music that complemented them them gave me the intended anticipation, or unease. For the epic fight scenes in the anime, all i could say it that the music was great. The heavy orchestrated tracks made the battle scenes even more epic then they already were. It's apparent that a lot of time and work went into developing this OST and i wanted to listen to the stand alone tracks but i couldn't find them. Characters: 7.5 (Good) I'm happy to say that the creators didn't play a mindless game of (spin the wheel of generic character archetypes) when making theirs. Almost all of the character's personalities and designs felt new. The main characters were at there very peak when they interacted with each other (Favaro x Kaiser) (Favaro x Rita), however as stand alone characters they weren't as memorable as they could have been. The only exception this this would of had been Favaro. Speaking of, the main character Favaro the most unique person of the bunch. His mindset throughout the show generally stays the same but his own resolve and personality makes him like no other. Not only is his personality unique but his design is to. Favora is actually rocking an AFRO MULLET. I'm not joking here, this is a thing now. For the other main characters, Kaiser is the epitome of a knight. We will do anything to keep his vows and restore honor to his families name. Amira is kind of simple minded but has a goal that she want to achieve. It seems that's all she wants to do; that and eat food. All of the other supporting characters is also well developed. Enjoyment: 9 (Great) I really enjoyed watching this anime. I binged through the entire thing in a day and wasn't dissatisfied. The beginning is a tab slow but shit gets real around episode 6 & 7. If you pass this threshold, you wont be disappointed at all. It an anime that truly shocked me and i believe to be one of the better amines of 2014. If you like action animes, then this is a must watch because you will be blow away. Score: 8.35/10 (Good) - Must Watch

If the word ‘adventure’ is part of your daily vocabulary, then Shingeki no Bahamut is definitely something to consider watching. Based off a card game franchise, the series takes place in some sort of alternate medieval universe starring a group of young adventurers. The catch though is that the story is clouded by a dark past relating to a source of power threatening to destroy the world. That source (known as the Bahamut) was sealed away some 2000 years ago but has recently been broken and split into two in the form of keys. A cat and mouse-like game ensures now as to find thekey and determine the fate of their universe. As intimidating as the title sounds, Shingeki no Bahamut is actually quite a fun show. And despite being based off a card game, there’s actually no Yugioh-style duels or Cardfight Vanguard battles. Instead, what we get is a fantasy adventure involving a trio of characters – Favaro, Kaisar, and Amira. Later on, another character named Rita joins them as well. But for starters, the show doesn’t start off with the three being together. In fact, it’s quite the opposite as we follow the life of bounty hunter Favaro. His encounter with Amira is like fate after he unconsciously makes a contract with her; and ends up growing a tail as a consequence. On the other hand, there’s Kaisar with an almost exact opposite personality compared to Favaro. The show also introduces his purpose for becoming a bounty hunter and why he despises Favaro so much. So yeah, taking for granted, the two aren’t exactly the best of friends or at least anyways. Still, the most important character is perhaps Amira. She may seem like a normal girl with a big appetite but her ownership of a certain key could decide the outcome of their world’s future. This show explores a fantasy adventure quite different than what you may be used to. Rather than just going down a narrow-minded road of “saving the world”, we get a journey of old-fashioned and thrilling fun. I don’t mean fun as in the characters goofing around but fun as in spectacular feel which will keep your eyes glued to the screen. Adventure series can come as mixed bags for its variety at first. However, Shingeki no Bahamut creates a thrill of an adventure by bending with its natural settings. It’s able to keep its momentum every episode by introducing to the audience what it’s trying to do, the actor and actresses of each journey along with its purpose, and most importantly have fun with it wherever it goes. Indeed, the series’ setting is like a big playground with plenty to offer. From heavy guarded fortresses to the natural feelings of the sea, this series crafts fantasy in such a way that you may almost feel as if you are there. Not only that but the series offers plenty of creatures from its bestiary selection that includes dragons, zombies, and giant crabs. A more prominent species includes angels who seems to play a pivotal background role with connections to Amira. Because let’s face it, we barely know anything about the girl so anything to flesh out her character is a plus. Thankfully, the series doesn’t neglect any of our main characters and provides a detailed insight on some of their pasts including Kaisar and Favaro. It’s always nice to feel attached to some of the characters as well and even Amira can be amusing to watch thanks to her lack of common sense. Despite the fun feeling of the series, the story can be dark when it needs to be. A prime example consists of the struggle between Demons and Angels. After all, the series is all about finding the God’s Key, the important piece of puzzle used to unlock Bahamut. The series makes it clear through both words and scenarios that Bahamut is something like an Apocalypse. Should the source of power be unleashed would be the end of the world. With a good balance of story and character building, the show is able to focus on its plot very creatively. At the same time, I also find it fascinating how in the middle of all this, the show is still able to deal with interpersonal struggles. I’m referring to the conscious thoughts of Favaro and Kaisar when the two are forced into an alliance in order to survive and recuse Amira. The funny part of their adventures is that they usually argue between themselves in the face of danger. Yet somehow, they survive almost each time not by luck or skill but because of how they are able to cooperate even if it’s just momentarily. Because let’s face some facts: Favaro isn’t exactly a hero (he’s more like an anti-hero motivated by self-interests) while Kaisar tries to play the role of an avenger (take a good guess at who he is planning to kill). Of course, Amira also plays a role with her hidden secrets. Rita too plays a supportive role alongside Kaisar. These four characters makes the bulk of the fun in this series and no episode wastes time on their potentials. This show feels like a legend, something to remember by not just for the story or characters. And with legends, there are also myths and faces to remember. Perhaps a prominent character to also take notice is Jeanne D'Arc. Staying true with her name and title, she is a warrior with a deadly lance. The show disregards any sort of feminine weakness in this woman but instead portrays her as someone who vows to save the world, a bold statement that could actually hold some truth with what she offers. Against all odds, she fights powerful demons such as Azazel and proves many times that she is capable of handling herself and perhaps even become a legend to remember. Similarly, Bahamut is also considered a legend with its back-story. The key difference is that its legend can be reborn and the show apparently also has a hidden villain; one who assumingly planned to allow Amira to obtain the God’s Key. The show has that notion of mystery to keep viewers at their seat. With all the fun going around the show, Shingeki no Bahamut can seem a bit ridiculous at times. Some of this can be the reoccurring jokes that can seem a bit repetitive. Furthermore, there are times on occasion when the balance of the series feels a bit off. Amira can also feel like a character that viewers will find difficulty to feel attached or even taken seriously at times; just look at the scenes when she is drunk or go full on gluttonous at the sight of delicious food. Finally, another drawback perhaps for this show is some episodes tends to be a bit rushed with resolution. One particular important episode has this predictable outcome with more potential but seemingly ends abruptly. Still, these things doesn’t ruin the series’ fun. In fact, you might be seduced into this story so much where those minor bits are seemingly forgotten. MAAPA isn’t exactly the most well-known studio but they should deserve recognition for this series’ artwork. Not only do characters look uniquely balanced but the setting itself is engrossed with fantastic elements. Speaking of characters though, Favaro has his signature afro-like hair that is hard to not take notice. Meanwhile, there’s the other supernatural entities that strikes fear and curiosity for viewers. Yet, the most impressive feature of the show truly shines during the action scenes. Marvelously crafted with strong coordination, I give high praise to the action scenarios each episode. Not only do they look good but feels real and hard to forget with its high production values. The show strives to build itself around a memorable adventure of full throttle action rather than asinine fan service. Thanks to what it has shown us, it did just that. While not as strong as the artwork, it’s also hard to forget the music of this series. A good example would be both the heavy metal OP song and the emotional ED. OST also makes sense on most parts with intense beats of its coordination. Luckily, all this balances well with the character voice mannerism as well. I give praise to Favaro’s VA for portraying him as a bounty hunter who always opens up paths of adventure thanks to his motivations. On the other hand, Kaisar’s voice can feel monotonous while Arima is down there somewhere in the middle. In retrospect, the soundtrack is above average but nothing too special that will knock you out of the park. Shingeki no Bahamut is an adventure theme series done right. With the way it does its info dumping, characterization, and storytelling, the series also made it like a wild roller-coaster ride. And during that ride, expect a lot of fantasy tropes that are all mixed in to celebrate the franchise. Some bits of the story could be lacking though and takes a bit of patience to get through. However, this definitely feels like an instant classic. Risky yet compelling, action packed as well as being able to articulate a story, the series proves over and over again why it can pull off its stunts. This is a must-see for any fan who wants to take a deep dive into adventure.

First, I have to say that this is one of the best anime I've ever watched... It starts with the fact that it contains more than one mythological belief (Gods, Evil, Dragons, Legendary Heroes...) and further more they are fused in one story, when I read the synopsis, I thought that this is another anime with cliches about gods, humans, and evil fighting and shit, but then I was so glad I watched the first episode cause the characters were so good actually and since the beginning there was major events in the story. Second, the plot is good, I mean, combining stories already known andadding them to the main one is something not easy to do, but in this anime it's fluid and easy to understand even if you have no idea who the characters are in their real myth and if you do, well you will be amazed how the combination worked liked a charm. Finally, the sound (Ambiance) is well worked, simple with no overdone effects and clean, and when it come to the soundtrack, well it's the EPICNESS itself... really outstanding you can't get enough from it, very passionate, so powerfully emotional, so far this soundtrack is only second to elfen lied's... So yeah for me it's a 9/10 anime, I enjoyed watching it and it's worth the watch.

Shingeki no Bahamut is a series that I don't seem to love as much as others, which I will explain in detail while trying not to spoil too much. First of all, the music and art is great, presenting the show in a spectacular package. Even the occasional CGI monsters works for the most part, sticking out yet without looking lazy. I was drawn in by the idea of bounty-hunting and the refreshing design of our swashbuckling main character, Favaro, who brings in just the right balance of charm and goofiness. The conflicting relationships he shares with everyone around him is also an unending spring of entertainment.The first episodes present an interesting concept. After bragging at a bar, Favaro unwittingly tricks a demon-girl and gets into a contract with her. Our suave rogue is now stuck with a demon far stronger than himself, who could easily destroy him with the flick of a finger if she realized he lied to her. It had great potential for some mind-games, with Favaro constantly having to lie and outsmart the demon in order to survive. Sadly this is where the characters start to show how underdeveloped they are. The demon-girl turns out to be a naïve girl, easily outsmarted by everyone, turning into a plot-device and a damsel in distress. The promise of a great character-dynamic between her and Favaro goes straight out the window. My biggest pet-peeve however is that Favaro suffers from an old shounen-trait, which is that he’s too cool to care about anything. Is Favaro cool? Sure. Does having no clear motivation make him cooler? Not really. If anything it just makes him look like a third wheel when he's dragged into situations against his will. He even states out loud that he doesn't know exactly why he's doing what he's doing. He says he wants to rebel against destiny and forge his own path, yet his motto is “the wind blows to tomorrow”, symbolizing just how much he's guided by wherever the wind blows him. In a nut-shell this is what made the characters a let-down for me. The story is a mish-mash of ideas that I’ve already seen done better. The great personification of evil that’s about to be awakened after a thousand years. The bickering trio from Samurai Champloo. The literal retelling of Jeanne d’Arc’s legend with the added twist at the end. The story has several problems, but one is far bigger than the others. Our title-character Bahamut is not even remotely involved with the main characters until the last third of the series. The angels, demons and Jean d’Arc however are involved with Bahamut early on. I felt like the actual main characters were left to aimlessly wander while the main plot developed in the background. Overall it is a well-animated series with an underdeveloped story that never delivers on what could have been something far greater.