By Joseph Walter
The Big O
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(Anime/TV Series)
The Good: An incredible aesthetic, reminiscent of Batman: The Animated Series that shows itself in both the slick character designs and the 1940, Art Deco, "retro future" look of the city and its technology. Stellar cinematography, especially when it comes to framing and capturing the titanic scale of the battles. A color palette with major "Film Noir" influence. An eerie tone and intriguing sense of mystery. Superior animation and attention to detail that sells every action and window-shattering impact. A unique storyline with a great voice cast, sharp writing, interesting characters and fantastic music. It's also short (13 Episodes.)
The Bad: One or two episodes seem weak when compared to the otherwise-high level of excellence. Also, the second season is an offensively jarring downgrade in terms of aesthetic, plot and overall quality. Avoid it unless you sincerely can't resist another trip to Paradigm City.