I have watched only the first 16 episodes. This anime likely fits somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. It's better than average... but not by a lot. It will need a good ending to really tighten up the plot.

The plot... hmmm. An interesting premise (people become books when they die which can be read by others) which are maintained by the 'Armed Librarians'. Where it goes somewhat amiss is that there is an opposing organisation, the Church of Drowning in God's Faith, who for unexplained - or at least for insufficient reasons - wants to destroy the Armed Librarians. 16 episodes in and it's trying too hard to be mysterious and I suspect it's more a case of glossing over plot holes.

The episodes focus on many of the Armed Librarian main characters - and go into their background, history etc. Actual plot progression has been minimal however. The anime tends to 'throw in' a new characters every few episodes... but if they believe that is a substitute for plot progression - they are mistaken.

Character animation and designs are quite good, voice acting is fine. But try as I might to LIKE the characters... i just can't. There's no emotional attachment. Despite the efforts to flesh them out, they still seem just 2D. Like they were constructed as a bit of an after-thought around the central premise of 'dead people turn into books'. The show also tends to be a little bit full of itself on occasion.

Complaints aside - it is a watchable anime. Just not a great anime.

Posted By: MickyGT

January 31st, 2010 @ 8:19 PM