"Oh! Edo Rocket" Anime Review

***This is a spoiler free review***

Over the past few months, I have had my free time occupied by things other than anime such as school, music, and The Old Republic. I at first thought that there just wasn’t any interesting anime left out there to be found. This opinion finally changed when two weeks ago my Netflix decided to recommend Oh! Edo Rocket for me to watch instantly. At first I was very nervous due to the fact that I tend to stay away from English dubbed anime (the exception being Dragon Ball Z and Ouran Host Club) but I was whiling to give the show a chance. Once I finished both seasons, I was very, very happy that I gave myself the initial push to watch the show.

Story: 7/10
Initially, the show took its time to reveal the entire cast and what the whole plot was going to be revolved around. To sum up the plot, a fireworks maker finds himself head of a very ambitious project to help a friend and with the help of the entire neighborhood, they intend on making the best firework the world has ever seen. What makes the story so interesting is that the show gradually adds characters and plot twists where needed. I only found myself getting a little bored in the final stages of the show. The show can be split into the first major story arc, two or three filerish episodes, then the final couple episodes to finish it off. Overall, the plot is interesting and the characters never get boring.

Animation: 8/10
Another very strong point for the show is its animation. A lot of the character models are very well done and are nice to see every episode. Some of the cast are poorly drawn and have excessive exaggerations to their models on purpose and it doesn’t conflict with the overall look of the show. The color scheme is very appealing as there is an overall emphasis on bright, almost neon colors for the fireworks. Sora, the main character is stunning to look at and this quality never lets up throughout all twenty six episodes. It is a very appealing show to watch.

 

Sound: 8.3/10
NOTE: THIS IS REVIEWED ON WATCHING THE ENGLISH DUBBED VERSION OF THE ANIME, NOT THE ORIGINAL JAP. AUDIO.
In the past, English dubs have really ruined the overall experience of some anime for me. Funimation however have really put together some great English dubs including this one. The voice acting is superb and I am almost whiling to say is better than the original Jap. audio. You are not getting any generic sounding lines from these guys; each line is done very well. The music is also very good as it fits in with the show fairly well although I am not a fan of the opening theme which consists of some J-popnonsense.

Characters: 8.5/10
What makes or breaks a show for me is always the cast and how well their interactions play out for my tastes. The animation can be flawless and the musical score can be the best the world has ever heard but if I cannot feel for the characters and what is going on in their lives, the show is a flop in my opinion. The cast here get along very well and you actually feel for each and every one when something good or bad happens. The main character Seikichi can be pretty whiny in some situations but he has goals he wants to accomplish and he won’t let anyone get in his way. The main villain, Akai, really gets beneath your skin and you hate his guts from the moment you meet him. Overall, the cast actually feels like a family and when they are struggling, you want them to succeed.

Overall: 8/10
This show was simply like a present you find behind the Christmas tree that you didn’t notice at first. For the first time I can actually thank Netflix for recommending me a show to watch. Its very well written backed by an amazing cast, great music, great English dub, awesome artwork, and a well flowing story. After leaving this show, I have faith that I can once again take a plunge into an anime without the feeling that I will be let down by a half hazard attempt to throw something together. If you like comedies with a very small hint of romance, then this is the show for you.

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A really good anime that for some reason gets overlooked and swept under the rug..people do not know what they are missing out on...