An injured man is found in the woods by a girl named Eruruu, and everything about him is mysterious. Without knowledge of his past nor even his own name, he is welcomed to Eruruu's home and is given the name Hakuoro by her grandmother, and younger sister, Aruruu. While the inhabitants of the village have large ears and tails, Hakuoro's defining physical trait is quite different as he has neither ears nor tail, but only a mask that he cannot remove.
Soon after he becomes a part of the villagers' lives, a revolution against the tyrannical emperor of the land begins, and the conflict finds its way to his new home. Hakuoro must do whatever he can to save the people and the village that he has come to love, all while uncovering the mysteries that shroud his past.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
Crystal
Utawarerumono manages to be one of those harem animes that anyone can possibly find enjoyable, even if they don't particularly like the concept of harems. Based on the ero-game with the same title, Utawarerumono focuses on an amnesiac man who is found critically injured in a rural village. With the kindness of the villagers, he recovers and spends his days peacefully with them. However, the peaceful times quickly end with a heart shattering event that throws the man and his fellow villagers into a life of war. Story The story in Utawarerumono is somewhat simplistic at first, with a majority of the anime following a simple formulaof battles, battles and even more battles while introducing new characters. One may find that the way the story unfolds in this show is quite repetitive. However, if you're a fan of war stories with occasionally comedic situations and intelligent strategies to undermine the enemy you will most likely overlook the lack of variation. Despite what has been said, Utawarerumono also has a number of twists and turns (especially in the second half of the show) that should keep the viewer glued to their chairs long enough to see the story through.
Animation
Animation is both a positive and negative point in Utawarerumono. While the animation actually animates the characters in combat (compared to other anime that may just use still images and lines to indicate action) with a good amount of detail, recycled animation occurs. The reused animation is unfortunately quite noticeable (although not too frequent) and may detract one's enjoyment of the battles. The CG animation present in this show is a mixed bag. Some may like it, some may not. Either way, the CG is only used occasionally so it shouldn't be a huge issue. Character designs are more or less consistent, detailed and interesting, albeit one (or more) episode(s) may have the characters looking slightly more odd then usual due to different animators.
Sound
Sound is also quite a mixed bag; you may like it or hate it. The opening song is quite catchy, although there is nothing particularly memorable about it. The ending song also proves to have a unique flair to it, with the overall tone of the music befitting the ambiance of this anime. As Utawarerumono contains a number of battle scenes, the background music does well in giving out the proper mood that is needed to set atmosphere of the show. The voice acting is decent, with no one really standing out but with everyone befitting their character.
Character
Utawarerumono being a harem anime contains the usual female stock characters that you would find from other harems. The serious one, the flirtatious one, the cute one, the shy one and etc. However, due to the majority of the show focusing on war, thankfully most of the female characters are not just part of the harem and play a role in the story. Not every character is developed, most likely due to time constraints (although I'm not sure whether the original game developed the ones missed out in this show). Thankfully the main character and a number of other major characters are given some development and time to flesh out their backgrounds.
Enjoyment
As for why I enjoyed Utawarerumono - I have natural bias against anything that would be considered a harem anime, but the nicely animated action scenes and character designs won this series over for me. Storywise I thought most of the show didn't really offer much, but I was quite suprised towards the second half of the show where a number of twists were thrown in, making the overall story of this anime much more interesting. I also found almost all the characters to be likeable, except for the certain few which are obviously meant to be hated by the viewers. I only wish some other characters besides the ones given time were developed more properly.
Overall
Overall, Utawarerumono manages to deliver an enjoyable package to the casual anime viewer. One may desire to watch this show more then once due to the presence of foreshadowing and a good amount of the background story told in different episodes. Either way, Utawarerumono has a little bit of everything for everyone. It has fan service-like scenes and characters, a large amount of intense action scenes and an intriguing and somewhat deep plot for those seeking something less mindless and profound. It may not prove to be strong in any given area, but it delivers a show that should leave most anime fans somewhat satisfied with what they've just seen.
jet2r0cks
For about 4/5 of the series, I really enjoyed myself. I’m not usually into science fiction/supernatural anime series, so I wasn’t looking forward to anything when I started watching Utawarerumono. However, I was proven wrong. Utawarerumono was just so exciting and fun to watch and I really liked it – 4/5 of the 26 episodes. For the last 1/5, I didn’t like it too much. I don’t wanna give out any spoilers, so I’ll just say that the last arc was too weird and it didn’t register. All the characters were really likable and I felt sorry for them whenever another war or battle emerges. It’sa good thing they laugh and make me laugh now and then. My favorite was Oboro – I loved watching him fight alongside Dori and Gura, the adorable twins. I love Touka too. I’m still wishing that he’s secretly a guy so my crush on Touka would be justified, but that will never happen. Aruruu was just so adorable and I like her WAY more than her older sister Eruruu. I just find Eruruu a bit weak and bland. I really didn’t like the idea of Hakuoro and Eruru as a couple. It’s just too weird since Aruruu thinks of him as her dad. The villains were also as irritating as the main characters are likable. They really convinced me to hate them.
Animation was above average. Everything was well drawn and surprisingly, I’m OK with the earthy color palette. The CG is something I have to think about. It’s not bad, but it’s not good either. It reminds me of early PlayStation1 video game graphics, similar to Suikoden 2’s graphics. The fight scenes were impressive (and exciting) – I love how the characters move swiftly and smoothly when fighting.
I’m not familiar with most of the voice actors, but they were all very impressive. I have to admit that I was iffy with Hakuoro’s voice at first, since I thought it was too manly and old for him, but in the end it turned out well. Everyone was able to bring out their respective character’s personalities and that is what’s important.
As a stand alone, I probably won’t like the music that much. It’s because the music was really tailored for the series. If I’m gonna enjoy the music, I have to watch Utawarerumono along with it. On that note, I really love the opening theme. Whenever I watch Utawarerumono I just have to sing along with it. The BGM was good too. Most of it sounded tribal, for lack of a better word, which also went well with the theme and feel of the series. I also noticed that the music, although it sounds tribal and almost authentic, it would have sounded better if it was less synthesized.
It almost made my favorites list if it weren’t for the last 4-5 episodes that were too weird for me. Overall I did like it, in fact I like it a lot and it’s one of those series that left a strong impression on me.
Master10K
What comes to mind when a visual novel gets an anime adaptation? Usually I think average guy, a bunch of overly cute unattainable girls and some kind of story arc surrounding each girl. However Utawarerumono disregards this overused high school romantic formula, with girls that require conquering like a RPG boss and goes for a more fascinating approach. Utawarerumono is an Action Adventure set in a world of Fantasy. Just think Lord of the Ring, but minus the Ring and Hobbits. Following the disturbing opening scene, we our introduced to our protagonist, a mysterious masked man with no recollection of who he is and whyhe has an immovable mask on his face. Now this amnesia plot device is one of the most over used but taking into account that this is based of a visual novel, it’s certainly a good way for the player to start off with a clean slate. Now as for the story, a good amount of time is spent bringing this fantasy world to life, in what looks to be a very mild mannered series. But soon after being lulled into a false sense of security, the story develops into that of a war between nations. So instead of harem filled romance you can expect bloody battle after battle, in an ever developing storyline. Sure it would have been better if more thought was put into how to kick start this warfare plot but as a whole, the series did prove to be very exciting to watch. If only it remained that way throughout however in the last batch of episodes you’ll witness one of the most thoughtless plot developments ever, which did a good enough job in ruining whatever impression I had of the series.
The male protagonist did suffer from this drastic change but before that he was a really interesting and mysterious character. It’s a great thing seeing him develop from a nameless nobody to a charismatic figure and the other characters that gravitate towards him certainly have their own appeal or role in the story. Not to forget the female characters, who are what make it this an obvious adaptation from a visual novel but that isn’t really a bad thing. The only negative aspect is the few really stupid and annoying characters (the Emperors) that stifle the quality of this anime.
The quality of the animation is really good as there’s a fair amount of detail put into the characters and environments with some good water, fire & smoke effects. Yet a lot of corners were cut, like when it came to animating the fight scenes. At times it just looked cheap, with a lot of recycled scenes and who could forget the poorly implemented CGI character models in the armies. At least the music is truly special as it manages to go well with the anime, especially during the battles or when it is building up to something epic and I am particularly fond of the ending theme (R.I.P Eri Kawai).
Overall Utawarerumono turned out to be a great Fantasy, Action, Adventure that pulled off a tale about one man and his journey onto greatness. There is quite a lot going for this show to get anyone into it, like the way the characters interact with one another and how the battles & politics were handled. Personally I was disappointed by the number of flaws that plagued the show, from the corners cut in animation, to the terribly erratic pacing and the few stupid decisions the characters made. But none of that really compares to how appalling the last couple episodes were handled. If you can overlook these then you’ll enjoy it.
^_^
Desian
one of my all time favorites, this show is a crowd pleaser. disguised fanservice and comedy are inlcuded but do not mess with the plot. if your going to watch this watch in japanese with english subs(see sound for explanation) Story:10/10 the story is very unique. war is a prevailant theme but other themes are displayed throughout. themes like love, compassion, vengeance, courage, friendship. they all leave their mark on this show. masterfully delivery of the amnesia portion of the plot. flashbacks shedding light on the story and hakouro's past in small amounts at perfect moments. based off aeroge game the plot reflects the harem it was created after and adds romance to the story. however as war and combat are just as prevailant it is my decision not to characterise this as a shounen or a shoujo anime. it is both. the fact that it managed to pull off such a feat so masterfuilly has earned it a 10 in my book.
Art:9/10
the art is one of the best qualities of this anime. all the characters are drawn consistantly well with no mistakes throughout the series. character emotions are very vivid as are the landscapes. the true beauty of this anime is the battle sequences though. in most anime the animators will show still images depicting large scale combat. this anime however went all out and animated entire battle scenes with hundreds of soldiers(with extremely few art flaws) without lagging. this in itself was a feat of epic proportions. now you may be wondering...why did it only get a 9? in all honesty i would have given it a 9.5 however that is not possible on this site. it deserves a 9 because while the animation is awesome a few animated sequences are repeated. not enough to ruin the show but enough to slightly obvious. nevertheless i wish i could shake the hands of the animators for such quality work(i know how hard it is to animate combat so full battles deserves serious credit).
sound:10/10
the quality of sound is great in this anime. it has a great soundtrack which seriously sets the mood for the series. timing is perfect throughout(steel clashes when it should and lip snch is right on). the opening theme and ending theme are specially tailored for the show and as such are not cheesey j-pop singles. they fit the show and are catchy. often i find myself humming them at random times. i feel the need to get the OST(if i can find it). the voice acting is simply amazing. all of the voice actors fit their respective characters perfectly and bring out the personality and emotion very well. all in all the selection of the cast was great.
the english dubbed version was a different story enirely. the dub sucked...badly. it was on par with the naruto dub(maybe worse) believe it! i couldnt even make it through the first episode. watch it in japanese(with subs) or not at all. the dub is that bad.
character:10/10
the character set for this show is explained quite deeply throughout the show. each character has their own distinct personality(except dori and gura, they share) and background. as such when certain characters die(not telling who) the viewer is feeling every bit of the emotion and grief rolling off the screen by the characters. since the show is based of a eroge(harem themed) there is the stereotypical female cast(shy, tomboyish, innocent, sisterlike, etc.) as well as the shounen cast(warriors all, nuff said) while some characters are obviously designed to be the object of hatred from the viewers and others are your run of the mill expendable characters(*cough* soldiers), many are unforgettable characters whose personalities are things to be desired in other anime.
enjoyement:10/10
i personaly enjoyed this anime a lot. so much so im going to buy the DVD when i get the chance. i like shoujo anime(yes im a romance junkie) and i enjoy shounen(battle and blood woohoo) and i must say this anime is my cup of tea. everything i like sitting before me like a buffet. i loved it.
overall:10/10
it is as i said before, a crowd pleaser. if you like comedy, romance, drama, harem, war. give this one a shot.
Gilgaki
I think this anime was just poorly executed. The overall story is actually good and interesting, at the beginning and again at the end, it was just buried under piles of nonsense and extremely forgettable characters. The story follows Hakuoro, who after being found and rescued by a small village he becomes the leader of a rebellion, emperor of a country and then spends his time fight wars with every other country around. A major plot twist happens near the end that was so unexpected and weird that my initial reaction was "I am just going to pretend that didn't happen..."and even when it gets explainedin the end and you no longer have to pretend it didn't happen, I was still thinking, "it could have been better."
Because there were so many "mini-wars" they all ultimately blended together because they weren't very memorable. Characters were introduced and I had high hopes for what their future actions would be and how they would affect the plot but then the plot would change because of a different war in a different country and then those expectations just crumble into dust. There are some parts of this series that are completely boring as sin.
The character designs are pretty enough, but this series, which is based on war, didn't have any memorable fight scenes of bad-assery. Seriously, even with the flat characters this would be more entertaining to watch if the characters at least could kick some ass in awesome fights. But the fights were boring and predictable. On the other hand, the characters being completely flat doesn't help. It's hard to get excited about a fight if you simply don't care whether or not a character dies.
I always believed that good, well developed characters can carry a plot no matter how contrived it is, but in this case the characters are so bad, you're just sitting there thinking "Who cares?"
Honestly, I really liked the opening song for this anime, so it was my favourite part of watching.
ggultra2764
There are two words that best describe my thoughts of Utawarerumono that not too many folks would like me to utter: otaku bait. I know this would seem kind of shallow-minded to anyone that may like this series. But considering mostly every prominent character in this series has some sort of animal ears and tail plus look ridiculously cute or physically attractive (along with this anime being an eroge strategy game adaptation), I rest my case with these two words being uttered. For the most part, Utawarerumono's characters and plot developments are pretty formulaic and straight-forward. The series runs into several arcs with Hakuoro and hisallies running into some hostile enemy threat trying to either halt his revolt or take over his kingdom, Hakuoro coming up with a clever plan to halt said threat, gaining new allies from offing said threat and then a breather episode with comedy highlights coming from the quirks of the characters or everyday scenes with Hakuoro, Eruru and Aruru. While the first arc was okay with Hakuoro leading the commoners to revolt against their corrupt glutton of a ruler, the later arcs do get monotonous with their developments with every country in sight seemingly wanting a piece of Hakuoro and his kingdom for shallow reasons.
Character development with new characters in these arcs is limited to their appearances in said arcs and once they become one of Hakuoro's allies, their roles become mostly downplayed to being loyal soldiers to Hakuoro when they participate in a battle. Other than Hakuoro and a few major characters, you don't get to see too many developments with these ass-kicking characters after they become one of his comrades, which is kind of a shame as a couple of them had their interesting traits and backgrounds during their debut arcs, mainly Oboro and Touka. A number of the major villains confronted in these arcs are so over-the-top and ridiculous with their appearance, behavior and/or mannerisms that they are laughable, especially Hauenkua who reminds me enough of how nuts Escaflowne's Dilandau was.
The other prominent focus of the series is on Hakuoro's mysterious past which the series drops hints of in the not-so-entertaining later arcs of the show. Amnesiac hero storylines normally have a good amount of potential in unveiling some interesting developments for said main hero and a show's plot. But while Hakuoro's character is an interesting and likeable one, what I come to learn of his origins and background comes across as quite a big contradiction to the type of world Utawarerumono had set up throughout its run.
Visually, the series does sport good looking scenery and characters (despite the latter's clear "appeal") with vivid colors and a decent amount of detail applied to them. The show's animation is average at many points with occasional use of shortcuts and some bad use of CG animation in the rendering of armies during battle scenes.
While I did get some enjoyment out of seeing Hakuoro and some other characters in their struggles throughout Utawarerumono, the show's cliched plot setup, weak focus on other prominent characters and ridiculous reveal on Hakuoro's origins greatly weakened the quality of the series in my eyes. This is a good example of why I'm cautious with approaching anime adaptations of eroge games as the quality of said title tends to vary and usually won't translate too well when made into an anime.
MaouSatan
In Utawarerumono, there are two gods that fight for eternity. This explanation as an answer to the mystery that surrounds the anime until about a half is somewhat disappointing, in my opinion. E gives rise to a final ultra-romantic, and so very unpleasant. However, the idea made me reflect. It was another anime that I felt sick to finish. Not as much as X, but almost. It's a sad ending (after all, it's ultra-romantic), in which many are hit and confirms that a destination of suffering for one of the main characters. Something forceful means to an anime that will gradually captivating, at least until themiddle of the plot. Once captivated, feel more impacts with those fictitious persons.
The reflection reminded me a bit of Nietzsche, the Greek philosophers of antiquity and also Milan Kundera, in his novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being A concept I never studied law: the eternal return.
The idea that I could infer the eternal return, which may be distorted with respect to the above references conceived, but I built up here has the following premise: we carry our past. The drama of Hakuoro, the anime, is precisely that of not remembering his past, not knowing what he carries. A drama that becomes more painful to the extent that he suspects not to remember his past. But how to get rid of it?
How Karura says, "it is impossible to completely disconnect from the past." As it becomes worse for a god who returns to experience several lives forever? The hidden horror of the anime Utawarerumono is something that resembles the curse of Dracula in Bram Stoker's novel. It is the inescapable destiny to live forever, forever come back to life.
Milan Kundera says in his most famous novel by celebrated and that is the French Revolution, for example, how would react if we were to repeat it forever, always cutting heads, an eternal return? What would be the weight of it? Einmal ist keinmal, says the German adage ("once is never"). There is a mystique around binarity, and very curious. It is as if there were only two numbers, where one equals zero, and the rest reaches infinity. The light would live once, only once, so that the experience would equal to nothing, perhaps because it is something finite in an infinite time. Interestingly, I remember having spoken about equality of existence and nonexistence. I ended up dropping it again somehow. The heavy, in turn, would live forever, forever returning to live. Again, I remember having mentioned the question of "whether or not a story to an end." The target heavy does not give us that chance.
In Utawarerumono, does not explain how these gods were born. They may have arisen from mere humans. It is possible that they, the gods are nothing but ourselves. It is possible that we humans, for which accumulate more knowledge, nothing more than able to awaken the consciousness of the eternal return which we are stuck.
If it's terrible for a man found in the woods, injured, not remembering his days until then, how terrible it would be for us to be in the same situation? Assuming then that there is something like an afterlife, or something that brings us back to an experience ... how terrible it would be to ignore the past that pervaded by several lifetimes? Worse, how terrible would not realize that we are beginning to remember that?
Although the chance of revival can not be disputed, we need not go that far. Simply we exchange of god. Just think that the god in question is not a human being, but humanity itself. As a member of humanity, can we, each of us, off the streets, watching the sky, hit the ground and even see how we treat each other and still say that what others have done before us has nothing to see us?
Assume then that humanity is the god who is destined to fight with himself, guiding other beings with their power. God attached to the eternal return. Coincidence or not, Hakuoro is the only fully human person, ie, does not have ears or tails of animals like all other characters. The difference is that Hakuoro has a mask that can not get out. The question is if that mask is the hallmark of the link between apes and humans or whether technological remnant of an advanced civilization that perished - we do not have the answer to the curse which it represents (not sure if Benawi also not human, what would the only odd exception, as I remember). When this god despair, crushed by his fate, would be annihilated. But not even the black winged angel, created by him, Mutsumi, can do it.
Assuming then that we, all of us, this god. What do you think? It is a god that is divided in two because it indulges in his wrath, and will pay for this act forever as the eternal return will bring back the anger. Every act is heavy. Every mistake is perpetual.
I must confess I underestimated Parmenides. He said that in his philosophy that everything was very complicated being, that motion, time and change were illusions, also said that everything was binary. And in all groups associated dichotomies associated with the good and the bad. The pair light-heavy, so if associated respectively to the good-bad. I have always considered him a reluctant to accept the flow of things, like his contemporary Heraclitus said, today I must admit that he was more intelligent than I supposed.
What shall we do with our mistakes? What shall we do with the sins of mankind? What awaits us?
If everything was light ... live with ease. Eruru not carry the suffering that comes from the Mikoto, Hakuoro could live without mask. Bastaríamos live with and hope our story will end. So would fly over our destinies. And we would be so light and so scattered, like cirrus clouds. Our existence is no more than an imperceptible and tremendously ephemeral blur, a flash of blink of an eye.
I have overcome the terror that comes over us when we first understand what it is to live once. But assuming the truth involving one of only two numbers of binarity existential, which would be more terrible? Living or once living forever? We would have to live only by our successes, that should sparkle on any errors that surely commit more frequently. What is harder then? Isolate themselves, cling to faint and rare warmth amid the eternal darkness and always retornantes or bet everything on one chance to live a simple and final time?
Sasori_Puppets
Utawarerumono -I went into this anime not knowing what to expect but then i was suddenly surprised. After the first episode I sought myself wanting more and more and then before i realized it i had finished all 26 episodes. -The story was quite interesting as well. I thought to myself why the heck would i want to watch an anime about a guy who cant remember his past and is unable to take off a mask that had no meaning throughout the story?(minor spoiler) Anyways when I continued on through the anime I was gaining more and more knowledge about what the meaning of hismask and his life overall and what had happened to him in the past. Its kind of hard for me to explain exactly what i liked about the story without giving you a spoiler. All i can say is dont judge a book by its cover. This show is very entertaining and will have you wanting more just like it did me.
-The art was the probably the best thing about this show. I was very intrigued by the art form that made up the anime. The characters and setting were all very very well done. My favorite aspect of the art was that it really brought out old and modern Japanese culture. Watch this anime and you will be amazed by how astonishing the artwork is.
-The sound was well done as well. I cannot compare it to the subbed version because i only watched the dubbed. If i do get around to rewatching this show i will watch it in the subbed version and then update this post. Anyways theres not much to say about the sound because it was really good the actors did a good job and the songs that were played were very suited to be in this anime.
-The characters were all great. I loved all of them. They were very well designed and brought something new to the table whenever there was a new character introduced. They were all very skilled warriors and made the battles very entertaining.
-My enjoyment as you can tell by the rating its pretty high. I never saw myself losing interest in this show. Everything from the action to the melo drama that was introduced kept me very entertained. If you give this show a shot you will not be disappointed!!
-Overall. As you can tell my ratings and statements you can see that i love this show. Everything came together nicely and concluded with a good ending that i was very satisfied with.
Thanks for reading this review I hope this somewhat helps you decide to give this show a shot.
Zazzy753
STORY: the story of Utawarerumono is very good, but it's only an adaptation of the videogame's story, so some characters lost some deep. However the story can be fully understand by watching the anime, but for truly understand every character i suggest to play the videogame wich is fan translated in english. ART: The animation is quite good, nothing outstanding, the computer graphic animation are crappy and seem to be out of place. SOUND: the sound is quite good too, Op and Ed are nice, sound effect are good, and the insert song are realy sweet CHARACTER: Nekomiki's heaven! if you like this kind of character then Utawarerumonowill be an Harem for you, anyway every character is portrayed very well, but because of the summarized story, some character tend to be rather vague
ENJOYMENT: Utawarerumono will glue you on your chair, the story go on in a fast pace, sad and funny moments will kept the tension on good levels
OVERALL: Utawarerumono is a good anime, addictive and fun to watch, some defect however ruin the overall quality, otherwise Utawarerumono would be a masterpiece
d4rthkitty
Story: An anime based of a H-Visual Novel may not seem like the premise of a good anime but it is. The plot may seem to repeat at times but it's just building up to some mind blowing plot twists in the end, I assure you, you won't see it coming. The plot has everything, massive battles won by brilliant strategies, amazing character interaction and a romance plot that you actually care about, I was never once bored and simply hoping that the episode would just finish so like so many animes do. It's so good that I was depressed when the anime was oversimply because it ended.
Art: The artwork is simply gorgeous, it really sets the fantasy setting and brings life to the character. I have never seen any other anime with a art style just like this so that is simply a bonus. The characters (at least the important ones) all have a distinctive look that really fits there character. If there is one flaw in this anime is they will repeat animations during battles at times but it is never enough to take away from the enjoyment of watching the anime
Sound: The sound is incredible, both the music and voice acting is done spectacularly well, I can only say this for the Japanese version for I never watch an anime in English if I can help it. There is no character who whenever they open their mouth you flinch because it's so annoying or and thank god there are no "Believe It"'s to speak of. The voice acting is definitely some of the best I have ever heard and that brings a lot of emotion into the story. The lip syncing is never of an the soundtrack is simply incredible, the music always fits the mood perfectly and it doesn't get old, if I could get the soundtrack I would never stop listening to it.
Character: While the plot is amazing, the art is gorgeous and the sound is incredible, what really makes this anime the best anime ever (in my own humble opinion of course) is the characters. Unlike in most animes where I find myself liking only a couple of the characters and just apathy towards the rest of the characters I genuinely care about each and every character. These are characters who, if I met them in real life, I would look up to and want to be friends with. I found myself getting depressed because something bad happened to one of the main characters and happy simply because they were happy. And I'm not one of the people that happens to that often, each character has their own subplots and each is there own character, you don't go yeah, just another sasuke fan girl, except for twins each character is their own character and you won't see characters like Hakuoro in any anime but Utawarerumuno. The character interaction is the best I've seen in any anime and like I said before the romance subplot is the best I've ever seen and one you will genuinely care for.
Enjoyment: Well like I said, best anime ever, in fact their is no book, movie or TV show I have enjoyed more than Utawarerumono. The roller coaster of emotions, the beautiful artwork, mind blowing plot and genuine characters will insure you never have a dull moment and will want to rewatch it again, again and again.
Overall: Simply put Best Anime Ever
Bishounen_Hunter
This is such an awesome show...I really was not expecting this show to be as good as it was but maybe by everyone saying it was 'so good' you might pick up this series thinking it's this EPIC masterpiece of an anime like a ROBOTECH, Cowboy Bebop or Fullmetal Alchemist....when it really isn't. So I don't think you should let you expectations go overboard either. I'm just saying that if maybe you see the cute dog-boys and cat-girls and bird people and that's not your thing or you think “great this is one of those shows!” where everything is all cutesy lovely, thenyes you will be surprised.....because this show is definitely not cutesy and lovely.
The art is very good. This show offers some nice-looking characters and there is great use of colors. They did reuse some of the fight scenes, especially the one where the lead character, Haruko, does this killer move with his fan/weapon...which kind of felt like deja vu. But scene looping and stuff doesn't annoy me unless they really over do it and I don't think it will bother you either unless that's your pet peeve. There is good animation movement in this series and you can tell that there was some CG work used as well because the way some of the battle scenes were laid out and how the camera panned or the way the lizard-horses were moving. It was all very cool.
This show seems to have an all star cast when it comes the voice actors, I see a lot of names from a lot of other series. I really am not good with voices and names except for a very limited few, but these names I have seen the a lot of times from shows like Inuyasha and FullMetal Alchemist. They are all very good actors and they make watched dubbed shows very enjoyable. The music is OK but not really a 'must have' or anything. The best song for me is probably the ending song probably because I don't know if I would classify it as J-POP or Rock or what, but it sounds good though.
From the very beginning you will get hooked because it is kind of a mystery, the lead character has amnesia and he does not know who, what or where he is not even his name. Anyway that's how I got hooked, I saw episode one on Anime Channel's VoD and I needed to know how it turned out. I think a lot of people who are into action and military type of anime will also like this one! There are a lot of brutal battle scenes with blood and violence, these are always pluses for me when it comes to selecting anime shows to watch, but you might as well know that it does get pretty gruesome. There is also some comedy in there, so this is really not a really heavy hard-hitting series or anything. One main issue I have with the story though is that there seems to be no essence of time. It could be 5 minutes, 5 years or 5 months the show doesn't really have a firm grasp of depicting time passing. You get the feeling that some time has passed somewhat but then again, just how much time...no one knows.
I'm not into cat-bird-people or beast-people too much, I like just plain human looking people, but this was tolerable. It's not like they had complete tiger faces or Minotaurs or anything like that, thank goodness. The were relatively attractively drawn people and they all had nice personalities, especially the core group of characters. Just like how I was talking about the strange “time-warping” issue that occurs with the story narrative, you can really get that sense with some of the characters popping in for a bit then poof they disappear and their side of the story seems unresolved or maybe kinda rushed.
I really liked this show though, mainly because it so very much surprised me as to the type of anime I thought it was going to be. I really thought it was just going to be some fluffy nice [shoujo-style] anime and it wound up being this fantastic, gritty and gory series. That really changed my opinion of this show, but maybe it might freak you out if you are not into that kind of show,
HybridMedia
So when I first found out about this title, the first thing came into mind is, “What the hell does Utawarme….Utaworm…..Uta…Damn it, I can’t even say it right!! What does…that damn word mean?” Well, after that, the title of the show is translated into English as, “The One Being Sung”, which does describe one of the character’s rise in the series and funny thing about this being based on a videogame and how it was supposed to be a harem, considering I didn’t see the whole harem part in this, but more on that later. A man awakens in an unfamiliar village with no memory ofhis past or identity. The only clue: a devil-horned mask which conceals the upper half of his face but cannot be removed. Still recovering from the bad wounds he had when he was found and without any clear direction, the man settles in to village life and soon becomes not only a valued and respected member, but effectively a member of the family of healers – old Tsukuru, young Eruru, and even younger Aruruu – who helped him recover, even taking on the name Hakuoro, which belonged to the long-dead father of the girls. Trouble won’t leave the village alone, however, as a discontented former villager tries to exploit their resources, a tiger-like forest god threatens to rampage, and an unfortunate series of events leads to unintended rebellion. Throughout it all Hakuoro stands as a stoic source of inspiration even though he is deeply troubled by haunting images of his past.
I got to say right off the bat; the story does have an interesting plot of an amnesiac main character that probably has a disturbing past of him and he probably does once you get further into the show. There is the aspect of war and how you think everything is going to be fine but it isn’t as worse shit continues to happen to them, deaths that can hit you hard emotionally if you really wanted them to live, and the trials of rebelling against the higher authority. Now, I know this is based on an adventure/role-playing/eroge game (or just Japanese adult visual novel) and I guess like the adaptations of that, you sense no trace of them nor do did I find any typical harem traits aside from the amount of girls there with wolf ears (then again, mostly everybody in the show has either wolf, cat, dog, rabbit, etc. ears) but saying it’s a harem because there’s lots of girls (or guys if it’s a reverse harem) doesn’t exactly make it one (OK: Maybe that one or two times). I will say that it does get too sappy at sometimes but just enough to not be overbearing melodramatic.
Characters are 90/10 on the love/hate scale although it is more of an ensemble cast of characters and most of them have these different stories to them, like Hakuoro and his unknown past, why later in the series people thinking he was a murderer and why he can’t take off that mask. I would have like to know more about the sisters Eruru & Aruruu and most of their family life but it was more preoccupied with the long war and all that. Oh yeah, one character that I couldn’t stand in fucking Nuwangi. I just cannot stand that guy and desperately either wanted him easily defeated or killed off. Luckily, he’s not in the show for long but he was still annoying as hell.
Animation is actually great here and it’s expected being at the 2006-2007 anime boom year. The show was made by animation studio Oriental Light and Magic, the same studio that did not-so-great animation for a great series (Berserk). Like I said, the show does have a very playful nature to it, but during the battle scenes, expect a lot of bloodshed in there but luckily, it isn’t overly excessive and violence for the sake of being violent. The opening theme is….dangerously catchy to listen to, but you might need to listen to it several times to not forget about it. Overall, the music is fairly decent for what it is.
The English dub by ADV Films (later re-licensed by FUNimation) is a great effort done with the script being close to the original source and although there aren’t any standouts, the performances of John Gremillion as Hakuoro and Kira Vincent-Davis as Eruruu deliver some great dialogue.
FINAL VERDICT: Utawarerumono is a delightful and ambitious show that has its playful side with the characters and also the more darker-toned and serious side of itself that seems to fit within and since FUNimation rescued it from obscurity, you can easily buy the whole series or watch it on their website if you want. It’s a watch recommendation from me.
BowlingJD
Studio OLM that brought the world Berserk and Pokemon in the late 90’s now brings an anime in 2006 that can best be described as anime-nerd-bait aka otaku bait. Together with new director Tomoki Kobayashi (Galaxy Angel Z) they attempted to adapt this eroge strategy game. At first, the product of Utawarerumono started off with an interesting high fantasy with semi-interesting characters and then takes a left-turn along the way. The show begins with a cute wolf-type girl finding an injured man in the woods wearing a mask he cannot remove. She and her family nurse him back to health, but the man still does nothave any memories of his past. Slowly, the audience learns the land, society, and the slow progression to war with strategic battle ensuing.
Mostly, Utawarerumono is formulaic in the characters with typical trope characters such as the quiet adorable little sister character. Even the plot is fairly simple from the start with oppressed people fighting back against the tyrants. Over the course of the anime there is little in character development and more towards the main group gathering other character arch-types to join the team. Basically, this anime wanted to be what The Vision of Escaflowne was. This was a show with a compelling premise that pretty much fails in its goal.
At one point, the people behind Utawarerumono decided to drop the story they were telling for almost zero reason like something anime fans had seen in something out of Votoms in the 80s as an example. Unlike Votoms though, the characters in Utawarerumono have the personality of either a stone or a carebear. Even the character art and animation does not seem much better than Studio OLM’s past works like Berserk and Pokemon from the 90’s.
This is not to say the show is completely terrible. Some scenes of battles and the fantasy world are interesting, but ultimately with predictable characters and a plot that is shallow, the show is just flat. There are plenty of other fantasy shows to recommend like The Vision of Escalflowne over this anime. In the end Utawarerumono should stay as an eroge game and was not a good adaptation.
JuneNephthys
Utawarerumono was the progenitor to Kemono Friends; the plot for the famous mobile game franchise is actually near-identical to Leaf's iconic visual novel! The fantasy world is massive and is part of a regressive, post-apocalyptic premise. The character's have warring tribes, unique cultures/names, etc. Aquaplus delivered every ounce of writing prowess it could muster when creating this phenomenal story! This review of Utawarerumono is spoiler free! —Story/Characters Synopsis: An injured man is found in the woods by a girl named Erurū, and everything about him is mysterious. Without knowledge of his past nor even his own name, he is welcomed to Erurū's home and is given thename Hakuoro by her grandmother, and younger sister, Arurū. While the inhabitants of the village have large ears and tails, Hakuoro's defining physical trait is quite different as he has neither ears nor tail, but only a mask that he cannot remove. Soon after he becomes a part of the villagers' lives, a revolution against the tyrannical emperor of the land begins, and the conflict finds its way to his new home. Hakuoro must do whatever he can to save the people and the village that he has come to love, all while uncovering the mysteries that shroud his past.
Like Texhnolyze, Utawarerumono is a series that I went into, not sure if I was going to like it at the start, but then ended up developing a deep affection for the franchise! I don't say this with very many series, the two that come to mind are Urusei Yatsura and Macross Frontier, but I actually love every single character in this series! Even characters that I was iffy about in the beginning! Like Arurū, she came across as a pertinent child when the series first began, but then she was unraveled and it's revealed that she's an awkward, genius strategist with interpersonal issues.
The characters are all flawed and have their weaknesses, but are incredibly likable in one way or another. I have heard critiques leveraged towards the main character, Hakuoro (or just "Haku"), for being an amnesiac. But—if you watch the series all the way to the end, you discover that he has a big role as a catalyst that permanently altered the world, so there's a reason! He isn't just an amnesiac for drama; it greatly serves his purpose in the story.
I hadn't read any spoilers before going into the story, so I was bamboozled at how deep and intricate the plot became! I watched the first few episode and was like, "cute kemonomimi girls in a tribal village," and then towards the end, I was like, "this is a serious war drama that is deep, meaningful, and philosophical." The series starts like Kemono no Shōja Erin and ends like Neon Genesis Evangelion!
The series emphasizes the importance of family and community, while showing the horror and destruction that war can bring.
—Technical
Tomoki Kobayashi (director, storyboard)
* Akame ga Kill!
* Amagami SS+ Plus
* Hundred
* Ichigo 100% (OVA)
* Infinite Dendrogram
* Seiren
* Sola
* Tears to Tiara
Commentary: Despite the hate that it typically gets from disgruntled fans of the manga, I really enjoyed the last half of Akame ga Kill. I liked Hundred, too, and what I've seen of Tears to Tiara. The directing could be a little jumpy in Utawarerumono, but Tomoki Kobayashi was able to preserve the integrity of the source material. Verdict: Mr. Kobayashi should direct more Aquaplus adaptations!
Makoto Uezu (script, series composition)
* Aa! Megami-sama!: Sorezore no Tsubasa
* Akame ga Kill
* Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka, localized as "The Hill Dyed Rose Madder"
* Amaenaide yo!!, localized as "Ah My Buddha"
* Ansatsu Kyoushitsu, localized as "Ansatsu Kyoushitsu"
* Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova (script composition)
* Arslan Senki (TV), localized as "The Heroic Legend of Arslan"
* Carnival Phantasm
* Danganronpa: The Animation
* Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita, localized as "Humanity Has Declined"
* Kamisama Dolls
* Katanagatari
* Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!
* Kūtei Dragons, localized as "Drifting Dragons"
* Kuzu no Honkai, localized as "Scum's Wish"
* Maburaho
* Nanatsu no Taizai Movie: Tenkū no Torawarebito
* Quiz Magic Academy: The Original Animation
* Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace
* Rikujō Bōei-tai Mao-chan, localized as "Ground Defense Force! Mao-chan"
* School Days
* Seikon no Qwaser, localized as "The Qwaser of Stigmata"
* Seto no Hanayome, localized as "My Bride is a Mermaid"
* Tayutama: Kiss on My Deity
* Tentai Senshi Sunred
* Yumeria
* Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru: Washio Sumi no Shō
Commentary: Really wonderful script-writer. I really loved his work on: Carnival Phantasm, Katanagatari, Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo, Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace, School Days, and Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru: Washio Sumi no Shō! I'm really hyped about him writing the script for the new Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru series!
I watched Utawarerumono subtitled, so I can't comment on the English dub. Also, I will put green checkmarks (✅) by the seiyūs with the most roles, so I can keep track of their best performances. The "best" part is, of course, entirely subjective!
Ryōka Yuzuki as Erurū, notable roles:
* Minagi Tōno, Air
* Tokiko Tsumura, Busō Renkin
* Yukino Sakurai, Candy Boy
* Takako Shimizu, Chobits
* Satsuki Kiryūin, Kill la Kill
* Shamal, Mahō Shōjo Lyrical Nanoha
* Ino Yamanaka, Naruto
* Tetsuko, Oh! Super Milk-chan, localized as "The Super Milk-Chan Show"
* Charlotte Hazelrink, Princess Lover!
* Cattleya, Queen's Blade
* Marie, Sister Princess
* Akio Fudō, Trinity Seven
* Arashi Kishu, X (TV)
* Shizuka Hiratsuka, Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru, localized as "My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU"
Commentary: Ms. Yuzuki has a very sweet and refreshing voice. Even in her more terse roles, like Shizuka in OreGairu or Ino in Naruto, there's still an element of kindness and humility to her performances. I really love her as Erurū. She's the best heroine in the franchise, sorry Kuon fans!
Rikiya Koyama as Hakuowlo (or Hakuoro), notable roles:
* Eutus, Abenobashi Mahō☆Shoutengai, localized as "Magical☆Shopping Arcade Abenobashi"
* K, Aoi Bungaku Series, localized as "Blue Literature"
* Retsu Kaiō, Baki
* Curtis Miller, Biohazard: Degeneration
* Yukichi Fukuzawa, Bungō Stray Dogs
* Victor, Busō Renkin
* Kogorō Mōri, Detective Conan
* Kiritsugu Emiya: Fate/stay night, Fate/Zero, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya, and Emiya-san Chi no Kyō no Gohan
* Mamoru Takamura, Hajime no Ippo, localized as "Fighting Spirit"
* Azazel, High School DxD
* William A. Zeppeli, JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken (TV)
* Kogarashi, Kamen no Maid Guy
* Narumi Katō, Karakuri Circus (TV)
* Klaus von Reinherz, Kekkai Sensen
* Yamato, Naruto
* Sensei, Planet With
* Rokurōta Sakuragi, Rainbow: Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin
* Jōichirō Yukihira, Shokugeki no Sōma, localized as "Food Wars"
* Shinigami, Soul Eater
* Rudolf Ushiromiya, Umineko no Naku Koro ni
* Tora, Ushio to Tora (TV)
Commentary: He has an amazingly expressive voice! I especially love Mr. Koyama as Kogorō in Detective Conan! He is more silent and contemplative in Utawarerumono, but despite that, it's still easy to get attached to his characterization of Hakuoro and feel his struggles as a leader!
Miyuki Sawashiro as Arurū, notable roles:
* Maria, Arakawa Under the Bridge ✅
* Kaiser de Emperana Beelzebub, Beelzebub
* Slan, Berserk
* Cassandra Jill Warlock, Black Blood Brothers
* Yomi Takanashi ("Dead Master"), Black★Rock Shooter ✅
* Canaan, Canaan ✅
* Kei Yuki, Captain Harlock ✅
* Eiha, Chaos Dragon: Sekiryū Seneki
* Tōko Fukawa, Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibōgamine Gakuen
* Dalian, Dantalian no Shoka, localized as "The Mystic Archives of Dantalian" ✅
* Petit Charat, Di Gi Charat
* Celty Sturluson, Durarara!! ✅
* Aka no Saber ("Mordrid"), Fate/Apocrypha ✅
* Julia Jinyu, FLCL Progressive
* Yu Lan Xia, Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid ✅
* Mint Blancmanche, Galaxy Angel
* Kitarō, Gegege no Kitarō (2018)
* Yuzuki Seo, Gekkan Shōjo Nozaki-kun ✅
* Towa Akagi, Go! Princess PreCure ✅
* Reika Honjō, Goshūshō-sama Ninomiya-kun
* Katalina Alize, Granblue Fantasy ✅
* Saeko Busujima, Highschool of the Dead
* Kurapika, Hunter x Hunter (2011) ✅
* Queen Diamond, Kaitō Joker
* Kiari and Ririka Momobami, Kakegurui
* Kazune Kūjō, Kamichama Karin
* Tsugumi Aoba, Kannagi
* Ayane Yano, Kimi ni Todoke
* Himeko Inaba, Kokoro Connect
* Shinkurō Kurenai, Kure-nai
* Masazumi Honda, Kyōkaisenjou no Horizon, localized as "Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere"
* Myao Rei, Loups=Garōs
* Fujiko Mine, Lupin III ✅
* Dorm Mistress, Maria†Holic ✅
* Izuna Hatsuse, No Game No Life ✅
* Bishamon, Noragami ✅
* Aria Kurenaino, Occultic;Nine ✅
* Pudding Charlotte, One Piece ✅
* Cal Devens, Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom ✅
* Tomoe Misumi, Photokano
* Kotarō Higuchi, Pita Ten
* Kamitsure, Pokémon ✅
* Shion Karanomori, Psycho-Pass ✅
* Claire Forrest, Red Garden
* Narrator, Rokka no Yūsha
* Shinku, Rozen Maiden ✅
* Racine, Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarō, localized as "Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms" ✅
* Tarō Sekiutsu ("Maria"), Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei ✅
* Rita, Shingeki no Bahamut ✅
* Perrine H. Clostermann, Strike Witches ✅
* Shino Asada, Sword Art Online ✅
* Lag Seeing, Tegamibachi
* Tycho Science, Top wo Nerae 2! Diebuster ("Gunbuster 2") ✅
* Marisa Kirisame, Tōhō Niji Sōsaku Dōjin Anime: Musō Kakyō ✅
* Haruka Nanami, Uta no☆Prince-sama
Commentary: Ms. Sawashiro is great at conveying complex emotions; that's probably why she was cast as characters like Mordred in the Fate franchise, Fujiko in Lupin III, and Cal in Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom!
Atsuko Tanaka as Karulauatsuurei (or Karura), notable roles:
* Bayonetta, Bayonetta
* Silene, Devilman: Crybaby
* Caster ("Medea"), Fate/stay night
* Motoko Kusanagi, Ghost in the Shell
* Claudette Vance, Queen's Blade
* Kyrie Ushinomiya, Umineko no Naku Koro ni
* Jagara, Wolf's Rain
Commentary: The sexy seductress voice, Ms. Tanaka's archetype fits Karura's character very well! Great performance!
Kaya Miyake as Tōka, notable roles:
* Juli Sawaragi, Battle Spirits: Shōnen Toppa Bashin
* Maria van Hossen, Princess Lover!
Commentary: Tōka is one of the most likable characters in Utawarerumono, it's a shame that Ms. Miyake hasn't been cast in more roles!
Daisuke Namikawa as Benawi, notable roles:
* Narsus, Arslan Senki (TV), localized as "The Heroic Legend of Arslan"
* Rokurō Okajima, Black Lagoon
* Araya Kawakami, Blade of the Immortal
* Jellal Fernandes, Fairy Tail ✅
* Waver Velvet, Fate/Zero ✅
* Leonard Testarossa, Full Metal Panic! ✅
* Van Hohenheim, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood ✅
* Kei Kurono, Gantz ✅
* Leon Luis, Garo
* Joe Hibiki, Gachaman Crowds
* Tatsuya Madoka, Gilgamesh
* Seiya Ichijō, Gyakkyō Burai Kaiji: Hakairoku-hen ✅
* Tōru Oikawa, Haikyū!! ✅
* Manabu Itagaki, Hajime no Ippo, localized as "Fighting Spirit"
* Rumaty Ivan di Raginei, Hanasakeru Seishōnen ✅
* Walter C. Dornez, Hellsing: Ultimate ✅
* North and South Italy, Hetalia
* Hisoka Morrow, Hunter x Hunter (2011) ✅
* Yashiro Hisana, K
* Shōta Kazehaya, Kimi ni Todoke
* Goemon Ishikawa XIII, Lupin III ✅
* Kōki Akune, Medaka Box
* Alfred Izuruha, Kidō Senshi Gundam 0080: War in Pocket
* Kid Eustass, One Piece
* Yū Narukami, Persona 4
* Lucario, Pokémon
* Jōji Nezu, Prison School
* Squealer, Shinsekai Yori ✅
* Fai D. Flōrite, Tsubasa Chronicle
* Gilbert Bougainvillea, Violet Evergarden
* Jin Kanzaki, Zetman ✅
Commentary: Mr. Namikawa is very good at voicing the serious and kind, Benawi. Calm and logical, but he also has an irritable side to him. His role as Benawi is similar to the character impression that he conveys in Fai D. Flōrite (which is crazy because Mr. Namikawa and Vic Mignogna apparently play both characters)!
Oboro as Daisuke Kirii, notable roles:
* Takashi Morinozuka, Ouran Kōkō Host Club, localized as "Ouran High School Host Club"
Commentary: I feel the same way that I do about Tōka's seiyū, Mr. Kirii needs to have more roles! Oboro is easily one of the easiest to feel affection for. He starts out as a complete butt-monkey, but then you find out that he's being so defensive because of his blind sister. Very emotionally compelling role and character!
Rie Kugimiya as Kamyu (or Camyu), notable roles:
* Yūhi Katagiri, Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka, localized as "The Hill Dyed Rose Madder"
* Astarotte Ygvar, Astarotte no Omocha!, localized as "Astarotte's Toy"
* Maya Jingu, Burn Up! Scramble
* Ikuto Noguchi, Digimon Savers
* Aguri Madoka, Dokidoki! PreCure ✅
* Rose, Dragon Crisis!
* Happy, Fairy Tail ✅
* Alphonse Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist ✅
* Kagura, Gintama ✅
* Vyrn, Granblue Fantasy
* Hasuta, Haiyore! Nyaruko-san, localized as "Nyaruko: Crawling With Love!"
* Nagi Sanzenin, Hayate no Gotoku, localized as "Hayate, the Combat Butler"
* Aria Holmes Kanzaki, Hidan no Aria, localized as "Aria, the Scarlet Ammo"
* Alexandrite, Hōseki no Kuni ✅
* Yukimura Sanada, Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai After
* Tio, Konjiki no Gash Bell!!, localized as "Zatch Bell"
* Koto, Kyōsō Giga
* Alisa Bannings, Mahō Shōjo Lyrical Nanoha ✅
* Tōko Matsudaira, Maria-sama ga Miteru, localized as "Maria Watches Over Us" ✅
* Mimi, Mnemosyne ✅
* Miharu Rokujō, Nabari no Ō
* Nora, Noragami
* Rise Kujikawa, Persona 4
* Koboshi Uematsu, Pita Ten
* Melona, Queen's Blade
* Angela Balzac, Rakuen Tsuihō, localized as "Expelled from Paradise"
* Airi Yukifune, Robotics;Notes
* Mizore Shirayuki, Rosario to Vampire
* Yūki Kataoka, Saki
* Shana, Shakugan no Shana ✅
* Momo Akanegakubo, Shokugeki no Sōma ✅
* Mametchi, Tamogochi!
* Iori Minase, The iDOLM@STER ✅
* Taiga Aisaka, Toradora! ✅
* Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, Zero no Tsukaima, localized as "The Familiar of Zero"
Commentary: Ms. Kugamiya does a great job at giving Kamyu a very youthful personality, while also conveying layers of mysteriousness through her gleeful free-spirit!
Akira Tomisaka as Kuya Amururineuruka, notable roles:
* Alexa, Chō Robot Seimeitai Transformers Micron Densetsu, localized as "Transformers: Armada"
* Kate Ashley, Red Garden
Commentary: Another seiyū that deserves more roles; Ms. Tomisaka's portrayal of Kuya will leave you absolutely heartbroken by the end of the series!
Mai Nakahara as Yuzuha, notable roles:
* Rena Kunisaki, .hack/Legend of the Twilight Bracelet
* Chitose Nanbu, Amaenaide yo!!, localized as "Ah My Buddha"
* Hatsune Otonashi, Angel Beats!
* Akagi, Azur Lane
* Felli Loss, Chrome Shelled Regios
* Nagisa Furukawa, Clannad
* Chisa Yukizome, Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibōgamine Gakuen
* Thanast Useim Ruki Miu Sia Nostal Ren Naguregyug ("Miu"), DearS
* Haruka Niekawa, Durarara!!
* Juvia Lockser, Fairy Tail
* Reika Rikudō, Fate/Apocrypha
* Rena Ryūgū, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, localized as "When They Cry"
* Watashi, Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita, localized as "Humanity Has Declined"
* Karin Hanazono, Kamichama Karin
* Nanami Yasuri, Katanagatari
* Teana Lanseter, Mahō Shōjo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
* Mai Tokiha, Mai-HiME
* Yui Takamura, Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse
* Anna Aoi, Chōjūshin Gravion
* Aono Morimiya, Sola
* Nagisa Aoi, Strawberry Panic
* Morgan, Tears to Tiara
* Reimu Hakurei, Tōhō Niji Sōsaku Dōjin Anime: Musō Kakyō
* Morgan, Tears to Tiara
* Yashirō Shimogamo, Uchōten Kazoku, localized as "The Eccentric Family"
Commentary: I love so many of her roles. She doesn't get as much lines while performing as Yuzuha, but in the instances that she does voice her, the character comes off as very saccharine and blissful.
Conclusively, I really am completely captivated with Utawarerumono. There are top-tier seiyū, lush designs, a really well-thought out world, beautiful music, and a story that ends in a crescendo. There's a reason that this franchise has continued to live on decades after its release. It's such a good, wholesome, and often tragic tale of the trials that a village must go through. I give Utawarerumono an 8.5/10, and strongly suggest it to anyone interested in a dystopian fantasy series!
Rating: ★★★★★
shinigamineko5
this has to be the best anime ive seen. the story develops itself at a nice pace, and this anime can be enjoyed by anyone,(exept for a girl i know that runs screaming away from anything i show that might have a very slight chance of having any kind of fighting or scary touch to it) the characters all had very detailed bits to them, and i enjoyed this more than the rest of my favorites put together. i loved this anime and would recommend this to anyone, so go watch it now!
Blec
Utawarerumono is an incredibly long complicated title that took me forever to pronounce correctly, and it translates to: "the one being sung". I would have never found this anime if it weren't for a friend of mine, and I have to say that this could have been one of my favorites had it not have such a terrible ending. It creates an interesting fantasy setting, it has incredibly likable characters, and if the ending didn't have such an awkward tonal and directional shift: this could have been a perfect family animated show. Like seriously, about halfway I was like: "finally an animethat could a appeal to a wide audience that doesn't have to be dark, super serious and depressing." This anime seems to be underrated, and kind of under the radar, which is a shame because there is a lot to like in this show.
Story: 7/10 (good)
One thing that is very well done (until the last 6 episodes) in this show is pacing. Something is always happening, whether it is a new conflict, an interesting hint to a mystery, or some funny and enjoyable interactions between the cast. This show is very entertaining and I found it hard to get bored. The setting is established really well. You will be surprised how attached you become to the small little village you start out in, and when the characters feel at home at the palace, so do you. This is what separates this fantasy show from others: you feel a sense of attachment to characters that feel real, and to a world that you don't want to stop visiting. Strategy, battles, rallying... everything you need to make a medieval-type fantasy work is done very well. The battles are very engaging and fun to watch, but its because of HOW its done rather than WHAT is done. There is a great build up to these fights, and the well executed and clever plans by the protagonist will always put a little smile on your face. Plus there is always a clear goal, none of the fighting is mindless, there is always some cost or conflict to be invested in. The plot balances humor and dramatic moments very well, which is essential for the main theme of this anime: family. No matter how hard things are, you'll always find a bright spot in life with family and friends which is what makes these moments between characters so strong. What kills the narrative is the absolutely terrible last 6 episodes (more on that later), watch up to episode 19 and stop.
Characters: 9/10 (fantastic)
Easily the strength of the show in my opinion. The main protagonist Hakuoro is very underrated, and is pretty unique to the anime genre. He is an adult character that makes adult decisions, which is refreshing from the typical high school protagonist (plus he actually has his shit together, unlike many wimpy underdog male characters). He has amnesia, which has been done before, but isn't often done this well. What makes his character so compelling is that he stands out in this world precisely because he doesn't have memories. He looks at the world from a completely unbiased perspective, he was never brought up with beliefs (the tiger goddess arc at the beginning illustrates this) or was brought up by society to establish morality. He develops his own morality based on the kindness of the people around him, and becomes an incredibly relatable character that simply wants to protect the ones that he loves. The most engaging part of the series was his rise to power. He didn't desire power or conflict, but was forced in a situation where he had to adopt a leadership role, because it was necessary to keep the only life he knew and grew to cherish. He is a natural leader and a brilliant strategist. It is a joy to see him outwit his opponents and kick ass with a very impractical but awesome unique weapon that he uses. The side characters are also great, each with a distinct and memorable personality. Eruru and Aruru are the characters that stick with Hakuoro and are his family. Eruru is an incredibly likable tomboy character who is supportive and adopts a very motherly role. Aruru is shy and cute, but is also rebellious and surprisingly energetic when pursuing something she wants. These three characters make up most of the emotional core of this series. The soldiers and comrades that serve under Hakuoro are also a joy to watch each having their own colorful personalities and place in the war. If there is to be some flaw within the characters it could be the villains. They are kind of one dimensional and are just kind of dicks. However, they do a good job at making you hate these characters, which makes taking them out so incredibly satisfying.
Art/Animation/Sound: 8/10 (very good)
Opening songs and ost are great. They are catchy, and complement the anime very well. The art and animation isn't anything too spectacular there are some copy-paste and awkward 3d models, but it does its job well.
Enjoyment: 9/10
I really enjoyed this anime... 19 episodes of it. The ending is what hold me back from completely loving it. The last 6 episodes is some of the worst coma inducing garbage that I have ever seen. It takes a turn for the worst and in my opinion contradicts a lot of what the series seemed to be working towards. It is unnecessarily dark, convoluted would be an understatement, and the more you think about it the worst it gets. Seriously, I tried to go with it, and I thought about what they were going for. But the more I tried the more plot holes and inconsistencies I found. They raise more questions (not in a good way) then it answers. Additionally, why explain things that really don't need to be explained? Its like scientifically explaining what the force is in the Star Wars prequels, we don't really need one. Plus its devoid of humor, you barely see the side characters you grow to love, and the elements that are introduced feel so incredibly out of place. It also has easily the most underwhelming and boring final confrontation that I have ever seen (I fell asleep and was forced to see the episode again). Despite how terrible this last portion is, the journey getting there was worth it, and stopping at episode 15 or 19 in my opinion is already a satisfying enough conclusion. So please, please, please, I implore you to stop at episode 19 and don't go on anymore than that unless you want to try to laugh at the ridiculousness of the whole thing.
Overall: 8/10 (very good)
If you like fantasy that doesn't have to be dark to be good, then I really can't see you not liking this. Give this show a chance, and I am pretty sure you will find a memorable, entertaining and enjoyable experience. Watching it sub or dub doesn't matter too much IMO, either is good. So as long as your not a sub purist, english dub is an option.
AgntTwelfth
Utawerurumono. Where do i start. 1. The story is of a mysterious man who awakens with no memories of who he is or where he is, and he has the unique feature of a mask he cannot remove from his face. The story follows the MC on his journey to discover who he truly is and overcome the obstacles that are thrown at this man as he meets new allies and faces his past. 2. The character are all lovely and great, they each bring something to the table with their own quirks and personalities. Even the antagonists are well done for the time era that theworld is in.
3. The art is brilliant, for being an anime made so long ago, it doesn't bother you at all, it doesn't feel dated in the slightest and manages to make you appreciate everything about it. It does dabble with CG though at some points but it's small bits so it doesn't distract you too much.
Overall without giving away too much i'd say give it a try, it's definitely an oldie but a goodie. I love this one for many aspects and part of the wonder is just diving in, whether you've played the game or not this anime is for anyone who loves action, story, arty, and drama.
Quizerno
This is a show I really enjoyed when it was airing... But I later realized It I didn't retain those feelings. First of all the story is really fun to get into. The setting is a land resembling feudal Japan. So it provokes a cool cultural feeling when it's watched. The character are good, some are cute others are just cool. But it's a shame the show doesn't focus on them heavilly (but apparently the original game does). So yeah the character focus is a bit off and thats sad. The fighting is alright. But nothing special. It's not fast (with some exceptions) but it's well coordinated.And most of the time it's not like the single animation still action shots (most of the fighting is REALLY animated haha)
Story is fun. But it's very slow. I didn't realize this at first. But the pacing is very bad. The developments are fun to watch. Especially as the cast becomes bigger.
Sound isn't much of a issue. Sword clanging is heard alot but it's not annoying.
For Enjoyment. I would say it's enjoyable. But you won't want to rewatch it.
Overall. Give it a watch if you want a nice feudal war anime.
Note: Tears to Tiara (which hasn't aired) has the story by the same people (the VN company Leaf).
Inugirlz
All i can really say is that i didn't even realize it was a harem until someone mentioned it I HATE harems (mostly cuz i find all the girls really annoying and i hate excessive fan service) but i absolutely LOVED Utawarerumono and it may even be partly because it IS a harem. I loved all the female characters and i loved when more kept being added but its not just a simply harem because their are a lot of male cast too (Benawi, Oboro, the twins) then i love the OP theme (and the ED ones too) and the concept of slowly overcoming difficult hurdles and eventually leading andbuilding an empire was very satisfying. The abilities of all the characters as well as the main characters background is truly gratifying
the story was intelligently made and the art is cute and fun (we've got adorable characters, sexy characters, cool characters all the like)
i think the best part is the fact the main character becomes an emperor and has many faithful companions. (its also funny seeing Benawi try and make Hakuoro work--a true slave driver)
it had all the elements i needed.
Lovable/memorable characters. (BISHIES!!! ...and Bishoujo)
Cool abilities/skills
Wealthy main cast (he rules a KINGDOM and lives in a friggin castle)
Animal companions (Mukkuru-the tiger-thing and that rabbit-thing)
Scenes that play on your emotions (i swear i was crying, laughing, smiling, all over the place)
Characters die, characters meet, lots of fighting action (probably the best parts)
Awesome anime.
All 10s...except sound...cuz i don't really remember how good it was. Tho like i said i loved the OP and ED themes ^.^ Kimi ga Tame(ED 2) is probably one of the most nice sounding themes out there
