Anime Review! Angel Beats (2010)

Anime Review! Angel Beats (2010)

 Alright, Jrockfreak here, back again with another anime review for the Otaku Puppy Podcast! This time, we're diving into the 2010 series, Angel Beats! Now, this is one of those shows that’s been lurking on my watchlist for ages, and I’m kicking myself for not checking it out sooner. Set in this bizarre high school in the afterlife, a sort of limbo for those who've had rough lives, Angel Beats! follows Otonashi, an amnesiac who stumbles into this rebel group called the Afterlife Battlefront, or SSS. They're led by the fiery Yuri, who's basically waging war against God for their crappy pasts. Their main target? The mysterious Angel, the student council president with crazy powers. It really does have some Suzumiya Haruhi vibes, which, for me, is never a bad thing. We get a pretty interesting cast of characters. Hinata the co-founder, Iwasawa from the Girls Dead Monster band, and the boisterous Yui. I enjoyed the cast so much, and it was very engaging.

The show does a great job of blending action with some surprisingly emotional moments. Otonashi's journey of rediscovering his memories while questioning the SSS’s actions, is really captivating. And, let's be real, Episode 10, "Goodbye Days," with Hinata's confession to Yui, that hit me right in the feels. It's a great example of the emotional depth this show can achieve. Now, I’ll admit, the middle of the series felt a bit inconsistent at times, like the pace faltered slightly. But man, the show really kicks it into high gear towards the end. The revelations about the true purpose of the afterlife, the shadow entities attacking, and Yuri's emotional breakthrough, it all works so well in bringing the story to a wonderful conclusion. The final goodbye scene between Otanashi and Kanade is so bittersweet that is had me all choked up. Overall, Angel Beats! is a fantastic watch. It’s not a total tearjerker like a Clannad, but it’ll definitely tug hard on your heartstrings. I felt it was an incredibly enjoyable anime, with loveable characters and a fascinating story. I think if you've not seen it before you should definitely add it to your watchlist!