Ayatsuri Sakon is about a boy and his puppet solving murders. That is the story in its entirety. What makes this show stand out amongst others is its usage of Bunraku, a style of Japanese puppetry, to aid in the solving the crimes. The show is unique in its execution and does well to mix elements such as humor and suspense. For me personally, what made this anime top tier above all else was the soundtrack. I don't think I've heard one so beautifully captivating. A flute sings woefully or mystically in the background as you work your brain trying to figure out the killer. Theart style was also a stunner and well done for an anime created in 1999.

My only complaint was I wish we got some more background on some of the main characters. I truly enjoyed the relationship our protagonist, Sakon, has with his puppet and partner, Ukon, and would have loved to learn more about them. As far as characters go there are some excellent secondary characters that are well developed and deserve some attention.

All in all this was an excellent anime! I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery.