Review of Den-noh Coil

This is an amazing series, with a beautiful art style which stays faithful to the setting in Japan and gives a deep understanding of Japanese culture, weaving in the sci-fi plot around the ancient elements of shrines with torii and traditional architecture. The characterisations are vivid and purposeful, with naughty boys and clever girls the main focus, with most adults blending into the background. This gives the world an element of ambiguity that the story is hoping for - what is real? what is make-believe? what is spiritual? - and seen through the eyes of children, it allows us adult viewers to let go of someconceits and indulge for a while in things we thought we might have left behind.

Some of the series gets lost in filler episodes, with a number of stories "standalone" and not contributing to the overall story arc. While these give out other messages - the futility of war, caring for lost animals, not letting things get out of your control - and expand on the nature of the cyberspace in which the children are playing, it seems they should have been either more numerous or absent altogether, as in such a small number, there is a distraction from the real plot. Nevertheless, this does not do the series any damage.

All in all, a must-see anime for anyone who really appreciates the "home culture" of the art-form, and a powerful parable about reconnecting the modern world with its deeper values. A great series and highly recommended.