Review of Monster

"The big secret to breaking the rules is to make it look as though you're following them." There are two types of monsters. The type we thought of in our childhood, under our beds or inside the closet, the monsters our parents told us didn’t exist. The second type is what the title refers to. the monster adults fear, the monster that really exists. This show illustrates that humans are determined by how they react to life and that no person is born good or evil. Story: 5/5 The writing is exceptional and the story is believable at every moment. There are a few moments, the viewers willfeel that the story is kept on hold and that new characters and storylines are introduced. But reaching the end we realize that the plot is much more complex and all those disjointed stories slowly become the critical part of the overall plot of ‘Monster’.

Characters: 5/5

The story’s main strength lies in the depth of the characters and those characters with outstanding development makes the show more dramatic. The intrigue-filled atmosphere keeps us guessing, feeling, and thinking. The character development is so good that you might even find yourself attached to some of the minor side characters and that the battle with the monster inside each of us has a long way to go.

The Protagonist, Dr. Tenma, battles to fix what is so repentantly broken in his reality. Tenma’s psychological and emotional contrasts sharply with Johan’s (antagonist) manipulations and calculations. Johan's character shows us that true villains are not the ones we see in Disney movies or children's books. In true life, they are just walking beside you, indistinguishable in a crowd.

Animation: 4/5

The dynamic art of using lights and shadows in the show makes me wonder about the limit of cinematography in anime and questions its limit.

If I were to point out my favorite aspect of the animation, it has to be the eyes. Never have I ever seen the way eyes are portrayed in this series. Each moment forces you to think of what the character is feeling at that very second. The addition of sagging skin in old age and those age lines makes them feel more real. The facial features are different even for dissimilar nationalities.

The background art is a wonder in itself. From long skylines to blown up german cities, from jolly farmhouses to spooky hospitals.

Would have loved it more if it was 16:9.

Overall: 5/5