Review of The World is Still Beautiful

I found this series rather uninspired. Lacking in intrigue , it tries too hard in all the wrong ways while leaving its potential strengths to languish in the derived mediocrities of the shojo genre. The plot mechanic of the age disparity between the protagonists, especially in light of their genders, was the sole unique feature that drew me to this anime (as I'm fond of unconventional romances) and partially redeems it after the fact. Perhaps I was expecting too much of this series but like an initially idealistic parent later turned sour on the realities of life; I am left simply disappointed at the wasteof potential. The suspense and drama in this series felt artificial and plainly predictable, as though they were set pieces (and not in the intriguing Machiavellian way) used to force the movement of plot or check off tropes from a list. Aside from the aforementioned plot mechanic this series was very much analogous to a stereotypical harem anime and like the rehashed harem anime, this series probably won't be well received outside its target audience aside from as a guilty pleasure. The short of it is: if you are an older veteran of anime who has a taste for the cerebral in shows or being kept on your toes as a viewer of romance/drama, then look elsewhere. If you are however a younger viewer, perhaps even a virgin to the genre, and you have a fancy for the Japanese re-imagining (i.e. stereotyping) of western high fantasy settings then this series might be for you.