Review of Record of Grancrest War

Although I am late to the party, writing this review two years after original release, after finishing anime in one take, I felt like I must to do so. I believe this year, it's 10 years I spent being involved in anime and otaku culture and its most of the time I can remember watching it intensively. During this time, I have came across lot of anime and manga, some of them were really interesting, some of them were genuine, but only few of them really hit the right spot with everything it had and I consider them superb even though I won't give them fullmark. Grancrest Senki (Records of Grancrest War) is one of these anime. To be honest, explanation in synopses was really averting me from watching this anime for whatever reason. But to put it simply for anyone who might be interested in watching it and is by any chance reading this review, "It's not as bad as it sounds in synopsis". If you are searching for well-balanced, realistic anime with likable (and sworn to f murder) characters, Grancrest is way to go, as it greatly depicts struggles between "need for power", love and greater good. I won't recommend this anime to audience younger than 20-21+ despite of age rating, as they won't necessarily understand responsibility coming with adulthood and power.

Here are some clarifications:
Story: 8 - Story overall is really well-made, although it's sad that some things were resolved bit too quickly in my opinion and in other cases, you have problem to properly track how much time had passed. Because you hardly assemble army of 50,000 soldiers in 1 day or wage battle between 3 armies, conclude results and call peace treaty, this makes it feels like you are missing portion of the time which actually wasn't there nor they spoke about how much time it took. I haven't read manga yet, but I believe it was rushed only in anime in order to save time to fit whole story in 24 episodes. On the other-hand, it was wise decision to finish story in one season.

Art: 9 - Except occasional (2 scenes precisely) mistakes in drawing/animation, which looked disgusting and it will scare me in sleep from now on, art and animation was pretty solid.

Sound: 8 - For me, music and ambient sounds were really good, battles and scenes are properly sounded which greatly improves atmosphere. OP and ED wasn't significant for me in anyway so I do not hate them nor I like them. People say that I'm musically deaf so that's factor too.

Characters: 10 - I must admit, in-spite of somewhat stereotypical character types, they were not plain or so stereotypical as in other animes. This anime is one of few which have almost flawless character design in my opinion. You like who are you suppose to like and hate who are you suppose hate.

Enjoyment: 10 - I'm... pathetic in the first place I guess. But I'm optimistic idealist which look on world realistically, despite his own ideals and believes. Although it sounds like contradiction, this anime pretty much proves it as possible. Because MC believes in his ideals, however he also look at things realistically and know that there is right way to do things, be it treating people or waging conflicts. I really enjoyed how real and unreal in same time it was, for him to gain aid and support from people for what he was and for what he believed.

So, my overall is 9. If you want good story and see through, how one era ends and new begins, you should definitely watch this anime. Because this is proof that even little spark of hope, can move gears of the world and change the course of the war.