Review of Hyouka

Wow! Talk about an anime that surpassed my expectations. Pros: - Gorgeous art. The animation looked way better than it had any right to, especially in the first and last episodes. The artwork was also quite original and creative in some spots as well, which I greatly applaud the series for. - Beautiful music. Very often it felt like the soundtrack to a bigger budget film rather than your typical anime series. The inclusion of Bach's "Air on a G String" also added a nice familiar touch despite being absolute music not intended specifically for the series. - Characters are likable and relatablewith a noticeable arc and progression throughout the series. Very well written.

- Very interesting mysteries throughout. There were only a couple episodes where I could really predict the outcome. Most of the time the results completely threw me off. Very well written and intelligent

- Manages to either bring something new to the table, or completely bypass tired anime cliches.

- Well paced, doesn't feel too rushed or too bogged down. Perfect length.

- For the sub at least, the voice acting is pretty good.

Cons:

- Without giving too much away, the ending is a bit ambiguous. I, personally, loved it. It may, however, not be other people's cup of tea though.

Overall:

I'm surprised how much I connected with this series. I noticed I tend to enjoy a lot of anime with heavy emphasis on problem solving and puzzles, and this one definitely does a fantastic job of blending the high school setting while still being primarily a mystery anime first and foremost.
Not only that but the music and animation are absolutely astounding creating not only an intellectually engaging series, but also an aesthetically interesting one as well. I highly recommend this series as an absolute must watch.