Review of The World is Still Beautiful
This anime was a very pleasant surprise. I had heard of it before, but was turned off since the main male character looked like a child. A few years later, I decided to give it a chance and I'm so glad that I did. If you're looking for an entertaining and heartwarming romance between a couple that don't seem compatible at first glance, then I would recommend this anime. My biggest complaint was that the anime was far too short. Story [6]: Because the anime was given a measly 12 episodes, the quality of the story took a bit of a hit. The plot was fine(and somewhat predictable), with meaningful scenes that really displayed the strength of the characters and the relationships with each other. However, every scene felt rushed and fleeting, not allowing the viewer to get carried away into the story before getting jerked into the next part of the story. Given the premise and the quality of the characters, there was a lot of potential to create a great experience for the viewer. I do have to give it some credit, the anime fit as much as they could within each episode. I will definitely read the manga after this.
Art [9]: I don't exactly know why, but this particular art style gives me a great deal of comfort. Compared to other anime where the characters are extremely cartoonish, the characters in this anime were extremely charismatic and relatable.
Sound [7]: The music was fine for the most part, I just found Nike's rain song to be a bit cheesy. Understandable since this anime came out a few years ago.
Character [9]: This would have to be my favorite aspect about this anime. I haven't seen too many shows with a young and cold male protagonist so I don't have too much to compare against, however I found Livius to be a refreshing character. Without dwelling too much on his past, we understand how his past shaped his personality and actions. He has a great mixture of the maturity forced upon him at an early age, the childlike desire he has when he thinks about Nike, and the warmth of the consideration he has for others. Nike's character is a bit more simplistic, however her character fits well with Nike. Her courage, honesty, and openness is exactly what Nike needs. Sometimes less is more.
Enjoyment [8]: Coming from a person that loves lighthearted stories that others may find to be boring, I enjoyed watching the anime and getting to know the characters.
Overall [8]: If you're looking for a story with a ton of depth and character development, this will be a bit disappointing. It wasn't due to the execution, but rather the lack of time to do so.