Review of Monster

Monster is an incredible anime in terms of its satisfying storytelling and attention to detail, every single advancement, no matter how small, plays an important role into the overall plot. The tension in every episode was built up perfectly, either through the eerie music, chilling dialogue or even just the way Tenma discovered new information, no character is left unaffected which makes every second worth watching, up until the ending which I would consider perfect. Due to personal preference, this anime was too long, and the way each episode was filled wasn’t always necessary, this is particularly down to the huge number of characters. Atfirst this aspect was what convinced me to watch more, a new character appearing with more information, always in regards to the investigation. However, after a while it became rinse and repeat, many times I actually predicted what a certain character would bring, and they typically also ended up dying anyway. Despite this method of storytelling and gaining information being repetitive, it was also helpful, with such a long anime and complex plot, it became difficult to grasp certain predicaments or remember certain information, but I alternatively saw this as a recap, and helped me continue on without anything flying over my head.
The dialogue was one of the best parts of this anime, the rhythm between attack and defence wasn’t cheesy or unrealistic like many other anime, but each line was perfectly suited to each character, with even the smallest phrase holding heavy undertones and implications. By the end, the words ‘Dr Tenma’ will practically be ingrained into your head.
Overall, I would highly recommend this anime for anyone willing to dedicate their time into a complex and grasping plot, holding a powerful message. Due to it’s duration, I became emotionally invested into many characters, allowing me to truly understand what it was all about. However, it did take me up until halfway to become fully interested.