Search - RahXephon - Crescendo (Vol. 7) on DVD

Several U-Turns Ahead

Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 12/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not unexpectedly, the conclusion of this series is apocalyptic. After being forced to action after fleeing from the disasters of the previous episodes Ayato Kamino finds himself at a crossroads in his own quest for identity. He fears that, if he gives in to the call of the RahXephon, he will lose his own personality. But the war between the Mu and humanity reaches a fevered pitch around him. If he does not commit, the ruin of what he loves is inevitable. Torn between his love for Haruka and the lure of Quon, Ayato most make a great leap of faith, with results that are difficult to absorb.Watching these episodes is like falling through one layer of deception after another. Like an onion, the viewer first sees the interpersonal deceptions, then the deceptions of Mu and human, and finally the deceptions created by director Yutaka Izubuchi. These components are so intertwined that it is impossible to determine whether Izubuchi was deadly serious or tongue-in-cheek. This creates an intentional air of unease which is hardly relieved when the entire plot is once again stood on its head on last, glorious time. After pointing out that RahXephon was quite a bit different than Evangelion, These final episodes unexpectedly reestablishe RahXephons relationship to its noble predecesspr, while retaining a great deal of independent creativity.From all production viewpoints - art, animation, music, acting, etc. - these final moments are outstanding, frame after frame. I have to say that I'm happy to have decided to follow the series, even if I haven't quite figured out what to make of it. As in much of art, you have to decide what it is you want to believe, which may very well be the point being the conclusion. In any case I don't think you will be disappointed - stunned maybe - but not disappointed."

One of the best Animes I've ever seen

Anime Dork | United States | 10/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow. That's the only word I can think of to describe how I felt when I finished the show. This show alone makes me want to expand my vocabulary just so that I can find a way to praise this series to the greatest extent that I am capable of.

From the very beginning of Rahxephon, I was intrigued, though I wasn't sure what to make of it at first. Each episode became like a piece of a puzzle that slowly put together the whole picture of everything that was going on. And most surprisingly of all, was the touching romance found throughout. The love between the two main characters is so deep and beautiful that it leaves you with that warm fuzzy feeling you get after drinking hot chocolate on a cold day.

This last volume was simply amazing. I was blown away by the animation, which not only exceeded my expectations, but practically tossed them out the window. Everything was gorgeous. The backgrounds, the character designs, even the mecha. Just about everything you wanted to know about is explained perfectly and carefully, without ever feeling rushed or ridiculous, while some of the more discreet elements are left shrouded in mystery to ponder later and during repeated viewings.

And best of all, the ending is wondeful and leaves you happy. I can't tell you how important of a thing that is. Lately, I've found myself extremely disappointed with anime endings. Wild Arms and Orphen, which left me confused and annoyed, Noir and Lain, which both left me feeling depressed and annoyed. Berserk... I'm not even going to go into how that anime ended. Full Metal Panic, definitely disappointed me. Come to think of it, a lot of animes just leave you thinking "that's it? Where the heck is the rest!" But not Rahxephon. It left me smiling and feeling very pleased and moved.

To those that unfairly compare this to Neon Genesis Evangelion, please try and be fair. I personally didn't even find myself thinking of the other show at all while I watched it. Definitely a new favorite of mine. I hope others enjoy it as much as I did. ^_^"

I like this series just as much as NGE.

Issei Takechi | Saitama, Japan | 04/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This series is vastly less well-known than Neon Genesis Evangelion even in Japan partly because it was broadcast after midnight. The release of the theater version last spring did not make much of a splash, either.
In my opinion NGE is ultimately a story of a family disguised as sci-fi anime, and RahXephone seems to cover a similar terrain as the story centers around Ayato Kamina's identity crisis and his search for his true self. As in NGE, the primary characters here feel somewhat alienated against each other and struggle hard to get their true feelings across. It is in this respect that the Jupiter barrier is to this series what the AT field is to NGE as they both represent the mental barriers that the characters harbor deep inside themselves. However, befitting their adolescent mentality, Ayato's and Haruka's yearning for each other seems more sugarcoated and thus less urgent than Shinji Ikari's yearning for love and recognition.
All the references to ancient mythology and music are ultimately peripheral to the main argument of this series. And I must admit that I could not get all the characters' names right until the very end of the series. That said, I am glad that I have seen the series and like this one no less than Neon Genesis Evangelion."