When I saw the first episode of this series, I immediately dismissed it. Every direction pointed to a standard shounen series. Pubescent male, check. Female love interest, check. Sudden huge unexplained outburst of power coming from main character, check. At that time, I saw absolutely no reason to continue this show.
Boy, was I wrong. Thank god I got curious when I saw Maya‘s entries about the series, and managed to catch up with the series. I’m so glad I did that. Yes, it remains a shounen series. But one heck of an incredibly well developed shounen series. The romance between the main character (Renton) and main female character (Eureka), which I initially gave no chance of success, turned out to be so well developed and fleshed out. This really is a must see for anyone with a bit of patience.
Basically, the series consists out of four part. The first part is the most boring and misleading. It’s mostly meant to introduce the cast of characters, and covers about ten episodes. The second part suddenly starts introducing a huge lot of mentally disturbing scenes. Boy, that was a huge surprise. By the end of this part (episode 28) I really was hooked to this anime. The creators made perfect use of the fact that Renton was just an idiotic boy. He just keeps causing troubles to his surroundings, and Eureka as well, because of his naivety.
Then, starting from episode 29, the third part begins, and all of the disturbing scenes just stop, and the series enters a season-long intermezzo. It’s mostly meant in order to develop the different characters and flesh them out a bit, with the emphasis on Renton and Eureka, though it may be a pain to get through. Then, at episode 40 the series picks up pace again, and at episode 44, the fourth part of the anime begins, attempting to finish the anime. The fourth part turns amazing again. It fully utilizes the basis that the third part set, and delivers six episodes of pure awesomeness. These episodes were so incredibly sad at times. Unfortunately, the creators had set their mind on an epic ending, which threw this anime into the pit of predictability again, unfortunately.
The second and fourth part make this anime incredibly worthwhile, in their own way. The second part focuses on conflicts, while the fourth part focuses on trust and faith. Emotions skyrocket during the many climaxes and confrontations. Unfortunately, the fact remains that the first and third arc are rather essential for this anime, even though they remain boring. At times, Renton also acts like an annoying brat for comic relief, that wasn’t really exciting to see.
The story of this anime, indeed, is one huge adventure. But what else can you expect with a fifty-episode anime? The story focuses around an interesting world, created by the creators of this anime. The plot is very complex and multi-layered, and this anime does a fine job introducing the different elements. Still, there are a few unanswered plotholes left at the end of the episode. Our main character’s sudden outburst of power never really gets a decent explanation.
Overall, this anime has great characters. During the right parts, they really shine like no other. If you’ve got enough time for a 50-episode series, I’m definitely recommending this.
I have to say I enjoyed it very well. Nice science fiction mecha, the animation was good. Some parts of the story were confusing; ie the end. The sub stories really won me, Anemone’s story was an awesome struggle. Thrid OP is my fav 🙂
I think the first half of the series alone is good enough. The second half was worth it for its explanation of the setting and the maturing of Eureka x Renton relationship, and, well, ending it all.
But seeing Anemone and Dominic was pretty great :3
It’s probably far from being the most gripping anime of its kind, but the themes are wonderful.
This is the mecha serie i’d recommend to all of those who think Code Geass is well done…
Awesome characters, good pacing, good themes good execution. Maybe it was just too Eureka to Renton romance for my taste, but it was allright at the end…
“Our main character’s sudden outburst of power never really gets a decent explanation.”
You mean the ending? That’s easy…the power of love XDDDDDDD
Well, this is definitely one in my top 5 now. I just finished (lol since I’ve been hearing it for YEARS) it and I must say, the ending (or at least the direction) wasn’t what I expected. I’ve always thought
(SPOILERS):
oh how are they going to change in the other side? Oh wait, it’s not over yet. How will they stop the attack? No wait, they couldn’t. How will they deal with the life limit theory? Oh wait, it’s not happening. Then in the actual ENDING, I was like, “Oh…hmm…” I was wondering what EXACTLY happened, but I have an idea anyway.
Oh yea, the Anemone-Dominic story is awesome…because of that super heavy pet XD I laughed when Anemone’s pet put their hands together. It reminded me of some Disney movie xDDDD
Generally, yet very awesome. I disagree that the Eureka-Renton relationship was hard to go through in the first part though. I was actually looking forward how it would develop – and I was never a fan of romance 😀
One thing about this shounen series is that it didn’t end with Renton killing the bad guy and ending the story. Sure he got superpowered and raped those anti-bodies, but you know what I mean! I was actually surprised that he didn’t even do A SINGLE proper battle that could decide the fate of something, haha. An extraordinary shounen series 😀 I am always a fan of children going to adulthood stories, hehe
So a bit late to the game, but I finally watched euraka seven marathon style while I had the flu. I mention that because it may have influenced my reaction to the series, where I found myself unable to empathize with *any* of the characters. By the time the ships crew stops being vapid and explains exactly what was at stake, I found myself unable to suspend disbelief on many different levels.
spoiler alert, maybe? I’ll do my best not to reveal anything important, but warning was given.
The villain of the series was not compelling. The child soldiers he uses for the majority of the series were unbelievable and worthy of ridicule. There were plot holes towards the end that would have killed the series for me if I had already been in love with the characters.
The gekko crew were unappealing for the first 24 episodes of the series, by which time I’d managed to invest more emotional care in Anemone and Dominic than any of the sassy, wise-cracking, hipster air surfers.
Perhaps what really bothered me is the fact that I felt like the character of Holland was abused. It’s as though the writers had him use physical violence against Renton solely because if everyone had been slightly more forthcoming and less angsty, it was have been a 24 episode series instead of a 50 episode series.
Rambling of course. Tired. The latter half of the series is watchable at least, when the cast becomes less robotic, the plot gets revealed somewhat, decisions get made, etc.
Still, the plot holes towards the end… sigh. G’nite.
I don’t think the faults in Eureka 7 can be accurately described as having too many ‘plot holes’ because in a sense its premise of Coralians wanting to communicate with humans can be seen as a plot hole in itself.
The story is developed a little too unevenly, incomprehensibly and illogically – especially when Holland does not shoot Dewey the first time they meet. Past episode 30 I found it increasingly unenjoyable because not only can you not relate to anyone in the series, you can’t sympathize with anyone or even understand why the protagonists and antagonist are doing the things they are doing – its especially frustrating by the last 6-7 episodes when main characters still have no clear goal or stabilizing traits.
Eureka 7 actually started off utilizing the genre tools superbly and created a sense a new direction can be taken with them to produce something compellingly original. By the end, you can say it borders ‘original’ but hardly compelling material.
We are all entitled to our opinions. My opinion is that this series is an epic. (Spoilers!) The story is tiered extremely well for a series of its size; Coralians, the Scub Coral, the triangle that is Renton, Eureka and the Nirvash, and how they work together, the limit of life, and many other themes occupy the 50 episode series. Also, the characters, their development, and how they all intertwine is phenomenally done.
The characters are what i consider to be some of the best of any show I’ve ever watched. Renton is 14, of course he is going to seem childish and emotionally distraught by the small things. It’s a part of growing up. To me that’s what makes the relationship between Renton and Eureka so great is that they are young and they grow in knowledge together to learn about the world and about each other as well. Even though we sit here and say to ourselves “damn it Renton, just tell her already” or think “wow Eureka how do you not understand love” we have all also been through what they have been through, while maybe not to the extent of the world’s fate resting on our shoulders, but still we have all experienced these types of feelings of love, hate, anger, jealousy, and had to understand what they meant, and how we deal with them or express them to others. By the time the show ends, *every* character has grown in their own way, I don’t know how others feel about that, but I find that it jumps out to me that they have all developed into better beings.
After completing my second marathon viewing of this show, I now have labeled it my favorite anime series ever. I honestly do not feel as though anything can top Eureka 7. It is a fantastic story of emotion and understanding. Even though the first few episodes might be slow and seem to have no point what-so-ever, I beg of anyone reading the review, my opinion, and these other comments posted by others, and anyone on the fence about watching Eureka 7, continue to watch, for it will begin to stick to you that there is much more depth to the story then is shown in the slow beginning. But again this is only the opinion of one person. 10/10 in my book, this is. A viewing experience that, whether or not you love or hate, you will not forget.
i agree with that completely.
After reading your review, I endured the grueling first part and Walaa! It’s well-worth watching.
An amazing series with a impossible matchup made possible.I feel that episode 49-50 were the best this anime helped me through my depression i had.Most of i time iw as laughing crying or just bored.Plus if you this this anime is hard to understand go watch the movie the ending is IMPOSSIBLE to understand.
I actually found this anime without first looking it up on star crossed anime blog – for once! But was attracted to the bright and nice looking animation, which is why I marathoned it in less than 3 days.
Unlike most, I loved the story from the start, I just knew that this immature and naive boy would end up achieving epic heights – and was I right!
I loved this anime, very entertaining, very gripping, and enjoyed every moment of it. The last two episodes got me rather confused with Dewey dying and Eureka suddenly transforming, and I remain somewhat confused, but I get the basic gist of it.
A very heartwarming epic anime, reminded me very much of my favourite anime of all time Toward the Terra, and I applaud Psgels for giving this fabulous anime a good review indeed!
LOOOOOOOVE this anime. I re-watched it like 2 times after seeing it the first time and I always liked it. Now I watch it a fourth time and wow. Its a brilliant story.
I actually liked the predictable moments at the beginning. Because it just makes the unpredictable even more so.
The only thing i didn’t like is the rushed ending. Ep 50 should have been split into 2 or 3 episodes.
(Spoilers, maybe)
Can someone explain to me what exactly happened at the end? Did Eureka and Renton return back to Earth to live or the planet that they were already live on? I’m not exactly sure, but the true Promised Land was Earth and the planet they lived on was the one humans escaped to 10,000 years before.
@mryams
The planet they were on already WAS Earth, albeit a terraformed one.
Renton and Eureka returned after the ending of the show; Axl comments Renton was the only one of his family who returned after leaving, during the closing segment of the final episode.
I take this to mean that he and Eureka returned after the events at the end of the series, but are travelling together whilst Axl looks after the kids. The two sillhouettes at the end with the blinking lights on another part of the world were them.
Personally I enjoyed the series; but I felt the overall ending of the series was a let down. I was glad they persued the romantic element til the end, but I think the WAY they did the end of the series didn’t do a lot of justice (like for example that 13k strong military fleet) to some of the other characters or plot points they’d interwoven with the romance up til that point; and the feel of the end of the series was different to the 3 segments before hand.
omfg when the Beams arch ended i was so depressed
The way I see it is that It was a wonderful and intense story. I will admit that sure there were a few unanswered questions, but aside from that this was and enjoyable story well worth watching several times. Addressing those who found confusing it wasn’t as confusing as it seems it requires some inference as to what was happening or to what was being said. The way i saw it the producer was trying to make the veiwer think about what was happening think about what was being said then saying it. In my personal opinion it was a great series. I started of a bit slow paced but remained amusing and exciting as well as original. I regard it as on of the best animes I have ever seen and I loved it for the interesting characters, fun and intense story arcs, and the Nirvash. definitely worth watching several times.
How can you give this show a 91 and Code Geass a 67.5?
Eureka Seven was riddled with bad pacing (like the soccer episode WTF?) and the animation was also jumpy, especially near the middle part of the series. The romance between Renton and Eureka was painful to watch, along with overly cliche. Now there were good things about E7: Minor characters, like Holland got a lot of background to their stories and the music was truly the best part of this show. But overall, the show collapsed after the Charles and Ray Beams saga (which was the best part of E7, IMO). Renton is just as likeable as Shinn Asuka from Gundam Seed Destiny, AKA, HE’S NOT! Yes he’s a kid, but he really does not change at all during the FIFTY episodes he’s in (except his clothes, which he only changes once and that’s on the last episode!). Also, his reason for fighting? “This city sucks” and for a girl he barely meets (referring back to episode 1). I’m sorry, no i can’t accept that, it’s painfully cliche all around. I loved Dominic and Anemone and wished they had more screen time instead of Eureka’s annoying as f**k children whining about some stupid shit.
Code Geass is a much better show (though season 2 really tested my limits..) in everything, including BGM. I’m just at a loss for words on how you can give Geass such a low score when it did everything better than E7, both being mecha genre.
TL;DR: First 29 episodes of Eureka Seven were definitely 91/100 material, the rest? Barely a 60. Code Geass may have suffered in Season 2, but it did the mecha aspect better than E7.
*72.5/100 for Code Geass, not 67.5. My apologies.
This show had a good start but turned into uter GARBAGE! The main antagonist was illogical and senseless. Good luck keeping up with this messy story, it jumps around everywhere and throws in random fillers out the blue. I give it a 4/10.
renton didn’t change? are you mad? You clearly were not paying attention. Renton goes from the emotionally confused boy to a man choosing his own path snd sticking too it. doing the tough things rather than giving in and rolling over. Basically you looked at his clothing and said “nope, hasnt changed them so therefor he can not be a different person”.
Personally im confused as to why people keep saying there are plot holes. Really the only one i see is that there is a limit of life in the first place. Other than that (and it took me a few times though) everything makes semse to me. is it confusing and complex? yes, but it all is explained and the things that are not spoon fed to you i feel are that way because you are expected to be a grown up capable of putting 2+2 together.
(spoilers)
in a lot of ways Holland is going through the same struggles that Renton is but has the knowlege of scubs from the start. Honestly the whole physical violance thing makes sence when you consider that A) he is immature and B) is frustrated, confused and probably scared about the prospects of world ending scenarios but more important C) Renton is the new kid on board and things are changing, immature minds fear change so he strikes out.
to me, people saying there are plot holes just says that they were not paying attention enough. This series does not spoon feed it to you but it is all there which is one of the reasons why its on the top of my list