Anime: Shuffle!

What started as a great show ended up falling short. Shuffle is a typical harem about a (typical) nice guy who seems to want everyone to be happy. Of course, being a harem, this goal ends up being very difficult.

The storyline takes place in a pseudo realistic world in which demons and gods have found a portal/way to enter/leave the human world. Thus we have gods (with short pointy ears) and demons (with really long pointy ears) with magical abilities (but otherwise human looking).

In the end, we end up with the typical harem situation with five (+) girls and one guy. What made this series slightly better for me was the fact that I could not predict which way the main character was going to go, it made it more of a harem than shows such as Love Hina where the main male chooses his pick early on.

The storyline breaks down in the latter parts of the story culminating in an inconclusive and unsatisfying ending. Shuffle Memories does little to alleviate this fact.

If you don't like inconclusive endings, steer clear of this. If you're just looking for a light-hearted cheerful series to pass the time, then give this a shot.

Animation:
The animation was fairly good for the majority of the series. The characters are well proportioned and are drawn with a pleasant style (i.e. CUTE GIRLS). However, overall color was a bit dull in the early episodes. The few flaws that I found didn't really detract that much for me since I was more focused on the characters and their development.

Sound:
The OP for the series was pretty good though the ED didn't catch my attention. The BGM was very good and there are a few tracks that might cause me to eventually get the OST. As for voice actors, there aren't very many veteran actors and some of the voices do seem interesting. Sia and Nerine have particularly high/nasal voices that some might find annoying (I wasn't that phased by it). The VAs overall do a fair job. The only real notable for me is Rin (Sigita Tomokazu).

Story:
Rin is an orphan who is living with Kaede after his parents and Kaede's mother all died in an accident. Kaede is known as the princess of the school and the other guys give Rin a lot of trouble due to his unbelievable luck at attracting the top pick females.

Enter Sia and Nerine, a goddess and demon whom Rin had interacted with as a child. The two girls are the daughters of the King of Gods and Devils, respectively. Thus, Rin is given the opportunity to inherit control over one of the other two realms.

Two thirds of the series revolves around the mentioned girls (as well as others) and their attempt to win Rin's hand. It is organized by episode so every few episodes will find Rin interacting primarily with one of the girls, and some historic information being revealed.

The last third involves Rin finally making a decision which causes considerable pain to the other girls. A really confusing fact is that the "nice" Rin somehow completely forgets about the other girls for a few episodes. Often acting like an oblivious jerk seemingly trying to turn a blind eye to everyone else.

I was rooting for two out of the five girls and was utterly shocked with Rin's final choice in a girlfriend. I did not see it coming nor do I believe there was enough real foreshadowing. One of the girls was completely destroyed by his actions to the point of seriously almost pulling a Nice Boats on us (there was definitely some hysteria there).

Despite seeming to have come to some conclusion, the series suddenly throws its hands in the air and says "oh well it is still a free game" meaning there is no real conclusion.

The story had a great deal of potential and was very enjoyable early on. The latter portions of the series really disappointed and greatly reduced my rating for this.

Character:
The characters in this series have a decent amount of depth though certain details are rushed and not properly explained. The cast in general was very diverse with girls of varying types of personalities and interests. All of them seem to be obsessed with Rin (some without any significant explanation why other than his "niceness" which rarely if ever happens in real life). One note of confusion: one of the girls is named "Rim" which sounds just like "Rin", which happens to be Nerine's nickname.

There is a good deal of development early in the series but then some of the girls suddenly become stagnant, saying that they still want to love Rin more while not really showing it in any way whatsoever. I really feel this is a blatant shortcoming in which a lot more development could have occurred.

Value:
The first portion of this series is very enjoyable though the latter half utterly destroys what good will the first half created. I really think a second series (not counting Memories) should be created to give this series a decent, proper end. I'm just disappointed in the main characters actions. I was expecting so much more out of him.

Not the best by far! Harem anime gone a muck, many better out there, so many. This is a viewers waste of time, unless you need to watch every harem anime ever made. The last 6 episodes had some interesting drama, but was solved in such an unsatisfying way. Have you NEVER seen one of the harem girls, have a weird secret, or secretly learn to cook for her man out of love, one who's way too young and one that oops can't speak her mind.

The protaganist was a bit more decisive then the usual stock. Of course he was nice, unselfish, not extremely perverted and not macho. All the first 9 episodes are the by the book about each girls individual love and why they love him, so much. The dialougue made me want to throw up. Just over and over suki, suki, zutto suki you guy who I haven't seen in eight years.

I won't bash the animation it was average. The sound was nothing special, no great songs, but oh no wait, there was a bad song a character sings. This might have been decent if they started some drama in the beginning, but it was standard hog wash till around episode 16. Lots of boobs with nipples for this type of childish rendition. Plenty of panty shots, but I was so bored I just didn't care. :brickwall:

Demons and Gods it does have and yes they have magic, but it isn't really an issue in the whole series, you know the devil chick breaks it out a couple times to move some stuff, but there wasn't really a point to it. The first three girls have a pack of ugly fans, one group called the KKK, that appear in the first 5 episodes and chase the antagonist, but it isn't funny. I think I laughed once the entire series and that was, because of a line that wasn't translated correctly. English cliches just don't make it into japanese that often, verbal anyway. Quick delete off my computer. FIN :baka:

SHUFFLE! is based off a hit ero-game and got so popular when it aired that it spawned the memes "boxcutters" and "...go Kaede on...". While I'll never know how it got so popular, I knew that it was a pain to sit through the first 17 and last 4 episodes. So yeah, if you want to watch this, watch episodes 18-20, because they're all that can save your opinion of this generically painful harem.

The harem premise, a guy surrounded by gods and devils, is absolutely bafflingly stupid - it was this influence that taught me to stay away from most harem shows nowadays. The light-hearted episodes in the beginning, while fun to see them intercepting each other with the random taggings, were a pain to sit through, especially when almost every conversation involved Sia and Nerine pruning over Rin in the most absurd ways possible. As it gets serious, the series does get more interesting, and it keeps you guessing to which ending Rin's going to get. But as it progresses, it just gets into the character-by-character territory (and as of this rewrite, this is the direction Kanon 2006 is going...), so the ending is totally predictable. If you've been sitting through these episodes and you're hating it, I have something surprising to say to you: don't drop it yet!!!!!!!

That's right. Don't drop it yet. As angry as you are if you've been hating this, keep going, because you'll be in for some of the best directing work in an episode EVER. The episode number? 19. That's correct. You must sit through 18 episodes to get to one of the best single-episodes in existance in the anime/harem world. (The episodes in conjunction to 19 are also pretty good). Throughout 19, it's tense, it's gripping, it's mortifying, and it's delicious.

After episode 20, you may drop it. You don't want to know the ending. Relieve yourself, because there's nothing redeeming in the end, and your high expectations after 20 will be met with despair and dumbfoundedness.

As for the fans, enjoy it the way the fanboys do. But please don't call it the best harem you've watched, because you either haven't watched enough, or your brain is incapable of handling simple calculations.

What kept me watching? The animation: fluffy, soft, pastelly, dreamy, and good productions; character designs are tolerable. The mediocre OP and EP: OP is catchy, but the EP is dead boring. A better-than-average male protagonist: superb voice acting and attitude makes him not a wuss, because he's only unfortunately surrounded by mayhem. And Kaede.

After 19 and 20, I fear all childhood friends because they might be carrying boxcutters in their pockets!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Taking to note this is a harem/romance comedy anime and it IS based on a eroge visual novel, Shuffle! actually exemplifies itself among others of this genre so far in this day. Usually as you know, harems are "filler-fests" with one main character followed by a bunch of girls who want him. Shuffle! utilizes this and manages to improve this factor later on but a little too late in my opinion and you will see why.

Animation[/u]: RATING: 7[/u] Typical 21st century animation. It's pretty top notch, just how I would ask it to be. The girls all have different colored hair as to distinguish their personalities and of course so you can tell them apart easily. I liked the ears in this anime that also stuck out for me since it's out of the ordinary. Occasionally, the ecchi would get on my nerves especially since this allows some nudity but theres really nothing wrong with that, just I think its one of those animes that overuses the usual panty and bra shots. The colors were very vibrant in this anime and therefore I felt it deserved a 7.

Sound[/u]: RATING: 8[/u] This in my opinion, was the high point of the anime. Not so much the normal sound effects, although that one cheerful tone is still playing in my head after being looped so many times, but the OP theme song. Yuria isn't too bad of a singer and the OP: YOU followed by the collage that is the intro played nicely together. I would actually rate it among the better intros, but not the best of course. The ED was meh. I usually skipped it. There was nothing of interest in it except some chibi versions of the girls. Sound gets an 8 after the intro catches my eye.

Story[/u]: RATING: 6[/u] The story of Shuffle! follows the usual harem storyline with the main guy just going out on a date with each of the girls to get to know them...and that's exactly what Rin does. Around the first seven episodes Rin would meet with each of the girls and I would dread the next episode and even skimmed through most of one just to save myself from the horror that is filler. Yes, Shuffle! like any other harem has its share of filler. Don't believe me? One of the episodes is called Panty Date. Anyways, I liked the God/Devil arc and I thought it added interest if not any. The thing that makes Shuffle! stand out though among harems is Rin actually chooses a girl. I will not say who it is but I don't like her. Let's just say that he could of chosen anyone but her and I would have been satisfied with the ending and probably boosted the story point two fold. The ending episodes of the anime is where it shines. The sudden dark turn made me ACTUALLY wanna see the next episode, but this suddenly took a nose dive after that issue got resolved quickly and onto another trivial topic. By the time Shuffle! got to the dark end of the series, I really thought it was too late and barely cared. Overall the ending wasn't bad, but in my opinion could of been made better on who he chose although Shuffle! fans will debate with me day and night on she was the best choice.

Character[/u]: RATING: 3[/u] The characters were unique to say the least. One of was quiet another was strong-willed and outgoing and even had a dark-side to her. Every character was different and they all had the same feelings for Rin. Rin was the only bad character in the series besides Asa. Rin makes stupid decisions based on what he's feeling at the moment and doesn't even notice he has a girl right in front of him who cooks and cleans every day and doesn't even thank her let alone notice her feelings. Talk about pent up stress later on. Asa was a bad character in my opinion, she was static throughout the whole anime and I think she barely changed. The only thing that really changed were her feelings for Rin started to develop more in tune.

Value[/u]: RATING: 2[/u] In the future, I can never see myself rewatching this series. Like I said the dark side of the series brought value, but it was too late to save my interest.

Enjoyment[/u]: RATING: 3[/u] To be honest, I dropped the series for a while then came back to it. Harems don't realy do it for me but this one was better than your average if that tells you anything at all. At least he chooses someone; not one of those crappy lets all be friends endings. But I couldn't wait to get this series off my computer to clear up room. It was dreadingly painful to watch and I felt I was wasting my time. Shuffle! isn't bad...it's just not the best.

Overall its....well decent(either good or bad.) I didn't love it only because he didn't choose the loveable, kawaii Sia! I can't really recommend this because there are five girls who like/love him And Rin only picks one so many viewers might not like his choices cuz i don't, i won't spoil who it is but those that Love Sia DO NOT WATCH. Yes i Love Sia she is the best character ever. I love all redheads, elfen lied's Lucy, Shuffle!'s Sia, Da Capo's Kotori.

Animation
fairly good but nothing special. Many of the girls were kawaii(Cute in japanese.)Animation deserves a 8/10, WOOT

Sound
Fairly good i love listening to the opening theme when i watch the anime but it didn't make it into my playlist. I have some respect for Rin since he doesn't have a wimpy voice.

Story
Ok this was a big disappointment. I reall want to point this out WHY THE HELL DID THE CREATOR ADD A DEMON AND GOD RACE? I really see no point because there were no conflict between the 3 races (human,god and demon.) I would rather have a storyline where gods and demons were not well liked in the human world and to show that people can get along and love those two races, a human would have to fall in love with the two races to show mankind that gods, demons, and human can co-exist in peace and love. That would make things rather interesting. I was suprise that the God of Gods and the God of Demon didn't throw punches at each other in shuffle!I give it a 6/10.

Character
Ok now onto characters. I Believe that a romance and ecchi anime is all about the characters and those other cute things. I HAVE TO ADMIT I HATE THE HUMANS IN THIS.I didn't like Asa or Kaede. Lost all respect for Rin even though he had one great romantic episode with Sia. Asa always tend to hit Rin whenever she sees him, just for fun too. I never seem like like her at first sight in the episode. She didn't seem every special or loveable to me. I think shes a Bish from the flashback with her mother. Kaede IS MAD CRAZY. Sorry i just don't like those two gals.
Sia and Nerine were my favorites. I actually watched this just for these two kawaii gals.
I think Shuffle!'s weakest point was the characters. It had many characters in-depth. They explain Asa pass and Kaede. There wasn't much in-depth with Sai or Nerine but they showed why they picked Rin as their lover. I say a 6/10

Value
I already seen the ending and its disappointing to me. So i would not watch this anime again. I want to play the H-game of Shuffle!. I might watch the romantic episode of Sia. Overall its a maybe maybe not, depends on the mood. I say a 7/10

Enjoyment
I really enjoyed the first episode where Rin does that awesome punch in the chest to his friend. M favorite ep was 9, damn that some good stuff. Around ep 13 it just started shifting to Primula then to Asa and Kaede. That was when it started getting boring. That ep with Kaede that showed her pass really made me hate her. Meh.. a 7 of 10 rating for enjoyment.

I would only recommend you watch the first 5 or 7 eps because we all like different characters. So maybe you'll like Asa or Kaede then i would recommend you keep watching to the end. If you don't like them or any of the character Don't even bother watching. Also Nerine doesn't get any romantic parts with Rin.

Atypical harem comedy which redefines itself in its final third part, taking an unexpected turn and making a resolute bet which enables the exploration of new facets in the genre.

I was expecting few good things after the first third of this anime: we are so tired of the usual cliché in which a gang of pretty women desperately love some man of undefined personality, with the little excuse of an encounter in their childhood that marked her lives. In this case, not even the comedy hits the spot, with a good amount of episodes being indeed almost boring even for me that (I admit) enjoy harem now and then. From this, one can deduct that for more critical viewers these can be really tedious.

Fortunately, two chapters towards the middle of the series manage to raise the interest, pulling the viewer in until the final sprint, and it is at this point when Shuffle! starts to get better and better: what in the beginning was a harem following the book, suddenly appears to us like a satire of the genre, and one starts to wonder if the initial faithful adherence to the rules was, not only an easy way to content the typical consumer of this kind of product, but also a way to make more noticeable the final departure from the rules.

(Spoilers beware)

Yes; suddenly we face a valiant outcome in which the genre fundamental rule is broken: no longer the leading character contempts himself prolonging the situation for his own enjoyment. In this parallel universe where men can choose at pleasure, contrarily to real life, we have always seen that the best solution is to maintain the statu quo, so everybody is happy and problems are left for the tomorrow. Not in Shuffle!, where finally we find a leading male capable of understanding that that is not the end, that there's an afterlife that is, in fact, very near: People has to choose and to live on; and if even Shuffle! takes the conservative approach for its women (that's, blindly loving the male despite the reality), at least we don't rest in that bizarre state of suspended animation which is iconified by the "harem" archetype in all its indecision and splendor. In Shuffle!, one of the girls is chosen, perhaps the most unexpected; one girl really gains the protagonist's heart with all that this means for the others (we can omit here harems with a prearranged couple from the start, like Ai Yori Aoshi).

Also notable is the case of the girl that, seemingly, starts with the best options: her total abnegation, which causes uneasiness in the viewer --so big is the inferiority complex that she transmits-- is masterfully transformed in a tempest of feelings that gives its sense to her initial behavior. This character is treated with a notable cruelty (and indeed is the only leading girl that hasn't her date chapter), and it's indeed a departure from female harem characters, even if in the end she receives the usual treatment.

And now, the scoring.

Animation (7): Shuffle! suffers from a curious effect: some chapters seem of low budget, while others are visually much better. The former correspond to the boring parts which less do to advance the plot. This can be perceived in a general sensation of neglect, faces less defined that even seem from another people althogether, and blander points of view and perspectives, which are more conventional and lacking force. In the contrary, the good chapters have really nice drawings and camera angles. A five for the bad ones, a nine for the good ones leave a sad seven that could have been much more.

Sound (8): Nothing bad here, albeit the lead male laugh was extraordinarily false and forced IMHO. It got in my nerves really fast. Opening and ending themes are nice and I rarely skipped them, so they get the score up.

Story and Characters (7): I feel some ambivalence in this regard. After what I have already said, it should be clear that there are two series within Shuffle!: the conventional, filler one and the one that really hooks you. Sadly, this one begins late and only perseverant people will reach that point, so I fear a number of premature abandonments that, frankly, I can understand. I'd give a five to the uninteresting part and a nine to the rest, for a discrete final seven again.

Value & Enjoyment (7): Same tale. For perseverant souls there's a gem buried within Shuffle!; patience is required however to reach it. I wouldn't see again this series, except for a few chapters; but I don't regret the time I've devoted to it, which it pays in the end.

In the end, one can say that Shuffle! is a harem that goes one step further after the typical "The end" in the genre. Perhaps seeing it is justified by this alone.