hackett.queenie - 2013-12-28 12:05:08

I definitely did not expect to have a bombastic finale, but while Shinsekai Yori and Psycho-Pass had great endings I was pretty disappointed by Tempest’s ending. Still doesn’t change the fact that I really enjoyed this show.

So Yoshino getting shot was a red herring and thankfully that was quickly done with, in order to deal with the Tree of Genesis. While I do appreciate how unorthodox Tempest was in having a supporting character (Hanemura) being the big hero instead of Mahiro and Yoshino, it was obvious the staff knew they were running out of time and pulled a little golden deus ex machina to take out the Tree. Honestly, I wish this happened last episode and reserved the final episode for the epilogue – something I could easily see this show do, as it loves to defy expectations and preconceived notions. Thankfully, not all of it was that bad.

The parts with Aika were definitely true to her personality, as the above image clearly shows. That, and more Yoshino x Hakaze scenes never hurt either. Whether or not they turn out to be a couple is left to our imagination, though I wouldn’t have it any other way. Also, I was surprised to see how Hanemura’s girlfriend turned out to be completely non-important, I thought she would be Aika in disguise for some reason.

Animation – 8/10: The parts where they stand around and talk are obviously not well animated, but action scenes are definitely better choreographed.

Story – 13.5/15: Another story with time travel elements and doesn’t completely fall apart under it’s own weight? Awesome.

Characters – 17/20: Aika got into my top 10 characters list, she’s just one of the best kind of characters I rarely see: one’s who’ve died yet still play a major role in the story and even influencing events while seemingly deceased. Mahiro and Yoshino serve as perfect foils to each other quite well.

Sound – 6.5/10: Overly pretentious soundtrack, but great OP/ED and voice acting.

Enjoyment – 38/45: The first half was somewhat a chore to watch, but the many changes the second half brought were genius. In fact, I just about enjoyed every little change that Tempest does to differentiate itself from the masses – like starting off quite serious but then adding rom-com elements in the second half. I honestly hated this show at the beginning, and now I’m glad I actually stuck around to see it to the end because Tempest is a show that keeps you guessing and especially, surprised.

genoveva.sawayn - 2013-11-28 20:36:40

Zetsuen no Tempest has a special place in my heart. It was my second favourite series of its season, and surprisingly pleasurable to watch. Let me set it straight right off the bat - with regard to this series, I am biased, for various reasons. First and foremost, because Fuwa Aika resembles a character of my own making. Secondly because the flashbacks and backstory were absolutely delicious. Last but not the least, because anything inspired by Shakespeare, even if lightly, tends to have a dramatic tone hard to find anywhere else. I could keep listing proof of my partiality. But that’s beside the point. The point is - do not expect an objective review. Read at your own risk.

Attention: This review is not spoiler-free!

Story

Fuwa Mahiro, a teenager whose sister was recently murdered, can't deal with the injustice of her loss while the murderer is still unknown. After finding a wooden doll, he gets involved with Kusaribe Hakaze, a magician that is estranged on an island. All around, strange things are happening; people are succumbing to Black Iron Syndrome while giant fruits appear from the ground, and Hakaze needs Mahiro's help to save the world.

This could be a very typically shounen premise if not for the connections between Mahiro, Yoshino and Aika. The very first episode you are shown animosity between Aika and Yoshino in every flashback you get. You see Yoshino looking at his phone and going to school even though Mahiro, his friend, is missing. Even once they're reunited, Mahiro takes every chance he gets to tell Yoshino that he and Aika didn't get along. Despite the fact that Mahiro doesn't care about this world that illogically killed Aika, Yoshino decides to help him for the sake of saving the world. Yet, at the very end of the episode, there's a repetition of the flashback with Aika on Mahiro's bike, now seen from Yoshino's perspective. That's when you realize she's smiling at him. You realize that she's speaking ill of him to Mahiro at the same time they're saying goodbye behind his back. And you come to terms with the fact that Yoshino has been staring at one of her pictures on his cellphone ever since she died.

From then on, all the flashbacks are clearer and you start to see the Shakespearean relationships going on. Yoshino keeps the secret that he and Aika were dating from Mahiro. Mahiro likes Aika, his stepsister, but doesn't realize it. It was pretty obvious that at some point all these things were going to come out. I just wanted to be there when it happened.

Arguably, that first 10-out-of-10 impression was slightly attenuated by the main plot, which isn't as interesting for me as the character interactions. Now, don’t get me wrong. It stands up pretty well on its own and it’s a driver for everything that happens. It’s important. It might even be the most interesting part for some people. But it wasn't the bit I was looking forward to, after the first episode, no - the true delight of this series lied in the main character's relationships. I was in for feelings of sadness, warmth and cuteness, and the more I got those flashbacks, the more I wanted them. It was a brilliant strategy to feed these juicy bits slowly to the audience, amidst more common action. That kept me on the edge of my seat.

Characters

Since characters are such a capital aspect of this series, it was logically one of the things I paid most attention to. Soon I realized that there's a huge gap between the main characters and the side characters, which is development. I suppose the same happens with most series, where main characters change and are added depth as the story progresses, whilst the side characters are there as a utility more than as people. That is to say, they keep their role more or less the same way for the whole running time. While this doesn't diminish the enjoyment or quality of the show per say, it does make it hard to care for side characters. Sure, some look cool, witty or amusing, but they're there to fill in the gaps, and most of them don't work well as stand-alone characters. The only one I can recall that made me feel more than indifference was sister Yamamoto, because she has a strong (as in pushy) personality, which leaves a far stronger mark than the Kusaribe clan characters. The other side character with some potential, Junichiro, appeared too little to leave more than a fleeting impression.

Why isn't this enough of a flaw to lower my opinion of this series? Mostly, because I don't think most series need every character to be good. I love when that happens as much as everyone else, but realistically, most series have a small cast of really great characters, and a bigger cast of average ones. And I think that's okay, as long as the characters given most air-time are well-rounded and interesting. Such is this case. It would improve with better side characters, yes, but there's no need for them since the main ones are more than enough for the job.

Aika is amazing. It's widely agreed that she has a nasty personality, but it's the kind of nasty that I love. She's a strong female character, she's flirty, takes the lead, and decisive. She teases Yoshino as well as Mahiro, sometimes very meanly, and is perfectly aware of what she's doing. Nevertheless, she's also a dreamer, she believes in causality and logic, and recites Shakespeare on a daily basis, which means that she's not nasty because she's stupid or superficial. There are many layers to Aika, some of which are only revealed by the end of the series, and in there you can find kindness and independence, cute moments and straightforward ones, responsibility towards the world as the Magician of Exodus, cleverness, and a very human will to connect with those two boys. She's the best character of the series, in my eyes, and my only regret is that she is dead since the very first episode, and will not live again. You can share her past, but it's silly to pray for a future.

Hakaze is more typical, hence she doesn't shine as much. She needs help, but she's strong and smart all the same, perfectly fit to be the head of the clan. She does what she can by herself, still she doesn't have issues with relying on other people to do what she can't. At the same time, she falls hopelessly in love, she wavers and is a bit naïve. She struggles. I won't deny she has her charm, and certainly is easier for most people to relate to.

As for Mahiro and Yoshino, they're extremely interesting to watch whether on their own, with Aika and with each other. Mahiro surprised me with the maturity he has in spite of appearing selfish at first. I thought he was going to hit Yoshino when he learned he was Aika's mystery boyfriend, but my prediction was far off. More than anyone else, he has a process of discovery and acceptance going on until the very last moment. Yoshino is smart and collected but he's also wounded, suffering in silence. He can think his way out of difficult discussions and be eloquent. Still, the times I like Yoshino the most are when he shows a bit more of himself, like when he's around Mahiro.

Art and animation

I've come to notice that it’s hard to write properly about art and animation. It may be so because we've grown accustomed to quality in most anime out there nowadays, to a point in which it’s easier to pick the ones that disappoint than the ones that are good. Still, under the risk of becoming repetitive, I have to try.

Personally, I love the art-style used in Zetsuen no Tempest. While it’s not particularly distinctive or revolutionary, it is not overdone. Everything feels smooth and pretty. The animation is consistent and the type of perspective used in some scenes adds up to the drama. Particularly Mahiro, Aika, Hakaze and Yoshino, the people you’re supposed to care about the most, stand out as the best designed characters.

Where it gets distinctive is in the use of colour. The first ending stands out for the pastel tones and aesthetically beautiful lines, with some hints of art noveau. That's not something one sees a lot, and for me it was as gorgeous as it was refreshing to look at. Beautiful curves and lines are kept throughout the episodes but never in an excessive way. In fact, that style is only blatantly obvious in specific images such as Aika's death, where to some extent it helps making the scene memorable and visually appealing.

Music and voice-acting

When I finished the series I rushed to listen to the soundtrack and wow, is it good! It’s full of classical and cataclysmic pieces that call to mind some Romantic-era composers. My personal favourite is the first track, Zetsuen. It’s filled to the brim with sadness, longing, and impending doom, but it’s gorgeous. Both openings and endings are catchy, and I even use the first opening, Spirit Inspiration, as a warm-up song, to get the blood pumping to my brain. In it, I found that essence that goes well with the need to struggle and fight. On the other hand, the first ending is just so cute and upbeat that it contrasts deeply against the tense, nearly overdramatic, cliffhangers that were sure to happen every episode.

As for the voice actors, I’ve got nothing but to congratulate them. Job well done! The voices suit the character’s image and personality and never feel out of place. Uchiyama Kouki (Soul Evans in Soul Eater) is mostly collected in his portrayal of Yoshino, whereas Toyonaga Toshiyuki (Ryuugamine Mikado in Durarara!!) as Mahiro’s voice spells angsty brat as well as any voice could. More importantly, Aika’s voice is done by none other than Hanazawa Kana (Tsunemori Akane from Psycho Pass, Shiemi from Ao no Exorcist, and many more) who I had already complemented in my Angel Beats review, but who I like even more as Aika. Her voice is sweet but devious at times, and she deserves most of the credit for the Aika's playful nature.

Hakaze’s voice, of course, is a central piece during half of the series, since that’s the only part of her the two boys are aware of. Not only that, but it's a voice you hear a lot, be it in negotiations or explanations throughout the series. It’s done by Sawashiro Miyuki (Celty Sturlson from Durarara!! and Shinku from Rozen Maiden), who puts up a great performance, as per usual. The other voices, albeit less impactful, were also well achieved, which is no wonder when they feature seyuu like Kaji Yuuki (Eren Jäger in Shingeki no Kyoujin, Alibaba in Magi), Mizuki Nana (Alois Trancy in Kuroshitsuji) and Koyama Rikiya (Shinigami in Soul Eater). Unlike it happens so often with side characters, at no point did I feel that a scene was poorly delivered. Overall, a big thumbs-up.

Enjoyment

As I've stated before, I massively enjoyed following this series. For me it was the characters and the hidden truths waiting to be revealed sooner or later that kept my expectations up. While that was truth for me as a viewer, it doesn't have to apply to everyone watching the series. For the most part, I believe many others were interested in learning more about the Clan, the Tree of Genesis and its powers, and how the magic system works in that world. Some just wanted an all-out fight between Genesis and Exodus. Ones got what they wanted more than others, as proved by different opinions on the quality of the series.

Regardless, there’s enough in it to entertain all these people. In the way that I see it, there’s only one pre-requisite to enjoy the series, and that is being interested in any of its elements, be it the lovely animation, the magic, the dramatic tunes or just Shakespearian references. That being the case, try this show. It grabbed a hold of me promising not to let go. May it do the same to you.

Read this review and more on http://blurbarians.blogspot.pt

ifunk - 2013-10-08 08:43:13

Love - the romantic feeling - is an interesting thing, I'd wager it's the most interesting aspect of humankind. While all our other emotions and motives have clear and logical benefits to our chances of survival, love itself doesn't contribute at all to our existence. Fear teaches us not to hug snakes and other dangerous animals and not to jump off cliffs just because it's faster to get down that way; caring for our children has the obvious benefit of us saving them, making sure they live and carry on our genetic code; and so on. Love, on the other hand doesn't have any clear benefit, it could even be regarded as counterproductive since instead of men making other offsprings they are - biologically - being put on the sidelines for 9 months. Yet, or maybe for this very reason, love is our most treasured feeling, something that could make a life worth living. It's illogical and nonsensical. And despite all that, somehow it must make us stronger since our ancestors that had these feelings passed it down to us in our genes and it didn't disappear in the many millennia of human evolution.

Being fond of an intellectual creation is much like love itself; most of the time we can't exactly tell what makes it "good". Of course we have critics but an – ideally – objective review can't and doesn't want to convey such feelings. They can highlight certain flaws and strengths, but they won't ever show the whole picture.

Zetsuen no Tempest is an above average show with stunning visuals, somewhat unique characters and the pretentious icing of Shakespeare's spirit via out of the place quotes. Yet, for some reason it took hold of me and didn't let me go until I binge watched the whole series. I can't quite put my finger on the cause. It might be getting to know one of the most, if not the most unique female characters I've seen in anime – or any other medium, for that matter. Or maybe it pokes something in my Shakespeare lover side. Not that it matters, and I don't want to know either since I don't want the magic to disappear.

Rest assured, I'll try – and will – be as objective as possible. But bear in mind, the picture I paint with my review is nothing more than what it would feel like to experience a piece of art by hearing its description. It's not false, but it's most definitely not the real McCoy either.

Shakespeare is looked upon by many critics as the greatest writer who ever walked the earth. It's no surprise that many of his plays are popular even today and remakes of his works are seemingly infinite. Japan has tried to rework one of his most famous dramas in Romeo x Juliet but it failed miserably. None of the characters retained their original personality, backstory or motivation whatsoever. It was unique in that it brought characters from other works of Shakespeare into its universe, but all it amounted to was a couple of characters with the same name as their famous counterparts that only Shakespeare fanatics would recognize – but unfortunately they gave up on the show after the second episode.

When I first read the synopsis and that Zetsuen no Tempest is a mixture of The Tempest and Hamlet with a hint of Romeo and Juliet, I was already bracing myself for a disastrous failure that yet again tries to milk Shakespeare's legacy. Thankfully that's not the case, you can think of the anime as something that's "inspired by" – and not "copied word for word" – many of his works. Most of the main characters inherit from several Shakespearian figures, but this effect is never more than a little flavor to some already interesting personalities.

The four main characters (from left to right: Yoshino, Mahiro, Hakaze, Aika)

The fundamentals of the story are simple: the sorceress princess Hakaze of the Kusaribe clan is betrayed by her own subjects and put on a deserted island in a barrel while they're trying to resurrect the evil deity, the Tree of Exodus. She can't escape the island and exact revenge on her enemies since the island doesn't have any ingredients for her magic, rendering her helpless – here we have our gender-bended Prospero of The Tempest in the image of a surprisingly resilient and independent, if a little spoiled damsel in distress. By chance she contacts Mahiro who helps her to stop her enemies' plan, and in exchange she promises to help him find his sister's murderer – he's our Hamlet, bent on revenge and willing to sacrifice anyone and anything for it. On his journey he's joined by his best – and only – friend Yoshino, the voice of reason and calculation – the anime's Horatio. The last remaining main character is Aika – the story's Ophelia –, Mahiro's dead sister. It might sound odd at first that someone who's been dead for a year by the time the story starts is a main character, but via flashbacks and memories – and a little surprise that's not going to surprise anyone by the time it happens – she'll easily become as important as the other three.

Thankfully the characters' roles aren't this simple as they have many traits from several other Shakespearian characters too. Yoshino, for example, inherits some of Hamlet's emotions and motives – not to mention, lines... –, and he's also the Romeo of the show. It becomes quite comical after a while that he's involved in two – out of two, may I add – romantic relationships in a fundamentally non-romantic show at the same time. Poor Mahiro, for being the obvious shōnen style lead he just can't catch a break.
Aika on the other hand inherits from Juliet – sorry, spoiler alert, but as it's discovered in the first episode so I believe you'll manage – besides Ophelia, and by her own words, Caliban, the monstrous servant of Prospero. She's also our source of Shakespearian quotes since she seems to have a couple of lines for every situation. While it does have a pretentious feel to it – not unlike the quotes in Psycho-Pass, for example –, all of them are from either Hamlet or The Tempest, so it at least seems plausible and she doesn't feel like a walking encyclopedia.

"The time is out of joint. O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!" - Hamlet

The story is intriguing and mysterious in the first half, but unfortunately the writers seem to have stopped caring about making everything logical. I'd rather not elaborate on this matter because it's more than a little spoilery, but unfortunately after a while cause and effect get mixed up and the core battle – and the reason of said battle – between the Tree of Exodus and the Tree of Genesis, and even their existence becomes illogical. It's a shame; if you've seen Mirai Nikki you've already experienced something similar: if you pay attention to everything you'll no doubt find the events ridiculous, but if you just lay back and enjoy the ride it's going to be entertaining.

I'll have to give a big plus to the storytelling on account of the main characters' roles though. At first glance Mahiro seems like the obvious main protagonist, having made a deal with a sorceress and not backing out of any battle – he's a typical shōnen protagonist overall, no doubt. But weirdly enough, at least in the anime, most of the time we see things from Yoshino's point of view, making things dynamic and interesting as most of the time he's the one who holds the majority of the cards. It's definitely an interesting choice from the creators, and it makes it possible to choose who you want to see as the main lead. Well done.

One of the fruits of Exodus, twisted in just the right amount.

On a more technical note: the visuals are just a hair's length short of stunning. The cataclysmic events the fruits of Exodus bring are gorgeous, the fight sequences are well animated, and the art style is gloomy where it needs to be. It's not top tier quality – it's not as unique as Bakemonogatari or Madoka Magica, for example – but it's still one of the main selling points of the series.
The sound on the other hand is only decent. The background music is for the most time fitting but at certain points it's distracting, the voice acting is first class but nothing out of the ordinary. On a more positive note, while it's entirely subjective, the first opening is one of the best I've seen lately.

To sum it up, you won't have any serious gripes with the production quality, even if you're picky in this area.

Let us finish up this already long review.
TL;DR: watch the first couple of episodes, if the atmosphere grabs you it's a safe to say that you'll like the rest.

Longer version: the show definitely has its ups and downs. The initially logical and well thought out story falls apart in the later parts, some of the minor characters change their mind without any indication before they start contradicting everything they've done up until that point, and you could argue that the ending is anticlimactic. As I've mentioned, it's very much like Mirai Nikki in lots of aspects, but it also means that it's as good – even better, since thankfully Yuuki was left out of the story – as that. Of course it doesn't say too much for some people, but a lot of us enjoyed Mirai Nikki and accepted it for what it was: entertainment that you don't need several doctorates to understand. If you're looking for something like that, Zetsuen no Tempest is for you. If not, you can still give it a shot, that something that grabbed me might be able to pique your interest too.

Because of the obvious flaws the show has, I can't give it anything more than 4 stars. That being said, while 4 stars is a very high score, even if I look at it as objectively as possible, I can't justify giving it any less. The final score is 4 stars and a big recommendation.

tyra.barton - 2013-08-27 12:47:55

Zetsuen no Tempest,oh how I've waited for this to be animated.Another great work from the same author as Spiral and he sure loves to bring his logic into everything.

Story 9/10

While I admit the story has a few flaws I just loved it,you have a stranded magician girl on a island and two friends caught in a revenge story and love triangle.Basically she is the sister of one of them and the girlfriend of the other one,she was killed and we need to find the killer that's pretty much what you know in the first episode.The story has a lot of twists and turns similar to death note,and also a lot of shakespeare references and quotes

Animation 10/10

Animation is great,Bones did a great job,but then again in todays standards I guess it can't be considered anything special

Sound 9/10

So many great tracks in here,I believe it's made by the same person who did the ost for FMA

Character 10/10

This is where Zetsuen no tempest really shines.All the characters work great with each other.Even the villains become likeable,but then again who is the real villain?The two main characters really complete each other,Yoshino the calculated one and Mahiro the one that acts on instincts

Enjoyment 10/10

Maybe it's just me fanboying but I enjoyed every second of this

Overall 10/10

more like a 9.5 but whatever while not everyone might like it it's still a great anime that shouldn't be missed

alexys.murphy - 2013-08-23 17:34:25

Possible spoilers ahead, but you should know that, a review draws on the show as a whole. Now that that's out of the way, Zetsuen no Tempest.

Although a good show, the story is Tempest's definite weak point. The first 3 or so episodes are rather confusing, by jumping months at a time, sometimes jumping back, and it becomes hard to tell what exactly is going on, but that's the start of a show, on it's I would have ignored it and been fine, but then as the show goes on it starts to feel backwards. Where a normal show would usually use the first half as a build up and the second half would have more action, it reverses, for most of the second half the scale of what's going on actually feels smaller. And then there's the ass pull, yes it concluded everything nicely, but I mean really, a giant sword out of nowhere?

The animation was spot on, it created the devastating feel it needed while still looking very pretty. Also when you start using magic the way they were, it can be really easy to botch, but Tempest made all the fighting scenes rather fluid and fun to watch.

Characters, while mainly focusing on 3, one of which was only present in flashbacks, none of the cast really feels forced, yes many of them were left a little bare in the back-story department, it was fine because they weren't really on screen enough to need one, what they gave was enough. One of the most important characters was already dead and it got tiring to watch the inability to move on, the sudden love interest, while making sense, took away from the urgency the first half of the show had. And again we run into the backwards problem this show has, in a normal show we follow the hero as he trains and comes to learn his power and save the day in the, but here, he shows up in the second half, almost all of his training is off screen, and is treated as a side character that was shoehorned in, which he was. While handled very well, keeping focus on the two friends and their struggles, it still just felt off.

Overall I really enjoyed this show, it was fun and entertaining to watch backwardness and all.

tkautzer - 2013-08-12 15:05:23

If you read Zetsuen no Tempest's rating from some websites and saw that it's bad, I'm here to prove you that they're not that bad at all!

STORY

The beginning of the story start off kinda strong, with some background story of the main protagonists and their gateway to learn magic after a tragedy. The first half of the series were really epic, both mentally or physically, even though it has a magic and shounen genre, the story isn't about fighting all the time, but they are combined with psychological talks and strategies, also some adventures that has problems but didn't include big fights like in most shounen anime, for me the first half of the film has an excellent story. However the second half kinda disappoints me, it start off very weak, with both of the protagonists split apart with different organization, the second half did continued from where the first half left off, but the second half just kinda left that epic touch from the first half. Also the second half turns into more of a romance/magic anime, and more emotions are combined to it that it kinda bores me, and the plot is seriously much rougher, and the additional characters bores me too (probably only me though).

ANIMATION

Zetsuen no Tempest have a generally good animation, since the battles using magic does seemed quite awesome and was enjoyable. However, most of the time the character's animation is stiff, and the background seemed to be kinda rough. The characters design were, on the other hand, actually quite well-done, each faces and bodies signifies who was the pacifist and who was the one who wants to fight.

SOUND

The OSTs were not that special, it's just like your typical shounen anime, but it does varies and can excite you during some scenes. Both of the opening songs though don't have such a good music, the pictures were awesome and tells you what the anime is about, without really spoiling what happens next. The second ending was top-class, very great song, with great pictures and animations (at least for me).

CHARACTER

Basically, the characters were not really that special, however it does amazes me how characters with different goals, personalities, reactions to things can work together as a team. Personally I liked Yoshino Takigawa, because he likes to solve things calmly and works with his brain, but can get really great at fighting to when needed. Fuwa Mahiro was your typical "I want my revenge" guy, who seeks vengeance wherever he goes, but I liked how he would do anything to get secrets out of someone. Hakaze Kusaribe was one of my favorite female character, at least during the first half, since she was very strong, tough, pretty, and smart, but her character development during the second half that turns her softer because of her emotions kinda hit me hard. I also liked Fuwa Aika, who really was your typical anime girl, but I liked her because she was also strong, pretty and smart, yet she would solve anything possible without fighting, and she turns out to be who I wanted her to be to the end.

First half of the anime:

This HUGE hole was caused by Hakaze's Magic. Pure strength.

Second half of the anime:

All because of love..

ENJOYMENT

If you like to watch anime with magic and is also a shounen anime, then I really recommend this for you, because honestly, I really enjoy the fights (both the physical fight and the "mind" fight), it's epic. As for you guys who doesn't really enjoy magic/shounen types of anime, I would still recommend you since not all of the scenes were fighting scenes, and most non-fighting scenes still have that enjoyable-touch to it, also the story is actually very good (especially the first half). I may or may not be the only one who thinks the first half was better, since there had been a lot of different opinions everywhere about this anime, so suit yourself and enjoy! :D

"Everything happens for a reason. The daily tragedies and misfortunes are all meaningful events, leading toward an ideal conclusion. With that in mind, there probably isn’t really any meaningless misfortune." — Fuwa Aika

noemi52 - 2013-06-28 09:34:16

I wish I could give this series an 11 out of 10, but that would go beyond logic! Yet, something that is illogical is not necessarily untrue.This anime is among those very-very few that gave me chills, made me experience sadness, expectation, joy, and left me completely satisfied with the ending. Additionally, it inspired me to actually look into Shakespeare's work to understand the author's motivations. Sure the characters often quote Hamlet and Tempest, which at times may appear farfetched or cheesy, yet it perfectly fits in with the mood and numbs your mind with delight.And who could have thought that Beethoven's "The Tempest" could become a well-fitted theme composition for a modern animated series? That it has, marvellously.Romance, mystery, deceit, suspicion, magic, apocalypse, Shakespeare, Beethoven, cliffhangers, comedy, tragedy? Zetsuen no Tempest combines all with outmost elegance. I won't say it's perfect, but I'm definitely in love with it.

vsimonis - 2013-06-28 04:29:57

This my first time ever writing a review here on MAL. I felt the need to write one because this show is by far the most underrated show of the season. The story is original, the characters are great, and the artwork is beautiful. There is quite a bit of action in Zetsuen no Tempest but it's the dialogue that will keep you on the edge of your seat, especially in the later episodes. It's what happens when there is no real "bad guy" and both sides are desperately fighting for what they truly and honestly believe is right. These shows are always so much more intense and so much better than your typical "I'm doing this because I'm evil and you're here to stop me because you're good." shows. I highly recommend this show to everyone.

feeney.price - 2013-04-04 02:45:19

"What's past is prologue." - The Tempest - William Shakespeare

Nothing could say more about Blast of Tempest than Shakespeare's The Tempest which is heavily referenced throughout the series.  Blast of Tempest is a story about overcoming entrapment in the past, both figuratively and literally. 

Story

One thing that can be said about Blast of Tempest is that it follows a logical premise that manages to feel legitimately inspired despite its fair share of twists.  Even though the story involves magic, the series defines a strong logical framework that both empowers and entraps its characters.

Above all, our character's personal history is a major factor in the series.  It drives Mahiro on a vengeful path to determine who killed his sister and weighs down Yoshino to the point of near-detachment.  It is only when these characters are able to accept fate and focus that they are able to allow a tragic event to become the means to a better end (saving the world).  Moreover, past as a general influence is extremely well-realized.  Events in the past, including Hakaze's imprisonment, Aika's death, and even further back to the formation of the Tree of Exodus as a means to end the Tree of Genesis's purpose in resetting humanity are central to the plot.

Furthermore, the notion of order and chaos is thematically prevalent in the series.  Even though the Tree of Genesis represents order, it is only with the chaos represented by the Tree of Exodus that humanity can thrive and even exist.  Despite the resurgence of crime and inequality after the dissolution of the Tree of Genesis, it is easy to understand the necessity in the action and why the order imposed by the Tree of Genesis would eventually deem all of humanity unrighteous.

The only major flaw to Blast of Tempest's story is that it tends to use its characters as if they are actors in a play (perhaps intentionally).  Each character plays his part, often without question.  This is extremely noticeable in Aika's casual acceptance of her fate despite what clearly would have been a difficult decision - but this may actually speak more to her character than to the show's tendency to have its actors fill a role.

Characters

Character development is very important in Blast of Tempest - and all of its main characters, Hakaze, Yoshino, Mahiro and Aika, are a strong basis to the show's central themes despite their differing personas.  What enforces their strength is their intelligence - even in Mahiro's case - the characters carefully and cleverly plan their actions.

Hakaze is a strong female lead that is open and direct, while sometimes being too upfront and occasionally becoming distracted by desire.  What defines Hakaze the most is that, despite her attunement to the Tree of Genesis, she is far from unquestioning.  Her actions are often fueled by her desire to seek her own path, even with opposition or without knowing the consequences.  It makes her into a character nearly embracing chaos despite the order surrounding her - which accentuates her foil in Aika.

Aika, though appearing frail, is strong to a fault.  Her character embraces the ideology of Exodus far too unconditionally which is but testament to her acceptance with being an actress in a play.  She often quotes Hamlet and The Tempest because she feels that her only goals have already been previously scripted and she must play to those ideals.

Mahiro, on the other hand, represents another extreme of chaos with his absolute path of vengeance.  His early ambitions are simply to avenge the death of Aika, but this actually drives him to greatness because of her involvement in much more crucial matters.  When he is freed from this path, his goal has actually become to enact a plan to save the world.  Mahiro is a renegade without being overly reckless and ambitious to a point where he is not clouded.

Yoshino, for a large majority of the show, is very detached.  Aika's death had an opposing effect on him in that he nearly lost desire to function after her passing.  Even though he is tied down by her loss, he thinks clearly and keeps Mahiro in check when he is pushing himself too far.  It's important to note that Yoshino is the last character to resolve his past as a lesson in history, because he is too entrapped by it.  Hakaze's confessions to him cause him to break because he is not ready to continue his life until all others' problems have been resolved.

Quality

Blast of Tempest is breathtaking visually and its usage of classical pieces in its soundtrack is excellently done.  By now, this is what we expect from BONES, so it isn't too unbelievable that this show lives up to BONES's capability to generate quality in its production value.  Particularly of note are the show's excellent action scenes that accentuate brilliant animation along with well-utilized classical music.

Closing
While Blast of Tempest occasionally falls short of absolute excellence in its willingness to allow its characters to fill roles, it presents a story of past entanglements that is very well-realized and non-contradictory with a cast that synergizes their differing viewpoints.

Cross-posted from my blog:  
Zetsuen no Tempest: Blast from the Past

carolanne86 - 2013-03-16 17:21:13

I couldn't let this show pass without a positive review, as it is in my opinion one of the best of the Winter 2012/2013 season!

Story

First, I don't think you can judge this show by the story alone, or, if you do, this is definitely not a show for you. The story lacks some originality, but is well-rounded and well-executed.

After seeing the first episode, I was worried Hakaze would end up as nothing more than a plot device. I was wrong, as the later episodes would show. There is some suspension of disbelief, but most of the story made some sense under the initial assumptions, and I've seen much worse (like the disaster Eureka 7 AO was).

The only thing (besides Hakaze on the island) that got me roll my eyes was that whole "everybody's dead, we're all alone in the world" part at the beginning. While making perfect sense for a character-focused story (you don't want a bunch of random people to intrude on your stage) and being a classic twist in such shows, I always dislike that kind of setup. Thankfully, it didn't stay for long!

Most of this show's greatness (and, arguably, its main point) comes from the characters. It does not focus on the story, but on the acting, and that is a wonder to behold. It is one of the very few shows I can think of that put its characters on a stage (as opposed to only "inside a story") and let them play their part so well.

Sure, the constant Shakespeare quotes can be annoying to some, but I respect that the directors had the balls to pull something from such a well-known author and to use it add some soul to a storyline that, without it, would just have been the classical "hero-slays-the-big-fatass-tree-then-gets-the-hot-girl-the-end".

Characters

The main characters (Yoshino and Mahiro included) look more mature than one would expect in the anime world (where 20-years old somehow always look like middle-grade schoolkids), and this is definitely a relief!

As I said, Hakaze, despite looking like the standard, over-used "hot chick" trope, thankfully plays a bit more than her token part and does a wonderful counterpart to Aika's cold and playful demeanor.

The voice acting is great, especially Aika's part, of which we hear far too little.

Music

The music is absolutely fantastic. This is the single best use you can find of Beethoven's works in Japanese animation, and more. It really complements the story well, and the other tracks are just as good.

Conclusion

Well, it seems this is not a very popular show, but I really liked it for what it was. It could have been a disaster with what it tried to pull of, but it was done well enough to have me coming back every week, and the latest episodes (still have to watch #22 right now) were really awesome!