jaren.shields - 2013-06-26 02:20:00

Phi Brain is all about solving puzzles, however if you think that you'll be able to solve puzzles along with the protagonists, then I'll put that hope to rest now, you're not, whilst you'll get the occasional glimpse at the whole puzzle they are for the most part exclusively for the characters.The character designs are very brash and crude, very much like the show itself, and whilst I am hesitant to call them outright bad they are certainly below average. This is a low budget anime, and so the animation and art is poor, expect to see many off model shots every episode, which are often so bad that they are distracting. Whilst this is the case, the animation level doesn't detract too much from the anime as a whole.The music is worlds apart from the art, the opening "Brain Diver" is a catchy and energetic song that fits the series well, and the ending, "Hologram" is a pleasant track that grows on you as the series progresses. The soundtrack is also pretty good, which at points makes up for the appalling animation quality. It isn't amazing, but is remarkable considering the budget, and works well to make the action scenes tense.During the first few episodes you will find yourself hard pressed to like the main characters, as the first few episodes focus on making Kaito look as cool as possible by having him casually solve difficult puzzles and the like, to the point where it feels like they're trying to force it down our throats. Gammon comes across as loud and obnoxious, and Cubic seems like an arrogant child prodigy. However as the series progresses past the first few episodes and onto the main plot, the characters become much more likable. This is because they stop trying to outdo each other in both arrogance and in puzzle solving and start working together against the antagonists of the series, the POG.The story starts off very simply, the POG will set Kaito a puzzle and he'll proceed to solve it using his Orpheus armband, often with the help of one of the geniuses that Kaito meets during the first few episodes. Fortunately the plot becomes more engrossing before too long which makes the series more interesting and reduces the repetitiveness. Don't expect anything deep or complicated from the main plot of Phi Brain as it's still straightforward and standard shounen, but it's an improvement. The puzzles act as a way for the characters to fight each other, and in later episodes "battle puzzles" are introduced, where the two contestants directly match their wits. This is quite entertaining at times, however, the fact you can't see the puzzle in its entirety is frustrating, as it alienates you from the tactics employed.Phi Brain improves as it progresses, but it never reaches the level of quality I would have liked, however that does not mean it's bereft of entertainment, and although it doesn't have the gripping battles of wit it was aiming for, it's a simple shounen that you can find fairly enjoyable if you aren't feeling too critical.

qschuster - 2013-05-30 11:34:37

10 Okabe-sans out of 10. One of the most epic anime to ever exist. Every episode was an ephemeral and viscerally compelling experience in action, drama, music, and graphics. Every puzzle was meticulously crafted from what seemed to be generations of research, experience, and dedication. No puzzle was like the other and each one worked in myriad ways to bring the plot dead front and center to stun the viewer into being completely shocked at its scale and depth. Yes, this anime was that deep and it even went deeper as the episode count went on and the stunningly designed main characters went through hard trials of friendship, trust and betrayal as they worked to save the world from the clutches of evil and bring the moon and the sun together at last. The music greatly complemented this with rifts and synths that were characters of a ritzy jazz club to being as emotionally moving and perplexing as a Beethovian symphony. Verily, this anime was unlike any other and was, ultimately, the anime of the last year and 2012. I can bet 10 Apple Juices out of 10, that like Jikugawa, this anime will be unable to resist being something you need to indulge.

carli80 - 2013-05-10 03:47:17

Currently watched the first few episodes of this "interesting" anime. So far like many veterans to anime have noticed it does play on the tropes a lot. Be it protagonist who really only does something particularly interesting in the so on so action of a series to the tsundere told you so girl in his life who happens to be a friend who can always get into his house whenever she wants with no parents around in sight. For beginners in anime in the current time and age I recommend this to you, for you old time fans watch with a grain of salt and enjoy. I know I enjoy it even though I can say hey they did something just like this in that anime.

The anime itself:

Story:

The plot is pretty straightforward. Protagonist Kaito needs to solve all of the philosopher puzzles set forth by an ancient puzzle making organization called POG-puzzle of god.

Art:

The art and animation for this show are amazing and you can see again that Sentai Filmworks has picked another eye appealing anime to license in English.

Sound:

Great quality and a great dub cast for people to enjoy.

Character:

Unfortunately characters in Phi Brain don't seem to get much character development unique to this anime at least. Now if you were to say oh hey I can relate these characters to all of these other ones I've seen that would sum up most of the characters in this anime. I will agree I did at sometimes feel like I was watching a bit of yugioh most of the time Kaito says time to solve this puzzle but what is a protagonist without there catch phrase?

Over all go ahead and watch this anime you might be surprised and find yourself enjoying it if you don't try to criticize it.

claude57 - 2013-04-25 22:18:23

If you're new to anime, you may like Phi Brain?If you are able to pride yourself on your patience, you may like Phi Brain?Perhaps you are just an eternal optimist - you have the ability to see the best in any situation?I see myself as quite an optimist...Someone who doesn't like feeling dissapointed and thus, only ventures into the interesting, holding has high hopes and wanting to enjoy - Phi Brain is a test! Characters...The typical 'popular' types that are slotted anime's on a regular basis.Writers knowing that the audience will see familiarities this character shares with a number 'highly popular' characters from other anime that have massive fanbases; the 'clone' is instantely accept. Though often, ittle effort has been made to take a 'type' and make it stand out from the thousand of others of that 'type', this lack of individuality easily equals 'generic'.Here are a few examples:- a passive male main, the hero central to the plot; he's of school age (a schoolboy infact) who is hailed a 'genious' - this is his ability, though he doesn't partical stand out; he isn't popular or awkward, he's just a modest medium who fits in, displaying little personality as he's he's 'all-work-no-play'- his tsundere, stroppy, tomboyish childhood friend female sidekick who assaulted him for reason upon her debut; doesn't seem to have any reason to be around and doesn't seem to hang around with anyone else, her only reason for being present appears to be; love interest and occasional damzel in destress- the token smug starter rival- the unhinged, eccentric 'bad boy'Story...The story has every potential to be decent, it's simply about a boy who's a genious and can solve complex puzzels, puzzels in many sences of the word; the series has went from getting out of booby traped ruins, to solving a conspiracy - this story could cover a lot of grounds, yet unfortunately, like many series's out their, the story takes a back seat; in order to providen 'funny' entertainment, the priority order of material is; character type>tried-tested-and-approved scenario>current plot.Art...The best aspect of the series - the characters are very pretty, the scenery is well detailed, the colour pallet is very bright yet mellow and the characters in motion look very fluid.Enjoyment...None too enjoyable for a veteran like myself; even lowering my expectations didn't work - it makes one think 'If I want a mystery, I'll watch '...' instead' and 'I'll turn to '...' to view 'that' character type played out in a decent manner'. Unless this series does a dramatic 180 some time very soon, 25 ep's is honestly too long.Overall...Mediocre - though many generic anime's do 'generic' better then this.