X

The world is in trouble. Through the course of fated destinies, a handful of trained warriors have been called to either protect humanity or to cleans the Earth, bringing about a rebirth to the land. Ironically, a double-edged sword – or twin sword, "X" is an epic adventure that builds characters that an audience can follow, a plot that is emotional, and animation that is so grandiose, that it would make Disney shed a tear. Alas, that isn't to say this series is without faults, but the central key moments are so developed, that one cannot help but jump from one episode to the next, eager to see what befalls our heroes and villains. This was my first full-length animated series (outside of "Serial: Lain") that I have experienced, and while it wasn't as powerful as my prior viewings, it was enough to keep my interest going in this genre. "X" is a series of powerful battles, engrossing story arcs, impressive sounds, and unexpected turns – so developed that even the amateur anime watcher will be captivated by this world. "X" requires dedication, it requires time, and it requires strength to remember who is interconnected with whom, but in the end, it pays off rewardingly.

Upon watching this series, one could easily jump to the finale to see the epic conclusion, but what makes "X" more than just your typical Saturday-morning cartoon epic is the characters that we literally get to understand (and at times fall for) within the twenty-four breathtaking episodes. The evil of Fuma, the depression of Subaru, and the love that Satsuki feels are just a few of the emotions that we are privy to throughout this series. Also within the twenty-four episodes, we see moments of fantasy, destruction, betrayal, love, death, and desire. What pulled me in from the opening episode of this series is the curvy path the director as well as the creators took me on. We aren't introduced to the heroine right away, we are mislead, shadowed throughout, and while small truths are revealed in each individual episode, "X" continues to leave question upon question unanswered, forcing us to look forward to the upcoming episode. Couple this with the outstanding, crisp animation, and "X" seems refreshing in the tub of overplayed and over-recycled American animation. There were certain scenes that just stood out in your mind (especially the final battle), backgrounds that were breathtaking, and battles that made you ask, "How did they do that?" The adult themes and blood-filled battles (unheard of in American animation), bring a sense of realism to this story that is not suitable for young children, but as an adult, I would rather kids watch this instead of what is currently programmed.

Alas, as mentioned earlier, "X" isn't perfect. It isn't a series that I could immediately reboot, but could suggest to friends. There is quite a bit of development towards a twin-sword in this series, and it likened me to what was impressive as well as disappointing in this series. As previously stated, each episode takes us closer to the truth; sometimes it was the pacing that draws us back. Twenty-four episodes are quite a bit to watch, and in the center episodes, as we develop further relationships and characters, there seems to be a lull in the momentum that was initially set. While battles do not seem to be in short supply, it is the introduction to characters that are impressive, but seem to be left behind as larger stories unfold. With some, they come and go quickly, almost as if our creators didn't really have a full plot for them to follow. This may be my only complaint about this series…one can only repeat the fact that the characters were bold, impressive, and invigorating, but their roles within the world of "X" were not as exciting as I wanted them to be. This was a story about technology, humanity, and nature, and, alas, these three elements were not explored as well as they could. My other small complaint is the lack of real-world complications. While our character's emotions were honest and believable, the battles seemed staged merely due to the barriers they were able to use to not cause damage to the surrounding city. No humans actually were privy to this battle, and I think that could have been explored further. We seemed to focus only on our main characters, and only within their flashbacks, did we see any other involvement with the real world. I wished to see who the people supported, and who they would rally behind in such an epic battle. The ending does mention that the public never would know about their future, but it seemed cheap to me.

Overall, this was a great series despite the picky critic flaws. I would recommend this series to anyone interested in an epic that involves a substantial storyline, amazing characters, and intense battle sequences. This would be a favorite to anyone who enjoys the "Final Fantasy" films or games.

Grade: *** out of *****

I came to love manga for the first time when I read Tokyo Babylon. Also this manga made me know Clamp and induced me to read RG Veda and the uncompleted X and further TV series of X. Heaven and Earth, Protection and Destruction; Felicity and Agony; Tenderness and Brutality…… all these seeming like antonyms penetrates into the fate of Kamui and Fuuma and "torture" the loyal fans of Clamp. It's really frustrating when Clamp announced the serialization of X stopped in 2002 and I believe many adherents of X and Tokyo Babylon had to face the reality after years of waiting. Anyway, the TV series give us an ending: Fuuma stabbed Kamui and declared that all living things would be destroyed together with Kamui's death, while Kamui told him that he had been living in Fuuma's heart all along and had brought the Wish into the latter's heart. I could not help being sobbing at the scene and this was the first and only time I almost cried my heart out for Kamui. I have to confess that my great love in X shall attribute to Subaru and Seishiro. Subaru is timid, solitary, shy, soft-hearted, angelic, pure…… so I have to love him so much. So I had to extremely desire to visit Tokyo to take a full view of this city going to end in prosperity from the top of that symbolic tower as well as pay a visit to Rainbow Bridge in memory of someone; So I kept the brand –Mild Seven in my mind even though I hate smoking and got jubilant when I happened to see a pack of cigarettes named Mild Seven in a street cigarette stand; So I got to be in love with Sakura and convinced that pink Sakura is unique and sentient; So I felt an impulse to learn Japanese language even Japanese culture……Most of all, I become easily agitated at hearing about Subaru, clamp, TB or X or anything related. Sometimes I feel lonely in the manga world Clamp created because there's few people around me knows Clamp, but when I saw the touching story Clamp fans created on BBS, I got an undescribable sense of contentment. Though Clamp does not give an answer to the destiny of seven angels and seven seals due to its ramdon decision, I really enjoyed the X very much because genial affection and tenderness prevail in depressing and dark backdrop.

At first "X" may look like about the fight between two opposing force, the Dragon of Heaven (Ten no Ryu) and the Dragon of Earth (Chi no Ryu) to prevent or cause the destruction of mankind. However, upon close inspection, it's actually more about the fate of those individuals who are unwillingly chosen by 'fate' to represent each side of the opposing forces.

The series is dark and depressing but all in all presents excellent character development and plot that stands above and beyond the movie version of the same name. A knowledge of "Tokyo Babylon" prior to watching this is helpful in understand some of the characters in here but is not extremely necessary.

Two months ago, I'd have told you that I despised anime, because two months ago I was under the heavily mistaken impression that all anime was "Dragonball Z" and "DigiMon". Having recently viewed all 24 episodes of "X", I was clearly mistaken. This was the first series I have ever seen about which I have had nothing serious to criticize.

Once one gets past the absolutely godawful, mood-killing, schmalzy theme songs at the beginning and end of each episode, one discovers immensely complex characters and plot lines. Our hero is 16-year-old Shirou Kamui, your very untypical high school sophomore. He's quiet, bitter, has no family left, and he doesn't know or particularly care that he's supposed to decide the fate of the world. This is beginning to sound cheesy, but surprisingly enough, it's not. Basically, we have two opposing sides - the Seven Seals, who are fighting to preserve the world and contain everyone from a hyper 14-year-old to a devout Christian woman who happens to be a prostitute, and the Seven Angels, the "bad guys" who really aren't that bad - they may be fighting for the destruction of Planet Earth, but they're likable and very human. Kamui comes in because he's the only one of this group who gets to choose which side he wants to be on. And it only really begins to matter when he realizes that his two best friends are going to be affected by this.

Kamui (and everyone else) are your standard shoujo posterboys - gentle, selfless, and (as Arisugawa Sorata, one of the primary players in this apocalyptic game comments) ridiculously attractive. But at the same time, they are characters anyone can relate too. The animation is gorgeous, and the non-theme music is actually pretty good. The series also features a trench-coat-clad young medium named Sumeragi Subaru, who seems not to have a personality. He is, in reality, one of the most complex characters ever created. For more on him, read the Tokyo Babylon manga.

If you're skeptical, that's understandable - I was. Now, I'm giving this fascinating series 10/10.

"X" is a 2001 anime that is a true masterpiece in every sense of the word. From its visually stunning animation to its deeply thought-provoking story, "X" is a triumph of the anime medium. The dark and brooding atmosphere of the series is perfectly balanced with moments of beauty and wonder, creating a viewing experience that is truly unforgettable. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, and the themes explored throughout the series are both universal and timeless. If you're looking for an anime that will challenge you and leave you breathless, then "X" is a must-watch. Overall, this is a beautiful and masterful work of art that deserves to be celebrated as one of the greatest anime of all time.