.hack//SIGN

While this anime was never highly rated, I love it for some reason. Call it nostalgia maybe, but I feel like I watch this every few years.

This is, whatever anyone might say, one of the best anime ever created. I say this because, although i do admit that the story plot pace is slow - slower than anyone could imagine - it still holds a valuable plot and of course, opens up much more for the following series of games, and manga. Of course, there is a novel before this series as well, and overall i just have to say that Project Hack was such a good success, at least in my opinion. Espscially the use of many different approach was good - manga, anime, games and novels.

If someone was to watch only .hack//SIGN, then of course it may seem unsatisfying, because it really does not give much info about anything. Since it was meant to be a prequel of the games, if you want to find out what happens to Sora, Aura or Tsukasa after wards, you would have to play the games.

Overall, i do admit that there were much more talking than action - in which it lost many action-anime fans. However it is an anime that is more inspirational movies than the action-packed ones. You had to get into the human emotions and philosophy to fully enjoy the meaning behind the anime - hard lives, choices, obstacles that appear in the real life, the players (characters) try to avoid by logging into "The World". However in the end they all realize to face fear and live their life to fullest extent.

Overall, i personally would give this anime 10/10, for its superb performance. Whether it was the heart-touching quotes, the ever-beautiful music, or the mind-blowingly complex plot, i find that .hack//SIGN is a must for all anime fans.

P.S: Just adding a reply to one of the comments... Tsukasa is NOT an AI character.

Well after you get past the slightly depressing scheme of things and the fact it takes awhile for anything of real excitement to happen it does turn out to be pretty good once everything kinda falls together....so all in all I would give it an 8/10 because of the usual good quality animation and voice acting ( unlike those crappy dim a dozen American cartoons).... In addition to that they had a good cast of well developed characters (Sora was my favorite)....

Anyways a little info on the actual series can simply be put as follows: it starts out when a kid is playing and basically had his conscious severed from his physical body thus being stuck in the game called the "world" and unable to logout. Then he eventually find and befriends some random people, he gets special administrative privileges from some omni-present being, they find out this omni-present being is bad and end up fighting and predictably defeating it in battle....they throw a party ...and the end

Before I start, let me point out that the only exposure I've had to the.hack universe is through this series. So if I'm just not getting something that is somehow enhanced by the games or other series, I apologize.

Anyway, this is really a pretty good show. Not great, but good. Good characters, great animation and music, and an inventive and creative plot. The only real beefs I have with this show are the length and the confusion. During the series, I accepted the fact that things may seem a little confusing, and I'd just have to stick with it. I expected that things would be tied up at the end, maybe not completely, but at least enough to justify watching all these (mostly pointless) episodes. Unfortunately, I don't feel that they really explained what happened. It kind of left me hanging. I understand the story goes on, but I would have preferred a little more closure.

As for the length, the series contains far too little content to fill nearly thirty episodes. Its kind of an anti-FLCL, if you know what I mean. They could have easily wrapped it up in 13, if not fewer. It just seemed to drag on and on, talking a lot without really saying anything. Of course, sometimes it was nice to just sit back and enjoy the beautiful animation and music. They were something of a saving grace.

So in the end, I'd recommend .hack//sign. Despite its length, it managed to keep my interest throughout, and that's always a good thing.

A single installment in the Project. Hack series, .Hack//Sign blends books, manga, TV anime, and OVAs to create a single, expansive story featuring characters and events that occur both simultaneously and chronologically. The review that follows is written as a stand-alone anime and from the perspective of the franchise.

Most reviews of Hack//Sign agree that the plot is uninteresting, has little action, and moves slowly. The plot revolves around character interaction and development, even though some of these statements are absolutely accurate. Through their interactions with the other members of the cast, their surroundings, and their progressive contribution to the plot, each side character's backstory is revealed to the audience. The story revolves around competing and complementary characters, propelled by enigmas.

The animation in. Hack//Sign is excellent and goes well with "The World's" fantasy setting. Each setting has a distinct emotional vibe that fits in perfectly with the show's leisurely pacing. Each location has its own theme and atmosphere that truly makes "The World" feel as large as the actual world, and its individuality helps establish the tone for the current scenario in the anime. The land is vibrantly scattered with icy wastelands, arid deserts, and tropical jungles. The real world, on the other hand, is more akin to vintage silent black-and-white movies than the virtual one.

Text appears to substitute spoken sound, creating a depressing and gloomy portrayal of the real world. In order to convey how "The World" seems to be the ideal haven from problems in real life, the contrast between the colorful virtual world and the depressing real world becomes crucial. Since each character has a unique design that fits the larger framework that "The World" establishes, the character designs are also quite well done. Though there were a few areas that felt a touch "grainy," overall, this virtual world's design is really impressive.

.Hack//Sign's distinct soundtrack and sound set it apart from other anime. While the background music inspires peace and melancholy, the opening song, Obsession, provides a trance-like atmosphere. A sense of storytelling is added by the folklore element. Scenes are set with spoken background music, such as Key of the Twilight. Though certain music might overshadow a scene, the mood is rarely ruined by it.

As a whole. There is a reason to take Hack//Sign seriously. You'll wonder if you could experience something similar after reading this tale of escape gone bad. The music effectively establishes the show's emotional tone, while the animation is captivating and inventive. I must caution you once more to avoid this show if you detest sluggish-paced television or crave action; nevertheless, if you enjoy a solid mystery in a fantastical atmosphere, then give it a shot. This is a hack// sign for you.