Claymore

It's hard to make a unique and emotionally involving story with monsters and swords. It's almost impossible to make fantasy look real, because most of it has a predictable plot line, while life doesn't. But Claymore manages the impossible - it's intoxicating fiction, but at the same time it's even more sobering than real life.

Here's the secret.

Unlike other tales about battle and struggle in which the main character has great potential and strength as his birthright, Claymore is all about strength despite weakness. Even through perseverance, you can't really become the strongest, this is one of life's truths. But you still can aspire. It's what makes Claymore so true to life.

The main characters in Claymore were helpless in their childhood, but despite tremendous suffering they've managed to stand up and move forward.

Claymore will be remembered as an example of great anime, not just for its beautiful animation, but for the way it makes you experience the journey. It even has a great and satisfying ending.

I know it's a tired phrase, but I really envy those who haven't seen it yet.

I started watching 'Claymore' just out of curiosity. I never expected to be so hooked onto a show in my life. It's fair to say that I am addicted. Normally that doesn't happen with me but this one is too good to pass up. From the very first episode all the way to the climatic battle in the final one there is great action scenes, lots of dismemberment and decapitation, and lots of blood. But what really made the show were the characters. There are so many antagonists in the show it's almost impossible to count. But despite the countless antagonists, there are other great characters that make the show what it is. The only flaw in this show was the fact that shortly into the first season the episodes jump into the past, kind of like a flashback, but without exactly telling you what happened. It's sort of like something you have to find out on your own just simply by watching and thinking. But despite these flaws and the fact that many episodes drag out (especially the flashback ones) it doesn't even slightly make it a worse television series.

I've always been a fan of anime series, my favourite being Berserk. I tend to focus a lot on the pacing and the built tension when I watch anime, and Berserk is The master of pacing. Another thing I tend to focus on is character development and overall sentimentality of the show. Many anime characters are quite over-the-top, a major let-down for me. As are many scenes in anime. Claymore succeeds on most levels. The pacing is some of the greatest I've ever seen, and the inclusion of ranked characters just adds to the excitement. It's always interesting to see who's got the higher rank. Furthermore, you really start caring for the characters and picking out your favorites (mine being no. 6, Miria). The show only fails on a few levels. You're in for a lot of melodramatic scenes, and the protagonist's male friend, Rocky, is just another annoying brat who cries more than good is. It's no worse than so many other animes and gets better halfway through. The second, and final, major letdown is the anti-climatic ending. There is an epic battle, but the way it ends after the battle is simply not good enough. It feels unfinished, ill and way too sentimental and moral for a show of this kind (it might have something to do with the continuing issues of the manga).

However, you're in for a treat. And you're not going to want to put this show down, before it's ended.

For those who know nothing about anime it should better be on your list of firsts.Except in the last 2 episodes and some scene in third last episode and hardly in some scenes of other previous ones the anime story follows the main story.but the real -2 on the anime is that it is hastily ended on following the manga it ends in a total wreck.besides that the main characters are excellent ; well connected to the story , the story-line is strong and the animation is good.what makes this anime good are the characters of the story line,they are complex as well as fairly simple to understand and feel for.the story line since is a monthly shonen so,doesn't suffer much stretching as for most of the weekly ones and has a sense of flow to it.It has everything you'd expect from a sword,dark fantasy tragedy anime and much more.

so if you are anime fan and like to watch it i think you should skip last two episodes and continue the story-line with manga.

I would like to see a Season 2. I enjoyed this. It had to grow on me for a few episodes. But Claymore tells a great story. The concept and plot are unique and well put together. Some great emotion storytelling. Good action. Not predictable. There are plot hole moments at times. Its almost a combination between Witcher and Ergo Proxy.