Shingeki no Bahamut: Virgin Soul

What starts as a quirky tale around a girl coming to a city with a problem of races and injustice a series of half-revelations around a vigilante quickly indicate that the story-tellers are attempting to do something much more. Fans of the previous series will find familiar characters supporting a new lead, who is charming and overwhelmingly optimistic. This is needed in the light of the morally corrupt and bleak world crafted around her.

What goes well goes really well. Animation and voice acting in the original Japanese is excellent, adding a great deal to the characters beyond the visuals. Most of the 3d art is non-intrusive, lending its strengths to most of its applications. Action sequences and in particular some dance sequences are beautiful and emotive.

What doesn't go so well has to do with infuriating and illogical actions that serve only to string out the plot, interrupting the flow at times. Character development is done late in the series, taking a long time before revealing answers to big questions that only satisfy in a few cases. Those few cases that are satisfying are still enjoyable, even the ones that are predictable.

Since this series is a love story first, and action adventure series second, there is a moral downfall to the love interest, unfortunately it is debatable whether they are sufficiently redeemed at the end of it; this likely contributes to the mixed consensus on how the series ends. With likeable characters and some great sequences, if you enjoy the fantasy action side of the story, and don't pay too much attention to the politics, then there is lots to love here.