Violinist of Hameln

reviewed by Magus Darkstar

Episodes reviewed: 1-25

What: The Violinist of Hameln is a little known anime about a man named Hameln who can play "magical music" on his huge violin. It seems a little strange, but it makes alot of sense when you watch the series. He, his friend, Flute, and a wise, talking bird named Oboe meet many people on their journey, such as the pianist, Raiel and the prince, Trom. They fight against the Hell King Bass and his followers, the two headed Dragon Lord Drum, the canine Guitar, and the angelic Sizer, who are trying to free their master, Kestra, who is sealed within a box in the Royal Family's possesion. This is where it gets interesting.

The Good: The anime is very different from the manga. The manga is full of light hearted scenes and hilarious scenes. The anime, however, is much more serious. This is a good thing if you are into that kind of anime. The story is well done and gets EXTREMELY involving, especially near the end of the first season. It will really get you feeling for the characters. Speaking of which, the characters are extremely cool. The royal mage, Clarinet, is a really great character. He looks cool, he fights cool, and has an awesome attitude. Finally, the music in this series is exceptional (Well, it better be). Hameln and Raiel play famous classical pieces on their intruments which make it a real treat to listen too. The opening and ending songs are nothing to scoff at either.

The Bad: Like I said before, the anime is very different from the manga. If you dislike such serious anime and prefer something more light hearted, look elsewhere (like the Hameln movie, which is one of the most hilarious anime movies I've ever seen). Also, if you aren't careful, the plot can become very confusing. It might be hard for some people to follow the series if they don't pay attention to what is happening. Also, there are times in the animation where the screen cuts to a still while action is going on. This becomes distracting, not dramatic. Also, some parts in the anime were changed from what they were in the manga, one major one involving a character named Lute. It's much more dramatic in the manga (which is odd, considering the anime is more serious).

The Bottom-Line: If you go for the more serious anime and don't mind classical music at all, this is the anime for you. There is alot of action and dramatic scenes. However, if you go for the more light-hearted anime, then I highly suggest you check out the stand-alone movie of Violinist of Hamlen.