ANGEL'S TAIL
Even PETA didn't think being kind to animals could be this rewarding
Review by: Craig "I'm Still Buying a Hunting License Next Season" Norris
Length: 13 episodes (plus one unaired)
Genre: Supernatural, romance
Watched: All, subbed
I have seen a few reviews for this series already. The general consensus seems to label this series as a charming, heartwarming, respectable harem anime. However, I do not share that opinion. It reminds me too much of a few other sub-par anime I have seen, and what some see as a feel-good story I see as totally unoriginal, sappy, and generally not worth much of anyone's time.
Plot synopsis: Every animal that Goro Mutsumi has ever cared about has died prematurely, leaving him stricken with sorrow. The rest of his life isn't much better, as he can't get a job and is generally racked with misfortune. However, that all changes when a mysterious fortune-teller assures him that his luck is going to change. And change it does, as girls begin popping out of his cell phone. As if that wasn't shocking enough, the girls are actually guardian angels with the souls of the deceased pets that Goro so lovingly cared for.
Artwork: It's certainly nothing too impressive, especially by current standards. Each of the girls has a different hair color, and when they all stand together (as they often do) it's like watching a test pattern that has a dozen high-pitched voices. Most of the girls bear slight resemblances to the animals they were created from, whether it be through hair styles, clothing, or accessories. Strictly speaking, the artwork is not bad; for a syrupy fluff series it holds its own. However, it can't measure up to the contemporary high-budget productions, so watch with reasonably low expectations.
Music: The music is about as sappy and uninspired as the mood of the series. However I can't complain too loudly, as the genre is already rife with examples of unimpressive soundtracks. Really, no other music will fit a series where the central theme is love, friendship, devotion, etc. As a result I have surrendered to the fact that every time I watch such a series I will not be enthralled by the music. This series only serves to underscore that hypothesis.
Characters: When it comes to harems, how many girls is too many? In a real-life situation, I'm sure many would agree that you really can't have too many. However, when it comes to anime I feel there is a limit, and this show exceeded it. When there are twelve girls and thirteen episodes, about how much would one expect in the way of character development? All of the girls were formerly pets of Goro's. There's Ran the goldfish, Tsubasa the parakeet, Kurumi the hamster, Tamami the cat, Mika the rabbit, Nana the dog, Ayumi the turtle, Akane the fox, Midori the raccoon, Yuki the snake, Lulu the frog, and Momo the monkey. Even though Goro admittedly cannot favor some over others, the series seems to have no problem with it, as some characters are developed more extensively than their peers. The most focus seems to be placed on the older girls, which include Ran, Tsubasa, Mika, and Yuki. Interestingly, all of the girls have some sort of phobia which stems from their past experiences as animals. For example, goldfish Ran died when her filter shut off during a power outage and her oxygen ran out, so she is afraid of water. Cat Tamami was killed by a car, so she is afraid of them as a guardian angel. However, as the series progresses, less and less emphasis is placed on these fears, and except for a few specific cases they really don't have much bearing on the plot. The series revolves around Goro Mutsumi, who is about as cookie-cutter as you can get in terms of a male lead in a harem series. He's clumsy, clueless, and well-meaning, with nothing that sets him apart from other leading men such as Keitaro Urashima from Love Hina, Kaoru Hanabishi from Ai Yori Aoshi, or Kazuya Saotome from Hand Maid May (aside from a name that doesn't start with K). While not flat, the characters are largely formulaic, and their entertainment value suffers greatly as a result.
Plot: The characters aren't the only thing formulaic about this series. The first half has Goro living peacefully (although somewhat awkwardly) with his guardian angels as they help him find jobs and keep him out of trouble. All of a sudden the world is in danger, and it's up to Goro and his guardian angels to save everyone. Meanwhile the romantic tension that develops between some of the angels and Goro is never fully resolved, which I always tend to label as a copout. The plot, along with some of the other elements of the series, is far from original. So, unless this is the first harem or romance series you see, You've already seen most of it.
CHICKS!: With more chicks than you can count without taking off your shoe, it's a good bet you'll find someone you like out of the bunch. First, let's weed out the runts of the litter. Momo, Nana, Lulu, and Kurumi haven't even hit double-digits in age yet, so I think we can safely rule them out. Tamami, Ayumi, Akane, and Midori are on the border line, and while I wouldn't rule them out, they are definitely not of legal age. Personally, my pick from this age group would be the practical and modest Ayumi. That leaves Ran, Tsubasa, Mika, and Yuki. They all have qualities that make it hard to choose a definite favorite. I like Ran because of her shyness and caring. I like Tsubasa for her selflessness and devotion. I like Yuki because of her grace and maturity. And I like Mika because she's always horny (I guess the phrase "screw like rabbits" was coined for a reason). You will most likely find a favorite in the bunch, but considering the quantity of the chicks, I would label the overall chick quality as a bit below average.
Overall: The series was just good enough to prevent me from abandoning it, but I am certainly not impressed by what I saw. As far as harem series go it is average, and in terms of anime in general it is below average. There are several oft-imitated elements present, not the least of which is an incarnation of the Four Saint Beasts, which I have seen reinvented ad infinitum in such series as Fushigi Yuugi, Inu Yasha, and Yu Yu Hakusho. On the plus side, it does give people more of an incentive to be kind to animals, as the kitten you feed today may return to you as a beautiful guardian angel a few years down the road. Also, moderate props must be given to this series that relies much less on fanservice than many of its contemporaries in the same genre. Nevertheless, I can't recommend this title too highly. However there are people who love the genre, so to them I say this series will be moderately entertaining, but you still have better options open to you.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Elicits a few smiles
+ Tasteful lack of fanservice
- Too many characters
- Very formulaic
Rating: 5/10
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