Utawarerumono: Futari no Hakuoro

There's a lot of shows I've thought about reviewing and i didn't think my first one would be this, it is not my favorite series but when i looked at reviews or comments in some places it made me think and i feel like i need to share my thoughts on this. THIS SHOW IS NOT AS GOOD AS THE GAME!

BUT!

That is ok, this series will be dragged down by how it isnt as good as the game was and i dont disagree but i think more fans should look at the bigger picture, this series was pretty well animated, the voice acting was ... (at least as far as i could tell) good, the cgi was bad but when isnt it bad? the story covered things in the game in a way that if you did not play the game you could get the majority of the information and a good amount of the impact it was meant to have.

The fact that so much effort was put into this series is a blessing, it wasnt chopped apart into a 6 episode OVA, it was not rushed through into some 12 episode slop, it got as much of an adaptation as any series could ask for and honestly i loved every second of it, fans of the game should support every last bit of this series for what it represents, closure, we got a great series of games that meant a lot to us and an honest, well funded adaptation that brought that same series not only to fans like us but to so many people who may have never seen it and best of all it was a more in depth retelling then most series like this can ever dream of getting. I really enjoyed this series for what it is but even more so for what it represents, a chance for so many games like it to be given an anime series that shows passion for its source.

Great way to conclude this chapter.

This as it stands was a great watch as being mainly a fan of the original Utawarerumono from ages back which still remains my favourite due to its story telling and the way it introduces characters which you become connected to because of their individuality and how they served Hakuoro. This chapter with Haku didn't manage to hit just as hard but still pulled its punch in the climax of the anime. The reasons it didn't hit as hard is mainly because I didn't feel as connected to the supporting characters and how the plot was set out due to ... Haku's personality, which isn't a bad thing its just it seem more dragged out in comparison. Another reason is probably a fault that lies with me as it has been ages since Itsuwari no Kamen which ended in 2016 and because of that I don't remember it that well, but then again I remember the original very well so it could just come down to different directors and staff having their spin on it.

Apart from everything going on in the middle which wasn't bad but could've been set out alot better, it did do alot of things well like important plot pieces which involved supporting characters and the last climax of the chapter which I liked alot because of what they did (trying not to include major spoilers) which if they hadn't added those to the plot it would've changed my score from an 8 to a 7. So here's to wanting a continuation which has low chances due to what they could add at this point and leaving alot to the viewers imagination.

If by chance you're looking at watching this, make sure you don't do what I did and try top remember what happened previously as the supporting characters and everything referenced at points didn't connect sadly apart from stuff from the first Utawarerumono.
If anything I'll probably go and do a marathon at some point of the 3 animes and come back to edit this review.

Disclaimer: I have played the visual novel (VN) of the games so my review is based on how the anime compares to the VN. I still recommend watching the anime (for sure if you have watched the previous Utawarerumono seasons) but take this as something to keep in mind when watching the anime.

Overall: The anime adapted the VN quite well! Not in the sense of accuracy, but in the sense of storytelling. The VN has a playtime of (about) 60 hours (or more) and the anime did a very good job of telling the same story with the changes that were made. As such I ... think 6/10 is fine since it (effectively) told the same story with a similar impact that the VN told the story.

Major differences between the anime and the VN:

1) The anime has cut out a majority of the slice-of-life portions from the VN. Now this makes sense, but keep in mind that it does hasten the pacing a little bit as such major events come to you back-to-back with little to no build-up of some of the events. This also has the effect of quick character development, for example in a span of one episode, the character will quickly figure out their own feelings or problems and will portray those changes when it is supposed to be a more gradual change. However, there are some advantages to this, which follows up to point 2).

2) The anime takes advantage of its own medium and makes sure you are up to speed in the first couple of episodes. Normally, the VN would gradually inform you of the current situation each character is facing at the present time, with concerns of the future being ambiguous. This makes sense since, in the VN, you are looking through the lens of the main character (Haku) and so you will be seeing each character one-by-one getting to know them at a more personal level with their thoughts and feelings in the current situation they are in. However, the anime takes advantage of the fact that you are an outsider looking into the scene so they can instantly make you see multiple characters at once talking and thinking about what they should be doing in this situation. This immediately informs the viewer what all the characters are thinking and how each character is going to participate and achieve their part in the scenario that they are in.

3) The adaptation from the last season (Mask of Deception) does trickle down to the Mask of Truth anime in which some quotes said by certain characters do not add up when referring back to the Mask of Deception. Some examples are Atuy and Nekone - I will not spoil what about them does not add up, but it is quite apparent, especially on Nekone's part.

4) The anime tends to prioritise the core characters instead of the side characters - more specifically Maroro, Mikazuchi, and Raiko. This is quite subtle, but those who have read the VN might have noticed the difference in screen time these characters have compared to the VN since they are not portrayed the same way (in my opinion).

Conclusion: The anime is nicely done! Although, I can pinpoint many of the changes that were present between the VN and the anime I can still say confidently that the anime still hits the important scenes with the same/similar feeling as it was in the VN. However, if there are times when you wonder if there was more to it or if there was some backstory you believe had to be there (such as Jachdwalt's backstory with Shinonon) then those were cut out from the anime for the simple reason being; it does not affect the overall story. I would definitely recommend reading the VN if you want more from this franchise, but as for the anime I recommend watching it - ONLY if you have already watched Mask of Deception first. (It is preferable to watch the Utawarerumono 2006 anime as well, but it only provides the backstory for all the characters from Tuskur that is all).