This Ugly Yet Beautiful World
Synopsis
High school student Takeru Takemoto works part time as a (motor)bike courier. During one of his deliveries, he saw a mysterious light passing him and fell into a forest. What he had found was a beautiful girl coming out from a glowing cocoon, calling herself "Hikari." While Takeru was quite embarrassed because of Hikari's nudity, a strange monster suddenly showed up and immediately attacked the two. Both Takeru and Hikari demonstrated the power of their other selves before Takeru had a clue of what's going on. (Source: ANN)
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is mixed, with some appreciating the initial concept, characters, and opening theme, while others criticizing the poor pacing, generic plot, and excessive fan service. Many feel it tries to do too much and fails to execute any genre well. Some consider it a hidden gem, while others find it a forgettable and disappointing experience, especially when compared to similar anime such as Elfen Lied.
Strengths
- Interesting initial concept of life rebirth and cleansing.
- Some likable main characters that viewers cared about.
- Opening theme ('Metamorphose') is highly praised and memorable.
- Dynamic mix of shojo, shonen, slice of life, and supernatural elements.
Weaknesses
- Poor pacing, feels rushed and sidetracked with filler episodes.
- Underdeveloped characters with stereotypical anime tropes.
- Inconsistent art quality, with distracting color shifts and animation shortcuts.
- Story becomes generic with lack of originality
- Overreliance on fan service and ecchi elements detracts from the plot.
- Predictable and uninspired plot points and character arcs.