Overall: 6.5
Better "Arc the Lad" than mowing the lawn. Stilted dialogue and clichés ruin what the dramatic theme music promises to be an adventure of a lifetime.
Story: 6.0
Like a well maintained interstate, bold signs posted along the way reveal exactly where this anime is headed.
Character Development: 3.0
Textual character growth isn't matched with much-needed emotional dynamics.
Art/Animation: 5.0
Regrettably, the animation keeps pace with the entire "Arc" package.
Translation/Acting: 5.0
Paradoxically convincing and emotionless, both the acting and translation deserve this perfectly neutral rating
Format: 7.0
Scene selection; English and Japanese with subtitles options; ADV previews.
MPAA Equivalent: G
The Chimera monsters scare a bit and ooze some sort of bodily fluid and venom
when they transform from humans, but nothing a tough seven year old can't handle.
X-Factors
Red bandana Factor: 8.0
Not since Scott Baio delighted "Happy Days" audiences have we had a cooler bandana adorn our hero.
Exposition Factor: 1.0
Watching stinky cheese grow would be more interesting than listening to all of episode three's exposition.
