Music, art, character and story are all strong, but so far only the design is great.

The highly charged period setting and contrasting styles concretely grounds and gives meaning to otherwise familiar elements worked into the plot.

A first episode needs to introduce characters and establish their relationships. The real development comes later in a series.

Each character has a specific and appropriate, though perhaps not brilliant, design. No two look alike unless they are supposed to. The backgrounds and mechanical designs are excellent but the mecha battles could be more dynamic.

Idioms in this translation make perfect sense. On the other hand Taishi threatens at one point to "mush" another character.

As with the design, everyone is distinctive, which lends clarity to the more frenzied scenes.

Chases and fights abound but without much gore.

The murder of Taishi's father and one of his orphan friends are both seen only as shadows killing shadows.

No one knows what the heck it is, or how it works, but everyone is after the "module" because you can't run a good mecha without it. Next thing you know they'll be saying it can turn lead to gold or help you lose weight without dieting.

Love it? Hate it? Buy it.