Angelic Layer Anime Review

Quick Review

• Reviewer: Arcane
• Review Date: 2002-02-10 (updated 2002-02-10)
• 4 stars out of 5 (?)

The latest attempt from fantasy group CLAMP, Angelic Layer is half Cardcaptor Sakura, half Pokemon, with just a dash of Hand Maid May. Losing the supernatural overtones of many of their earlier works, Angelic Layer is a semi sci-fi story about a young girl's fascination with a new sport and the massive world it leads her into. Since Angelic Layer is from the "monster battle" genre of anime the Angels are at the center of almost everything. The similarities to 3D fighting games like Soul Caliber are obvious, but the angels are fascinating creations and their bouts are extremely gripping and engaging. Technically, Angelic Layer is pretty much the latest thing in CLAMP anime and it shows--a visual feast.

In summation, Angelic Layer is looking like an excellent series, fit to stand alongside Cardcaptor Sakura and CLAMP's other great works. If it is able to continue this way--or even improve, as is likely to happen--then it will become a modern classic.

Read the full-length review...

Full Review

• Reviewer: Arcane
• Review Date: 2002-02-10 (updated 2002-02-10)
• 4 stars out of 5 (?)

Note: This review is based on a partial viewing of the series.

The latest attempt from fantasy group CLAMP, Angelic Layer is half Cardcaptor Sakura, half Pokemon, with just a dash of Hand Maid May. Losing the supernatural overtones of many of their earlier works, Angelic Layer is a semi sci-fi story about a young girl's fascination with a new sport and the massive world it leads her into.

Angelic Layer bears most in common with Sakura, both in animation, themes and the nature of the main character. Animation wise, you can almost imagine Sakura walking up to Misaki and shaking hands--although Angelic Layer is a little bit sharper and at times more impressive (due to occasional use of computer animation) the animation is otherwise virtually identical and Misaki almost looks like a thirteen-year old Sakura with shorter hair. However, Angelic Layer is a slightly more mature series than Sakura; the protagonist and her peers are older and the more kiddish themes like "friends forever," "believe in yourself" and so on have been replaced with more serious concepts. Most interestingly, there appears to be quite a story behind both the creation of the Angels and Misaki's mother, but some of the material would also go over the heads of children--Icchan's forfeit game with his poor underling ("live octopus in trousers!") for example would be funny, but very weird and possibly a little disturbing. Most importantly, the world of Angelic Layer is older than that of Cardcaptor Sakura--Misaki meets not only fellow teenagers on the layer, but also adults, where Sakura's rivals (Li and Meilin) were only children her own age.

Since Angelic Layer is from the "monster battle" genre of anime the Angels are at the center of almost everything. The similarities to 3D fighting games like Soul Caliber are obvious--the angels have an energy bar which depletes as they're hit, they lose if they're knocked off the battlefield (a "layer out") some have their own signature moves, there's even a time limit on each bout, with victory going to the one with the most energy remaining if it reaches 0.

Regardless, the angels are fascinating creations and you may find yourself developing a few favourites (in fact my favourite is Wizard) while bouts of Angelic Layer are extremely gripping and engaging. Because Angelic Layer is such a public sport you don't see as much innovation as you do in, say Pokemon battles, but the action itself is of much higher quality--pocket sized martial arts. More significantly, the angels can't grow on you the same way that Pokemon do because they aren't really characters--when not on the actual Layer they are only dolls and even when active they are merely extensions of their Deus' mind with no personality of their own. However, characters, especially the Deus themselves, treat their angels like real people, with feelings and emotions which aren't really there. Angels in fact become the battlefield extension of the Deus themselves and usually reflect their nature. It's very interesting, but it would be more interesting if the angels could actually interact with their masters. I haven't seen the whole series yet, so they could still find a way...

The characters in Angelic Layer are as good as CLAMP has always done. Despite how she looks, Misaki isn't all that much like Sakura--she's shy, quiet, reserved and really bad at gymnastics (there's a joke about that). As a result she isn't quite as interesting as everyone's favourite Cardcaptor but is still a fascinating and lovable character. Misaki's school-friends are simple and nice people, while the young Angelic Layer prodigy (sorry about the names, but I can't remember everything) is disarmingly cute at sometimes and chillingly serious at others. Finally, Icchan is a very funny character who almost seems to come from a different series (probably Jubei-chan). Despite this, he can be extremely serious and seems to have some kind of ulterior motive in supporting Misaki in Angelic Layer.

Technically, Angelic Layer is pretty much the latest thing in CLAMP anime and it shows. Although I've already compared it to Sakura there are some improvements to what had already been an impeccably animated series, making Angelic Layer a visual feast. The character designs are fairly original and the angels are a massive and varied group.

On the audio side, the voices are good. The Japanese voices are appropriate, although there are no real standouts. No dub of Angelic Layer currently exists, although it has been acquired for translation. Finally, the music is extremely good. The opening and closing themes are excellent at capturing the feel of the series, much as they did for Cardcaptor Sakura and inside the series itself the music is equally good at supporting the mood. Apart from the opening and ending, just about all of the music is orchestral, with a lot of clarinet solos. The only complaint I'd have with it is a lack of battle music. A lot of the battles have either no music or fails to consistently punctuate the action happening atop the Layer. There are a few good tracks, but these aren't used often enough.

In summation, Angelic Layer is looking like an excellent series, fit to stand alongside Cardcaptor Sakura and CLAMP's other great works. If it is able to continue this way--or even improve, as is likely to happen--then it will become a modern classic.

Have something to say about this anime? Join our newly-resurrected forums and speak your mind.

Related Recommendations

Significant similarities with Cardcaptor Sakura, Pokemon and the various similar series, and perhaps Hand Maid May.