Pandora Hearts, which began in April and will continue through September, is a terrific show that has attracted fewer fans than it deserves. It has a fascinating story, some good humor, and especially great voice work. Click here for a table showing pics of the characters and their seiyuus.Kawasumi Ayako is giving what I think is one of the best of her many great performances, as Alice, a young woman trapped in The Abyss, a weird space out of time, her being merged with that of B. Rabbit, a giant black rabbit who is one of the powerful demigod "Chains" who patrol the Abyss. I suppose her character could be called a tsundere, but it is so much more than that.Her co-star is Minagawa Junko (Ryoma in Prince of Tennis, Cornelia in Code Geass), who plays a young man, Oz Vessalius, who at his coming-of-age ceremony in a vaguely 18th-century setting, is suddenly plunged into the Abyss, and eventually joins Alice as her "contractor."Add seiyuu like Ishida Akira, Hanazawa Kana, Fukuyama Jun, Ono Daisuke, and Yamaguchi Kappei, and we really have a symphony of the human voice. Ishida Akira is a playful nobleman who is part of an organization called Pandora, which is investigating The Abyss. Kawasumi, Minagawa, and Ishida all give strong and inventive performances that are worthy of awards.In addition, we have a great OP and sound track from Kajiura Yuki. To me, it sounds like one of her best, and really helps carry the action, of which there is plenty. The OP is so strong that I often find it running through my mind. There are moments in the OP that almost bring tears to my eyes even now, at episode 16.The animation, by Xebec, has its plus and minus moments, but overall has a very entertaining look, working with ideas from Alice in Wonderland.Veteran director Kato Takao did Rockman.exe, Buso Renkin, Over Drive, and To LoveRu. Lead writer Sekijima Mayori did Saber Marionette J, Tsukuyomi Moon Phase, Zegapain, and Skip Beat. He is working from the popular manga by Mochizuki Jun.Week after week, Pandora Hearts comes up with interesting events, good forward motion, and strong characterization. Give it a try. And if you do, here is a table showing the characters and their seiyuus. Click here or on the image below to go to the full table:
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