I've followed P.A. Works from their rise with True Tears all the way through Tari Tari. Almost unanimously, aside from a few minor issues with Canaan, I've enjoyed every single work that I've watched. I've come to expect a lot from works out of the company and unfortunately RDG doesn't meet those expectations. P.A. Works typically excels at facial animations, character development, and breathtaking backgrounds. While you'll find plenty of pretty, serene backgrounds, I felt that the character development was sidelined by a complex story that came out as jumbled as watching Touka Gettan in its released order (i.e. backwards). Honestly, while you do get some character development, I wouldn't recommend this unless you really like stories about Japanese spirituality and exorcism.
RDG, is named after some book (RDB) about endangered species. Our heroine, Izumiko, is apparently a member of a shrinking list of people (i.e. endangered) with mystical abilities. The concepts in this story are very similar to those in Wagaya, where there are local gods and such that live in harmony with humans; but for how much longer will this continue?
Animation:
I don't have much to complain about in this section. The show takes place across a variety of locations all of which are nicely drawn. The show uses coloring dynamically; while most of the show is drawn in a slightly under saturated palette, other parts are bathed in bright, mysterious shades of purple and magenta similar in effect to that seen in the Tasogare Amnesia ED. I'm not too big of a fan of the rather bland appearance of most of the characters, and especially not a fan of the library bookworm braids (though it does have some plot significance in this case). Some of the characters are purposely drawn to look like other characters but it sure does make keeping track of who's who a full time job. While facial animations are fair, expressions aren't as strongly tied to characters as previous PA Works shows (granted, Izumiko is a bit of a recluse at the beginning).
This is not a fan-service based show. Instead, you'll find plenty of magic and action. It isn't anything as outlandish as Date a Live but do expect a decent splattering of special effects and supernatural occurrences. In that sense, this is probably closer to Another than other PA Works shows.
Sound:
The show starts with a rather slow and light OP that lacks any measurable coherency. The ED is probably done in a traditional style and thus is very appropriate for the show; it definitely comes across as unique with random note slides and enunciation. The BGM felt like standard fare, supporting when necessary but never really standing out.
The VA cast did a fair job in this series, though I don't think this is one of Saori Hayami's standout roles. Casting Rie Kugumiya as a guy also felt a bit odd.
Story:
PA Works excels the most when it focuses on character interactions, and developing them through a carefully crafted plot line. In this case, what starts as a cute story between two seemingly unmatchable teens grows into galactic proportions when we learn that humanity as we know it will suddenly end when our race loses its ability to communicate directly with gods. Izumiko is, thus, suddenly humanity's last chance to avoid impending extinction. Strangely enough, very few people seem to act as if this is the case.
This may come across as a bit of a paradox but this is a slow paced show that ends too abruptly. The story feels like it's told through the eyes of a meticulous RPG player, a great deal of the show is spent explicating side plots about supporting characters and other seemingly unimportant side quests. So much of the show is spent on it that a multitude of seemingly critical questions are never answered. While the final climax did come across as entertaining, the resolution is far from satisfying.
Character:
As you can tell from Izumiko's character rating, she isn't a very popular character. Unlike other PA Works heroines, she never seems to really get a hold of what she wants and constantly meanders through situations until finally being saved by Miyuki, or being forced to save him. The majority of the character interaction seems to center around Izumiko's relationship with Miyuki. While there is some depth to this relationship that I cannot explain without spoilers, it doesn't feel anywhere as organic as in previous works. There are plenty of other better examples where two people who start on horrific terms become really close.
What really killed this was ridiculous amounts of character spammage. It felt as if the series was constantly introducing new characters, of which you never really know whether they'll be important or not. Add in a similar appearance and identical uniforms and you truly have an annoying headache.
Value:
I think this show itself is in danger of being added to the RDB. It lacks the character involvement found in other superb PA Works productions and didn't foster the mysterious atmosphere anywhere as successfully as in Another. While certain parts came across as fair, overall this fell way below my expectations. Let's hope this isn't a sign of things to come from PA Works.
