To be drawn in by an original work from Jun Maeda and P.A. Works, there's bound to be a sizable anticipation coming from me. Now that I have finished Charlotte, I behold to you the power of conflicting feelings.

With the concept of supernaturalism overlooking a modern society, a breeding ground for drama and oddness is spawned into the story. Following high schoolers who each shares the similarity of possessing a unique ability, this is a telltale sign for interesting things to come. And that is actually given. An interesting narrative. But meddled to discomfort. Seemingly every non-audiovisual aspect is interfered to a certain degree by a sole perpetrator, which is the reckless balance of plot elements. Pacing, along with convenience, becomes an issue down the road, leaving behind questions and confusion that weaken future emotional scenes to a lesser scope. Character focus for some becomes unfairness. Again, removing emotions as there are little attachment and made me question whether some existed only for awkward comedic purposes. There's this certain disconnection throughout my time watching that fumbled around with my ability to enjoy the show. But despite these criticisms, a force of attraction beckoned me and conflicting feelings emerged. It's mainly because the first half is solid, due to heartfelt interactions between the main characters that gradually changed and influenced a certain narcissist. The family dynamic and subtle romance are the more meaningful contents that add a deeper conflict revolving around preciousness. Although not huge, a couple of moments in the later half are heart-tugging while the last episode, even with the deus ex machina, tells a moving story of psychological distress. So, finding fulfillment in this show is too non-linear. Erraticness is a blade infected with rust. You really can't be comfortable wielding such a weapon in the face of danger.

But this is still a survivable situation. After all, the visual is yet another great showcase from P.A. Works, coming in with a clean quality to polish off that rusty blade. Their amazing talent in lighting, which can be seen to a full degree in the opening, is one of the reasons why they are a favorite studio of mine when it comes to art. Illuminating realism to deliver a modern stellar work, everything looks outstanding and to an extent, feels like an intentional reminiscence of the night sky. The twinkling black canvas is shown multiple times throughout the show, beautifying the nightly moments and raising their significations. Striking eyes draw form to the haziness of an aurora, along with attractive character designs that give off a cosmic vibe. With supernatural powers, there will be action. Animation for these scenes are fluid with flowing movements, and the comical slow motions are no exception as well. Talking about the opening again, the song comes in with a ghostly sensation, fitting the mystery side of the show. It's praising too much if I say the background pieces are an unforgettable album, but they support the changing moods well. Out of all the insert songs, Kimi no Moji resonates the most with me. Arguably the most memorable part of the whole show, listening to the beautiful vocal backed by angelic instruments is just too intense for my own feelings and honestly, having that in the last episode almost teared me up. With all the issues present and my conflicting feelings, I won't lie when I say that song healed me, ending everything with an emotional satisfaction.

It's obvious that too many elements and ideas brought a one-cour Charlotte down. More length and better planning could have unlocked all these feelings kept away, toppling the industry with a touching masterpiece. Alas, the damage had been done and even though one could only imagine the full potential for enjoyment now, at least enjoyment for me was still graspable in the grand scheme of things.