Master Keaton

-Details-
Genre: Drama
Company: Madhouse Studios
Format: 39 episodes
Dates: 6 Oct 1998 – 29 March 1999


-Visuals- 8.8/10
This anime fits into the realistic art style. SO, pretty much everything looks pretty good and somewhat (obviously in a cartoonish way) real, lol. And yet it is obvious that you are watching an anime as this realism is done in a somewhat minimalistic style. Facial expressions are somewhat subdued and certainly not visualized in a typical anime over the top look. This does detract a tad from the more emotional scenes but having said that to be honest I was typically so vested in the stories and to a slightly lesser degree in the characters that while the art work didn't really make the anime shine it also never, ever detracted from it, and that is very important as I would rather not be overwhelmed than be upset by the style and representations.


-Characters- 9.2/10
Taichi Hiraga-Keaton is a Japanese-British archaeologist who has somewhat failed in proving his thesis, but along the way became a highly trained SAS operative who then went to work as an investigator for Lloyds of London. He is the focus of the show, and while there are some recurring characters the anime is pretty much extensively about his adventures. And honestly, he's such an interesting character I'm not sure anymore were actually needed, to say he carries the show is an understatement, lol. What makes it done so well is that although he is this highly trained agent he is also human, and he is not afraid to show his emotions and let us into his world. Seriously, he is one of the more interesting characters I have ever met and got to know in any anime I have ever seen.


PS Subtract .5 if you like shows with multiple main characters.

-Story- 9.0/10
This is a very hard area to grade. On the one hand the various stories, are, for the most part, very, very , very well thought out and portrayed. On the other there is no single cohesive story as, for the most part, each episode is inclusive and it's own story. And honestly, this does detract a bit as you never get the sense of empathy with characters as you don't really get to know them for long and the sense of tension is somewhat subdued as you know the story is going to end soon as the episode is drawing to a close. Still...this is simply put a damn fine show, and while it may not be as in depth as some or as complex as others it is thought-provoking and stimulating.

-Overall- 9.1/10
I loved my time spent with Keaton. The only real complaint I have is I would have liked to have spent even more time getting to know the man and his motivations/desires/dreams. Abd even having said that I ended the show with a good feeling. Almost as if I had reminisced with an old friend about our adventures and laughed about what a very good time we had.