I believe that trying to objectively judge a book/movie/anime/etc with numbers is ultimately pointless. Even if you can accurately rate a particular anime with a number, by defining its qualities with a number you inevitably and most likely inadvertently create a single ( numerical ) scale by which you then have to compare different works. Thus, the originally absolute value of a number you assigned to the anime you reviewed becomes relative, as it can be used to compare it to a different anime, regardless of the differences between the two ( like genre,format, style etc).
Because of all this, I really dislike using numbers in my reviews and usually only give a final average score at the end of the review. However, even this final score that I give shouldn't be taken at face value.
My reviews are analytical ( and therefore long ) as I try do deconstruct the show and review the quality of each particular element; art style, animation, cinematography and camera work, characterisation, pacing, dialogue, plot... Each of these numerous elements is examined and given an absolute value that judges its worth both as a stand-alone element and also as a part of a whole. My final score, a decimal fraction with a single fractional part, is just an arithmetic mean rating, an average of all these individual elements, and is meant to express an "empirical" rating, not the actual worth of an anime as a whole. That score cannot be expressed by numbers, but only by words, which is why my reviews are ( mostly ) long and exhaustive; art is not an exact science, books aren't physics and movies aren't chemistry, and there are multiple ways in which a movie/anime/book's worth can be rated, which is why the most important thing in reviewing anything is not the ability do dissect a work and rate its bits and pieces on their own. It's perspective, the ability to view a work not only as a collection of particular elements, but as an individual creation in its own right. To be able to appreciate it as a complex interaction of all those things like the pacing, plot, dialogue, where shortcomings in one or two areas do not detract from the overall quality and meaning of the story. To be able to frame it within its own genre, rather than fight over the average scores or compare it with other works that function under a completely different set of rules and tropes than the work in question.
A work has to be viewed and judged on several different levels and viewed from many different angles, including the "inside-out" ( where the elements are judged not from an outsider's perspective, but from within the rules and workings of a story ) in order to be able to properly rate and criticise it. Hence the review as a whole, and in particualr my general thoughts and final recommendation that I give at the end of the review are far more important and representative of the actual quality of the anime than that final number.
That's why the following table should not be taken at face value and as absolute, since many shows and movies are more enjoyable and overall "better" than their average score would suggest.
P.S. The ratings of some shows on my anime list might change over time as I re-watch them and possibly change my opinion. Nothing's set in stone.
10( covers anything between 9,5 and 10,0 )- a flawless masterpiece
Since my final score is an arithmetic mean rating, this score is almost impossible to achieve. That does not mean that shows rated with 9 or those higher than 8,0 cannot be given the title of a "masterpiece", on the contrary. But the ones rated 10 are not only extraordinary works in their own right, they are technically almost perfect, i.e. practically each of their individual elements is flawless.
9( 8,5 - 9,4 ) - brilliant, extraordinary, a masterpiece
These works excel in all aspects. Staggering achievements of animation, some of them possess such artistic quality and ingenuity that they can only be described as works of art. Important works that can be watched by non-anime fans as well. The only thing stopping them from getting a 10/10 are minor imperfections and maybe technical difficulties; these do not make the story itself less better in any way, but since the final score is an average...
8( 7,5 - 8,4 ) - very good, above average
Whether due to their technical achievements or the well-crafted plot and characters, these works stand out in the crowd, many of them just a step away from the "9" club of masterpieces. These shows are recognisable not so much because of their popularity ( since too many mediocre shows tend to be more popular than many high-quality creations ), but primarily because not even the more visible flaws and errors overshadow the highlights and quality of either the story-telling or admirable cinematographic feats. As I said, more visible flaws exist, but are not detrimental to the overall story and the end product.
7( 6,5 - 7,4 ) - good or average
Despite encompassing the numerical spectre of the same size as the previous categories, this one is by far the most diverse and contains a broad range of shows and movies. Ranging from the series that fall short of the "8" category by an inch to those that barely cross the 6,5 threshold, the shows in this category are mostly defined by having both some distinct positives and great downsides at the same time.
- The ones on the lower end of the spectrum are usually "style-over-substance", with their technical side making up for the lack of a great story and/or interesting characters - in one word, mediocre.
- In the middle are those which neither excel nor fall in any particular category, the truly "average" shows.
- On the higher end are very good stories that are hampered either in their technical execution or a single notable flaw in storytelling ( like a bad ending ).
In all these shows, the positives still outweigh the negatives, but the flaws are much bigger and more apparent than in the "very good" category.
6( 5,5 - 6,4 ) - OK/fine/a passing grade/mediocre
While their quality is on the lower end of "passable", they still do get a passing grade.
Major flaws are present, mostly in the form of convoluted and poorly handled storytelling, or just an absence of meaningful substance in the story. Possibly bad artwork or severely outdated animation. While they generally leave mixed feelings, they usually have one redeeming quality that gives them a positive score. These mediocrities mostly don't earn or warrant a re-watch.
5( 4,5 - 5,4 ) - Bad, but...
This category is already below the "passable" threshold and can only be described as "bad". However, while they are overwhelmingly negative, there are a few elements or gimmicks that can attract a specific niche audience and create a substantial fanbase. Such shows can best be described as "guilty pleasures".
4,4 - 1 - Very, very bad, horrible, abominable
These shows are just disasters in every way; plot, character, writing and technical execution. Not many such shows are on my list because I tend to stay away from crappy anime and movies, and I advise you to do the same. Life's too short to waste it on crap.
End of evangelion rated a 3, and your favorite 3 animes of all time are Death Note, fate/zero and Madoka Magica. That explains it all for me clearly, you have the IQ of a bonobo.
“It's the end of the world Ladies and Gentlemen, and I'm feeling fine"
Lol priceless, I love it xD
Yea I didn’t really like that Eva film with the alternate look on the ending, but I did gave a 5 out of generosity because it did try to seem influential and thought-provoking, though not in a good way
"There isn't a single person with a sane mind that doesn't loathe and hate Shinji and doesn't want to torture him in the most gruesome, most painful ways possible."
All Comments (90) Comments
The manga is 10x better than EoE. The mangaka executed the ending quite well than Anno version.
Lol priceless, I love it xD
Yea I didn’t really like that Eva film with the alternate look on the ending, but I did gave a 5 out of generosity because it did try to seem influential and thought-provoking, though not in a good way
What the fuck?