Gosick

Summary:
Gosick takes place in 1924 in a small, made-up European country of Sauville. The story centers on Kazuya Kujo, the third son of a Japanese Imperial soldier, who is a transfer student to St. Marguerite Academy, where urban legends and horror stories are all the rage. There he meets Victorique, a mysterious yet beautiful and brilliant girl who never comes to class and spends her days reading the entire content of the library or solving mysteries that even detectives can’t solve. The series mostly focuses on Kazuya and Victorique getting involved in different mystery cases and their struggle to solve them, at the same time forming important bonds with different people.

Author: Sakuraba Kazuki

Artist: Amano Sakuya

Gosick received a lot of hype before it aired, and many people looked forward to the airing of this “masterpiece” novel. Will Studio Bones do it justice?
I would like to mention that I have not read the novel and thus I am only reviewing the anime version.

Story: 9/10
I am a sucker for detective/mystery anime. The first episode, however, did not meet up to my expectations. It introduced the characters all right, and I did enjoy the little mystery they had. However, being a fan of detective anime/stories, such as Detective Conan, I found the case pretty simple and repetitive in many shows.
But, my views changed by the second episode. One cannot help but admire Victorique’s detective skills, and the two part episode (2 and 3) proved to be entertaining. It was also suspenseful in a way since viewers are left with cliff hangers at the end of the second episode.
It might be far too early to judge the overall story, but I give it a 9/10 at the moment, and we will see how the whole series unfolds, though I have really high expectations at the moment.

Art: 10/10
I’m not surprised at the rating I give the artwork. Studio Bones generally produces eye-catching art style, and Gosick did do justice in that. The character designs are interesting (though many say that Victorique resembles Shinku from Rozen Maiden. But that was the author’s style, not the studio’s. Besides, it suits her!) The opening and ending have very beautiful artwork, and the style is somewhat different than what is IN the show, but still captivating. I give it a 10/10.

Sound: 9/10
The music accompanying the series is both mysterious and captivating. It actually draws the viewers in, and sets an overall mood for the show. The opening and ending songs (Opening by Yoshiki*lisa and Ending by Lisa Komine) are very catchy. The intro is amusingly happy and hyper at the beginning, then at the chorus very enjoyable to the ears. I think it was very well done! As for the ending, many fans rave that it is better than the opening. I personally prefer the opening, though the ending is nothing short of masterpiece. I give the sound a 9/10 only because the music in the show is somewhat repetitive.

Character: 8/10
It is a bit too early to judge the characters of the show, so I cannot truthfully rate them. First, let us take Victorique, the main female protagonist. What I adore about her is the fact that she is not only a good detective that puts a pipe in her mouth whenever sleuthing (Sherlock Holmes?) but the fact that after those moments she is a girl in the end. Her random antics (barrel roll! I’m so bored!) keep the viewer entertained, and intrigued by her inner personality. And viewers still wonder what sentimental value her “gold necklace” has. Was it her mothers? (I somewhat believe she had a relation to the villain in a way?)
Next is Kujou, the main male protagonist. He is quickly introduced, and for some reason is attached to Victorique from the moment he set eyes on her. What I enjoy is his somewhat “split” personality (one moment provides the comic relief, another moment he is deadly serious). However, the fact that he is the “third son and tries to surpass his brothers” is somewhat cliche? I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but this is present in other anime too. But, Kujou proves to be a promising character and “sidekick” to Victorique.
Other minor characters are also appealing in their own way (a hyperactive teacher?) but some somehow have weird character designs (the Detective and his “drill” hair).
I give the characters and 8/10 at the moment since no further information is given about them, and we are only on the third episode, aren’t we?

Enjoyment: 9/10
Gosick happens to be entertaining, and viewers sleuth alongside the characters, wondering what will happen next. Some cannot wait for the next episode to come, while others are patient enough to think about the mystery during the one week period of time. 9/10.

Overall: 9/10
Gosick looks like a very promising anime, and the fact that it is being produced by Studio Bones only makes it more appealing. Detective/mystery genre fans will not only enjoy Victorique’s sleuthing with Kujou but also her “cute” personality while not being serious.