Saint Beast: Seijuu Kourin-hen

Bones★ 3

I was expecting quite a lot from this anime, and I didn't get it. The characters are attractive, the story sounded interesting enough on paper, but it just lacked style. Some of the scripting is so forced and unrealistic that it just makes you squirm with embarrassment. And the fight scenes...erm...they got glossed over. The scenarios and the plot were far too "convenient", pushing the bishounen characters into situations where they could touch each other endearingly (aka inappropriately, yahoo!) and struggle with their inner most feelings (aka lots of angst). Saint Best is a bishounen-fest. There isn't really much else to recommend it. There are only( I think) 2 female characters in it; a goddess who seems to need her strapping lads to do everything for her and a midget angel that bounces about thinking she's being very cute (aka putting "dechu" on the end of every sentence - argh!) If you're happy with just looking at the characters (lets be fair, they do look nice) then go for it, but I recommend turning off the audio and subs, because otherwise you'll spend a lot of time cringing.

fruitfly★ 5

Don't expect more than light shounen-ai fluff out of this one -- you'll be disappointed. Story-wise, there isn't much to see here. The first few episodes are monster of the day type encounters that are supposed to give us some insight into the main characters (while simultaneously placing them in position to be slashed with each other.) The story picks up in the last two episodes, at which point it promptly ends without actually coming to a conclusion. The action is scant, and consists mainly of posed characters dashing across the screen making slashing attacks that do more damage to clothing than to anything else.That is, of course, when they bothered animating the action at all. In several instances the fighting takes place off screen, while the other characters comment on the battle. This ended up being very irritating; luckily, there's hardly any fighting that doesn't start and end in an energy blast after the second episode. The characters themselves, while terribly attractive, aren't anything special. They follow standard bishounen archetypes: Gou is the strong-willed, stoic leader, Shin the quiet, wise one (and he's got the spectacles to prove it,) Rei is bizarrely effeminate and sensitive, and young Gai is the head-strong, childish type. There isn't sufficient back-story to make any of the characters particularly sympathetic, and the attempts at placing them in relationships are weak and somewhat tawdry. "One time he was nice to me!" *blush* I wanted more out of this series, especially with such a great cast and an appealing premise (I get a kick out of angelic pretty boys,) but I was left unsatisfied. If you happen to have exhausted your supply of bishounen lovin' and need some RIGHT NOW, go ahead and give this a gander. Otherwise, move along. Nothing to see here.