Last time something got in my way before I could watch it, but I finally saw the first 3 episodes today.
It's a great anime.
It's not perfect, though.
I can't help but think that it's hurt by the standard cutesy character designs. Though they have a certain degree of originality, it's only if you compare them to designs in the same category. This hurts the atmosphere of the show, which should be the most important part of the series. Still, NaGa's designs aren't as bad as Hinoue Itaru's, so there's that.
While we're on the visuals, P.A. Works does a great job, especially on the backgrounds and enviroment, but their reliance on 3D models for character animation is visible and slightly annoying.
Moving on to other matters, Otonashi is annoying. He sometimes acts like a retard, and his indignation after entering Tenshi's room was completely out of place. He should know by now that things in this world are not as they seem, and being concerned about privacy then causing grievous bodily harm makes him look rather silly. Not to mention, he's almost completely devoid of a distinct personality, but that might be because he lacks his memories. Oh, and she looks like Shirou form F/SN. Only thing that makes him tolerable is Kamiya Hiroshi's voice.
Other character that I felt was underdeveloped was Yuri. For someone who's supposed to be the beloved leader of the rebellion, she completely lacks charisma. I expect more depth to her character later in the series though.
Now we're getting to the most serious matter, that's not exactly a flaw, at least not yet. This series attempts to tackle a very serious problem, basically what's the meaning and purpose of living in a unjust world where you can die unfairly at any time, and can a God exist in such a world. How will the show deal with those matters is the biggest question. I just hope that this time we'll get something more then pseudo-philosophical contrived bullshit that will only seem deep to those who never gave much thought to such matters. And that we won't have a conclusion that only works within the show's universe, with it's afterlife and all.
This is also the show's greatest potential. It remains to be seen how they'll deal with it, but if it's done well enough, Angel Beats might as well become Key's magnum opus that'll serve as a great conclusion to their previous works.
Miscellaneous things:
Yuri x Tenshi is Angel Beats' OTP.
OST FUCKING WHERE
