Herald Views

Herald Views: Pandora Hearts, Episode 1


The content of this piece was written during a viewing of the first episode of Pandora Hearts on November 4, 2010. Edits have been made for spelling and grammar, but the rest is completely untouched, and un-edited from its original format.

The grain effect is intentional, as is the show’s overwhelming weirdness. I was able draw comparisons to La Portrait de Petit Cossette. I’ll let you decide from there.

8:40 PM: Good evening, everyone, and welcome to another showblog.

8:40 PM: Tonight kicks off a series of features based on NIS.

8:40 PM: Specifically, three titles released in the west by .@nisamerica :)

8:40 PM: We’re going to start with their newest title, Pandora Hearts. So, to start off, I’ll get the basics out of the way.

8:40 PM: Directed by Takao Kato (Buso Renkin, Sorcerer Hunters)

8:41 PM: Created by Jun Mochizuki

8:41 PM: Music by Yuki Kajiura (Madlax, Noir, My-HiME)

8:41 PM: Animated by Xebec

8:41 PM: Opening theme: Parallel Hearts by FictionJunction

8:41 PM: Ending theme: Maze by Savage Genius

8:42 PM: And I notice this is a Square-Enix show. Taking bets on how long before angst and emo!

8:42 PM: Anyway, I’ve wasted enough time… let’s get this thing rolling :)

8:42 PM: Opens to… rain. Lots of rain.

8:42 PM: And a castle…. and a bridge… in a thunderstorm.

8:43 PM: Moo-dyyyyy

8:43 PM: And grainy… as we see dead people and… Ky Kiske?

8:43 PM: Oh god it’s a bondage club D: “My chains of justice shall judge you :3”

8:43 PM: “Uour sin… is your very existence T_T” Well ain’t that a kick in the head

8:44 PM: Now we’re seeing a huge town? wat ‘-‘

8:44 PM: ….and Large Hadron Collider :O

8:44 PM: “They called it the darkness that swallowed everything. : (” …black holes do that

8:44 PM: “But that didn’t mean there was no light >_>” wat. ‘-‘

8:45 PM: Into the opening… I have to admit – I love FictionJunction. :D

8:47 PM: Wikipedia tells me this is ALL of FictionJunction – Wakana, Keiko, Yuriko, AND Kaori. Epic

8:47 PM: Anyway – episode starting >_>

8:47 PM: No longer grainy… yay :D

8:48 PM: “Oz-chan :3”

8:48 PM: He’s in a closet with a little girl? wat ‘-‘

8:48 PM: “GIRUBAATO :O” poor Gilbert ‘-‘ Getting grilled by crazy overreactive school marm lady

8:49 PM: SCARY school marm… using poor Gilbert’s fear of kitties against him.

8:49 PM: And out they go. toward the lake… while Oz was in the closet >_> wat

8:50 PM: And off the three go. “Mrs. Kate” – awesome name :D

8:50 PM: “They cleaned it up all for you :3”

8:50 PM: Something tells me Oz is a sacrifice.

8:51 PM: “This is where the ceremony will be :D” yep – sacrifice

8:51 PM: And Oz is staring at a giant clock… wtf?

8:51 PM: “That’s the silent clock :O” …gotcha

8:52 PM: Hah :D Uncle Oscar got ’em. Lots of engrish names in this so far – unintentional fun

8:52 PM: “I can’t help but tease her :3” he is a cruel kid.

8:52 PM: Ohhh… not a sacrifice – coming of age ceremony.

8:53 PM: Just as bad? I dunno

8:53 PM: blah blah 200 year old mansion before the Tragedy of Sablier

8:53 PM: AKA “huge black hole eats city”

8:54 PM: “You’re like a father to me :D” “O___o” Gilbert seems easily shocked

8:54 PM: Poor Gilbert’s gonna get his ass kicked…. or just teasted by the cat >_____>

8:55 PM: “Don’t mess around during the ceremony tonight T_T” Bondage clubs don’t take that lightly

8:55 PM: “MISSES KEITO :O”

8:55 PM: “Where are weoing? :D” “To the secret place :3” …I don’t wanna know

8:56 PM: “What’s the abyss? :D” Hell.

8:56 PM: “Is it the same place in that book? ‘-‘ ” yes. Yes it is. >_>

8:57 PM: This show loves its landscape shots.

8:57 PM: Can’t say I disagree – the backgrounds are fantastic

8:57 PM: Hah :D Gil’s gonna be in the ceremony too

8:58 PM: Oz is cruel. >_> Crueler than Mrs. Kate

8:58 PM: “I have no right to take part D:” aw..

8:59 PM: Oz doesn’t get the idea of social classes.

8:59 PM: And daddy issues.

8:59 PM: He’s definitely got daddy issues

8:59 PM: “What’s that sound? :O” we’re gonna find out

8:59 PM: “A music box? ‘-‘”

9:00 PM: And down they go… right in front of a grave. How convenient for the plot

9:00 PM: Eyecatch.

9:00 PM: “Is this a cemetary? :O” …just one grave, kid

9:00 PM: With a swanky medallion on it

9:01 PM: That Oz grabs… thus desecrating a grave. >_>

9:01 PM: Smart

9:01 PM: And what is it? A watch, of course :D

9:01 PM: “A melody I’ve never heard before…” IT WAS JUST PLAYING, IDIOT T_T

9:02 PM: Whoa O_o oz is transported to LSD land where dolls stare at you with dead eyes O_o wtf Japan

9:02 PM: “Where am I? :3” Drug trip

9:02 PM: A bad trip, specifically… everything looks like it’ll kill him.

9:03 PM: “He’s back :D” …acid’s one hell of a drug

9:03 PM: “She’ll be overjoyed ^_^” …wat

9:03 PM: “She” is here… and she’s a girl in white that… goes right through Oz >_> Ghost?

9:03 PM: “I don’t understand! ‘-‘ ” that makes two of us.

9:03 PM: “You come here all the time ^_^” …wat ‘-‘

9:04 PM: This girl is freaking creepy.

9:04 PM: But does she have a name?

9:05 PM: She can make the flames of hell spew forth when she’s pissed… that much I know.

9:05 PM: “I’ll kill you T_T” -CHOKE-

9:05 PM: She wants him dead. And… damn is she scary under the bangs O_o “No matter where you hide, I WILL find you T_T” … T-3000? ‘-‘

9:06 PM: “Are you afraid of me? ‘_’ ” I sure as hell am.

9:06 PM: “Fear me :3” …she’s gotta be a demon.

9:06 PM: “In your final moments, I shall use my own hands TO KILL YOU :O” demon or vengeful spirit. Not sure which yet

9:07 PM: But Oz is rightfully disturbed.

9:07 PM: “Should you have taken the watch? :D” probably not

9:07 PM: Poor Oz is guilting the hell out of Gilbert now… scary bastard.

9:08 PM: “You’re filthy :O” falling in a ditch does that

9:08 PM: “My neck still hurts from where I was strangled ‘-‘ ” And it’s still bruised… wtf

9:08 PM: …This is like La Petit Cosette only less bloody ;-;

9:08 PM: And Gil’s got mystery demon girl behind him now… fun

9:08 PM: And there she goes. >_>

9:09 PM: Lord Rumsfeld’s arrived :D And he’s going to fuck the populous and cause them to rise up against their own self interests to make more money!

9:09 PM: Sorry – I shouldn’t make political swipes ^_^;;

9:10 PM: Random girl in carriage… and two mystery people talking about the Silent Clock again

9:10 PM: Oz is swanky in his new suit

9:10 PM: As he broods… less than an episode it is :D

9:10 PM: Poor Gil’s being possessed, I gather? o_o

9:11 PM: He has the creepy smile that girl had

9:11 PM: Yep… posessed. And he’s gon’ kill his buddy D:

9:11 PM: In the abyss, we see that girl again… wat?

9:12 PM: “I know this sound D:” Pocketwatch can summon zombies. Got it.

9:12 PM: And end credits.

9:12 PM: With a rockin’ song by Savage Genius

9:13 PM: OK… I honestly have NO idea about what to think with this one. On one hand, the concept intrigues me.

9:15 PM: On the OTHER, I can’t help but draw parallels to Le Portrait de Petit Cossette – which I deemed an absolute turd, and 90 minutes of torture.

9:15 PM: So.. it could get awesome from here, or it could get godawful. There’s no clear indicator of either.

9:17 PM: The one thing I will single out is how grainy the video was. I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but it was distracting at points.

9:22 PM: But, well, yeah… if they keep up the creepy angle this could be really fun. if not, it could be a decent show with some flaws to it. :p

9:22 PM: Anyway, thanks for listening to me ramble on. Have a nice night, everyone!

9:27 PM: UPDATE: Apparently, the grain is intentional. http://bit.ly/aPnAcK – No more complaints there, since it’s not a technical issue.

Pandora Hearts is currently licensed for distribution by NIS America.
The series can be purchased at Right Stuf.
About the author

Samantha Ferreira

Samantha Ferreira is Anime Herald’s founder and editor-in-chief. A Rhode Island native, Samantha has been an anime fan since 1992, and an active member of the anime press since 2002, when she began working as a reviewer for Anime Dream. She launched Anime Herald in 2010, and continues to oversee its operations to this day. Outside of journalism, Samantha actively studies the history of the North American anime fandom and industry, with a particular focus on the 2000s anime boom and bust. She’s a huge fan of all things Sakura Wars, and maintains series fansite Combat Revue Review when she has free time available. When not in the Anime Herald Discord, Samantha can typically be found on Bluesky.

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