and well done". Other aspects of the series have divided critics' opinions. Manga Life's Michael Aronson praised the enemy designs, while Carlo Santos of Anime News Network (ANN) criticized them, adding the series "is not much fun to read, and certainly no fun to look at". Writing for Active Anime, Sandra Scholes found points of interest in the series' story, and praised its action. Santos said the action "got all the drive and excitement of shōnen action", and Comic Book Bin's Leroy Douresseaux called the series "a mixture of Dragonball Z and Naruto, but filled with even more weirdness". Aronson said the storytelling and action needed "clarity". Leigh Dragoon from Sequential Tart described Buso Renkin as "derivative" and "hackneyed", and called the characters "completely forgettable". Conversely, Patti Martinson writing for the same site said that they "are distinctive and interesting". Martinson noted "the complexity of the plot", though she said it is not difficult to follow. She added there was "a lot of strong material" that can be developed throughout the series. Holly Ellingwood praised the final volume, stating that Watsuki did "a fabulous job of covering all fronts and the various characters, juggling them effectively" and that it ends "in an amazing way". The anime was met with mostly negative critical reception. ANN critic Zac Bertschy said Buso Renkin "isn't anything special", criticizing the "threadbare plot exposition" and its clichés, but praised the way it "get[s] right to the action". Writing for ANN, Luke Carroll stated the series is generic and that it became "[a] bit more tolerable ... during its light-hearted moments". Although ANN's Carl Kimlinger said the anime follows the "shōnen fighting formula", he praised Tokiko's characterization, saying it is one characteristic that distinguish the series. Kimlinger also praised the way it "improves considerably" because of its twists in the plot. UK Anime Network's Andy Hanley also called it "generic" at the start, but said it "has a fairly decent stab" in the second half. Chris Beveridge of Mania praised the balance between the humor and the "lighter side", and stated that Buso Renkin "took the clichés and obviousness of ideas and ran with it in an engaging and fun manner". Notes References External links XEBEC's Official Buso Renkin site TV Tokyo's Official Buso Renkin site 2003 manga 2006 anime television series debuts 2006 Japanese novels Adventure anime and manga Anime series based on manga Light novels