Tokyo Ghoul Root A is maybe not the AOTY 2015, but because I see it collects here only criticisms at best not very fair, I must restore the balance of the opinions.

I think the problem, above all, is the state of mind with which we perceive this second season. Indeed, in the echoes which I received from Tokyo Ghoul, there was hardly only of three sorts: "S1 is a little bit boring but in S2 it gets interesting", then "S2 is a waste which murders S1", and "S2 isn't canon compared to the manga since Pierrot has fucked it up". And indeed, we have in front of us 2 seasons with different rhythm which do not have much in common between them.

Personally, when we spoke to me about Tokyo Ghoul, in view of the name, the pictures, the first minutes of the first episode of S1 with a glowing Rize, and... a certain white-haired boy who can "no longer see the world", I imagined at once something bloody , violent, merciless; a persistent war between ghouls and humans until the annihilation.

As a result, I felt an afterstate of slice of ghoul life, in front of a S1 which has certainly its moments of cruelty and tragedy, but which gets mainly down to show us that ghouls are as the human. They too have their ties, their pains, their hopes, their despairs...

It was not what I expected, but it wasn't unpleasant after all. It is necessary to be immersed, this season is essential to blur the manicheanism, make us wonder ourselves of which side we take place in this war.

It takes sense only because we know the battle arrives. The last episode of this S1, symbol of its depth, justifies everything, and represents a transition towards a more bestial S2 putting an end in this "calm before the storm".
But let us bend over this S2. The answer is yes, it reigns a certain confusion... a certain lack of sense in the plot's structure. However, I would here want to bring a nuance: it's not inconsistent for all that. Those who didn't read the manga are certainly going to miss some information, and in order general the decisions of the characters are not clarified. But nevertheless, by making a little effort there, they can easily, and even with the few of elements they have, to understand what it takes place and why.

The biggest riddle, of course, remains Kaneki Ken, our protagonist. It's maybe the one who seems most emotionally weak at first sight. However, you shouldn't forget as far as himself, in the situation, is not necessarily capable of being completely rational, having lost its innocence. Even if he makes a little bit debatable decisions, it works. It's not a plot weakness, but a will to let the public think about cogs. His character developpement is memorable.

And then, it's a season much more turned to the action, with an anthology OST and a magnificent animation made by Pierrot which hits the score, and can show itself rather epic. The characters psychology is not aside left for all that, it's even more developed than in S1... But it's moved, expressed through flashbacks which often take 1/4 or 1/3 of the episodes (it's not inevitably a flaw).

According to me, without saying about it too much, THE big flaw of this season is the end: excess of doors left open, too many tracks which we would have liked seeing exploited throughout the anime and which are dedicated to remain unsettled; despite of a conclusion endowed with a beautiful staging. But I saw it in so many series, and especially I saw so worse than that, I don't see of what complain here. It's less hateful than the disease from which suffer so much animes when, in two episodes of the end, they begin to hesitate absolutely anything, to accelerate things and arrive at a conclusion, which besides making no sense, most of the time solves nothing for all that.



And now, it's time for the notation :

[Story part : 4/10]

.An average pacing, too slow in S1, and too fast in this S2. (0,5/2)

.A pretty good premise like S1, with an freshly enigmatic Kaneki. (1/2)

.Complexity isn't really present.. Too much focus on the protagonist. (1/2)

.Regarding Plausibility, there are some obvious plot holes. (0,5/2)

.A conclusion which makes diverge passions, and disappoints me. (1/2)


[Animation part : 9/10]

.Good production value. (2/2)

.Great use of shadows and darkness, good visual effects. (2/2)

.Memorable character design (Special mention to Eto. Spooky.) (2/2)

.Well animated (Especially to the end of the show)and very good staging. (2/2)

.A decent background, but there is a lack of details. (1/2)


[Sound part : 8/10]

.High quality sound effects. (2/3)

.According to me, an anthology OST (Special mention to White Silence which isn't integrated in the show : [Link removed - login to see]... This is art.) (3/3)

.A great voice acting (Special thanks to Eto again...). (2/3)

.Good BGM, atmosphere is immersive. (1/1)


[Characters part : 8/10]

.Acceptable presence, especially with the main characters. (1/2)

.Very poignant catharsis, definitively. (2/2)

.High quality character developpement, in particular in Kaneki and Amon. (2/2)

.Detailed and deep characters personality. (2/2)

.Good but incomplete backdrop... (1/2)


[Miscellaneous part ( doesn't count in the notation ) : 7/10]

.Good Rewatchability. (2/3)

.Disappointing OP and ED contrary to S1. Just saying. (0/1)

.Enjoyment is here. It'll stay in my memories. (5/6)


OVERALL : 7/10

And so Mayoiga made History. An unforgettable plot which leads us in a world populated with characters not possesing either true purpose or substance and where "coherence" is banished. Everything is overblown and badly written. The intent of Diomedea (the studio) was to build a mysterious and immersive story based upon social trauma taking shape of an illusion, a very good premise. But it only goes into a non-assumed comedy, ironically worth watching because of that... medley of cliffhangers. Another anime with a huge lack of maturity which appropriates itself the demography "seinen" while it does not respect the codes

There is no more thing to say.

Notation :

[Story part : 0.5/10]

-"Pacing" means nothing in this show. Incredible. (0/2)

-A plot without substance. I call this "blank hole". (0/2)

-False complexity, there is no depth. (0/2)

-Regarding Plausibility, I would be able to give -1 here. (0/2)

-A pointless conclusion to a pointless story. (0/2)

.Bonus : Good premise. +0.5


[Animation part : 3.5/10]

-Decent production value. Low budget. (1/2)

-Decent visual effects. (1/2)

-A pretty good character design overall (Special mention to Lion and Jack). (1/2)

-Awkward staging because of the omnipotent non-sense. (0/2)

-Uggly background, lack of details. (0.5/2)


[Sound part : 6/10]

-High quality sound effects. (2/3)

-Concerning the soundtrack, it's forgettable. (1/3)

-Good voice acting. (2/3)

-Good BGM, atmosphere is almost immersive. (1/1)


[Characters part : 0.5/10]

-The switch of character point of view is badly thought. (0/2)

-A mere presence of a collective catharsis (about "fear"), but pointless. (0.5/2)

-Character development is an abstract notion in this show. (0/2)

-Characters personality : Cliche, irrationnal and overblown. (0/2)

-Is there any backdrop here? Yes,Probably in a bucket... (0/2)


[Miscellaneous part ( doesn't count in the notation ) : 1/10]

.Best Rewatchability ever. (0/3)

.Disappointing OP and ED. (0/1)

.Enjoyment is almost here !! It'll stay in my memories !!! I give 1 point !!! (1/6)


OVERALL : 2.5/10.
Class : E. Almost F.

That's a nice try for Trigger. They showed they are talented enough to build an emotional story with a psychological value and without excess of cliché, even if there is a little of that. A promising premise based upon a collective sharing of pain between 6 characters, because of a mysterious experiment which linked them. Well on, the 6 ones were not chosen at random, and their differences is a prerequisite for the sake of the experience. The show turns around an understanding of other one to move forward. Over time, their ordeal becomes more complex. At the beginning, they underwent only physical wounds, but afterward, we shall come to heart pain and to the detection of certain feelings, activated by events and revelations.

Notation :

[Story part : 6/10]

-Pacing is correct. (1/2)

-A well-driven plot for a 12 episodes show. (1/2)

-Light complexity. There is nothing really difficult to understand, it lacks of depth. (0.5/2)

-Regarding Plausibility, it's an interesting perspective for a governmental experiment. (1.5/2)

-A decent conclusion if S2 is planned. Bad if not. (1/2)

.Bonus : Very good premise. +1


[Animation part : 7/10]

-Very good production value. (1.5/2)

-Good visual effects. (1/2)

-A particulary good character design overall (Special mention to Nori, Katsuhira and Hisomu). (1.5/2)

-Well-done staging, better than I thought. (2/2)

-Very beautiful backgrounds, sometimes. (1/2)


[Sound part : 6/10]

-High quality sound effects. (2/3)

-Concerning the soundtrack, it's forgettable but it deserves to be listened again to be sure. (1.5/3)

-Good voice acting. (2/3)

-BGM is okay, but no immersion. (0.5/1)


[Characters part : 5.5/10]

-Characters presence is well-managed. (1.5/2)

-A high presence of a collective catharsis. (1.5/2)

-Character development is here as expected. (1/2)

-About characters personality, there are two names to keep ni mind : Noriko Sonozaki and Katsuhira Agata. They are interesting. The others are cliche and empty. (1/2)

-Backdrop is overblown.... (0.5/2)


[Miscellaneous part ( doesn't count in the notation ) : 6/10]

.Rewatchability questionable. (1/3)

.Memorable OP and ED. (1/1)

.It was an enjoyment to watch (4/6)


OVERALL : 6/10.