.hack//SIGN

Before I start, let me point out that the only exposure I've had to the.hack universe is through this series. So if I'm just not getting something that is somehow enhanced by the games or other series, I apologize.

Anyway, this is really a pretty good show. Not great, but good. Good characters, great animation and music, and an inventive and creative plot. The only real beefs I have with this show are the length and the confusion. During the series, I accepted the fact that things may seem a little confusing, and I'd just have to stick with it. I expected that things would be tied up at the end, maybe not completely, but at least enough to justify watching all these (mostly pointless) episodes. Unfortunately, I don't feel that they really explained what happened. It kind of left me hanging. I understand the story goes on, but I would have preferred a little more closure.

As for the length, the series contains far too little content to fill nearly thirty episodes. Its kind of an anti-FLCL, if you know what I mean. They could have easily wrapped it up in 13, if not fewer. It just seemed to drag on and on, talking a lot without really saying anything. Of course, sometimes it was nice to just sit back and enjoy the beautiful animation and music. They were something of a saving grace.

So in the end, I'd recommend .hack//sign. Despite its length, it managed to keep my interest throughout, and that's always a good thing.

A single installment in the Project. Hack series, .Hack//Sign blends books, manga, TV anime, and OVAs to create a single, expansive story featuring characters and events that occur both simultaneously and chronologically. The review that follows is written as a stand-alone anime and from the perspective of the franchise.

Most reviews of Hack//Sign agree that the plot is uninteresting, has little action, and moves slowly. The plot revolves around character interaction and development, even though some of these statements are absolutely accurate. Through their interactions with the other members of the cast, their surroundings, and their progressive contribution to the plot, each side character's backstory is revealed to the audience. The story revolves around competing and complementary characters, propelled by enigmas.

The animation in. Hack//Sign is excellent and goes well with "The World's" fantasy setting. Each setting has a distinct emotional vibe that fits in perfectly with the show's leisurely pacing. Each location has its own theme and atmosphere that truly makes "The World" feel as large as the actual world, and its individuality helps establish the tone for the current scenario in the anime. The land is vibrantly scattered with icy wastelands, arid deserts, and tropical jungles. The real world, on the other hand, is more akin to vintage silent black-and-white movies than the virtual one.

Text appears to substitute spoken sound, creating a depressing and gloomy portrayal of the real world. In order to convey how "The World" seems to be the ideal haven from problems in real life, the contrast between the colorful virtual world and the depressing real world becomes crucial. Since each character has a unique design that fits the larger framework that "The World" establishes, the character designs are also quite well done. Though there were a few areas that felt a touch "grainy," overall, this virtual world's design is really impressive.

.Hack//Sign's distinct soundtrack and sound set it apart from other anime. While the background music inspires peace and melancholy, the opening song, Obsession, provides a trance-like atmosphere. A sense of storytelling is added by the folklore element. Scenes are set with spoken background music, such as Key of the Twilight. Though certain music might overshadow a scene, the mood is rarely ruined by it.

As a whole. There is a reason to take Hack//Sign seriously. You'll wonder if you could experience something similar after reading this tale of escape gone bad. The music effectively establishes the show's emotional tone, while the animation is captivating and inventive. I must caution you once more to avoid this show if you detest sluggish-paced television or crave action; nevertheless, if you enjoy a solid mystery in a fantastical atmosphere, then give it a shot. This is a hack// sign for you.

.hack//SIGN cannot be judged alone. This show was meant to be connected with many other forms of multimedia and many other shows. There is.hack//Liminality 4 episode series, .hack//DUSK manga and anime (a.k.a. Legend of the Twilight Bracelet), and the gaming series. Each seperate show/game/manga fills in those questions that are left by the others and you must even do some investigating yourself to fill in some of the blanks.

Standing alone, .hack//SIGN is a work of art. The scenery is amazing, the character designs are very original, and the soundtrack is mindblowing. Because the entire series takes place witin a digital world, the artists had a lot of freedom in the design of the enviroment; yet they also had the guidelines of keeping the same feeling of the enviroment in the games (.hack//Infection, Mutation, Outbreak, and Quarintine). This provided a challenge because the graphics in the games aren't exactly wonderful. But the artists pull through keeping true to the game and making an unforgetable world for us to enjoy. Anoter big challenge was to create a way to make the main characters recognizable while keeping them within design of the "extras" because the series is a game where there are skins for the players. The characters that stick out in my mind are Chrim and Mimiru. Finally, during the course of the whole series, there are very few moments where there is no music playing and whenever this happens, it is for dramatic effect. They even have a feature on the DVD to take out the dialogue and just watch the beautiful art and listen to the amazing muisc.

I don't want to talk much about the story because it is something you need to discover for yourself. All you need to know is that at times the story can drag and seem slow but all you need to do is stick with it and make sure you don't get lost in the many intellegent conversations that take place.

I HIGHLY reccomend this series espicially with taking part in the many other offered .hack media.

Just a few months ago I saw this show for the first time.I heard everyone talking about it so I watched it.After watching one episode of this show I fell in love with it.I think it's one of the BEST ANIME shows ever! I got one of my friends to watch it one night and now she watches it all the time.Even though It only 30 minutes long it seems longer and really good.Most of the time Stuff that you wouldn't expect happen!It is very cool!I recommend this show to all Anime lovers!

.hack//Sign is not boring or confusing. If you have seen Evangelion, which is created by some of the same people, you can see how the "confusion" is actually an important story device called Mystery.

As the other comments eluded to, this series is one in a multi-format anime/manga/game series. Hack sign is only the second part in the series. So the claim that the ending resolves nothing, first realize that this series was never intended to "stand alone", but to complement the other parts. Second, please refer to the other animes done by these people: Evangelion and Ghost in the Shell, both have inconclusive endings, like it or not. If you can't stand a complex plot; you prefer simple, predictable plots; then this show is not for you.

As to the boring part. The show may be slow moving, especially the episode where Mimiru waits for Tsukasa in Dun Lorielag, but if you are paying attention fully, you notice how well written the show is. It is portraying the sometimes tediousness of online gaming, but more importantly, showing how Tsukasa is living on a completely different timeframe from other players. This serves to give the viewers some insight into how Tsukasa must be feeling, and how the other "normal" players must be exerting themselves trying to befriend him. .Hack//Sign is a beautiful story. With well drawn characters and backgrounds, and well written music. The characters and dialogue are complex, as well as the story. I recommend everybody buy/watch this anime, as well as .hack//liminality and also play the games. They are all fun and each are a part in a larger puzzle. This whole series has quite an original concept. It certainly is not boring or confusing.