Kannazuki No Miko - Reception

Reception

Kannazuki no Miko received mixed reviews. Anime News Network (ANN) criticized volume one of the series as " instant fan favorite, but somehow to less than the sum of its parts". The network said the series "changes in scene and mood don't seem to connect, characters behave without rhyme or reason, and even thrilling action scenes are hampered by sloppy animation. There are lots of little things to like about the series, but as a whole, you have to wonder—"What? That's it?" They stated that "if Kannazuki no Miko were split into two different series, it might be easier to enjoy the separate story threads". The site did, however, credit the anime with "so many striking visual elements" such as giant robots, bishōjo, and an intergalactic villains' hangout. "J.C. Staff manages to come up with effective designs for each. The lead female characters have an appealing look even if they are not the prettiest, while the mechas have an imposing figure despite their simple appearance," relayed the site. The soundtrack, thought of as "classical-tinged" and setting the mood for the series, was also credited with being "especially effective" during dramatic character moments.

ANN said that volume one of the series promises something to suit every anime fetish, but "if sensible storytelling and deep characters are what turn you on, then this isn't the series to go to". For volume two, the network said that the series is "an emotionally excruciating" process, and named the continuation of the story as being filled with angst, rage and sentimentality " from almost every scene" on the disc. They said that despite this and the angst-ridden dialogue, "the middle episodes of Kannazuki no Miko represent a genuine turning point in the series: the romance and adventure storylines, once so disconnected, come together and swing the cosmic battle in a new direction" and that "the voice actors in the English dub still manage to express the sentiments of their characters".

Erica Friedman, president of Yuricon, heavily criticized it for its controversial scene of Chikane raping Himeko, as well as for its manga ending, where Chikane and Himeko are reincarnated as sisters who are lovers, in her review of volume one of the series. She also criticized it as not being well-written. Friedman wondered why Sōma and Chikane would allow Himeko to be bullied, outcast and victimized instead of stepping up and claiming their friendship publicly if they truly loved her. She criticized Himeko as allowing "the whims of others" to take control of her life, indulging them by not having an opinion of her own, and naively forgiving "even the basest" behavior. Friedman stated that the story actually revolves around "the love triangle and Himeko's victimization by herself and the people who profess to love her". She said, "Tokyopop's team did as good a job with the material as they could. It's not a good story, nor is it well-drawn, but they made it make as much sense as possible. I applaud them for that. It's not as easy as they made it look." For volume two, Friedman later stated that Tokyopop did a "very superior job with this series".