[Sonhex]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Yes, well.... I try to resist, but resistance is futile. The show may be for kids, but it is just so well done: backgrounds, animation, color, stories, voice-acting.... Tamura Yukari, Kugimiya Rie (Shana, in a less tsundere role), Sawashiro Miyuki (Shinku)...to say nothing of appearances by Nojima Kenji, Yukana, Shiraishi Ryouko, Sugita Tomokazu, Kobayashi Akiko, Saitou Chiwa, et al. ...

Absolutely, the cast is great. It's clear the regulars are having so much fun the whole time. Guest stars are also fun to spot; Norio Wakamoto (Garkun) and Chiwa Saito (Lavi from Last Exile) as you mentioned amongst them. As for the design well I love the look of Fandavale. I think it captures the fairy tale world perfectly. Music (by Toshio Masuda) is also enjoyable.

As for ep 19...

Spoiler:

...returns to the darker theme with Baru getting injured, Akazukin being (unbelievably) emo and the freaky Trude scaring me silly. Jedo is back too. He poses the greatest danger to the Musketeers aside from Trude.

Most importantly Akazukin is actually defeated, or at least her power matched, for the first time by Jedo and her Grim Tailor gets broken. So that means next week - power boost and weapons upgrade (read:fricking huge sword).

Hopefully Hansel and Gretel, conspicious by their absence, will return soon.