HALO LEGENDS

DESCRIPTION

CAST

REVIEWS

• 

  ChillLaChill

  70/100
  Halo Legends” mixes highs and lows, offering standout segments but generally serving fans rather than newcomers.

  Halo Legends marked one of my initial forays into the Halo universe, although my experience with the series was limited to a few segments of the original game and its third installment. The idea of merging this iconic video game with anime was intriguing, and while the anthology series had promise, its execution fell short of expectations. As an anthology, it resembles works like Animatrix and Neo Tokyo, with varying impacts based on individual expectations.

  Origins
  The first episode, Origins, attempts to introduce newcomers to Halo's expansive lore by covering the Forerunners, the Flood, and the epic conflicts that shaped the series. However, for those unfamiliar with the universe, the presentation is both muddled and overwhelming. Even as someone well-versed in the games, I found the episode's effort to convey complex lore through static narration and limited animation more confusing than enlightening. While the animation quality was adequate, the storytelling fell short in engaging or educating effectively.

  The Duel
  The Duel, directed by Mamoru Oshii and animated by Production I.G., centers on the Arbiter’s internal struggle with the Covenant’s religious doctrine. Despite the impressive pedigree behind this project, the episode didn’t quite land for me. The watercolor animation style was visually striking but ultimately lacked engagement. The premise, an homage to samurai movies, was intriguing but didn’t resonate deeply, leaving the episode feeling dull and skippable.

  Homecoming
  Homecoming emerges as one of the anthology’s highlights. This dark and compelling story follows a girl who, after being abducted into the Spartan program, discovers that a doppelgänger has replaced her. The animation, once again handled by Production I.G., was impressive, and the narrative was gripping. However, like other entries, it didn’t delve deeply into Halo lore, with the books offering a richer exploration of the universe.

  Odd One Out
  Odd One Out stands out as the weakest installment. Its blend of Dragon Ball Z-style action with Halo elements felt out of place and almost parodic. This episode contributed little to the overarching Halo narrative and felt more like an oddity than a meaningful addition to the series.

  Prototype
  Prototype depicts the early Spartan-II operations as marines defend a facility from the Covenant. Although action-packed, it lacked substance and failed to provide new insights or depth, serving more as a visual spectacle than a meaningful story.

  The Babysitter
  The Babysitter is arguably the best episode in Halo Legends. It excellently portrays the tension between ODSTs and Spartans, featuring a unique animation style that resonates well. It also includes subtle details that fans of the series will appreciate, making it a standout segment in the anthology.

  The Package
  The final episode, The Package, is visually impressive but narratively thin. While its style is enjoyable, the story is simplistic and does not contribute much beyond aesthetic appeal. This episode highlights the series' tendency toward style over substance.

  Overall, Halo Legends offers an entertaining viewing experience for established fans of the franchise. However, it falls short for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Halo universe. The series provides a unique anime perspective on the franchise, but the inconsistent quality of episodes and limited lore expansion make it more of a novelty for fans rather than an essential addition to the Halo canon. Ironically, the most memorable part of the collection for me was the teaser trailer for Halo: Reach that preceded the anthology, reminding me of the simpler times when I first committed to the Halo series.

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• 

  NyoDesu

  80/100
  A Legendarily Underrated Loveletter to Halo Fans

  [SPOILERS FOR BOTH THIS ONA AND BITS OF HALO 1-ODST IN THIS REVIEW, OF COURSE!]
  

  The Narrative(s) & Characters:
  

  Considering this an ONA based on the franchise, it bounces off of everything that was out at the time (Halo 1, 2, 3, Wars, and ODST) and expands on really Of the in-universe lore for all of the factions we've seen. The Spartans, ODST, Flood, Covenant, and Brutes all get some time in the spotlight here and it's all genuinely informative as a fan and is presented excellently. Each episode focuses on something different (except the first two, which is a two-parter, the last episode was split-off too, but not where I watched it) and covers various time periods and locations throughout the series from various pre-established and original characters. The pre-established things work well with the new ones, which is how it should be, and the fact Japanese studios are handling a Western property like this one, they do a great job in staying faithful to what may or may not be seen in the series (though there are some liberties certainly taken here and there.)

  The characters are all pretty great, though some are more fleshed out than others. It's surprising to me how much I got to care for a lot of them given the episodes are so criminally short. Their designs are...definitely more anime-esque than your typical characters, but they work well in the context of this series. I specifically want to highlight Ghost in 'Prototype' and the ODST group in 'The Babysitter', they're especially great. They've got signature UNSC charm that the soldiers in the actual games do and it made me really appreciate them. It's just a shame we don't get to see more of these characters because again...how short these episodes are.

  The Visual & Sound Design:
  

  Well, given this IS an anime of a Western property (an adaptation, I suppose? Though not a direct one), I must say the art for this series is quite nice. The episodes vary in style and some pretty well-known studios like Bones, Toei, and Production I.G. worked on this series, so it's no wonder that even now most of it still holds up super well. Episode 3 has a very interesting watercolor style that I believe is meant to reference imperial Japanese-styled art, which I think is quite charming, even if it may be distracting and not their cup of tea to some. I personally think the various styles help in giving each episode its own signature flare and atmosphere and I would say it works effectively in doing so.

  I will say that it's not perfect, though, it has aged a little. The CGI in some places is a bit noticeable (though Episode 8 I will say holds up superbly and I respect the visual style it's going for in matching the CGI cutscenes scene in the Anniversary versions of 1 & 2 as well as Halo Wars 1) and I did find it odd in some of the places they used it where they could've drawn things out instead and had in some episodes (though then again, various studios handled this series, so I suppose it's a per-studio basis on what they do and don't draw.) The characters look slightly rough in some cases, especially when a lot is going on on screen. However, to give it credit for what it is, a lot of it is quite nice and the characters all look on-model to the series and the new additions don't stick out all the much visually compared to everything else.

  The Sound Design is stellar! Bringing back the music of Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori who have made some of the most iconic compositions out there along with the new artists Yasuharu Takanashi, Naoyuki Hiroko, and Tetsuya Takahashi, they all knock it out of the park. It all fits superbly well in terms of fitting with the signature sound of the series. It's mostly orchestral this time around, but it's all very consistently high-quality works and the amount of tracks composed for such a short series is quite impressive. The voice acting is also quite solid. I watched the first episode in both English and Japanese to compare and while I personally prefer the dub for the sake of being more accurate to the games, the Japanese Subs are perfectly fine too, and do offer a different Halo-watching experience.

  The Verdict:
  

  Halo Legends is certainly not for everyone and I would personally only recommend it to those who are SUPER into the series like myself and want to explore more about the series. I myself have been going through the series and have been trying to soak up as much lore on it as I can to really see how creative it can get. As a personal recommendation from me, if you ARE a fan and don't mind the fact that it's so short (which is probably my only complaint with this series), absolutely give it a watch! I think it's worth watching just for its novelty alone. That...and if I'm not mistaken it's all canon, so hey, if you're someone who wants to know as much canon stuff about your favorite series as I do, it's a must-watch!

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