A purely enjoyable show, Kaze no Stigma is an anime that lets you explore elemental powers with a modern twist and comedic touches without providing too much depth.
The story was split up into separate arches that did not tie together to form a solid plot. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, though. I enjoyed each of them even though they weren't connected. A few fillers were installed here and there, but they were good and gave a little bit of character development. The action caught my attention because of its usage of magic and nicely coordinated fighting. A little bit of drama didn't hurt, either.
Character designs were fresh and crisp. I enjoyed looking at them from a decent distance. When the camera panned out from the characters, detail lacked. Facial expressions were sometimes awkward with them frozen in place or misshapen. Also, sequences such as Ayano calling forth her Enraiha and Katherine conjuring Metatron were reused several times. However, flame and wind animations were excellent. Backgrounds were okay.
The opening was great. When my brother and I first started watching the show (this one being one of the first for us), we rocked out secretly to the full version. The soundtrack playing in the back was fairly unnoticeable but did its job. The two endings were fair, and I liked how they alternated. I watched the Funimation dub, and Kazuma's and Ayano's voices fit well with their characters. The supporting cast was fair enough.
Characters were the strongest asset to Kaze no Stigma. Kazuma was portrayed superbly, and Ayano gave us a unique illustration. Kazuma and Ayano were both polar opposite personality-wise. They created an impressive relationship through little moments and I savored every second, wanting more. They were certainly the deepest characters and the strongest part of the anime. Supporting characters were above average and performed their roles well.
I love watching anime. I rarely dislike watching a show. Kaze no Stigma certainly did not disappoint. An enjoyable story and lovable characters made for a good time in my book.
I wouldn't recommend passing this one up. As one of the first anime I had watched, it encouraged me to explore more of this new world. It might not blow you away, but it will certainly light up your day.
