Editing The Big O (section)

==Reception==
''The Big O'' premiered on October 13, 1999. The show was not a hit in its native Japan, rather it was reduced from an outlined 26 episodes to 13 episodes. Western audiences were more receptive and the series achieved the success its creators were looking for.<ref name="konaka"/><ref name="verdict-II-1"/> In an interview with [[AnimePlay]], Keiichi Sato said "This is exactly as we had planned", referring to the success overseas.<ref name = "AnimePlay">{{cite journal|last= Shimura|first= Shinichi|title= Anime rebel with a cause: ''The Big O'''s Keiichi Sato|journal= [[AnimePlay]]|volume = 5|year = 2004 |pages = 22–26 }}</ref>

Several words appear constantly in the English-language reviews; adjectives like "hip",<ref name = "vision"/> "sleek,"<ref name="verdict-II-2">{{cite web|url = http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/bigo2missingpiecesvol2.php|date = 2004-09-30|access-date = 2006-11-04|title = ''The Big O II'': Missing Pieces (Volume 2) Review|last = Byun|first = Bryan|publisher = DVD Verdict|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061207182843/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/bigo2missingpiecesvol2.php|archive-date = 2006-12-07 }}</ref> "stylish",
<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url = http://amr.nextstudio.net/html/big_o.html|access-date = 2006-11-04|title = ''Big O'' Review|last = Shelton|first = Andrew|publisher = Anime Meta-Review |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060821123458/http://amr.nextstudio.net/html/big_o.html|archive-date = 2006-08-21 }}</ref> "classy",<ref name = "theEX"/> and, above all, "cool"<ref name="verdict-II-1">{{cite web|url = http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/bigo2paradigmlost.php|date = 2004-03-05|access-date = 2006-11-04|title = ''The Big O II'': Paradigm Lost (Volume 1) Review|last = Arseneau|first = Adam|publisher = DVD Verdict|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070408200254/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/bigo2paradigmlost.php|archive-date = 2007-04-08 }}</ref><ref name="meta"/><ref name="ANN-dvd1">{{cite news|url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-big-o/dvd-1|access-date = 2006-11-04|title = ''Big O'' Review|last = Shepard|first = Chris|work = [[Anime News Network]]|archive-date = 2007-03-22|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070322134554/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-big-o/dvd-1|url-status = live }}</ref> serve to describe the artwork, the concept, and the series itself. Reviewers have pointed out references and homages to various works of fiction, namely ''[[Batman]]'',<ref name="ANNpreview">{{cite news|url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/reviews/display.php?id=4|title = ''The Big O'' Preview|access-date = 2006-11-11|work = Anime News Network|archive-date = 2005-04-13|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050413221801/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/reviews/display.php?id=4|url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="fringe">{{cite web|url = http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/01.01/reviews/3/|title = ''The Big-O''|access-date = 2006-11-11|last = Forbes|first = Jake|date = January 2001|publisher = Animefringe|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070921193418/http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/01.01/reviews/3/|archive-date = 2007-09-21|url-status = dead }}</ref> [[Giant Robo]],<ref name="jump">{{cite web|url=http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=1|title=''The Big O'' vols. 1-4|access-date=2006-11-11|last=Toole|first=Mike|date=2003-09-24|publisher=Anime Jump|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926230016/http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=1|archive-date=2007-09-26|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="theEX">{{cite web|url = http://www.ex.org/5.1/13-anime_bigo.html|title = The Big O|access-date = 2006-11-04|last = Rhee|first = Keith|date = 2000-02-03|publisher = EX: The Online World of Anime & Manga|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061007130815/http://www.ex.org/5.1/13-anime_bigo.html|archive-date = 2006-10-07 }}</ref> the works of [[Isaac Asimov]],<ref name="onDVD1">{{cite web|url=http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/157.php|access-date=2006-11-11|title=Anime on DVD Reviews: ''The Big O'' Vol. #1|last=Beveridge|first=Chris|date=2001-06-19|publisher=Anime on DVD|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200441/http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/157.php|archive-date=2007-09-27 }}</ref><ref name="vision">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdvisionjapan.com/bigo.htm|access-date=2006-11-11|title=''The Big O'' Complete Collection DVD Review|publisher=DVD Vision Japan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104074905/http://www.dvdvisionjapan.com/bigo.htm|archive-date=2006-11-04 }}</ref> [[Fritz Lang]]'s ''[[Metropolis (1927 film)|Metropolis]]'',<ref name = "jump"/> [[James Bond]],<ref name="essential">{{cite web|url = http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/essential/bigo.htm|access-date = 2006-11-04|title = Anime on DVD Recommends: ''The Big O''|publisher = Anime on DVD|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154604/http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/essential/bigo.htm|archive-date = 2007-09-30 }}</ref> and ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]''.<ref name="scifi">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/screen/sfw6829.html|title=''Big O''|access-date=2006-11-11|last=Robinson|first=Tasha|date=2001-04-02|publisher=SCI FI Weekly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919184237/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/screen/sfw6829.html|archive-date=2007-09-19|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name = "paradigmlost">{{cite web|url = http://dvd.ign.com/articles/463/463171p1.html|title = ''The Big O II'' - Paradigm Lost Review|access-date = 2008-01-01|website = IGN|last = Patrizio|first = Andy|date = 2004-01-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080911101009/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/463/463171p1.html|archive-date = 2008-09-11|url-status = dead }}</ref> But "while saying that may cause one to think the show is completely derivative", reads an article at Anime on DVD, "''The Big O'' still manages to stand out as something original amongst the other numerous cookie-cutter anime shows." One reviewer cites the extensive homages as one of the series problems and calls to unoriginality on the creators' part.<ref name = "TAR">{{cite web|url = http://www.theanimereview.com/reviews/bigo.html|title = ''The Big O/The Big O II''|access-date = 2006-11-11|publisher = The Anime Review|archive-date = 2007-01-31|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070131093613/http://theanimereview.com/reviews/bigo.html|url-status = live }}</ref>

The first season's reception was positive. Anime on DVD recommends it as an essential series.<ref name = "essential"/> Chris Beveridge of the aforementioned site gave an A− to Vols. 1 and 2, and a B+ to Vols. 3 and 4.<ref name="onDVD1"/><ref name="onDVD2">{{cite web|url = http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/158.php|access-date = 2008-01-01|title = Anime on DVD Reviews: ''The Big O'' Vol. #2|last = Beveridge|first = Chris|date = 2001-08-21|publisher = Anime on DVD|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080607132757/http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/158.php|archive-date = 2008-06-07 }}</ref><ref name="onDVD3">{{cite web|url = http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/159.php|access-date = 2008-01-01|title = Anime on DVD Reviews: ''The Big O'' Vol. #3|last = Beveridge|first = Chris|date = 2001-10-16|publisher = Anime on DVD|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080607132804/http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/159.php|archive-date = 2008-06-07 }}</ref><ref name="onDVD4"/> Mike Toole of Anime Jump gave it 4.5 (out of a possible 5) stars,<ref name = "jump" /> while the review at the Anime Academy gave it a grade of 83, listing the series' high points as being "unique", the characters "interesting," and the action "nice."<ref name="academy">{{cite web|url = http://animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=448|access-date = 2006-11-04|title = ''Big O'' Review|publisher = Anime Academy|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061015193028/http://animeacademy.com/finalrevdisplay.php?id=448|archive-date = 2006-10-15 }}</ref> Reviewers,<ref name = "jump"/><ref name="essential"/><ref name="onDVD4">{{cite web|url = http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/160.php|access-date = 2006-11-11|title = Anime on DVD Reviews: ''The Big O'' Vol. #4|last = Beveridge|first = Chris|date = 2001-12-18|publisher = Anime on DVD|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195831/http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/160.php|archive-date = 2007-09-27 }}</ref> and fans alike,<ref name = "konaka"/><ref name = "comiccon"/> agree the season's downfall was the ending, or its lack thereof. The dangling plot threads frustrated the viewers and prompted Cartoon Network's involvement in the production of further episodes.<ref name = "comiccon"/>

The look and feel of the show received a big enhancement in the second season.<ref name="onDVDII1">{{cite web|url = http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/2560.php|access-date = 2006-11-11|title = Anime on DVD Reviews: ''The Big O'' II Vol. #1|last = Beveridge|first = Chris|date = 2003-11-03|publisher = Anime on DVD|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181117/http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/2560.php|archive-date = 2007-09-30 }}</ref> This time around, the animation is "near [[OVA]] quality"<ref name="ANN-II-DVD-1">{{cite news|url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-big-o-ii/dvd-1|access-date = 2006-11-11|title = ''The Big O II'' DVD 1: Paradigm Lost|last = Divers|first = Allen|date = 2004-01-20|work = [[Anime News Network]]|archive-date = 2007-01-18|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070118180721/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/the-big-o-ii/dvd-1|url-status = live }}</ref> and the artwork "far more lush and detailed."<ref name="verdict-II-1"/> Also enhanced are the troubles of the first season. The giant robot battles still seem out of place to some,<ref name = "TAR"/><ref name="scifi2">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue351/anime.html|title=''The Big O II''|access-date=2006-11-11|last=Robinson|first=Tasha|date=2004-01-12|publisher=SCI FI Weekly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060529094911/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue351/anime.html|archive-date=2006-05-29|url-status=dead }}</ref> while others praise the "over-the-top-ness" of their execution.<ref name = "ANN-dvd1"/><ref name = "academy"/>

For some reviewers, the second season "doesn't quite match the first"<ref name = "IGN-DVD4">{{cite web|url = http://dvd.ign.com/articles/526/526444p1.html|title = ''The Big O II'' - Aggressive Negotiations Review|access-date = 2006-11-11|last = Patrizio|first = Andy|date = 2004-06-25|website = IGN|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060919123117/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/526/526444p1.html|archive-date = 2006-09-19|url-status = dead }}</ref> addressing to "something" missing in these episodes.<ref name = "TAR"/> Andy Patrizio of [[IGN]] points out changes in Roger Smith's character, who "lost some of his cool and his very funny side in the second season." Like a repeat of season one, this season's ending is considered its downfall.<ref name="herorevII">{{cite web|url = http://www.japanhero.com/super%20robot%20reviews/big_O_II.htm|title = Super Robot Reviews: The Big O II: 2nd Season|access-date = 2006-11-11|publisher = Japan Hero|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050109123212/http://japanhero.com/super%20robot%20reviews/big_O_II.htm|archive-date = 2005-01-09 }}</ref><ref name="onDVDII4">{{cite web|url = http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/3113.php|title = Big O II Vol. #4 (of 4)|access-date = 2006-12-29|work = AnimeOnDVD.com|first = Chris|last = Beveridge|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061101152950/http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/3113.php|archive-date = 2006-11-01 }}</ref> Chris Beveridge of Anime on DVD wonders if this was head writer "Konaka's attempt to throw his hat into the ring for creating one of the most confusing and oblique endings of any series." Patrizio states "the creators watched ''[[The Truman Show]]'' and ''[[The Matrix]]'' a few times too many."

Sato, Katayama, Konaka, and Bandai in general received many inquiries from fans in Japan asking for further clarification on the plot and ending.<ref name="artbook" /> The three directly addressed these questions via an art book and companion to the series in 2004.<ref name="artbook" /> Katayama describes Paradigm City as the created narrative of Angel, who (alongside Roger Smith only) stands above the story but writes herself a role to play.<ref name="artbook" /> The narrative provided for civilization to continue in some form, though Angel included a safeguard that would reset the narrative should her identity as the creator ever be discovered by the characters.<ref name="artbook" /> Having fallen in love with the character of Roger Smith, she inserts herself into the story with conditions designed to bring them together whenever Roger encounters a particularly tough challenge or is investigating mysteries.<ref name="artbook" /> According to Katayama, her planned narrative collapses when she becomes jealous of Roger's affinity for R. Dorothy, culminating in Gordon Rosewater's realization that Angel is indeed the creator of Paradigm City.<ref name="artbook" /> Angel prepares to end the narrative world via piloting Big Venus, which Konaka states will return everything to its destroyed, ruined state it lay in immediately after the cataclysm 40 years ago.<ref name="artbook" /> Roger however successfully negotiates for her to simply restart the narrative and allow Paradigm City to be reset and continue in some form.<ref name="artbook" /> Konaka originally wrote the ending to clearly show that Angel changed her role to become Roger's assistant, repeating a scene in the first episode where Roger negotiates for the release of Dorothy Waynewright, who is implied to now be human; Katayama changed this to make the ending more ambiguous.<ref name="artbook" /> In both endings, Paradigm City continues as a city of amnesiacs, despite Gordon Rosewater's wishes for Roger to negotiate with the creator to return people's memories to them.<ref name="artbook" />

The series continues to have a strong cult following into the 2010s. In 2014 [[BuzzFeed]] writer [[Ryan Broderick]] ranked ''The Big O'' as one of the best anime series to binge-watch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/list-of-cool-animes-you-should-definitely-watch#.tcgD444yl7|title=30 Animes That Are Perfect for Binge-Watching and Definitely Not for Kids|website=[[BuzzFeed]]|date=March 10, 2014|access-date=2017-09-15|archive-date=2017-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930084638/https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/list-of-cool-animes-you-should-definitely-watch#.tcgD444yl7|url-status=live }}</ref> Dan Casey host of [[Nerdist Industries|The Nerdist's]] ''Dan Cave'' stated ''The Big O'' was the anime series he was most eager to see rebooted or remade, along with ''[[Trigun]]'' and ''[[Soul Eater (manga)|Soul Eater]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nerdist.com/the-dan-cave-6-anime-series-that-deserve-a-reboot-sequel/|title=6 Anime Series That Deserve a Reboot/Sequel &#124; Nerdist|access-date=2016-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202190525/http://nerdist.com/the-dan-cave-6-anime-series-that-deserve-a-reboot-sequel/|archive-date=2016-02-02|url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2017, Ollie Barder of [[Forbes]] wrote, "From the classic and retro styled mecha design of Keiichi Sato to the overall film noir visual tone of the series, The Big O was a fascinating and visually very different kind of show. It also had a fantastic voice cast, with probably the most notable of these being Akiko Yajima as the voice of Roger's disapproving android Dorothy."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barder|first1=Ollie|title='The Big O Complete Collection' Blu-Ray Review: Ye Not Guilty|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2017/06/08/the-big-o-complete-collection-blu-ray-review-ye-not-guilty/|access-date=19 October 2019|work=Forbes|date=8 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608183028/https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2017/06/08/the-big-o-complete-collection-blu-ray-review-ye-not-guilty/#228db6573561|archive-date=2017-06-08 }}</ref> In 2019, [[Crunchyroll]] writer Thomas Zoth ranked ''The Big O'' as his top 10 anime since the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zoth|first1=Thomas|title=Thanks For the Memories: 20 Years of The Big O|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2019/10/13/thanks-for-the-memories-20-years-of-the-big-o|access-date=19 October 2019|work=Crunchyroll|date=October 14, 2019|archive-date=19 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019040703/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2019/10/13/thanks-for-the-memories-20-years-of-the-big-o|url-status=live }}</ref>