Story: A darkly compelling and unique storyline with a rather morbid conclusion which fit in perfectly with the overall mood of the tale. The main characters all possess atypical personalities, which catered well to the mysterious atmosphere. But be warned -- careful attention must be paid to the names, dates, and information on supernatural phenomena and Japanese folklore that are referenced throughout -- or the story will come across as confusing and nonsensical.

Dialogue: The dialogues often struck me as being a tad contrived and rushed, perhaps due to the constraints of trying to condense several paragraphs worth of sentences (from the source novel) into short conversations. Probably the only aspect of the story which didn't satisfy me fully.

Animation: Interesting character designs, as to be expected from the renowned CLAMP. The backgrounds were also beautifully rendered, with lovely colours and a perfect sense of atmosphere. The animation was also quite smooth and pleasing to the eye.

Entertainment: If generally 'happy' storylines are what you enjoy, I would not recommend Mouryou no Hako; it is anything but light-hearted or amusing. But if, as I do, you enjoy a mixture of psychology and suspense / thriller rendered flavourful with just the right amount of supernatural phenomena, this is for you. (show less)