Big O melds the great 1950's feel of anime such as Giant Robo and Steam Detectives with a slick style full of gadgetry and intruige. Dark criminal and espionage elements meld well with high intensity giant robot fights in a dark cityscape where nobody has a past. On the side he fights various menaces with the help of Big O, his giant robot. The art and animation are great for this series, highly reminiscent of the quality and style used in Giant Robo. Mecha and buildings have a 1950s style to them, while some technology is more modern looking, though with a slick styling about it.
Character designs are interesting, and fit the dark yet stylish world of Paradigm City.
Men wear suits, women dresses or long skirts. Everything builds well towards the mood and setting of the piece. The characters themselves are interesting and play off one another nicely. This interaction and chemistry is what saves Big O from becoming just another giant robot story. Meanwhile the story and plot are well paced, and though a bit episodic, do deliver some continuity between episodes.