I can see your points here (I didn't read the review until I had watched the film. I was always going to watch it but I didn't want to be influenced.), Muge did come off badly at the start of the film and, even without gender shifting, comes off as stalkery. (That really doesn't change whether male or female.) While it's true the main furry content comes near the end, I think it's still worth watching just for Taro (the cat form) as it absolutely adorable.
I think it's important to note that the film isn't about big action sequences or even the transformation aspect, though those both do play a part, but it's about the characters and their emotions. Until the climax everything is subdued because it's about introspection, honesty and masking one's feelings. I think you can see some similarity there with Neon Genesis Evangelion. That has the big robot battles and action but there's also a lot of quieter moments about Shinji's feeling, depression and how he copes or doesn't cope with different aspects of his life.
I think the story was good though and it is beautifully animated.
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
~John Stuart Mill~
I actually got around to watching it!
I can see your points here (I didn't read the review until I had watched the film. I was always going to watch it but I didn't want to be influenced.), Muge did come off badly at the start of the film and, even without gender shifting, comes off as stalkery. (That really doesn't change whether male or female.) While it's true the main furry content comes near the end, I think it's still worth watching just for Taro (the cat form) as it absolutely adorable.
I think it's important to note that the film isn't about big action sequences or even the transformation aspect, though those both do play a part, but it's about the characters and their emotions. Until the climax everything is subdued because it's about introspection, honesty and masking one's feelings. I think you can see some similarity there with Neon Genesis Evangelion. That has the big robot battles and action but there's also a lot of quieter moments about Shinji's feeling, depression and how he copes or doesn't cope with different aspects of his life.
I think the story was good though and it is beautifully animated.
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
~John Stuart Mill~