Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
ひぐらしのなく頃に
When They Cry
Plot Summary:
After moving into the quiet town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi spends his days blissfully in school often playing games with his local friends. However, appearances can be deceiving. One fateful day, Keiichi stumbles upon news of a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa. From this point on, horrific events unfold in front of Keiichi, as he soon learns his close friends may not be all that they seem. Based on the amateur mystery game by 7th Expansion, the story is told in a series of different scenarios.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Thriller
Age Rating: Teenage and above (bloody violence / bad language / nudity)
No. of Episodes: 26 episodes
Story
I can say that the story is the strongest aspect of this anime. The 26 episode anime is separated into a few arcs. Each arc featuring different events. Although you might confused what is going on with this anime, however, all those mysteries are combined and explained in the end, or perhpas you’ll be more understand if you continue watching the second season – Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai.
Each arcs starts with an extremely normal pace, sometimes it seems like a typical comedy anime. And then everything starts to gone bloody crazy when the story goes on. After the arc finished, Next arcs starts again with the same characters. This once drove me crazy as some arcs are seems to be related but yet not.
The story is very disturbing and this is what I call realism and impact. This is how a horror, Psychological, Thriller anime should be. You know something gonna happen, but when? How? You’ll never know.
Overall, yes, it is a great psycho anime with great psycho-twisting story and disturbing atmosphere. Even though all those mysteries are not completely solved in the end, I still can’t accept that kind explanation which never explains properly whether if the story really ends there or there will be a sequel. It ends way too simple. The starting is extreme, the ending should have more impact too. Or else I could give a higher rating.
I’ll have it rated: 32.5/40
Animation
Studio: Studio DEEN
Year: 2006
Type: Series
Animation wise, not an eye candy. It barely reach my average level. The art is acceptable, even thought the extremely large head and unbalanced body size freaked someone out, but it is quite normal for anime.
The main problem is the animation. Sometimes the characters movements and emotions are so unnatural. It is what we called out-of-sync… Terrible. The facial emotions sometimes are exaggerated, the face become something abnormal rather than angry.
The good part is that, those bloody scenes are very well made. It suits with the feeling of the story and this is what I call thrilling anime.
I’ll have it rated: 20/30
Audio
Opening Theme(s):
- “Higurashi no Naku Koro ni” by Shimamiya Eiko
Ending Theme(s):
- “Why, or why not” by Oishima Hiroyuki feat. Katakiri Rekka
Insert Theme(s):
- n/a
Opening theme and ending theme is superbly suit the anime. Although not very nice for casual listening, but both serve to increase the mood of this horror anime. By the way, the opening animation is great fits the song perfectly.
The BGM is just so-so.. Sometimes It does increase the tension of the plot, but doesn’t really caught my attention. Perhaps silent+cicada sound is the best way to create the mood of mystery…
What best is the voice cast of this anime. Although sometimes the voice of Keiichi sounds a bit annoying.. but overall very good. and not to forget those psychotic laughs…
I’ll have it rated: 15.5/20
Personal Rating
Bloody, psycho, and bla bla bla… All in one PSYCHO package.
Good, but could be better.
8/10
OVERALL POINTS
32.5 + 20.5 + 16 + 8 = 77points
77points, GREAT anime [30/09/2009]
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