Since I watched the excellent animated horror series called Another I have been trying to find something similar but it has been hard. I recently discovered this older series and the first thing I noticed is that it was surely very popular back in its day. There are a total of 4 seasons but only the first 2 have good reviews as far as I could see.
When watching the first episode I was very disappointed because it looked like a kid's show instead of a serious horror animation which is what I was looking for. Luckily, I decided to keep watching it, and starting from the second episode it becomes clear this show does have a horror element, but it is very mixed with other genres.
The story happens in a small town in Japan, where each year there is a festival and people are randomly killed on that same night. It has been happening for several years and the common belief is that a major curse from a demon is the cause for all of the killings and the suffering that results from them.
This series is arranged in a very confusing way, and even after watching all of season 1, there are still no final answers that can explain what is happening in this town. To give you a small example of the craziness in the way this story was arranged, in episode 4 we already see what could be considered one of the most tragic and fatal consequences of this curse.
However, in the following episodes, the series goes back in time to explore other events from the same point of view of the main character. Later on, in one of the last episodes, this main character says something that could help the viewers understand what they are seeing, but this is not a confirmation but rather just a possibility.
There are several episodes dedicated to other important characters where we can see the series of events from their own point of view. This can help us understand why they acted in a specific way and this also serves as an excellent character development technique. This way, we will learn a lot about every single one of the most important characters but what I find hard to believe is that after 27 episodes the show is still unable to provide proper explanations about the origins of what is happening.
Also, I still don't understand how the events in episode 4 are compatible with what we see later on. Are there alternative timelines? I believe that's the case but the show didn't confirm it in season 1. I believe the characters are trapped in a certain period of time that repeats itself time and time again with small variances between each iteration. Why is this happening? I have no clue. Are the characters aware of it? They don't appear to be, except 1 small but important girl and the main character who has some type of memory flashback that he doesn't understand.
The story is very complex and the way it is told makes it even harder to follow, especially at the beginning. One of the things I didn't like is the excess of childish animation. This is not a series for kids because the horror/violent parts are very graphic and extreme, so I don't understand why they had to add so many silly scenes/dialogues/moments. It would have been better to make it a darker show with less silliness and a more straight forward plot.
For people who have a hard time tolerating childish scenes and dialogues, it would be better to avoid watching this series. It demands a lot of time and attention to follow the story and the abundance of these silly scenes would be unbearable for people who can't tolerate it. It is a shame because the horror part of the story is quite decent and disturbing, but when coupled with the childish parts the final result is a lesser version of what it could be. I guess no show is ever perfect.
The best
- The mystery is very complex and intriguing.
- There is a lot of darkness present in this place.
The worst
- There are a lot of childish moments in the episodes. It is not a completely serious production.
- I am expecting some important answers in season 2.
More information: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0845738/ Review: AAA In numbers: 7/10
