Anime Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (A.K.A. When They Cry - Higurashi)

[pbfrontmanvdp]

[size=2][b]Synopsis[/b] - This is a heavily based psychological/drama series that has extreme graphic violence...to say the least. [/size]

[size=2]Story takes place in a town called Hinamizawa Village where many unnatural murders are taking place with very little evidence left at the scene. The only thing is, these "unnatural" murders seem to be happening every year on a predetermined day in June. The cause for these murders, no one really seems to know...except for the 2000 villagers where the murders are taking place. They believe the cause to be a curse, where specific rules are in place that has happened every day on the fixed day in June. The main characters of the series belong to a "games club", where during the club they all seem normal but outside of it everything changes.[/size]

[size=2]This series is broken off into 6 arcs, with some of the arcs being "question and answer" type arcs. I'll say this ahead of time that for me this is a very confusing anime and maybe others agree with me as well. Overall, each of the arcs are supposed to be presented with a view from each character on the situations and events that are occuring within the village. Even though I have only seen this series just once, I don't understand all of it (have to see it a second time and maybe a third) and that is pretty much the only summary I can give about this series in the meantime. [/size]

[size=2][b]Characters[/b] - There are around 5/6 main characters, all of which I like for many reasons. [/size]

[size=2][b]Keiichi Maebara [/b]- I believe this is the first character that is seen in the first episode of the anime. He is an outsider to the village and moved from another school for various reasons. He is the main male character in the series (although the other 5 I'm going to list are all female, but if you watch or have watched the series you know what I mean) and notices that there is something odd with the villagers of Hinamizawa, especially with the other five female characters.[/size]

[size=2][b]Rena Ryuuguu - [/b]I believe this is the main female character (although the other 4 seem to be shown in the anime more than Rena is) that is the first person Keiichi becomes friends and gets along with. However, Keiichi's feelings towards Rena change drastically once he finds out about the murders occuring in the village and her reaction when Keiichi brings up the topic.[/size]

[size=2][b]Mion Sonozaki and Shion Sonozaki [/b]- Reason I'm going to explain both of these characters at the same time is for two reasons: 1) They are both twins 2) Sometimes I can't tell who is who in the anime....I'll leave it at that for a reason. Both of these characters are my favorite ones out of the group. They are both like heaven and hell....except I can't decide who represents heaven and who hell. For me, they played the crucial role in the whole series, probably even more than the other two listed above. Mion is next in line for one of the three shrines that are within the village. Supposedly Shion is an outcast and is not currently one of the members of the shrine.[/size]

[size=2][b]Rika Furude - [/b]Probably the most mysterious and puzzling character in the group. I liked her role in the series and could not figure out some of her meanings in the phrases she would say throughout the series. Is head of one of the three shrines in the village, a different one from Mion.[/size]

[size=2][b]Satoko Houjou [/b]- Probably my least favorite of the group since she seems to cry non-stop throughout the series (except for one really great part in the series). She is really only known for creating and disarming traps when they play games. She is also the youngest in the group along with Rika. Both of them seem to get along with each other the most out of everyone in the group.[/size]

[size=2][b]Animation[/b] - This anime is up there with any other top series. The facial expressions that the artists use in this series make it such a creepy anime. At some parts during the series the way some of the background was setup, I believed I was in some type of psychiatric ward setting. [/size]

[size=2]The thing I love the most and especially for you Elfen Lied fans out there is the violence that is in this anime. Elfen Lied I thought (and not trying to put the anime down I loved that series as well) was a little bit over-the-top with heads and arms just coming apart left and right. However, after you see this series you'll think twice of how people can be tortured.[/size]

[size=2][b]Music [/b]- The opening and ending were great for this series. I love how the opening just seemed so eerie, but it fit in perfectly with the genre of this anime.[/size]



[size=2]Well that's it for now. I'll just wait for others to comment before I say more of my interpretation of the anime (that and I need to see it again anyway). I think Dagger brought this series up in new releases in 2007 and I watched this about a month before she posted that, but I didn't have the time to post a really detailed summary of the anime until spring break for me as a teacher.[/size]

[size=2]I also want to know if anyone knows if the American manga is out for this yet. I've been searching everywhere for it, but it seems like only the Japanese maga is available to purchase. I know the anime series has been licensed, but I'm not sure about the manga at all. If anyone knows by chance please tell.[/size]

[r2vq]

[color=#007520]If there's one thing I don't like about this series, it's the art style. I wasn't all too fond of the way the characters looked, and was almost turned off from it.

What I do like for this series, though, is the buildup. Although (had the person watching with me not stopped me) I would have turned the first episode off, it was very fulfilling and lit an almost desperate fire in me to watch the rest of the arc.

I'm still working my way through the series, but I love how all the mysteries intertwine here and there. And I'm still amazed that this series started from a Doujinshi Visual Novel.

-r2[/color]

[Dagger]

Oh, wow, take a look at one side of the R1 [url=http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/fbbuploads/1176140909-968460.jpg][u]artbox[/u][/url]. I can't believe they're promoting it like that, haha. The North American market being what it is, I thought for sure that they'd play up the mass murder aspects of the show. At the same time, it'll be worth it if this suckers even one person into thinking he's bought some cute, fluffy series about nothing... :devil:

The manga has not been licensed yet, unfortunately.

It also bears mentioning that a second season is supposed to start in Japan this summer.

~Dagger~

[pbfrontmanvdp]

[quote name='Dagger'] The manga has not been licensed yet, unfortunately.[/quote]Shame that it hasn't been licensed yet for the manga. Although I have enough for me to read at the moment anyway with deathnote and basilisk. Probably once it starts to come out on DVD in America they'll license the manga. Either that or wait for them to finish off the remaining arcs in Japan (or maybe they already finished it)...who knows.

[quote name='Dagger']It also bears mentioning that a second season is supposed to start in Japan this summer.[/quote]Yea I think the main website has it airing in either June or July. At first it was supposed to be in April, but they pushed it back. I'm still watching the series again, so I can wait a couple more months or so.

On another note...that boxset artwork looks halarious. It's totally the opposite of what the anime is all about. They make Rika and Satoko look like maids from He's My Master with that cover :animesmil .

[Silicium]

I love this series. I never finished it, but I got up to around episode 32. This show is so amazing and well done. Pure brilliance. It's a total mind-[s]****[/s].

I won't talk in depth, for fear of ruining it for others, but if you want to discuss it, drop a line. ;D