Ranked #3198

Kyousougiga

"What in the hell am I watching and why is it so entertaining?"


This was my reaction the whole time while I was watching this short, (sadly), but amazing ONA. Kyousogiga is a mess, that's not to say it's bad though. It's just so random and jumbled up that you really don't know what is happening, and to be honest with you that's what makes it so damn good.

Kyousogiga follows the main protagonist, Koto, as she chases after a rabbit that she thinks will get her out of this fantasy-like word and back to the real world where she can reunite with her parents... The only problem with this not everyone wants you to leave.

The only problem I really found wrong with this anime was the fact that it didn't explain exactly who Koto was and how she ended up in that world known as Mirror Kyoto , and for that I can see how people can give such a low rating, but you've got to remember that 25 minutes isn't much to work this.. Especially with a story like this one.


Overall, I found it really enjoyable and I've already seen it two times. For people that only watched it once and were left confused, I suggest you watch it again now that you,(somewhat), understand what the hell is going on.


And as a side note, I'd like to say Koto has the sexiest eyebrows ever. That is all.

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Kyousougiga- An anime wrapped in a mysterious world full of randomness, and wonder. Its frenzy filled animation, erratic storyline, and abnormal characters will have most of its viewers confused and wanting more.

=====Story=======
(Needs a lot of explanation) *Spoilers may be present since the plot is very hard to explain without giving up some details*

SPECIAL THANKS TO: icantfeelmyarms, http://myanimelist.net/profile/icantfeelmyarms, IF YOU WANT HIM TO EXPLAIN THE STORYLINE IN DEPTH ASK HIM. HE HELPED ME OUT A LOT WITH THIS

The story is really hard to explain since it's only one episode, but if you have seen "Alice in Wonderland" or read "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There" then this might ring a bit of a bell. Now Kyousougiga is not told quite like Alice in Wonderland, but there's some major similarities within it. However it is inspired by "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There" because Koto is in a mirrored world of her home just like Alice was in Through the looking glass, the characters are indeed ripped straight from it (with some degree of originality given to them), and the storyline is pretty similar as well.

Koto, the main character, is a girl who somehow wanders into another world where she seems to be just as happy as can be. This world resembles a city that's full of glamour and can be classified as a mixed bag of everything that can be perceived within your imagination. It mostly consist of humans and spirits of all kinds (the Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass aspect) *Noted that the world itself is inside of a game that two unknown people are playing.* She along with her two little brothers, A and Un, begin to get into a fight with some unknown opposition.

They are apparently looking for the so called "rabbit", whose name just happens to be Lady Koto so that Koto and her brothers can accomplish what they are seeking (telling you is a major spoiler so i'll leave that out). However Lady Koto has been gone for a while. Her brothers begin to lose faith that they will ever find her, and Koto gets depressed. Koto is mistakenly identified as Lady Koto because of the wish she has.

So while this is happening the Assembly of the Three (Chief Priest, Yase, and Myoue) are planning something for Koto and are waiting for another character to arrive, but first Koto must prove that she really wants it by doing some kind of an exam. However the Assembly of the Three has it's own goal in mind.

After this some really weird stuff occurs, and you find out what Koto wanted out of it (similarly to Alice in Wonderland), and what they did for Koto in the end. (Watch after the ending credits too just FYI)

"Life, what is it but a dream?" is part of a poem that is mentioned within the first 30 seconds into the anime. This poem is actually part of a real poem called "A boat beneath a sunny sky". This poem is read at the end of Through the Looking Glass and serves as the underlying theme in the whole entire show. Once you finish you'll understand what the creators meant by this.

*My Thoughts*
I liked how very awkward the storyline is. It is a pretty great concept because Mirror Kyoto is I guess supposed to be a world/society inside of Kyoto that's strange. However what hurt the storyline most is how it progressed. Sure it was funny and entertaining, but the majority of the viewers won't understand what's going on. Also it was just too spontaneous and jerky. This actually could have been made to be at least a 3 episode OVA to explain all the loose ends, and tie them up. But I think what the creators where trying to go for is that the viewers should use their own imagination of what's a foot.

*Also what I didn't Like is that a viewer must have read Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found there, and watched Alice in Wonderland to even get a clue of what's going on.* I wish the creators would have at least mentioned this because then the storyline would have made complete sense to other people not familiar with Lewis Carroll classic.

Other than those flaws it is still pretty watchable.

======Art========

It's a Cross between Fooly Cooly, Soul Eater and Sacred Seven. The art is surprisingly great. It is very COLORFUL like an Alice in Wonderland Scenario. The characters themselves also sport this very outlandish color scheme as well. We have so many bright and exhilarate colors that it just blows a viewers mind. Each and every scene probably has about a gizallion colors in it, which is very eye drawing. The art is pretty much the biggest highlight in this anime because of how flashy and jarring it was.

======Sound=========

The sound is also pretty good. Lots of techo and rock riffs to keep it from being boring. The ending theme Shissou Ginga by TEPPAN is especially great. It's a rock theme song that is a bit above average. OST's weren't exactly memorable, but they got the job done.

======Characters=======

There's not really much said about the characters in this anime, so all of them are shrouded in mystery. But once again we see Through the Looking-Glass's influence.

The storyline wasn't the only thing that was inspired by it but also the characters themselves, with all relating to characters in Through the Looking glass. However, Kyousougiga neglects to give them any depth whatsoever which is a real shame.

So if you're looking for something such as a well defined character then look elsewhere otherwise you'll be greeted with some loosely gathered information on them.

We have a monk (Myoue) who's has a caring, laid back and serious at times personality,the brothers of Koto (Un and A) who are just as wild as her, some demon chick (Yase) she has a very noble and spirited personality who is kind, some priest with a robot guy( Chief Priest) is more the knowledgeable and mature one, some random goth woman (Lady Koto), some unknown character (Shouko) and Koto herself.

Now Koto's personality is all over the place. She's wild, crazy, funny, and ditzy all wrapped in one. She is full of life and it shows through out the show. They refer to her as being tomboyish, and that's probably the most info you'll get on her.

The characters are actually quite well portrayed. They all have their individual styles, and also act just as crazy as the main character. I liked that each character felt very different from each other given the short script and storyline. Once again with the limited info we get, it still hurts them in that most viewers would want more. But even with that the viewer can still get a feel for each character and most will be likeable.

======Enjoyment======='

All Right how do you like your enjoyment? Is it fun, crazy, weird, and served with a side of bizarre because that's what Kyousougiga offers to its viewers. There isn't a moment where this anime isn't enjoyable with all its exaggerated, and cooky style.

We get some insane fighting scenes that makes the viewer feel surprised. Kyousougiga also is especially pretty funny as well, such as at times the Anime characters themselves don't even know what is going on LOL.

=====Overall=========

If you got some time just go on and watch it. It's only 1 episode and it won't hurt you. Most likely you'll probably come away with the case of being dumbfounded (don't worry you won't be alone) because once again you'll have no idea what's going on.

*I suggest reading Through the Looking glass, and rewatching it closely* then think about how an anime themed "Through the Looking Glass/ Japanese Alice in Wonderland" would be like. So If you like anime that are far from being ordinary with an explosive and unusual style then this may be your cup of tea. read more

Kyosogiga... I wasn't really excited for this one at first. My friend, however, kept talking about it (prior to its release), so when I saw it finally came out, I watched it...
...and watched it again...
...and then watched some of the awesome scenes again...

First off, some don't seem to understand its relation to "Alice in Wonderland." It's not based off of "Alice in Wonderland," but was inspired by "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There," as seen in the credits of this ONA. If you know anything about that story, then perhaps Kyosogiga would have been more enjoyable for you (a lot of people seem to have mixed feelings for this show). Maybe, prior to your watching, read up the Wikipedia article on "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There" if you don't want to be completely lost in this anime.
Not that you NEED to know about the story it's inspired by, but it's just a suggestion.

Anywho, let's review this...

Story: 9/10
NOTE: may be a very confusing story for some...
However...
I loved it; plain and simple. It's amazing... As you might have read, it's about a 14-year-old girl named Koto who lives in Mirror Kyoto. In short, her goal is to find the rabbit and return home (sound familiar? *cough* Alice* cough*). The story is an overall quirky, crazy comedy with a little bit of action.
Also, the fact that it's throwing you into the upside-down life of a younger character gives a nostalgic feeling from when watching FLCL (fans of FLCL might be very interested with this anime, actually, because I couldn't count the similarities on my ten fingers, honestly).
All-in-all, the story is well written, well-scripted and well done. It's an amazing, while short, anime.

Art: 10/10
It's just crazy... even the art reminds me of FLCL... Hmm, if I were to describe the art, I'd say mixing FLCL and the anime movie "Dead Leaves" together, and out would come Kyosogiga.
Character-design is great, colors are amazing, it's amazingly animated, and the backdrops/scenery is awesome!

Sound: 9/10
The music fit, the voices fit, the sounds fit... I really loved everything but the ending song... That's just my taste, though. That style of music just doesn't suit my palette... so, don't take my opinion on the song to heart, because for all I know, you might like it...
Just know this: the sound during the entire show was great!! I just can't get over that ending song, though... I would think for such a quirky anime they'd have an upbeat ED, but perhaps I just couldn't get FLCL out of my head in the end :/

Character: 10/10
Oh God... the characters in this anime... One of the main reasons I couldn't get FLCL out of my head. Everybody's insane. There's not a dull moment with the cast of characters here... not a dull moment at all... The main character, Koto, is simply amazing, as well, not to mention she's cute as a button (dem eyebrows read more

Kyousougiga is the absolute epitome of when anime attempts to be far too ambitious and subsequently obfuscates every piece of its content. While I can't say I wasn't entertained while watching the short ONA, I also can't say that I have the slightest inkling as to why the anime was condensed down to nearly an unintelligible level.

If there is one thing (besides viewer confusion) that definitely stands out in Kyousougiga, it's definitely the art. Fast-paced and colorful, the animation really complements the chaotic nature of the ONA but only to the point of adding a visual level to the acid trip that is the story. If the rest of the aspects that make a good show were executed properly, Kyousougiga would have been an extremely good watch.

Despite the outrageous visuals, the story was too dense for its allotted time. Because of this, the viewer is left with vague ideas and general plot directions that are not terribly easy to follow. Honestly, Kyousougiga's story feels like the climatic moment in a longer series with no rising action or conclusion.

Like the story, character development, due to the length of the ONA, was very much lacking. We're pretty much forced to take all characters at face value because that's all we really see of them.

To add on to the fire-pit, the soundtrack was pretty awful. There were several moments where a musical score continued way after it should have and didn't even try to correlate to the moment in the show at all, although, considering the rapid sequence of events, it would probably have been just as chaotic to change scores between moments, too.

While I'm necessarily hard on the show for its obvious faults, it's hard to say that it wasn't enjoyable. Clearly, the problem with Kyousougiga was not that it didn't have the ambition to create something great, it was that it tried to do so in far too little time. Even if given three or 4 times the amount of time it allowed itself (roughly the length of a movie), the show would have been spectacular.

That being said, Kyousougiga is probably still worth giving a watch if you have 20 minutes and are in-between series, and especially if you liked FLCL or Dead Leaves as the nature of the three is very much similar.
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This show is… rather hard to explain. When I first heard about this show, I assumed that it was probably a movie, or a long OVA, probably about 90 minutes at the most. I was very wrong. The first problem comes with fact that this is a single twenty-something minute OVA, and has to fill in the entire plot of the show in that time. Let me give an imaginary scenario. Imagine if you had never seen a single episode of FLCL, then you watched episode 6. It would stand to reason that you would have absolutely no idea what’s going on. That’s probably exactly what it feels like when you watch this ONA. It starts off, basically at the end of the movie that it should have been, and doesn’t spend a whole lot of time explaining what’s going on. Rather, it assumes that you should be able to gather what you need about what has already happened while you watch what is happening. It really takes a few times watching it to figure out what’s going on, and even still you probably won’t get all of it.

The fact that this is based on Alice in Wonderland only very slightly helps you comprehend what’s occurring in this show. The basic plot is pretty much ripped straight from that story: the main character, Koto, has somehow been sent to some crazy fantasy world and she is looking for a rabbit so that she can return home. Everything else teeters on the edge of sort of making sense and being complete bullshit. The story is also kind of clumsy in the way it sporadically skips from one scene to the next with almost no indication of who the people it’s focusing on are, but I guess that kind of goes along with the dreamlike world it’s set in. The climax of this show will more than likely draw a classic “What the fuck did I just watch” moment for most people, but if the creators of this thought that anything else could come from a single episode ONA, then they’re crazy.

The characters are all as enjoyable as they could be for something this short. Koto and her brothers are funny and entertaining to watch while they run around and cause destruction for whatever reason, but obviously character development is going to be pretty non existent in this. For what they are, the characters serve the show well enough, but they’re little more than a means for this show’s animation to come out.

And the animation is pretty badass. The “Mirror Kyoto” they inhabit is exactly like what I imagine a Japanese Alice in Wonderland would; lots of crazy fantasy creatures, flashy colors, and just straight up surrealism. There’s plenty of insane over the top animation too, particularly in the opening and the climax. Like most OVAs the animation is a cut above most standard television shows, and combined with it’s visual style it makes for, if nothing else, an enjoyable visual experience.

This is a rather odd case of an ONA. I really can’t see any reason why this wouldn’t have more episodes or be a short series like FLCL, or something of that nature. The art and animation were done very well, but still they can kind of be distracting when you have to pay attention to so much other stuff that’s going on. The most disappointing thing is how rushed it feels in it’s storytelling. I know I’ve said this before, but it really feels like the last episode in a series that we didn’t get to see, so you’re forced to try to gather everything about the plot in one episode. I’m sad that there won’t be anymore of this to tie everything up (or at least nothing that I can find), but still, I enjoyed watching it purely for the visuals and craziness of it. read more

It's difficult to explain it, but this anime makes me nostalgic of something I've never experienced. This statement best describes this anime.

Story 8

Its a bit hard to understand, but from what I understand it is a supernatural coming of age type scenario.

Art 10

Character designs for the humans are decent and enjoyable to look at.
Character design for the Yokai are colorful and eye catchings
Scenery is breathtaking wierther its the modern day city or the interdenominational world alot of hard work was put into this.

Sound 10

Music matches the scenes perfectly I can imagine the OST selling spectacularly.

Character 10

Koto - Energetic powerhouse female lead

Myou - Playboy monk who also has a very serious side and concerned overall for Koto and the tiwns.

Twins - Energitc sidekicks to Koto

Shouko - Koto's boss is what I gather.

Yokai - (well go into detail later)

Enjoyment 10

Every scene had me on the edge of my seat. I look forward to the next airing of this amazing film.

Overall 10

Just watch it! read more

Haha okay, I'm not going to write a long review because I don't even know what I watched and why I did.

There's not a single interesting thing inside this anime: the characters are not endearing in any way and the story has one of the worst narration I've ever seen (with Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu), this kind which makes you wonder from the first second to the ending if the staff really knows what they tried to share with us.

But above all, the animation is absolutely horrible with all those flashy colors (I criticize this point but I enjoyed Panty & Stocking, for instance) and the poor character design; fortunately, I avoided to make my eyes bleed by not watching this in HD.

I invite you to save 25 minutes of your life by doing something else. read more