Story: The basic story of Higurashi is actually broken down into arcs, as the anime is based on a murder mystery PC game. Thus each arc usually lasts about 3-6 episodes in length before it moves to the next arc, and to a degree, most of the things that occurred in the previous arc seem to have been erased and the show starts over. The basic storyline is always the same though, as it focuses on a group of school kids in the small town of Hinamizawa and usually starts in the time right before the upcoming Watanagashi Festival. Each of the arcs tends to vary from both the point of view that the story is told from, to the tales that unfold during the actual arc. In the first three arcs, Keiichi is the person that we see the story through, but that switches in the other three, as the point of view is switched to different people. The whole thing comes across as rather strange, as you see terrible events unfold in one arc, and then the next episode, all of the characters are right again and things begin a whole new spiral downward. While initially fascinating, it started to drain on me towards the end of the show, as you watch these same, likable characters suffer terribly in arc after arc, only to have the story reset itself so that you can watch it all again, but slightly different. Fortunately, the final arc begins to shed some light into the idea that these arcs aren’t all totally unrelated, and that was an important factor for me. It seemed like I was about at my breaking point with simply getting tired of seeing the same characters degenerate into madness and chaos over and over, only to have the show reset and begin again, when finally there was something different introduced. The only downside is that this comes in the last arc, and obviously leads into the second season, where you’re likely to get more answers. That reprieve comes at just the right moment, as the initial shock value of the show tends to wear off later in the season, and you’re just left wondering why exactly you’re watching the repeated destruction of these characters. In the end, the story is both horrifying and intriguing, and the show throws you a lifeline when you need it most to keep you along for the second half of this ride.
Characters: They are what make Higurashi work, the characters that are so very likable that you can’t help but be rooting for them every single arc that they somehow manage to make it out of that particular story unscathed. The first arc is probably the best in my opinion, because the first few episodes actually come across as being close to your typical school comedy show. Keiichi is an instantly likable protagonist, and the girls are all likable in their own ways. Thus when the insanity starts, it makes it that much more profound as all the characters you liked so much, seem to be spiraling into madness and murder. All of the characters of this show have an intense duality to them, with perhaps the only exception being Mion. The cast in general switches from being likable, silly characters to insane and ruthless, and it’s often jarring and unexpected. This is a show where even the most moe characters have tragic back stories, and repeatedly have tragedy befall upon them. I have to warn potential viewers that while you will likely these characters, it appears to be that the main reason they are so likable is to make it that much more impactful when they have to deal with the terrible things that will befall them later. And there are a lot of terrible things that tend to happen to these characters.
Presentation: Higurashi’s art is something that is often hit or miss, but I suspect that this is largely intentional. Sometimes, the art borders on bad, with cheap animation or sloppy character designs. But those weaker art styles seem to give way in a blink to the crisp, sharper images that often accompany scenes of insanity or brutality. Again, you get the impression that the art was used as another tool here to really make the crazy scenes that much more intense. The music is all around decent and helps add to the atmosphere a lot, and the opening theme which shares the same title as the anime is hauntingly beautiful. The entire intro really gives you some clues as to what kind of ride you’re likely to be in for. From top to bottom, Higurashi isn’t a show that really excels at music or art, but it excels in the concept of using what they have to the best effect. Thus while the art certainly isn’t on part with a great number of other shows that are out there, it uses it’s art better than almost any show I’ve seen in a while, and it gets high marks from me for that.
Overall Enjoyment: Higurashi is a shady, crazy little anime that may leave you wondering why you’re enjoying it, if you have the stomach for it. Certainly, I can’t say this is a show for everyone, as it’s incredibly brutal at times. Some of the scenes are downright disturbing, and that can take away from the show for a lot of people. I found myself really enjoying the show early on, but the repeated effect of seeing these likable characters subjected to repeated madness, murder and torture begins to wear down the enjoyment from this show. As I stated before, the series throws you a lifeline at the end, giving you a ray of hope at the idea that in the second season, things will be revealed and perhaps there is a way beyond all this tragedy. But the first season only begins to hint at that, so the initial love for the show was tempered for me as it continued its relentless assault of brutality and cruelty. It’s probably not as gory as a lot of different anime out there, but I found it often more unpleasant to watch because you like the characters. It’s easy to see violence perpetrated upon characters you don’t care much about, but seeing characters you like do that to each other, is something else.
In the end, I definitely recommend Higuarshi to those people who are looking for something a bit darker, perhaps more deviant. It’s not always an easy or even a fun show to watch. Despite the type of show that it is, it’s still an enjoyable show in its own way, and it’s certainly a unique and interesting anime.
