Urasekai Picnic

The "Otherworld" is a vast and dangerous realm hidden from the knowledge of the common folk. It is also home to many creatures that threaten any human who dare visit it. To witness its desolate yet oddly absorbing environment, one must search for portals that could reside anywhere, from secret elevators to shrine entrances.

After a fateful encounter with a horrendous Otherworld denizen, Sorawo Kamikoshi ponders whether to keep going or give up in life. Meanwhile, Toriko Nishina scours the Otherworld in hopes of finding her friend Satsuki, who she believes is lost somewhere within the realm.

When the two cross paths, friendship blossoms. In order to acquire as much information about this obscure dimension, the two travel back and forth from the real world to the other. Sorawo and Toriko's bodies are soon influenced by the Otherworld, preparing them for the many horrors to come as both of them try to fulfill their goals.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kamikoshi, Sorawo Main

Hanamori, Yumiri Japanese

Nishina, Toriko Main

Kayano, Ai Japanese

Kozakura Supporting

Hidaka, Rina Japanese

Seto, Akari Supporting

Tomita, Miyu Japanese

Uruma, Satsuki Supporting

Barker, Ray Supporting

Ichikawa, Natsumi Supporting

Shimabukuro, Miyuri Japanese

Abarato Supporting

Terashima, Takuma Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Oowada, Tomoyuki Producer

Watase, Shouta Producer

Satomi, Tetsurou Producer

Reviews

Dec 1, 2022

whatsosticky

Recommended

This was probably the best fantastical show I have ever seen. It's worth noting that I have not watched a ton, but of all the ones I have seen, this is the best. The concept is very unique and it has heart, whether it's with others that are fighting together or with just the protagonists. It moved along nicely and the world building was fantastic.

The portrayal of all of the weird things there are is done so well. The visuals are great but a big round of applause for who scored the music to go along with it. It set the perfect mood for each ... experience and helped you buy into what happened and the foreshadowing of what was coming. Visuals are key for me and based on the subject matter, it was done well here.

I could see how this might not be everyone's cup of tea, though I am disappointed to see that it's rated so low, but sometimes it just happens that way. If you attempt this, I suggest giving it about three episodes before you can make a decision is to whether you want to continue on with it. Just like me, you might be surprised.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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May 8, 2023

The_Namer

Mixed Feelings

The whole time I was watching this series, one thought kept rattling through my head, "I really miss Manglobe." The rich atmosphere and meticulous design that Manglobe brought to Ergo Proxy and Witch Hunter Robin would have been a perfect match for Otherside Picnic, but sadly that studio doesn't exist any more.

While I haven't read the source material, the Otherside Picnic anime feels like a competent adaptation. The problem is that some stories demand something other than off-the-peg anime aesthetics. I'm aware that the novels and manga used the same character designs, but they just don't fit the story. The animators do manage to pull ... off some eerie moments in places, but for the most part the bright colours, poorly judged use of stiff CG for mundane scenes, and overall look of the series fall short of what the story needs. It's the same feeling I got watching the competent but safely attractive Boogiepop & Others after experiencing the unsettling brutality of Boogiepop Phantom.

It's a shame because Otherside Picnic is that rarest of beasts: an old-school, horror-tinged isekai that puts some actual effort into its world-building and gives us an otherworld that feels truly alien and threatening. In an anime landscape drenched in the worst kind of self-referential, generic RPG power-fantasy isekai, this series should have flattened the competition, but its merely competent adaptation undermines it.

None of this is to say it's a bad series; far from it. There are some solid episodes here. It's just that adaptations of a lot of manga and light novels can get away with a "good enough" approach to the art and direction, and this isn't one of them.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Jun 10, 2024

ST63LTH

Not Recommended

Urasekai Picnic is an isekai where Sorawo is a broke college student questioning her existence when being sent into what appears to be her own world; Ready to give up on life, she lies there until a surprised Toriko finds her. The two are at odds with their situation as aggressive supernatural entities approach them - Sorawo finds out Toriko is in the other side so she can find her mentor Uruma Satsuki and she spends time helping her out and drowning out her ordinary life's worries. Despite the calming environment in the other side, it is actually home to many supernatural phenomenon seen in ... traditional Japanese folklore, the duo experience what the other side has to offer and meet some interesting people. Will they be able to reach their goals?

Story & Character: 4/10
Urasekai Picnic is an interesting take on yuri, CGDCT, isekai, mystery. The worldbuilding is really expansive and has a lot of promising uncovering of details per episode. However, I think it gets overshadowed by the inconsistencies or just plain cliché horror-genre character decisions scattered throughout the entire series. The story follows 2 female characters and a few side characters who venture in and out of the mysterious otherworld sometimes involuntarily. I think the idea is nice but it just gets inconsistent when that logic bends so the characters can see the portals and avoid them miraculously. Also there are a few character decisions that really relate to the usual uncooperative horror main character especially seen in episode 6: Toriko and Sorawo are told not to use their phones but they us it anyway, leading to the otherworld denizens finding their camp location and ambushing it; Toriko and Sorawo are then told to stay put and not to leave the tent but they leave 3 seconds later. Also earlier in this episode, the two verbally announce they don't have a weapon but after the first 2 predicaments mentioned ^ Toriko somehow assembles an M14 EBR straight from her backpack even though she says she didn't have a gun on her. Some of that really dwelled on my conscience throughout the series which ruined the creative illusion.

Art & Sound: 7/10 & 6/10
The art is really good in comparison to some much popular series (Fruit of Evolution) and has some nicely 2D character animations especially scene when the stationed US solders are involved. Of course the main girls have high quality as well. The colors were dark when needed and happy most of the time which held a noticeable visual contrast.

I didn't really notice music apart from suspense used in the show. The voice acting was above average, consumable but not groundbreaking.

Overall & Enjoyment: 4/10
I wished this series could have worked more on the consistencies and event layout; Most of the time I had to play catch up so I could understand the connection between each episodic event. Apart from that it had nice art and average isekai execution.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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	Poll: Urasekai Picnic Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Mar 22, 2021	93 replies	by Shirowhite01 »» Jul 13, 7:04 AM
	Poll: Urasekai Picnic Episode 7 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Feb 15, 2021	70 replies	by wildhood »» Apr 16, 8:57 PM
	Poll: Urasekai Picnic Episode 6 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Feb 8, 2021	87 replies	by EinTheVariance »» Sep 14, 2023 9:21 AM
	Poll: Urasekai Picnic Episode 4 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Jan 25, 2021	88 replies	by EinTheVariance »» Sep 13, 2023 4:52 PM
	Poll: Urasekai Picnic Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ) KANLen09 - Jan 4, 2021	213 replies	by GrandMarquis »» Sep 1, 2023 3:41 PM