Dark Gathering

There is always a stress when it comes to horror themed shows. Because let's face it, it's like a Sports anime. If it doesn't hit in certain areas, then for sure it's going to be dud in many respects. At best it'll be mid. When it comes to horror, if the marks don't hit, if the scares and what they're using to promote such horror don't work. Then it's going to fall flat on it's face. Thankfully in this case, Dark Gathering plays off something much more, and really presents itself, as a good horror series to enjoy.

While Dark Gathering may not feel fully scary, ... but what it does, is it's effectiveness in creating an uncomfy vibe and atmosphere. You could be relaxed one moment, and then within the next moment, a character could look completely different then the seemingly bright shine they showcase. It's brilliantly done in that sense, and really showcases that horror isn't always about gore, blood, and crazed people wanting to hurt you. It's the unsettling nature of where it'll take you next, that will drive it home. Think Mieruko-chan for instance. How that perfectly captured the uneasy vibe, that'll send viewers sweating.((Even if I'd argue the manga looked way more terrifying.)) But it showcases an example of how horrific this can truly be.

So even if this may not scare 'you' but what it can do, is really unsettle you,or you can tell right away, that depending the person, that would really freak someone out.

Story and characters: 8
In order to make for a good horror show, you need a good blend of characters. You wouldn't want some bland dishwater of a character, going about the show, and making it seem terrible. Thankfully in this show, you've got a great mix of characters that really mix off each other really well, and really add something to the shows story, that will only want you to crave more and more. Hell, the whole deal with Yayoi, should be one reason alone, that you should watch or read Dark Gathering in general. It's what really tops it off in terms of a good presentation, good drive, and good characters, when one stand out character, can really sell an anime. You'll want to know more, know more about her, but also that'll rub off to the characters around them, and see where the story takes you next.

The plot honestly feels like as if it shouldn't be seen. Not in a bad sense, but more that it feels like you're dipping your feet into unforsaken waters, and you should turn around before you know what's good for you. Sending shivers down your spine, and leaving you on the edge of your seat, as you wonder week by week, what'll happen next. A greatly write show from start to finish.

Art and sound: 9
I have to give this high marks for a number of reasons. I mean, just look at the cover for starters lol. That's one example enough, and another is how the show is presented in context. You might think it feels a bit tame in areas, but when it really wants to smack you in the face with it's horror visuals that make for an unpleasant viewing, it knows how to do such, and so much more. Following that up wit chilling sound design, that really makes the landing stick, to create such a tense atmosphere, that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.

Dark Gathering is quite an experience, that we should all gather around to enjoy.

Dark Gathering: Let's play a game of hide-and-seek. But you can only do it late in the night, and please have your headphones on for the special effects...because...I'VE FOUND YOU.

If there was ONE genre that I wish had stood out more in the modern day and age of copy-paste Isekai, fantasy, and reincarnation stories, we've seen one show too many, and it's the horror genre. But then again, horror is a genre that not many authors nor creators can get it right, much less from the one sole afficionado of a famed mangaka that brought us much of the genre's fame: the illusive Junji Ito. ... Sure, we have series like Ryukishi07's Higurashi franchise, the Junji Ito Collection (which Studio Deen's Winter 2018 adaptation is not what was expected of the level of the acclaimed horror mangaka's stories), Mieruko-chan (which is more comedy than horror), and the never-ending Theatre of Darkness: Yami Shibai series. But other than the last "true" horror show being MAPPA's Winter 2020 adaptation of mangaka Q Hayashida's Dorohedoro (partly because of its gore), there hasn't been a TRUE horror or supernatural show that TRULY makes you feel like you're feeling scared and shitless.

That is until now, with mangaka Kenichi Kondo's Dark Gathering, for which I'm surprised that the series being serialized in Shueisha's Jump Square (Kemono Jihen, Yuukoku no Moriarty, to name a few) since March 2019, isn't as popular as it should be. With this show, the horror and supernatural genres can finally go hand-in-hand to deliver what I feel is one of the most "true"-feeling modern-age horror shows that you can pick up and it'll NOT relent on you putting it down.

A young man with a cursed right hand who has a natural predisposition to attract ghosts to himself. This is the story of Keitarou Gentoga, an innocent-looking boy of a college sophomore who freezes at the sight of ghosts, with an incident with one ghastly experience causing his right hand to be cursed (which forces said sophomore to wear gloves). Keitarou's clearly had enough tolerance for experiencing the supernatural, so much so that he wants to go back to his typical life. A suggestion from a girl to help alleviate his problems from being a shut-in, and he decides to become a tutor to help suppress his emotions. Little does he know that by helping to tutor the person that the girl perceives as her cousin, Keitarou was the bait that was waiting for a catalyst to reactivate his fear of the supernatural and occult and simultaneously...be a helper? OK...reluctant to join, but Keitarou's already at the point of no return, and he assists on said girl's and her cousin's matters. Keitarou has one more student: Ai Kamiyo, the energetic girl who appears to be just a clumsy one whose misfortune always ends up involving people around her. However, just like Yayoi, take a look at her eyes: Ai has star-patterned pupils, which is a sign that she has been marked by a malevolent god as his bride, who's always in constant protection to prevent her from being tainted. So, she's also connected to the occult in some way.

That girl that Keitarou is very acquainted with is his childhood friend, Eiko Hozuki. Remember the traumatic event that the former went through when he was young? Both he and she were inflicted by the same ordeal as the former, also having experienced the spirituality that resulted in both childhood friends being cursed by an unknown spirit to have nerve endings grow from their bodies: Keitarou on his right hand and Eiko on her left hand. As childhood friends go, Eiko is clearly in love with Keitarou...but don't expect her one-sided crush to be wholesome. Instead, Eiko wears a rather agonizing Yandere expression on her sleeve to the point of a dark, twisted obsession, being immensely overprotective of Keitarou to the point that she has committed things like wiretapping, placing hidden cameras and tracking devices to stalk and monitor his vitals without his knowledge (though in some of the ghostly cases, this proves vital to his survival). This leads to the fact that, while said yandere girlfriend has a strong foundation in computer science at school, which produces excellent grades, she opted to study folklore so that she could better understand his struggles with the occult.

But while both childhood friends appear human, Eiko does not have a spiritual sense as much as Keitaro, especially when in comparison to her cousin Yayoi. From the outset, you can tell that her eye pupils are in the shape of skulls, and that's because she had developed polycoria (two pupils in the same eye) in both eyes for some unknown reason. This enables her to see ghosts clearly, which she once saw as hazy figures. But her reason for engaging in the occult and supernatural is a story that's bigger than life: She witnessed her mother's ghost being abducted by an embryo of ghostly origins (called the Spectre of Death) and has made it her goal to get her mother back by capturing ghosts to defeat the perpetrator. Moreover, her sharp, superhuman instinct has always kept both Keitarou and Eiko safe, though she may not be right all the time, to which she uses her intelligence to outwit the many ghastly episodes going into the Dark and Gathering ghosts for her objective.

The plot of Dark Gathering, in its simplest form: think of it as like playing Pokémon (the 3rd Gen games) and going straight to Lavender Town, to the Pokémon Tower, where Pokémon are laid to rest, fighting both ghost Pokémon and the spirits that linger around. That's the basis for Yayoi's goal and objective, with the help of both Keitarou and Eiko, to wander around the fictional "7 Wonders" locations to locate the strong ghosts (called Graduates) and seal them in a doll of her choosing that must be big enough to sustain the damage received from its user. If that's not enough, Yayoi's room is a doll's haven full of the council of captured spirits and being tamed for their use, which also acts as a central HQ hub of sorts for the artifacts of stronger spirits that they cannot handle alone, and worse still, be the tool for their enemies to build the Spectre of Death. It's a clear race against time to collect as many Graduates all across Japan for a sizable battle against the perpetrators in alliance with the Spectre of Death, as many low-key jumpscares as you'll get while watching the show. For a full horror experience, I recommend watching Dark Gathering around midnight (which airs in Japan at 1 in the morning) and having your headphones ready to feel the sizable amp in ghastly quality.

Over the course of six months since Summer, the kids' arm of OLM's Team Masuda (responsible for the Beyblade series) has done a respectful job of adapting the manga with most of its horror themes kept intact. Although Tonikaku Kawaii a.k.a ToniKawa director Hiroshi Ikehata may not be the best representative to understand the dark, violent, and gritty nature of the original source material, he at least did his directorial role right, and this should count on the overall execution of the anime, which has grown from good to being great IMO. Also, the OST should be commended for giving off the horror vibes; it literally brings chills to your bones from head to toe. luz's OP song is very good, and it fits Dark Gathering to a T, while Eiko's VA HanaKana gets 2 ED songs to her name, though I'd lean more to the 1st Cour's ED song.

It's going to be pretty tough to beat Dark Gathering as a very lean horror supernatural series, because this is now my new favourite horror supernatural show that will stand the test of time until the next rival comes, which will be in a very long time to come. I feel both ecstatic and scared at the same time, and nowhere other than Dark Gathering will you get a tantalizing horror experience as modern as this.

The best anime this year So far... for me... hope this Story can get a game adaptation... I like to play games like this... pokemon concept but a different vibe... with RPG a type of game that will be the best game ever... :)

by the way... this anime has a unique story with a fresh combination of genres... the art style is perfect... the main character may be a little annoying but I still can accept that... the character development may be slow but I think that is normal... the passing story may be slow but with 25 episodes, I can accept that... hope the ... Second Season can cover the story until the last chapter

The horrendous record that horror Anime has of late is something that makes anyone very sceptical about anything good coming of that genre. Although once in a while something like a Toilet Bound Hanako Kun would become a reality, mostly it is empty, and when there is something you wish it'd have remained empty instead. In that climate is born Dark Gathering.

Plot: The less you know about the plot the better, it works well that way. Apart from the fact that is a supernatural horror, you'd be best served to go into it blind, hoping to see ghosts and an unusual Ghost Buster who is ... actually terrifying to the ghosts themselves.

Unlike most horror shows dealing with the occult, this one has a decent plot and actual goals towards which it is geared. The comedy and humour is on point, rather then being overused, it is used well. The mood is made ominous by the fact that the general hierarchy has been subverted. Instead of ghosts chasing the humans, it is the humans that are haunting the Spirits which works wonderfully well.

Characters: It is a novel thing for the characters to be more scary than the ghosts themselves in a horror Anime. And, that is exactly the case with at least two different individuals here. There is also enough variety among the characters, as well as the spirits to create a charming interplay between them. Also, how suddenly a character is given a complete 180 on their attitude a number of times helps create a subtle horror from tension alone.

Animation: As much as I love the plot and characters, the animation definitely could have been better. By no means it is bad, but it is nothing more than average at best. Which is a real shame, because had it had the kind of animation even some of the worst shows are having over the last couple of seasons, it would've certainly been an excellent show. It's still good, but it's similar to what One Punch Man Season 2 would be in comparison to the First.

Music: In an Anime which relies heavily on atmosphere, music plays a key role in it's execution. So far, the music has been decent and complimentary to the plot and visuals. Nothing much except that.

Enjoyment: There is definitely a niche of enjoyment here. As the modern Anime landscape is much short of Horror, it definitely is a welcome addition to the whole. Then again you're also left wondering what if it also had the animation to compliment it.

I came expecting a very dark,serious and higurashi 2.0 and im glad im wrong.

This anime really suprised me with the comedy,you can definately feel the dread and tense feeling but just like a survival horror game,it gives you "break" and comedic moment.

As a horror anime,this anime actually shows it,the tension,the dark aura, the way the character's personality change from Sunny Daisy to Texas chainsaw massacre,and the perfect use of those iconic "dead fish scared eyes" ,you can actually feel the horror.

As a comedy,this anime made it as well,the joke is properly placed,it doesn't cancel the tense we got from horror and thanks to the absence ... of ecchi,not like Mieruko-chan,the ghost here is genuinely terrifying creature, it's actually made to look like a fear inducing creature and it can sends chill down the spine despite the fact that they are the one who's being hunted.


Overall,a very enjoyable horror anime,even if you are not a big fan of horror but still able to tolerate it,give this a try.

Alright boys, first ever review and as someone who just capped off the final season. Idc about your tips for new writers MAL, I'm throwing down my pure unfiltered, slightly censored, thoughts.

Dark Gathering starts off seeming like your typical horror anime, cowardly guy meets ghost hunter, we get monster of the week fights, and deux ex machina demon hunter barely saves the day. In terms of horror you're not going to find anything too special here, and it's probably aware of that because as you slowly delve and unravel this series, you'll slowly realise what I did, this ain't no horror anime, it's a f**king ... shounen plot.

Dark Gathering sets up its established horror themes but then proceeds to add monster tam- it's Pokemon, it's a horror-themed Pokemon. It'll start pretty slow but you'll eventually realise you're coming back for the horror not for the terror or suspense, but for the thrill of seeing two ghosts pit it out against each other and wondering "Oh sh** which DaGamon (I coined the term from DA-rk GA-thering MON-ster) we'll see next?". A lot of the intrigue of the series will come from Yayoi gathering S-ranked DaGamon, which she intends to pit against a big bad final boss. Oh, and they even have their own catchphrase, "Retsu Go-Suto!", wordplay with "let's go" and "ghost". Idk man, if that doesn't scream Shounen plot idk what does.

Arguably it's not for everyone, and if you're looking specifically for a good horror title, this might not be it. The main reason I come back to this show is how they spotlight these DaGamon, and seeing how it blends horror elements into a Pokemon-esque series, like imagine if the process of catching Pokemon could kill you, and even after you caught them, they still wanna kill you. You'll get to see how interesting and unique each DaGamon is from the others, all have different personalities and morals, and unique backgrounds that lead to them being the S-ranked DaGamon, on top of their special attacks and abilities in action. I think the biggest scene that sold me on the series was the one scene where, mild spoiler, the fight and capture of F Tunnel Ghost, which gives that big S-rank v S-rank DaGamon fight, but the biggest "dayum" moment comes after the battle when Yayoi "catches" the ghost, its like "dayum, you sold me anime" and it also highlighted how badass Yayoi is.

Oh yeah, outside of DaGamon which can be considered their own characters, there are the human characters. Uh, Yayoi is undoubtedly the highlight, this lil stoic demon-hunting girl, you'll get plenty of moments to witness her being badass, but despite her veteran demon hunting exterior, you'll see endearing elements and she can be a childish goofster too. Keitaro is ghost bait, and obviously, he starts off wanting nothing to do with them and very wimpy, but he's our foil for exposition dumps and at the very least he doesn't come off as too annoying, and he'll naturally grow the most out of the cast. Eiko just scares me, she's also voiced by Kana Hanazawa, so that confuses me, and also scares me even more, idk what else to say, oh she's Keitaro's love interest and its not bait cause they mutually express their feelings early on, but I think that scares me the most.

Throwing down aesthetics, art and animation is serviceable, sakuga this is not, and being that it's not focusing on visual horror, I don't think adept horror fans will get much thrill there, but it does the job I guess, and its far from bad. Music, I can't say much about the OST but the opening is adequate parts horror-ry and upbeat enough to be shounen-esque, its something I'd find from an emo-garage-band-kid's mixtape. Hana Kana does the ending so you know those are solid hits, especially the 2nd ending, it's very soothing it almost makes me forget what kind of series its from, but very nice to wind down to.

So yeah, Dark Gathering, its a solid banger, do not be fooled by the horror genre, because it is in essence more of a shounen plot, and the DaGamon are fun to watch, and seeing how it parallels Pokemon but deviates through horror elements which gives the show enough uniqueness and intrigue that separates it from anything else. Give this show a shot if it sounds like your cup of tea, I'd like to see it go well because I am heavily invested in the overarching plot, and I'd like to see a continuation.

A refreshing horror anime! Good horror anime has become increasingly rare. Quality is lacking even for adaption of quality manga (like Junji Ito's). All impressive horror anime that I can think of are from over a decade ago, such as *Another* (2012), *Higurashi: When They Cry* (2011), and *Shiki* (2010). Early 2010s was indeed a golden era for horror!

Without horror elements, this anime should be called "Dark Pokémon." The main story follows a very standard formula: battling, defeating and capturing enemies (growing the team), and ultimately challenging the final boss. Therefore, even though it spans 24 episodes, viewers won't grow weary of it after the ... horror elements becoming routine. Instead, they'll focus on how the protagonists continues to battle and delve into the background stories of the enemies (some of which are quite fascinating).

The beginning of the story (ep.1-9 or so) presented (seemingly) standalone exorcism episodes. They acquainted viewers with story settings, and contributed some of the best action scenes in the show. This part exudes a classic horror movie vibe hitting the right note (urban legend, jump scares, etc). Personally, I feel this part could have been more concise to quickly get into the subsequent part. But compared to other animes that keep dragging, *Dark Gathering* is already a well-paced one.

After ep.10, where the anime delved into its "Pokémon" part, the creator's boundless imagination was revealed. Various attributes, personalities, and backstories of evil spirits required diverse strategies. Of course, the eerie atmosphere was still there, but the viewers' attention had been drawn to "How would the protagonists tackle the next battle?". In the latter half of the anime, I gradually grew accustomed (or a little fatigue) to the horror, but my curiosity about the story's development persisted until the very end.

The anime excelled in both plot and atmosphere; but I wouldn't give it a higher score due to its less-than-satisfactory production. It's evident that the budget was limited: the characters often came across as rough, and the battle scenes frequently feature almost static key moments. Nevertheless, the fact that the anime provided such great enjoyment despite resource constraints speaks to the excellence of original manga, and the staff's good handling of horror theme.

Additionally, I think choosing Hanazawa Kana as the voice actress for Houzuki Eiko was spot on. The ending theme song, performed by Hanazawa was also excellent.

Despite the flaws, the anime is definitely worth watching if you find recent horror animesunsatisfying!

I delayed the anime for a while presuming it would be too scary for me in my current mental state, however this was not the case. Dark Gathering after the first few episodes came to me as a pleasant surprise and fresh air, and was way better than I expected.

Its got a brilliant balance between its creepy tones, comedy and even lowkey wholesomeness. After viewing it till up to date episode(6), I could not wait anymore and decided to read the manga. The anime adaption is particulary excellent in regards and respect to the manga so far, and you could expect it to become even ... darker(if that's your thing too) and better.

I also adore how cute and deadpan one of the main character is, without any stupid perverted loli tones which I personally dislike and find disgusting. She is, instead, just a terrifying and brilliant mastermind you'd never ever want to be on the bad side with.

Anyway, I'm happy I gave this at try. It's worth checking out!

This is actually an action shounen anime in disguise.

The main storyline is VERY interesting and unique to follow, and would be fun to see it play through and how our MCs accomplish it. This anime is a very fun anime. As I review this with 10 episode in, the anime is full on with ghost and spirit power system and world building. This is what you get if you give pokemon a horror theme basically is what I want to say, but with pokemon as ghosts. From a general anime and story aspect. this anime is done very well. This anime also show many shounen ... aspect, which depend to you if you will like it or not.

Now if you come to this anime for horror elements, you might be a bit disappointed, since the horror aspect of this anime, while is ok, it's not good enough to wake you up for a night. Although horror is VERY HARD to be done in anime already, this show does done it very well and I would consider top of the line for horror in anime, but still compared as a horror story in general, anime isn't the best medium for it.

The production quality overall is ok. It's a bit above average for an average anime, and the quality is good enough for it horror aspects to play out. Art style is very good for a horror anime, with both playful style with lot of meme faces, but also get scary when the story need it to be. Sound effect and bgm is also no problem, and is ok.

In conclusion, this anime is basically a Shounen anime with a big horror theme, with ghost and spirit power systems. The horror is done good enough to spook you but not enough to get you think about it after. Overall a very enjoyable anime for me.
10/10 as a horror anime and for it outstanding unique story and character casts

Here is my review of this anime in 2023!

Story (10)
The story is about a small group that searching for a ghost and makes a collection of it. One of them can fight the ghost while others can attract the ghost. The ghost itself is coming out from the folks and there are a lot of different ghosts that I've never known before. In the middle of their journey, there is another group that later on becomes their enemies and that's where it becomes interesting.

Art (9)
The art in this anime is excellence! I like the color, glow, and shadow they used for this anime. I love ... the battle scene where they are using cool battle effects and include a lot of blood.

Sound (9)
All the sounds that they used were suitable and adjusted to the animation.

Character (9)
The main and supporter characters are very memorable since they have their unique personality.

Enjoyment (9)
It's very enjoyable to watch this movie in 2023.

Overall (9)
It's recommended to those who love adventure, action, and horror anime!

It reminds of a nostalgic feeling of old animes like ''Another''. The beginning is slow, as the anime is concerned with building the characters, but the suspense and relationships between the characters are insanely cool. It's scary, welcoming and beautiful. I love that.
Despite being horror and suspense, it is also concerned with showing moments of relaxation with the characters, the characters' past connects their personality with what the characters are today and they try to improve to overcome their past traumas. Maybe, if you watch 3 episodes to evaluate the anime there is a possibility that you won't like it, but if you continue watching ... the anime over time when you finish an episode you will always be looking forward to the arrival of the next episode.

I love how creepy, unique, and cool (Yayoi, most especially) this show is. I didn't expected it to be this good with it not having any bad episode at all, it's crazy. Keitaro's scaredy attitude sometimes annoys me though, although considering that if these kind of situations indeed happens to anyone, it will surely scare the hell out of them (therefore making him pretty normal lol). I feel like the one who made this anime can actually see ghosts, considering how many situations apply in real life...if you believe in the paranormal that is. Yayoi's exorcism kinda makes sense as well; I wonder if this ... is how some ghosts are trapped in dolls and never leave, woohoo. Looking forward to how she will save her mom, being the badass she is 💜

Finally, after many years we have a legitimately good horror anime. Dark gathering is one of the best shows of 2023 and a must watch for anyone looking for a dark and genuinely disturbing story.

When this show got announced, I was a little skeptical as anime just seems like a medium that doesn’t focus too much on horror stuff. Yea, you have Ito Junji’s stuff, but outside of that there’s “another” and a few psychological thrillers and that’s it. For a country that’s produced “The Ring” you’d think this would be a way more popular niche. Fortunately, Dark Gathering breaks the mould and is a ... genuinely horrifying watch in the best possible way, featuring a loveable cast, great lore and world building and some good action.

Not knowing much about Japanese Yokai traditions and history, I found the series very informative as well. The cast go across Japan exploring various haunted locations and getting rid of the ghosts inhabiting them. These aren’t just some Casper cute little things they’re dealing with, but genuinely unhinged and demented spirits who do some of the most gruesome things imaginable to those unfortunate enough to visit these places. The cool part is many of these locations exist in real life and some actually do have haunted backstories which you can read up on.

From ripping brain steams out, to eating internal organs, suicide and much more, this show doesn’t shy away from controversial and dark topics. As the name suggests, it embraces them and has so many legitimately disturbing scenes. I appreciate this a lot as anime just doesn’t do this much. It also manages to create an unnerving atmosphere that illicits actual fear. I’ve never been afraid before of watching an anime, this was the first time for me and I’m glad. It shows more of the emotions that can be conveyed through this medium which is cool.

The cast are great. There’s 3 main characters and they all flow so well together. While Yayoi is pretty OP, Keitaro and Eiko are not and instead rely on their cunning and teamwork to take on ghosts. As the difficulty of the encounters ramps up, even Yayoi has to rely more on the other two for help and it just makes for a really cool dynamic where every character is useful and important. There’s also romance which gets taken care of rather early on, which is a massive plus for me. My only complaint on the character front is that Eiko getting kidnapped or being a damsel in distress kind of becomes a repetitive meme at a point in the story, but it is what it is.

Technically, it’s a solid show. The animation is good enough, character designs are very unique and the OST heightens all the tense moments. Similar to good horror films they really know the types of songs to compliment tense and frightening moments. Hats off to the studio.

I could really go on all day about Dark Gathering. It’s one of those shows that everyone who watches it loves it, but not enough people have seen it. Whether because of Hidive or the packed seasons it’s aired in, I don’t know, but if you like dark anime and want a good horror series. This is the one.

Dark Gathering gets 10 dolls, out of 10.

Finally a decent anime horror that actually give chills with that sort of 2000 anime style vibes 😳 The plot seems to me like a kind of Pokemon BUT with exorcism and spirits fights so yeah this can conquer almost everyone😂

Even if the art style is kinda poor (maybe due for the budget) the cast then still did a great job, especially Yayoi the basest loli of the year with her background, mental strenght and plot twist that she gave into this first season🗿

This was both unexpected and nice try so yeah, i'm in hype for the manga adaptation in my country and ... can't wait for the season 2....Let's Ghost!

There hasn't been much for the horror genre recently and I've been waiting for a good horror anime to watch... I was looking at this season anime's on a whim taking a gamble on what to watch and I stumbled across Dark Gathering, and it is such a hidden gem!

I don't think that the first half of episode 1 does justice for the whole anime it seems extremely boring but once it gets to the horror that's when the anime kicks off.

Dark Gathering reminds me of the anime Mieruko-Chan, it knows how to play its suspenseful horror cards whilst balancing out its comedy aspects ... of the anime really well. I was expecting it to be similar to the 'Junji-ito collection' adaption where they just entirely butcher the anime but there have been many times where I've been genuinely scared then 5 minutes later laughing at the anime cause it's so funny.

The anime also hasn't sacrificed anything like blood, deaths, and gore because it's rated R! I haven't read the manga until after episode 18 but I could tell that the story is fairly on point and was easy to track which chapter I was up to. The anime is also 25 episodes long which was surprising (currently still ongoing) as it'll get enough of the storyline with what they're working with as the manga is still ongoing.

Story and Character rating: 8
The story is quite straightforward and is set out within basically the first few episodes which I like and the more you watch the more interesting the story develops which keeps you wanting more. At first, I kinda didn't like the characters except for Yayoi's design and backstory. But the development of the characters and the few twists they have make it a bit more exciting, especially with Eiko's character and why Keitarou is basically being forcefully dragged into everything. I think it does get kind of repetitive later on with the number of times they 'don't learn' from the "Oh we're in a haunted area but why is there weird stuff happening around us" but at the same time with every encounter something different happens as there are different ghost and eventually the characters start being more aware of their situation which is better than them being completely oblivious.

Art: 9
The fact that the anime is animated by OLM, the same studio that animated: Ni No Kuni (The Movie), Komi Can't Communicate, Summertime Rendering, and many of the Pokemon Series shows! With the stylistic nature of the manga, I think they did a great job of sticking to the manga's style without sacrificing too much. The anime's main scheme is fairly bright and colorful whilst during the horror segments they play with using more filters to set the tone, segmenting the two sides of the anime extremely well.
I think the only problem I have is when they switch to the 'Horror Style' it can look a bit tacky at some times, it's a bit of an 80/20 where some scenes work great whilst others just look a bit weird. And I wouldn't say that this anime has the best animation compared to most other anime but it just works great with this adaption as there have been adaptions I've seen which have been butchered.

Sound: 9
Now.. The sound design is just too good. I think this is what really gives this anime life and helps those atmospheric setups for the horror scenes. The characters 'VAs are amazing, Yayoi is perfectly soft-spoken which suits her character (also voicing Emilico from Shadow House), Eiko has the staple 'big sis voice' (also Voicing Mitsuri from DS) and Keitarou has the generic 'wimpy' but not too annoying voice (Also voicing Mahito from JJK). The VAs also do a great job of acting scared and portraying the emotion of each scene, especially Eiko as you will see early on in the anime. The sound design for each episode is amazing, they know how to time the right sounds to keep you on edge then use a variety of sound effects to get the right points across. They also love to use a lot of dramatic music which can sometimes be a bit cheesy but overall it's what helps create a 'grand' feeling to some of the scenes.

Overall I like this anime a lot and think that it's extremely underrated... Not saying it deserves a bunch of awards and Anime of the Year but it deserves a bit more attention than what it has gotten so far. Yes, it features a 'loli' but Yayoi is probably the most interesting character I've seen in a while, seeing a third-grader literally defeat and conquer monsters like they're Pokemon is actually so funny. I would also say it's worth reading the manga or looking at the mangaka's work as it is amazing.

Considering this is a medium that doesn't indulge in horror very often, Dark Gathering proves to be one of the season's best surprises.

Centered around a main cast of a young man (Keitaro), young woman (Eiko) and little girl (Yayoi), this anime is all about presenting the viewers with varied and disturbing hauntings that threaten the lives of our main characters on a regular basis. The thrills come at a fast pace, with many of the introductory cases getting solved in one episode - the well known "monster of the week" format - however, more complex cases eventually arise, consisting in this season's best scares. ... There's an overarching narrative holding everything together, a main goal of extreme difficulty that demands very careful preparation from our heroes - and that's what they set out to do!

Power system's also a highlight, as it stays relatively consistent throughout, with the main characters feeling the need to put much more thought into defense than offense, since human beings are extremely vulnerable to malicious deeds enacted by spirits. Often, it draws parallels to the likes of Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! but with many sinister twists in its rules.

The best thing about this show, so far, is how, despite having a strong start, the show only gets creepier - and generally better - as the arcs go by. It is one hell of a haunted rollercoaster that likes to give you very few breathers before coming at your senses from different angles each time. If you're a fan of supernatural stories, even if you don't scare easily, Dark Gathering is an essential watch.

Noragami meets Muhyo and Roji meets Pokemon. After a slow start in the first couple episodes this anime has 'graduated' from a 'yeah this is fine', to 'this is incredible'. The F Tunnel Arc was legitimately the most I've enjoyed a few-episode-arc in a any anime in quite some time. The art style is quite nice, the horror elements are genuinely unsettling, and the comedy is not overbearing. The show seems to follow several mini-arcs where the mechanics of the word are explained, and while I'm only halfway through the season, the excitement for new information and new ghosts are palpable. I can't wait to ... finish season one!

"Dark Gathering" stands as a gem in the realm of horror anime, offering a captivating blend of ghost stories rarely seen executed with such finesse. As an enthusiast who's typically reserved when it comes to horror series, "Dark Gathering" effortlessly grasped my attention, leaving me eagerly anticipating each weekly episode.

What sets this series apart is its masterful storytelling of eerie ghost tales, a rarity in the genre. But what truly ensnared my interest was the portrayal of the female main character, whose immersion into the realm of terror is so palpable that it occasionally hints at the edge of madness. This added layer of depth ... and engagement, almost as if her fervent emotions echo within the audience, refusing to let go.

The way "Dark Gathering" delves into the psychological facets of fear, manifesting not just in the narrative but also within the characters' psyche, is commendable. It's a testament to the series' ability to infuse a chilling atmosphere that lingers far beyond the screen, leaving a haunting impression.

In a genre often prone to clichés, "Dark Gathering" shines with its ability to navigate the supernatural, offering fresh and spine-tingling tales that leave viewers eagerly anticipating the next spectral revelation. For horror enthusiasts seeking a series that weaves a mesmerizing web of dread, "Dark Gathering" is an anime that demands attention and invites you to tread fearfully into its haunting world.

Imagine you caught Sadako from the Ring and used her as a pokemon against other ghosts. Also she might turn on you.
Do I need to say more?

This is a horror anime. The ghosts and stories are disconcerting and often disturbing. The story points used for a lot of these are genuinely dark and the imagery is quite gruesome. Is it scary or nightmare inducing? I think if you've seen your share of horror that this won't really bother you, but more inexperienced viewers might find some of the material used to even be too much.

People saying there's nothing here I think are a little ... too jaded and are more likely turned off by other parts of the anime, such as the somewhat cutesy style used, which in fairness is meant to be a contrast.
Every season I drop several shows, but I've kept going with Dark Gathering and watched every episode on release. A strong 8 and the next season could elevate this to a true classic, depending on how the main story goes.

How many horror anime are even out there? Rarely is there any actual horror anime that gets released, and when they do, it's not particularly executed on a high level. Higurashi? Both adaptations are pretty mid and the source material...meh. Corpse party? Just edgy shock value. I'm basically out of any other ideas.

And no, "horror" anime doesn't count. Horror evokes fear. Dread. Stuff like Mieroku-chan, Tokyo Ghoul, etc doesn't even count. They might be good shows, but it's more supernatural than horror.

After all, horror is the fear of the unknown and being unable to fight back. The aforementioned shows do feature supernatural anomalies, but ... there are defined methods of fighting back and the show is the clash between humans and the supernatural. Think of stuff like xxxHolic, Ghost Hunt, or even Toire no Hanako-san. Sure, there might be ghosts and supernatural involved, but when the characters have abilities to easily kill them, it's not horror, is it?

So it's safe to say that while Dark Gathering features some of that supernatural flair where characters are fighting and killing ghosts and spirits, it also embraces the horror aspect and tries to evoke fear in the readers and viewers. And it's clever about it too, expressing the contrasting themes of horror and a bit of shounen through characters.

Yayoi embodies the battle-shounen aspect of the show. She has methods of restraining, controlling, and killing spirits and ghosts. While she faces fear and ghosts with unbelievable abilities, she doesn't falter despite life-threatening circumstances. She makes use of ghosts she previously captured to challenge higher-level ones.

It's because this show still embraces that horror, fear, and helplessness against the unknown that the show stands out and in fact, tries something new. Keitaro and Eiko embody the theme of fear. While Yayoi is out there fighting the enemy, Keitaro and Eiko are for the most part, completely helpless against the supernatural, They have to confront enemies that can kill or permanently cripple them in mere moments while having to devise a way to deal with them or get out alive. Rather than capturing or killing, surviving seems to be the most compelling objective. And it's definitely what makes the show that good. Yayoi is a character that isn't supposed to feel too much fear or have too much weakness, but by introducing characters that are quite helpless, you can certainly experience the horror they experience firsthand through their perspectives.

Speaking of the horror encounters, it is reminiscent of something like Jojo's Bizzare Adventure when it comes to abilities. Each ghost has abilities, a unique nature, and different strengths similar to what a Stand would have. Only by dealing with strong enemy abilities with knowledge, wits, and speed will you be victorious. It is possible to overthrow or beat opponents with seemingly invincible abilities with the right strategy.

Combined with the horror aspect in the form of Eiko and Keitaro freaking out with every encounter, it does pay homage to the horror genre while still maintaining that battle-shounen vibe that it tries to hone in on.

And it's a damn good thing that it did. While this show is a bit spooky at points and there are creepy things that happen, the animation just isn't there. The soundtrack is nice at times, but the choreography and storyboarding are just not meant to evoke too much horror. The problem with horror in animation is how much time it takes to perfect. You need tons of detail, pacing, storyboarding, the right ambiance, and sound quality to achieve an effective horror show. This takes a lot of money, time, and creativity. With something like Demon Slayer, you can kind of just throw money and the product will be good since it's just hyper-detailed fights. What about animating horror? It's pretty damn hard. Games like Ao Oni which have animated graphics have you control the character so it evokes a sense of horror much more easily than just a show. And live-action shows are even easier. You just hyper-realistically CGI scary things and put it in the dark chasing someone and you're already halfway done. So, Dark Gathering makes do with what it can and I applaud for it.