Shinrei Tantei Yakumo

I will refer to the series being reviewed as Psychic Detective Yakumo. I watched this to try and alleviate my boredem. The synopsis will not be typed here for obvious reasons. This is just my opinion and attitude towards this series.

This series is suppose to be a horror but I have no recollection of being scared, nervous, alarmed or even startled while watching Psychic Detective Yakumo. The ghosts were more of a joke than terrifying really. They come off as people's shadows . Could you please just for the sake of this review try to scare someone you know by standing still and asking ... them to look at your shadow whenever you have free time. The episodic structure of the show is a chance for this show to tell refreshing stories that improve on the previous episode, but it is the exact same formula over and over and over again. Girl asks psychic for help on a potential case, psychic insults girl, detective that the psychic helps and vice versa becomes involved in the case and the trio set off to solve the mystery. After a few episodes watching became more of a chore. There is no unpredictablity and the writing is just flat. How can I get rid of this ghost? Why don't I try the exact same method I used the previous week.

The characters are complete strangers to the viewer with no real development. The only characters that I really cared for was detective Gotou and Isshhin Saito but they can't really save this series from being the exact oppisite the creators were trying to achieve. You will read about this in a lot of reviews but it's still a complaint from my side: The villian is a complete alien. You get that type of my kids should stay away from that guy whenever possible vibe but he does not live up to his full potetntial. His goals are never stated which means everytime the show cuts him you have to squeeze interest out of yourself to listen to something that may or may not have something to to do with the plot. If you hear what everybody calls him in the series you will realize exactly how uninteresting and stale this weirdo is. The romantic plot that that makes up alot of the show's "story" goes nowhere. I was really expecting something , anything. I have to listen to whining and arguing between two people I dont give a damn for for 13 episodes. Give me something,anything!

The sound is run-of-the-mill voice acting with the exception of the most intersting characters Gotou and Isshhin. My cousin told me he realized that a lot of voice actors speak with a mono tones when they have to dub anime to english. This is the exact case with Yakumo. When he is supposedly shocked or sad yo just hear that mono tone (a lot like Edward's tone of voice from Twilight). The OP is terrible. If you can classify under what type of music this falls under please let me know (I only listened to it for about 10 seconds).The ending theme was actually beautiful,it is that type of song you can understand without speaking the language it is performed in.

The art was alright. It's not like Dragonball where everyone is drawn according to Asian sterotyping,you know that saying . These characters have looks that fit what liitle personality they have perfectly. The backgrounds are okay and the ghost are just "meh".

The show was alright at the beginning but went to make my weekend feel a lot longer and declined after just 2 episodes. I have to admit I liked the ending, I'm a sucker for stuff like that and because the experience was over. Here's what I thought about the show:

Pros:
-Gotou and Isshhin
-Ending theme
-Ending
-Art was alright

Cons:
- Everything else

Story - 5/10
Art 7/10
Sound 6/10
Character 5/10
Enjoyment 5/10
Overall 6/10

Review in Short:
The beginning episodes are fantastic in terms of plot, very much like the movie The Sixth Sense in terms of investigating the circumstances surrounding each haunting. Very suspenseful, with well-though out 'cases.'

However, towards the end the anime tries to unify all of the cases under a single plotline, which ends weakly and unresolved. The romance aspect of the anime seems to be completely jammed within the last 4-5 episodes, and detracts from the rest of the experience.

Overall: Worth a watch if you're bored and have nothing else to do.

Why is Yakumo's red eye creepy? Its just red.

this anime has a good storyline. When i first started watching it, I felt this anime had potential. For example, Yakumo's dark past gives me a reason to watch it and I thought that he was cool.

But after watching episodes after episodes, I was bored because of the CHARACTERS development. It's like the characters were emotionless.

Yakumo: he is a swindler who sleeps all day and solves paranormal cases. Moreover, he never shows his emotion. He never explains the situation fully when a case is solved.

Haruka: typical ordinary girl who brings cases to Yakumo. She is too ordinary ... if you ask me.

Gotou: a detective that is full of himself and could not solve a case without Yakumo. when he got missing, I actually felt good.

Yuutarou: a coward.

Nao: no impact on the story nor a purpose for being deft.

Isshin: probably good if needed for Yakumo's background story.In my opinion better than the detective when handling a case.

when a case is solved, they (yakumo and his gang) did not put any effort to show any slight feelings. Which makes it no real purpose than doing what they are told.

I have watched this show many times and always forget about it. For some reason whenever I watch, episodes are known to me but whole story is not. So I keep rewatching only to get frustrated, annoyed and disappointed again and again.

For once, story is very well done and for a change is a mystery. Had it not been for one flaw this show would be a high 8 or even a 9 for me but that flaw is so big and annoying I simply can't get over it. This flaw is named Haruka, otherwise known as stupid airhead character does things to cause complications ... and make plot move. Episode after episode she will decide to do something so utterly stupid you will openly yell at screen. What's that? Detectives are chasing a potential serial killer and everyone is in danger... I better go check out this random circled location on a map alone. Very next episode she will get thirsty of her wanna-be boyfriend's gaze... let's walk alone into the woods in hopes he's there. It's insane just how much divorced she is from reality and rational actions. She is incapable of doing anything other than get in trouble and yet every action she makes causes some issue or puts many people in danger.

Art is fine, if a bit odd at times. Sound design is good. Watch it if you can stomach stupid characters like Haruka. Otherwise skip.