Feb 18, 2016
POSSIBLY MILD SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW
If I were to describe Higurashi in one sentence it would be : beautifully tragic, painful to watch, yet unforgettable. This show is so hard to understand for a large majority of the series, but it so pays off in the end. If you are looking for a show you can turn your brain off and zone out to, this is NOT it. But is something that will tug at your heart, have you questioning morality, shock you, trying to solve many mysteries, and have you find yourself feeling sadness for the sweetest psychopaths.
STORY:
The show is told in
...
different scenarios some around 4ish episodes each. With the beginning, events leading up, and then the ending for that scenario. The main characters are the same for each (with minor exception), but the way the way each character becomes as a part of the story can be very different for each arc. This anime is truly one of a kind. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni is VERY different than it seems, and so worth the watch. While the pacing for each arc is a very good pace, you will find yourself frustrated when each one ends. Not much is explained and then it will start new all over. I must stress that it is ALL worth it and the end, and makes big reveals very satisfying - this show is pretty much the opposite of predictable. The individual elements of the story are done very well. It is intensely eerie, suspenseful, emotional, psychological - and the mystery will keep you guessing till the very end. It will effect you deeply. As for the ending, they definitely don't reveal all the answers to your questions. But this is because you are supposed to watch the second series in the story for that.
ART:
While this is by no means at all my favorite style of art, it is surprisingly quite fitting for this show. The girls look like they are from a harem anime, childish looking and cute. This adds a very interesting aspect to the straight up brutal insanity they succumb to. While in my opinion it could have been a lot better in some aspects, especially for the background scenery, it did add a memorable feeling.
SOUND:
I'm not going to go into this in depth, but the sound is very fitting and adds a lot to the disturbing and eerie theme. Very unique and well done.
CHARACTER:
These characters are unforgettable. At first they just seem cute and crazy, but you will end up feeling a deep connection with them. They are very loveable even when inflicting torture on others. This tears at your heart and you know they will once again end up going through a cycle of insanity and violence, and you will have yourself questioning who you are rooting for, and whether it is right or wrong. Each of them have different tragic backgrounds which will be revealed and make you feel even more sympathy for them, and wish that they could just be happy together like they are in short periods of time. But Higurashi is chock full of tragedy that will become hard to even watch at times.
ENJOYMENT:
For at least half of this show it was hard for me to enjoy. It took me a while to finish, much longer than other shows of the same length. I almost dropped it many times. But once you get further it becomes so enjoyable and everything leading up to it will be worth it. This show to me was more art and a beautiful puzzle then it was a fun and enjoyable feel good show.
OVERALL:
Higurashi is a show that I will not forget about for a long time. It touched me in a way many other shows did not. I honestly think it is a masterpiece. I really recommend you watch this, because while it is confusing and hard to watch, you will never regret it ESPECIALLY once you get to second series in the story. It was beautiful, painful, and shocking in a way like nothing else.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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