"Boku dake ga Inai Machi" or "The Town Where Only I am Missing" better known as simply ERASED by either marketing purposes or sheer laziness by the licensing company here on the US it's a story or rather the elaboration of a scenario that while it can't bond with the viewer on it's brutality and/or crudeness regarding tragedy does compel you to think about the present on which you live in and triggers a sense of hyper awareness since the difference between this anime and real life is that on real life there is no such thing as a DO-OVER. Life doesn't forgive failure to act or wrongful actions and it's a bucket of piss you'll have to drink by your own choosing.
ERASED it's an anime I've been reluctant to see for while it was airing and only got around to it after it aired. The reason? Well because there is always a sense of inflation around Blockbusters regarding the Anime medium while airing. Call it hype or over appreciation It can lead and/or cause you to either love an anime because you've set out from the very beginning to love it or watch it on a hyper aware state on which you nitpick and ruthlessly summit the exposition to harsh scores based solely on Subjective ideals, points and/or assumptions on which you thought the anime was supposed to rely or present itself with to the eyes of the public.
Now that the hype has died down I'll begin with my take on the acclaimed series that had a lot of buzz around winter of 2016, Since I didn't want to be hindered by the nuisance that I believe many reviewers fell prey to on the first place.
Story 8 / 10
Though I say this, It really doesn't mean anything since the story of erased isn't the point of the story but it's driving force that carries an objective with the most accurate of intents to deliver the message in question. Though I've hinted those on my introduction perhaps it'll be necessary to state them again just for the sake of argument.
The premise it's simple. A young 29yr old man working a job he didn't intent to work on the first place and/or wasn't his primordial objective to which regret is the emotion depicted, Can the objective be more regret hindering him from shinning on his dream job?. Perhaps but we are introduced to this character (Uncanny resemblance to the Main Character of Mayo Chiki) lifestyle and his attempts to get himself out of the hole he is in.
We are then thrown into a loop when we see a Blue Butterfly on transit (Referencing "The Butterfly Effect") right before an accident takes hold but suddenly able to rewind back to alter set course of actions and/or moment which would be crucial to someones life we are delivered the news that our protagonist has the ability turn back time or rather to reference "Steins;Gate" "Time Leap" to previous events or moments. The time frame? Well it depends on how deeply affects our main character. Revealing to us a darker past to which his regret of not saving his former classmates from abductions, murders and even domestic violence as a 11yr old boy.
All this working on the pretense of you the audience having to look past the neglect to run down or fill in the gap on how a ordinary young man could possibly be able to accomplish such a feat such as "Time Leap" running on nothing more than mere emotions as fuel.
ERASED captivates the audience with merely 12 episodes to which it's quite the feat since most anime of this length tend to sum up entire stories and throw a little fan service around to create an universal hook to which if you're not sold into going to the source by the tittle and/or premise of the Manga, Light Novel just leaving hook but not completely elaborating upon them or You can be sold with attractive characters to sweeten the pot and have you say "Fine, I'll bite" aside from pleasing the fans.
Of course this 12 episode anime only works because the adaptation itself has a point it wishes to make and I'll say it again establishes base with the pretense of looking past the set up. Like how "Angel Beats" manages to be an utter masterpiece on my opinion while neglecting the origin, explanation and/ or detail rundown on who runs the place they're in; Not telling you why is there only a very few alumni that is dead but I digress.
BokuMachi as is also called sets points into the idea that un-dealt issues can hinder your very life future and how not dealing with regrets can blind you into ignoring the people around you who can offer you a helping hand on a time of need as well establishing the destination you're heading when you take too much upon yourself to do. Confronting the consequence and maybe the outlook that things will keep going if you're missing and that you'll pay dearly if you pay too much attention around you but not yourself. It might as well be costing you your entire future and possibly those who you have yet to meet.
Art 7 / 10
The art was good. Not perfect or bad, Once again even though I say this it is very much irrelevant since the anime in question purpose wasn't to dazzle us with a story nor visuals but what can get it done. Done it got, The message and outlook came through flying.
Sounds 8 / 10
The voice acting was very good and the use of BGM was very good as well and once again got the job done.
Characters 8 / 10
The characters weren't panned out to be remembered but were threaded nicely into the exposition that ERASED is.
Enjoyment 8 / 10
I enjoyed the outlook and what the anime had to offer.
Overall 8 / 10
I recommend ERASED to people who can enjoy anime running and/or working under pretense on which the story isn't exactly important but the message it delivers and the outlook it offers in regards to stand points and / or points of view such as "Angel Beats". I can't equate it to a 10 simply for the subjective view of inconclusive on the ending to which I believe at least on my case wasn't able to be fulfilled on the outcome I had predetermined for the story.
If you're anal about wanting the full story or having an anime that is about the story then do yourself a favor and the people who understood it. Skip it and move on to something of your liking.
Overall I came to realize that the tittle of the anime isn't a complaint at all and I find it amusing on how well it worked out.
To that I admit and then declare.
