The opening scene of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni is extremely visceral and even though it lasts less than 30 seconds it leaves its mark like a wound on the body of its viewer. Thus begins a brutal tale of mystery and terror that will lead the audience down an unsuspecting road filled with imminent darkness that only awaits its release. Such is the violent, raw nature of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, also known as When They Cry (or When the Cicadas Cry, if you will) and we are only left to wonder, and fear, what comes next.
When They Cry is not your typical anime, or even horror anime for that matter. The first episode starts in an easy-going, casual manner and it is confusing to try to figure out how that disturbing opening scene will connect with these seemingly innocent, even humorous events that fill in the rest of the episode. Nothing seems to stand out or hint at a possible disaster, which is rather bewildering and troubling. One thing is for sure, though: something is terribly wrong and we all know it.
The story of When They Cry is divided in a series of chapters which take place either at different times or in a completely different timeline. Several events may unfold in different ways as the chapters change and another scenario is introduced. The anime is centered around the strange events that take place in the village of Hinamizawa during the course of a few years. The main characters are a group of teenage friends who attend the local school, each of them carrying a different past and various secrets.
Even with its affinity for gore and violence, When They Cry remains more of a psychological mystery filled with intrigue and intelligence. The story is incredibly well-written and its creative power and originality feels incredibly fresh and unique. It is not very likely that you have witnessed something even slightly similar to what When They Cry offers. There’s a lot of gore present, but it is used in well calculated doses and at appropriate times. Disturbing scenes are not missing here either, and you will find yourself shocked and surprised at how effective and intense they can become.
The best quality of When They Cry is the characters and their development. Every character present in the story has a purpose and a well-written personality. It is incredibly impressive how this anime can take a character which feels so familiar and cliché and turn it into a bloody killing machine in a matter of minutes. We start to learn more about every character and their inner self as the story progresses and the distressing events start to kick in.
It won’t be an easy ride going through the whole anime. There will be times when it will be too confusing to even begin putting all the pieces of the puzzle together and nothing will seem to make sense. Some questions will be answered by the end of the season, but many of them will be left in the dark. The second season, entitled Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai, will answer the rest of the questions. It may seem like a pointless exercise, but fear not: even without knowing what heck is happening you will be drawn into the plot and every episode is involving enough to keep the entertainment value going.
The animation and art of When They Cry is its biggest flaw. Most of the art feels way too simplistic and monotone, even to the point where it is a bit of a turn-off. The visual appearance of the anime falls in contrast with its complex nature and the elaborate plot, which doesn’t sit too well with most of the audience. It is not as bad as I make it out to be and fortunately the visuals keep well together during the more important and crucial parts. The art of the characters look particularly impressive and effective and their faces bear more expressiveness and emotion than what we are used to in anime.
There’s really no other way of find out whether this anime fits your taste other than to actually watch it. It is certainly entertaining and can get highly emotional at times, so it’ll definitely hold on to you until the very end. Things can become quite gruesome and disturbing, so be ready for when that happens. Is it worth watching When They Cry? It is definitely worth watching and it is a unique experience that will remain with you for a very long time.
Welcome to Hinamizawa. Enjoy your stay and beware of killer lolis.
