Let me start by saying this anime is divided in arcs counting 4 to 6 episodes each approx. Each arc tells a different story (though I'm not sure they really were different) and the last two arcs seem to explain the events in the previous arcs. I didn't like this idea but why not give it a try? Well, my main reason why -not- to watch this again is because the first 3 to 4 arcs are practically the same and bored me for about 13 episodes. I only enjoyed the horror moments which unfortunately were few. After the first half the arcs did get better and the explanatory arcs were nice, but this isn't all that bothered me about Higurashi.
How on earth did the producers come up with such annoying characters?! I'm not the kind of person to be easily annoyed by characters but boy! Never have I seen such unsteady characters. Even the ever expanding chaotic universe is more steady then Keiichi and his friends. I also couldn't stand the voice actors, they didn't sound believable at any point throughout the series. The animation didn't exactly help out here. Scenery and backgrounds were nicely done but I didn't enjoy the character designs. The facial expressions didn't impress me a lot either, except for when the characters got angry. They did a good job there.
I can't say I liked the development of the story since the first few arcs are truly retellings of similar stories. I still don't know what happened and what didn't, but the final two arcs were a big improvement so I am interested in watching the second season: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai. The comedy throughout the story wasn't exactly my cup of thee either. The place the story takes place in and the side elements, however, do speak to the viewers imagination. A little town where people desperately believe in their god who happens to enjoy torturing people,.. it's the perfect settlement for a psychological horror anime.
Concerning the soundtrack, I didn't like the opening nor the ending song. Again a bummer. Also its animation wasn't what it could or should have been. I only remember the cicadas crying from the first till the last episode, so there's little to talk about the music.
Higurashi didn't disappoint me since I didn't expect a lot from it, however I will watch the second season hoping for a reasonable amount of horror and some decent storytelling. If only the characters would have been better developed I would have enjoyed this a lot more, but a bunch of insecure children trying to act tough just don't get to me. Funny enough the supporting characters were more convincing and are probably what kept me watching.
