Reviews

I decided to watch Invaded after seeing an Instagram reel highlighting the intense story of Akihito Narihisago, the main character. He begins as a detective with a loving, happy family—until a serial killer brutally murders his wife and daughter. Seeking vengeance, he becomes consumed by his past and ultimately kills his family’s murderer, which leads him to work from prison to solve more cases. This premise drew me in, but while the series delivered on atmosphere and mystery, the revenge arc didn’t resonate as powerfully as I’d hoped.

The anime has its strengths, especially in its unique approach to exploring the minds of criminals through the Mizuhanome machine, which allows Narihisago to solve cases in surreal landscapes built from criminals’ psyches. The originality of these scenes, combined with their psychological depth, offers an intriguing take on crime-solving, though the repetitive nature of some episodes can detract from the experience​.

Visually, it features a mix of imaginative and gritty settings that mirror the criminals' disturbing minds. Although the animation quality is occasionally uneven, the soundtrack is stellar, enhancing the anime’s suspense with tracks by Sou and MIYAVI. Despite some drawbacks, including a lacklustre revenge arc, it’s still enjoyable for psychological thriller fans. I’d rate it a solid 7/10.

On paper, this is a great concept and feels so interesting, but there are ups and downs in execution. SPECIALLY THE ENDING COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER (10-13 EPISODES).