When They Cry

**kitaek27** · 09:22 PM

Kitae's Psychological Dramatic Anime Review #3

Also known as Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. This anime is the king (and the first) of mystery thrillers. The mascot of the series has been my avatar since my entrance to the forums.

Length: 26 Episodes, with a 2nd season (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai) with 24 Episodes, and an announced 3rd season on the works.

Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological

17+: Partial Nudity, Excessive Violence, Excessive Language

On one hot summer day in 1983, a transfer student named Maebara Keiichi comes to a peaceful rural village in Hinamizawa. There, he befriends his classmates Rena, Mion, Rika, and Satoko. Accepted as a full-fledged member of the "club," Keiichi and the gang plays all sorts of activities ranging from card and board games to hide-and-seek. But just as Keiichi was beginning to be assimilated in simple rural life, he stumbles upon the dark history of Hinamizawa. As Keiichi dives deeper into the mystery, he finds that his new found friends, and quite possibly other members of the village, are all murderers.

Higurashi takes a strange turn from the average horror/mystery anime by using a series of what is called "Arcs". These arcs constantly repeat every 4~6 episodes, with a different character's perspective, and with that character being the victim or the culprit each time. Thus we end up with alternative storylines each ark.

Though nothing is ever clear, and everyone seems paranoid all the time, small hints are given through the eyes of each character, allowing you to piece together the mystery of the village of Hinamizawa and why everything is as it is.

With each arc, the ending seems inevitable. Everyone dies. But whats the reason to the repeated incidents? Why are there so many alternative storylines? One of the main characters actually seems to know the truth.

Season 2 is an "answer" season, where everything is pieced together. I have yet to see it, but having lost the confusing point of the series, I don't think it'll be very exciting.

I don't want to use an AMV, but this pretty much sums up the show perfectly for you.

YouTube - Best Higurashi Video Ever!

And a MUST see video worthy of an oscar award. It was made by a brilliant human being attempting to make fun of what 4kids do to anime. Had it not been for this little video, I would've never found Higurashi, and I would've never been introduced to the world of psychological dramatic animes.

YouTube - Casey & Friends

I will never say fiesta correctly ever again.

**When they cry is an anime that was made to scare the crap out of the people watching it. If you're too sensitive, then don't watch. If you can watch this series without feeling even a bit of awkwardness flowing through your body, then you're just a insensitive jerk. If you can laugh during the scenes of the killings and suicides, then you've seen the series too many times (like me!)**

And yes, I absolutely love the crap out of Rena Ryugu. Not in the affectionate type of love though, just the "you're my favorite anime character" type of love. Don't tease me.

**Shinichi**

And people say anime is childish! Psh!

I've been to scared to watch this because of people mentioning something about ripping off finger nails which instantly scares the crap out of me.

**kitaek27**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shinichi

And people say anime is childish! Psh!

I've been to scared to watch this because of people mentioning something about ripping off finger nails which instantly scares the crap out of me.

In one of the arcs, a noble yakuza family owns a torture chamber that is no longer used. Inside is a device that rips off a finger nail, used to show that you are truly sorry for your actions.

In a flashback, one of the characters uses it on one of her fingers, when the chamber was still used by the yakuza.

Bob YoMeowMeow

be careful when you suggest this anime
it might drive some humans nuts

Paul

ah i love that 2nd video, ive seen it quite a lot xD

Badger

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob YoMeowMeow

be careful when you suggest this anime
it might drive some humans nuts

with sudden impulses to say "Nipah~" or the slight maniacal laughter or even as far as yelling out "uso da"

Tyler

I dont watch many animes but I think you have got me into this one

Kiyohime

Oh, I've seen both seasons of Higurashi. Can't wait for the third season *--*. After seeing both seasons, it's still many things I didn't really understand, so I might have to rewatch it XD