Destiny is something not be to desired and not to be avoided. a mystery not contrary to reason, for it implies that the world, and the course of human history, have meaning. ~Dag Hammarskjold
Genre: Horror/Mystery/Drama/Psychological
Review Status: Complete (26 Episodes / 26 Episodes)
Licensed: Licensed in the US
Art/Animation: The colors tend to be a little washed-out, and the art isn’t as nice as I’ve seen elsewhere. The good news is that the animation is decent, and overall it does what it sets out to do- tell a muder-mystery that’s happening in a small town!
Summary: After moving into the quiet town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi spends his days blissfully in school often playing games with his local friends. However, appearances can be deceiving. One fateful day, Keiichi stumbles upon news of a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa. From this point on, horrific events unfold in front of Keiichi, as he soon learns his close friends may not be all that they seem. Based on the amateur mystery game by 7th Expansion, the story is told in a series of different scenarios. (MAL.net)
Review: When They Cry, or as it is more famously known, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, is a story about a group of friends that are the victims of horrific happenings. The story is told in arcs- a series of ‘question’ and ‘answer’ arcs, with each arc presenting a different scenario of the events that lead to the death of the protagonists. While at first it seems like nothing but an excuse for a gore fest, as you keep watching you realize that all isn’t as it seems with the murders. As you see first one person’s view of the same events, then another’s, people who at first seem innocent suddenly have deadly motivations, and others who seem like likely suspects turn out to be allies.
The characters are all sympathetic. You can’t help but like each quirky member, from the mischevious but scarred Sakoto to the tortured but gentle Rena. Each member has their own past and history- some good, some not so much. But they all smile with the others- they love their friends.
The only problem that I can really point out is that when transferring mediums from manga to anime, there were some key bits of information about the characters that got left behind or on the cutting room floor. Even without that information, as you get the bits and pieces of what’s going on and start to piece the clues together, you end up with a mystery as fantastic as any.
Overall, if you can get past the gore and violence then you have a great series.
Recommended: Because the violence and gore can be graphic and disturbing, 16+. But yes, this is a great series.
Other titles you might enjoy: Higurashi: When They Cry (manga),
Future Diary (manga),
Bizenghast (manga),
Elfen Lied (anime and manga),
Shiki (anime),
Denpateki na Kanojo (anime),
Hell Girl (anime),
Perfect Blue (anime),
Kara no Kyoukai (anime),
Monster (anime or manga),
Paranoia Agent (anime)
Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (manga)
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