Higurashi Kai (second season) - Overall Series Impressions & Total Series Rating [Archive]

Lanner Falcon

2007-12-30, 22:00

Animation Quality: 8
Voice Actors: 9
Script: 9
Editing: 8
Emotional Involvement: 10

Average = 9½

"Kai" was interesting, but a little unstable. (i.e. eventful happenings over the course of two episodes, and then a long strand of semi-filler.) Better than many, worse than few. The several excellent episodes made it well worth the watch.

The story had a few plotholes, however ultimately, it came full circle. The two most intriguing elements of the series are the analogy of Rika being a chess player, and the characters' transition from despair, to hope. Of these two, the latter is profound, while the first is immediately captivating.

The only "plot device" I could see was the "Deus ex Machina" at the end of #22. Even the last scenes; the shot at the end, had logical explanations if examined. The writing was, (with very few exceptions), excellent. Just look at the scene were Rika is descending the ladder, and starts mumbling to herself, for reassurance. Sounded like me. xD

Better animation quality than last season, however as is inevitable with this style, there were a few stick limbs, and deformed faces.

All the character were well designed in my opinion, and none of them seemed contrived.

The only DVD footage I want to see is when Satoshi opens his eyes. It will be criminal if they don't add this…

For me, this wasn't just some random show, nor of passing interest. I was enthralled by the story, engaging in countless hunts for doujin, and fanfiction; I idolized it. Shion is the character who really drew me in however; her actions near the end are heroic (and romantic). In other words, Higurashi genuinely attached my emotions.

The creators probably could have done better with the animation. And evened out the plot a little. However only thing that actually irritated me was constant repetition of "miracle". A concrete resolution might have helped, but… This is Higurashi after all…

And after all… tomorrow is another season. :)

Kazuki_Kun

2007-12-30, 23:50

Hm, so Higurashi Kai.

It was a good series overall, and an ending deserving to the Higurashi name. I felt the first episode of Kai was needed, but quite dull, however the Adult Rena did spice it up a little. The anime only arc was good, and showed off the new art/animation style of season 2 quite well. The ending to episode 5 was very emotional for me. Overall, it was a great start to hype up the real meat of Kai.

Minagoroshi, on the otherhand, started off strong, but had a weak middle. It had it's moments, but overall, I felt it was much too dragged out. I feel explaining Satoko's abuse and saving her was an important part, of course, but it was dragged out for 4 episodes or so, and sometimes I was wondering when they'd finish this plot point. After that though, it got very good, with the revalation of Takano being the villain and Tomitake's death, up do they great fight in episode 13, a very emotional end to Minagoroshi for me, and very effective.

Matsubayashi was mostly good thoughout, though I feel there could've been more episodes for this arc, and less for Minagoroshi. It needed way more Hanyuu! XD
The final episode was excellent, however, some questions were still not answered. ( Like Shion and Saotshi, and what happens from there) But I guess that's what season 3's for!~

One thing about Higurashi Kai that I really liked was how all the characters seemed closer, and the team work aspects really made me smile, as it was mostly non-existent in Higurashi; What, with everyone going crazy and all. xD

The Animation was a big step up from the first series, I dont think I saw one contorted facial expression! The animation however, really varied. You had the top-notch animation of episode 24, and then you had the 'budget' episodes, such as episode 12. Heck, even episode 13, while good in parts, still had flaws, such as the limbs, etc. I think DEEN has an erratic way of doing things, spending time animating smaller scenes well, while not doing it for bigger, more important ones. Also, I really liked the new eyes DEEN gave the characters; whenever I see Higurashi season 1 now, I always notice the different eyes! XD

The soundtrack was mostly forgettable, as with season 1. It to me had nothing that was really memorable, and alot've the pieces were quite bland. Also, they re-used alot've tracks from season 1, which doesnt up the mark much. The OP and ED seemed great at first, but seemed to grow old quite rapidly. Maybe that's jsut because I've listened to them so much, though.

I felt the TIPS, section of Kai was really rushed, though, and some of them seemed really jumbled together in a mishap kind've way. The writing was msotly good though, and I;m glad they didnt miss out NEARLY as much as they did from the first season.

The Voice actors were perfect, as in season 1. I had no gripes with any of them, infact. Rika's VA did a great job of conveying all Rika's emotions, and Dark Rika. Yui Hori ( I think that's her VA) did a brilliant job as Hanyuu, and her 'Auau' was just great. Takano's VA also did a great job of getting across the pure evilness of the character. But for me, it has to her to Mion/Shion's VA; as in the first season, I feel she did an excellent job portrying both of the twins. All the cast did superb, though.

Extra DVD scenes for me would have to include more scenes from ep 13 ( more action please ^^;)., and to see a Satoshi/Shion REAL reunion, or to see them all a few years after the events of Matsubayashi.

Higurashi to me is one of ThE best anime's out there, it was my first real anime lvoe since Sailor Moon, when I was 8. And the first anime i'd really gotten into for years. When I went to Japan, I got so much merch, it was unbelivable. Also, I rewatched the first season 5 times (no joke). I just LOVED the mystery and suspence, not to mention the characters.

All the chaarcter's are real idols, as Lanner Falcon said. Shion was also my favourite, with her love for Satoshi, and just even her crazy moments from S1; she had many endearing qualities. Also, props go to Rika for being a true heroine, and not giving up even at the worst of times, she is really someone to look up to. I also loved Rena, and her cute-ness; however, unlike most 'cute' characters, she could be deadly serious and very intelligent.

In some parts of Kai, I missed the mystery of the first season, and the crazyness, but it was to be expected. But for me, season 2 probably wont grow on me as much as season 1 did.

Furthermore, ( I just realised how long this is x_x;), I think DEEN could've but more of a budget into Kai, with the animation and such, and moved the story on at a better pace, but hey, hopefully more luck with season 3!~

Overall:

Animation: 7/10
Voice Actors: 10/10
Script:8/10
Editing: 7/10
Emotional envolvement: 10/10

7.5/10

Can I have the .5? ;-;

June 1983

2007-12-31, 00:30

Animation Quality: 8
Voice Actors: 10
Script: 8
Editing: 7
Emotional Involvement: 10

I only began watching Higurashi in late September, so I watched the first season and the first 12 or so episodes of the second season in a really compressed period of time. It was kind of a rush. :)

What I love the most about Kai is how quickly it was set apart from the first season. There's the animation quality increase, obviously, but there was a big change in the overall feeling of the series, the maturity, and the genre focus. Immediately you're made to realize that Keichii is not the main character anymore (if he ever was) -- Rika really is, and maybe was all along. The OP is so moody, with all of the drama and tragedy focused inward rather than being displayed in an openly creepy manner like in the first OP. From the very first episode you just get the feeling that you're in very new territory and that the coming episodes are going to change all of the presumptions you had made watching the first season. Kai really was much more of a mystery than a horror series, with everything focused on gradual layers being removed bit by bit as you get closer to the truth. I think kind of the moment that really sums all of this up is when the second version of the OP aired and we saw that Rika was waving to Hanyuu all that time. (Yeah, I really love the OP, can you tell?)

I felt like the middle was maybe a little muddy, but overall the story was tight and well-structured. I know a lot of people prefer Miotsukushi-hen over Matsuribayashi-hen, but personally I'm glad they decided to stick closer to the original ending, because I think Hanyuu would have broken my heart in Miotsukushi-hen. I really kind of hope it doesn't turn up in the third season. :( I want Hanyuu to have a happy ending, too.

angel.shade

2007-12-31, 04:49

Okay, let's see here.

Well, it was definitely enjoyable. The shift from useless, annoying Keiichi to Rika as the protagonist was definitely one of the highest points of the series. Rika is a very interesting character, while I've always found Keiichi to be tiresome. The prominence that "dark" Rika took above the more moe standard Rika was also a very nice touch.

The answers to all our burgeoning questions finally delivered, as all the pieces start to slot into place. The plot resolution was absolutely welcome, and the ending was enjoyable if it was something of a stretch in places. After seeing all the characters go through a shitload of pain, suffering and general reality-warping and mind-twisting, it was very gratifying to see them finally win over destiny and break the cycle of June 1983.

My biggest disappointment in the series was the horror element is almost nonexistent in season 2. I realize that this brings the series closer to the original games, but as a tragedy it's far less enjoyable to me than it was as a moody, reality-bending horror that reminded me heavily of the Silent Hill games and the movie Jacob's Ladder. The disturbing, visceral violence and imagery of season 1 was replaced with somewhat less-disturbing emotional tragedy. I still have the images of Shion torturing Satoko to death burned into my brain just as deeply as the "mirror scene storeroom" in Silent Hill 3.

There also seems to be a significantly larger amount of the "club activities" slice-of-life filler in season 2 than there was in season 1. I don't like this. I don't mind the occasional sprinklings of comedy, but when I go into a series expecting to have my mind raped, I don't want to see a bunch of girls forcing each other to dress in ridiculous outfits after losing a card game.

The level of moe-blob fanservice in season 2 also seemed a lot more pronounced thanks to Hanyuu's presence. This isn't entirely a bad thing (Hanyuu is a very ironic character after all the general badassery build-up surrounding Oyashiro-sama) but at the same time it really does harm what I loved so much about season 1.

Matsuribayashi-hen also left me feeling hollow as an ending. It felt entirely too easy, and it made the plot leap that every one of the friends had begun to recall their lives in the other realities and avoid going insane and killing one another. This left the entire group free to fight against Takano without any distractions. The ending was one of the most disappointing I've ever seen, actually.

The worst (and most inexcusable in my opinion) was the animation quality, however. It was never really better than mediocre and often dropped far below acceptable standards. There's not really much more to be said about this, though the first season suffered the same poorly-drawn fate as its successor.

Also I hate Keiichi. A lot.

All in all, I enjoyed Higurashi Kai quite a bit, but the first season still remains on top as far as I'm concerned. I hope they decide not to do a third season.

Miko Miko

2007-12-31, 06:44

Animation Quality: 7, i prefer the old style.
Voice Actors: 10
Script: 9
Editing: 9
Emotional Involvement: 10

Overall- 9/10.

Wow this anime to me is Amazing, it will be my all time favourite for a long time no anime can top this one.
The storyline keeps you hanging on for more, The characters are designed pretty well. I like the music (though they should play some from the game) The OP and ED were good, though i like the old OP better.
The lack of blood and gore was disappointing but I think the ending made up for that. :] The voices were really good, I can't complain about them at all.
The thing that disappointed me the most though was the ending, it seemed to easy, they could have made it seem harder, it was so unrealistic i thought at the end. Though some questions are still unsolved, i hope they will be in season 3.

Peace x

Proto

2007-12-31, 16:49

Wow... I didn't think I'd be sharing my thoughts here since I thought I'd just be redundant with most of the opinions, but after seeing two posts exposing the very same view I've been trying to dispel on several places, I think I'll just throw my two cents.

Overall, Higurashi is a series that turns around three essential themes: friendship, trust and hope. Every arc of the series, from Onikakushi to Matsuribayashi are just different presentations of these three themes, and how things can only work when they are all present. All the gore, all the violence, all the mistery, all the suspense where nothing but secondary themes that helped to highlight the different happenings one one or more of these elements were missing.

As such, it is only natural than in Kai, where the characters have suffered, and yet learned from the results of their actions, these themes start being more and more prominent, and as such the mystery, the gore and the horror return to their rightful second plane. Kai is not a tone down of the violence. It represents an evolution of the plot in the direction the original author wanted. Not only the characters or the plot, but the whole ambiance changed to represent how we were moving in a direction where all the missing pieces, and over them the three themes fell into place.

Being a series about friendship, it is only natural that we see the every day lives of the main cast, and how joyful their normal days are, since it is only through these moments that we can fully comprehend the horror that represents the loss of trust in your friends, and the loss of the joyful days. This is something that Studio DEEN had forgotten to fully adapt in the first season, and yet, they redeemed themselves in the second by dedicating more time to this section of the story. The original game was full of these little moments, from the very first arc. It is only normal, even necessary, to allocate an important time of the story to showing these.

The loss of the horror is only normal, because horror was never what the story was about in the first place, it was a prominent secondary theme in the first arcs, however now in the second season as the story grows to a conclusion the main goal of the characters becomes their struggle against fate, and hope.

Higurashi is a story whose characters have truly grew on me, who showed real development throughout the series. A story whose plot was slowly, yet masterfully unveiled. Whose ambience and setting was beautifully woven. Whose characters were not only cardboards representing a dialogue, but greatly explored souls, from the protagonists to the antagonists, whose goals, motives and needs were carefully presented. This, from my humble point of view, is a nice example of how a nice story should be presented. I was absolutely captivated by the storytelling. I may be biased, but this is enough reason for me to grant a 10/10 to this series. Previously I had only granted such mark to Haibane Renmei, Figure 17, ARIA and Simoun, just to show that I don't throw these marks like candies :p

Bernkastel

2007-12-31, 17:15

Alright, here I go...

- Okay, let's start with a big chunk here; the animation quality. It kinda ruined some great moments. I think Higurashi deserves a better animation quality than this. This is why we, fans, had so low expectations regarding the last episode. Even if the chances are infinitesimal, I'm still hoping that one day, maybe, Kyoto Animation will re-animate Higurashi, like they did for Kanon.

- Second, the length. This applies actually to both seasons. Yes, Higurashi was way too short in my opinion, despite the fact that there was two seasons. I'm sorry, but 2x24 episodes is still too short !! No wonder Ryuukishi requested an additional arc (Yakusamashi-hen). For such a series, 48 episodes was way too low. I know that DEEN doesn't have a high budget, and make a 60 episodes long series would be way too much money, but still. Higurashi is a game where almost every piece of information is important. So you have to pack all of those informations into the anime. If you forget one, the viewer will be lost. I know that mystery is the main theme of this series, and that you're left with a "WTF ?!" kind of face at the end of the first arcs, but at least when there is something you don't get or don't know, where's the point if you don't show us what's the answer to that mystery ?! Where's the point of showing us strange things but not explaining them to us ? That's why there are TIPS in the game, alas in the anime DEEN sometimes spent, what, not even 1 minute on one TIPS, which doesn't explain anything, and confuse us even more. DEEN, if you knew you couldn't handle all of these informations, you shouldn't have animated Higurashi.

- Third, the mood. In the first season, the serious, awkward, and anxious mood was perfectly handled. That was the very reason why I was watching Higurashi; not because it was scary (because it wasn't, really), but because I loved the mood. The opening depicted that mood perfectly. I don't really know how to explain that, but I'm sure people who think like me will understand. What's the bad point, then ? you might ask. Well, this mood completely disappeared in Kai. This is one thing I pretty much dislike about Kai; it's all about clearing up the previous mysteries. It's good, I know, but in the end it ended up being a bit... boring. I wouldn't say it needed more gore scenes, but a little bit of action or even more mysteries would have been good. Because except in episode 13 or 21 through 24 (pretty much), "nothing" is really happening, IMO. With Kai, Higurashi is more of a normal series, and we all know that it isn't the case.

Well, the story had by far the most complicated plot I've ever seen. In a good way. I really enjoyed watching Higurashi, because the plot takes over, im my opinion, all the bad points of the series. I'll never forget Higurashi. All of its epic moments will be engrave in my mind forever. It's the very first anime where I was so much into the series that I bought all the games and DVDs (for the first season) without even thinking "Um, maybe I should wait, I don't have that much money left...". I don't think I'll ever come across an anime that surpasses Higurashi.

In the end, I think Higurashi deserves a good 9/10. Even though I would like to give it a 10 out of 10, it still has some "bad" points. Maybe, after the third season, it will raise to a 10... or drop to an 8 or 7. The third season can break or make Higurashi. Now the only thing we have to do is wait...

angel.shade

2007-12-31, 18:42

Solafighter

2007-12-31, 18:50

To make it short, the only one thing, i missed are the actions from keiichi, like in the first season. I will rewatch soon all episodes at once and i think, a good half is about other people, than Keiichi, Mion, Shion, Satoko, Rika and Rena. It doesnt feels like, those kids are the main chars in this season, for me. [Just my opinion.] :)

Sterling01

2007-12-31, 19:00

angel.shade

2007-12-31, 19:15

I totally agree in that the Question and Answer arcs should have been in their own seasons.

And I do not mind character buildup. You can't be disturbed when a character gets tortured to death if you never liked the character to begin with, but a lot of the character development just seemed too much like filler.

MarthX

2007-12-31, 21:14

DEEN tried to squeeze 6 arcs into 26 episodes. As a result, scenes had to shorten or completely cut. DEEN decided to focus on the horror and suspense side while cutting most of the slice of life and character development. That's one reason why season two feels so different. It has a normal pace and doesn't cut nearly as much.

You also have to keep in mind that season one and two are the same series. Neither is complete without the other. The mind screw goes down in Kai because it's the last few chapters. In a mystery novel, the mysteries are always solved at the end. It's best to ignore that they're separate seasons and just treat it as one huge 50 episode series.

Captain Spyro

2007-12-31, 22:00

Animation Quality: 7

While Higurashi Kai was a step up from season 1 in this sense, it still had it's faults. While I can't point out any specific examples, I can only say that while it was great, it could've been better in parts.

Voice Actors: 10

You really can't get much better than this. The voice actors just felt so in tune with their characters that they felt quite believable.

Script: 9

What can I say? The script had me drawn in from the bgeinning of the first episode to the ending of the last. While the focus on Satoko was dragged on a little bit, I really don't have much to complain about besides that.

Editing: 8

I honestly can't say too much here.

Emotional Involvement: 10

One word: WOW! Just like the first season, Higurashi Kai involved my emotions from beginning to end. Just absolutely perfect (or close to it, anyway).

Note: I've only watched both series all the way through once, and it was just recently. I'll likely be watching the whole series all the way through eventually so as to get the full picture once again.

Overall, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni is a FINE anime series. While it does have its faults, there ar emore than enough positives to make the negatives seem insignificant.

Overall: 9.5/10.:)

angel.shade

2007-12-31, 23:53

I'm thinking I probably would have enjoyed Kai a bit more had it used Miotsukushi-hen instead of Matsuribayashi-hen as the final chapter.

It's prudent to note that I'm a somewhat disturbed individual. I honestly dislike happy endings. They feel way too contrived and forced. Escapism isn't about getting away from reality for me, it's more about immersion, the whole "what if this actually happened" deal.

And no, it's not about meaningless violence and gore. Look at any of the horror stories I like and you'll see none of them are plotless gorefests. While disturbing imagery plays a significant role, it's only half the package.

For instance, most people consider the blood-filled storeroom in the Brookhaven Hospital (Dark Side) to be the most disturbing, brain-destroying moment in Silent Hill 3. I certainly loved that part myself, the most disturbing point in the entire game was actually a line of dialogue, a spoken conversation between Vincent and Heather.

Vincent's line, "They look like monsters to you?"

Oh good god that sent a chill up my spine.

Kazuki_Kun

2008-01-01, 01:20

I agree with most of what's being said.

One other thing I also missed was the shift of characters POV from Higurashi season 1, and the overall tones that were in S1l, it added spice to the formula. Also, I could watch the arcs in quick bursts, which was nice. I felt some character's completley got the shaft ( AKA Rena) While some got too much (Rika). I understand that it is her struggle, but soemtimes it got tiresome seeing it from her eyes.

Though, of course, It was bound to get less and less this way as the anime drew to a close and the mysteries were revealed.

Rias

2008-01-01, 05:41

Overall and looking at the series as a whole, the anime is probably still the worst out of all forms of media (ie. game, manga, drama cd, novel) that you can expose yourself to the world of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (unless you also count the TMA movie, then it's not. :heh:). This is unfortunate as the other forms aren't fully translated into english. Alot of the problem is generated from the first season, which dragged onto season 2. As season 2 has shown, giving the story more time to develop, and having a higher quality of artwork, can improve the series as a whole. Some of the stuff that was alright to be cut, but some elements are so essential that it's still makes me wonder why they took them out.

angel.shade

2008-01-01, 15:16

The anime is going to be the worst to the people who went in expecting the same story presented by the other forms of Higurashi media.

I've not played the games myself, but I know a huge otaku nerd who has, and she assures me that I'd be bored to tears by it, so I'm not going to go through the massive hoops that one has to jump through to play these since no official translated versions exist.

It's not fair to call the anime "worst." It's better to say it was misrepresented, or merely different. I don't understand why the psychological horror focus of the first season is so maligned, especially in a time where the horror genre is filled with endless piles of absolute crap.

It's hilariously funny that the Higurashi anime comes out as an awesomely disturbing and mind-blowing horror gem. By accident.

ishiki

2008-01-01, 15:47

Seeing what they did with the first season, I didn't except much from the second season. It started good with Yakusamashi-hen, but then it went downhills again. I won't say much about it because people pointed the bad points already out.

The only thing that I want to say is, that I didn't like Matsuribayashi-hen(novel) from beginn with. I like Miotsukushi-hen from the PS2 version a lot more. So maybe there is a small hope for those of you, who aren' satisfied with the ending.

FlareKnight

2008-01-01, 21:13

Honestly I really enjoyed the second season. Luckily had only seen the first season in a rush only seperated by sleep before this one got started. Horror and strange deaths wasn't quite what things meant for me. Was an odd feeling to get attached to the main characters and then watch as they were taken towards their demise. Odd combination of smiles then sadness that was for sure.

Really got drawn to Rika as things began to be revealed. Could only feel for the pain she had to endure to be even closer to the characters and to see them fall under the syndrome and at times kill each other. Could understand the feelings of despair and futility that had become part of her after so many failures without the success she had hoped for. But she started to find hope and courage to stand up against a massive force that had lead to her death so many times.

Really enjoyed following the story as it went along. Getting a more complete understanding of what exactly has been going on. Was of course important to find out that Takano was the enemy who was behind all of it. A season of discovery and understanding the dangerous and monumental task that was before Rika to overcome. But also a story about friendship and trust. When characters like Keiichi, Rena, or Shion didn't have faith in the others they had the potential to fall closer to L5. Even Rika was trying to carry this burden with only Hanyuu beside her. Only when they could finally work together and combine their resources was it even possible to come close to winning.

Really liked about this series was the cast involved. A lot of great characters especially the club. Keiichi continued from the end of last season as being a catalyst for breaking fate. Having the strength to change things that Rika had seen as inevitable and even being able to rally a village for Satoko. Always a nice combination of likability, but those friends also have useful skills that helped in getting through it all. Like Satoko's ocean of traps that showed they were more than just for laughs at Keiichi's expense.

Will of course be people who enjoyed and didn't like the series. In the end I really loved watching each episode and hoping the characters could make it. So will give this show the 10. Not because it was perfect in absolutely every way, but because it was a great show that told an excellent story.

angel.shade

2008-01-01, 21:20

I realize what they were trying to do with Keiichi but he just rubs me the wrong way. I watched both seasons half expecting one of the female cast members to tell him to shut the hell up and be quiet. God so annoying.

Archuka

2008-01-01, 21:42

Animation - 7
The character designs were improved from S1 and we didn't have those bizarre faces, however, the actual animation was still mediocre at best. Often the characters' movements seemed unnatural or they didn't seem alive.

Voice Actors - 10
I think the seiyuu did a wonderful job here and though some voices weren't really my cup of tea, I figure it's a matter of taste rather than bad acting. Cute Rena, Dark Rika and GAR Keichi were probably the more annoying voices. The Mion/Shion duo along with Ooishi and Tomitake were probably my favourites.

Script - 10
What can I say, one of the best plots ever. Some details I would have done differently, but as a whole it is so amazing on so many levels I just can't give it anything less than a 10.

Editing - 7
I wasn't a fan of the comedy bits as they simply failed to be entertaining most of the time. I don't see many complaints about it so I guess it worked for many, but I enjoyed the dark and serious atmosphere a lot more. Both the "horror" of S1 and the despair of S2 worked for me.

Emotional Involvement - 9
Another high point here. I could sympathise with both the villain and the good guys. It had many very emotional moments that struck home.

Malkuth

2008-01-01, 22:21

Most of my opinion comes from my review of both seasons (http://between-betwixt.blogspot.com/2007/12/higurashi-no-naku-koro-ni.html), feel free to check.

Visuals 4/5
Visually the series is characterized by the overwhelming amount of gore and its loli character designs, which are effective both comedically and grotesquely, depending on the scene's context. Also noteworthy is the background artwork, which is very well done and renders effectively the appropriate atmosphere. The director also uses it to a great effect shifting from dark and moody backgrounds to light and cheerful scenery and vice versa, depending on what the script demands. Occasionally, the characters are drawn with extremely disproportionate and deformed faces (this was dropped during the second season), which sometimes is really creepy, but other times becomes ridiculous. The animation in general is fluid, but simple, no 3D, no fast-paced action scenes.

Audio 5/5
The voice acting is just excellent, not only adapting the characters' mannerism from the game, but also many voice actresses had to switch from their cute high-pitched octaves, to deep and brooding, to demented and frantic, etc. Also amazing and fitting thematically is the opening titles' song of the second season and in general the background music is effective, blending nicely with sound effects, without being outstanding.

Story 5/5
Here I really expected the second season to fail, but it didn't. The anime original bridging arc was very well executed. Then Minagoroshi was perfectly paced by practically splitting the two stories. This though made Matsuribayashi seem to drag and also the fact that was 11 episodes long did not help. Despite that I really enjoyed it. My problem was that apart from two parts in Minagoroshi and the final episode of Matsuribayashi, I never felt breathless by what was going on; this was happening all the time in the first season, which was way more suspenseful.

Overall, from what was playing during the last two seasons, HiguKai was by far the best.

SSJiffy

2008-01-02, 00:30

Animation Quality: 8
I thought the animation was standard, I won't knock it (too much..) for sticking to what works, but I did want more out of season 2 as I felt season 1 was awesome.
Voice Actors: 10
Great job, I never felt the voices were detached from their characters and thought that emotional emphasis was always present when the scene dictated it.
Script: 8.5
Meh. The last arc is what makes me bring down the score. I just really wasn't digging the end (and not because I didn't want it to end). There were some scenes were it just became way too surrealistic, even for Higurashi terms.
Emotional Involvement: 9
The first arc with Satoko's battle to get the truth out, and the second to the last arc with the gang getting picked apart right as they united -- knots in my heart the entire time, and then came the last arc. Bleh! I wasn't into the last arc at all. With all the other arcs I was always on top as they came out, with the last one I kind of had to remind myself there was a new episode out.
Overall rating: 9
Not awesome like the first season, but the first half was great. The second half kind of fell through for me at the very end, overall I'd watch it again and I'd definitely recommend it to a friend.

Echoes

2008-01-02, 02:20

I'll pretty much echo what's already been said about Kai. It's breathtaking, not as breathtaking as the first season, but not that far off either. The first half had some unforgettable episodes, I was especially spellbound by the episode when Ooishi rushed to the hospital just to find Satoko to have just passed on, simply excellent. The ending was good, though at this point I'm forced to mention the only problem I had with the second season. I hate to mention something negative when the impression on the whole is so overwhelmingly positive, but I too felt that some of the scenes in the final episodes were a bit weird. I thought they wrapped it up nicely in the very end, though.

The voiceactors did a splendid job, each character was distinct, consistent and just a pleasure to listen to, everything from Rena's well-known phrases to Keiichi's inspiring speeches sounded just right.

Higurashi's art is just lovely, as it was the first season, and some improvements in the animation didn't hurt either, though I don't put much emphasis on this considering the show gets by just fine without flashy stuff. The characters do look great, though, and that really helps.

The new was excellent, it didn't top the one from the first season in my opinion, but I didn't expect it to either, as the original opening is one of the absolute best (perhaps even the best) openings I've ever heard. The ending theme was fantastic, the eerie feeling at the end of each episode just transitioned perfectly into the calm, yet still a little eerie vocals.

Emotional involvement? Absolutely. Higurashi grabs a hold of me and won't let go.

On the whole, I think the second season is well worthy of a 9, (The first season is one of the few shows I've given 10) and I can't wait to see how they'll manage the third installment of the series. Though I realize it might be a while, it is well worth waiting for.

*Listens to the opening from the first season and falls into nostalgia*

Matrim

2008-01-02, 14:52

I voted 7, but it's more like 7,5/10. It would have been 9,5 if it wasn't for the last arc which I wish I hadn't watched as it did not seem consistent with the rest of the show at all.

The solutions to big mysteries are usually disappointing as people tend to either be pissed they got it wrong or think it was a too easy mystery, or that the writer cheated them by not giving enough clues. I for one was happy that I got the mastermind right but quite a few details bugged me. That said, generally the mystery element of the series was utterly enjoyable and is actually my favourite part of the show.

The character development was good, if undermined by not enough screentime for some of them, but was somewhat too melodramatic for my taste. The point about the importance of friendship was presented as subtly as a blow with a sledgehammer. Moe Rika and especially moe Hanyuu really, really got on my nerves. And the latter, very much unlike the former, is utterly unconvincing when she tries to be serious or scary.
Giving so much time to the development of the villain was a great thing, even though I was kind of disappointed by the personality of the said villain in the end.

You can't be disturbed when a character gets tortured to death if you never liked the character to begin with

Very true, this exact thing happened to me quite a few times when watching Higurashi.

Voice acting: Brilliant, except when Hanyuu tries to be serious. Enough said.

I honestly dislike happy endings. They feel way too contrived and forced. Escapism isn't about getting away from reality for me, it's more about immersion, the whole "what if this actually happened" deal.

Well, I lean towards this opinion myself but it's very much possible for happy endings to not feel contrived and forced. Unfortunately this is not the case with Higurashi Kai at all. :(

kingsky123

2008-01-02, 15:59

Fine. Studio DEEN misrepresented the series. I wish they hadn't, so I could just say, "This show sucks" instead of explaining why I like it and having you asshats blast me for it.

I never played the original games. Maybe that's why my perceptions are skewed. I hate this sappy friendship crap; from the moment I heard the OP theme, I was just hoping the show would completely destroy my mind and totally mess with my head, and it did.

But apparently that was an accident, a mistake on the animation studio's part. The story apparently should not have been scary, but sad and tragic.

You know what? That sucks. I would have never watched it if it had been that way. Is that so wrong? I don't get why I have to like the series the way the rest of you do. I don't get why every time I point out that Kai wasn't scary enough and I get blasted for it.

This is stupid. So I blame Studio DEEN for lying to me and wasting my time. It seems like every story genre I'm fond of is dying out, in both movies, anime and games. Everyone wants happy-cute-funny, nobody wants dark and twisted, and it's making me ill.

I think I'll go watch Jacob's Ladder to make myself feel better. ><

QFT.

i agree with you dude, studio DEEN killed the damn plot.

to me , i find that if to really enjoy higurashi you have to come to this forum, and read the wall of text they posted ( TIPS and answers ) , with that added then it can get a 10 :P

Animation - 7

Voice Actors - 10 (damn their really good)

Script - 11 ( the reason this show even existed was due to the script, i mean in the visual novel the drawing was terrible, and there wasnt even voice acting untill later, what kept it going was this )

Editing - 0 ( dont really get the meaning of it?? like how DEEN screwed it up?)

Emotional Involvement - 8 ( coupled with the plot and voice acting, i think its impossible not to sympathize with them in some of their moments, although the animation was terrible, and i really hated the broken record with the friendship and fate thing)

PS: for those of you who hated matsuribayarashi's ending, you are prolly dead in some other parallel dimension :P.

Proto

2008-01-02, 16:28

Wow... I always had this idea that every person out there would find the 1st season mildly good, albeit pretentious, while finding the second season to be the place where studio DEEN addressed all the problems the 1st season had, becoming a much better series. I guess I've been reading too much gamers threads :p

And yes, I liked Matsuribayashi-hen. And yes, despite of that I'm still looking forward to what the 3rd season has in store for us, even if it is an alternate ending.

Sorrow-K

2008-01-02, 19:39

Review to come. Watch this space.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai review (http://www.nihonreview.com/anime/higurashi-no-naku-koro-ni-kai/)

It's the script that I think deserves a lot of acclaim. The way they tied up the loose ends and put answers to the questions were, in many cases, masterfully done, and this is one of the few mystery anime that has a set of solutions that do justice to the initial mystery. As far as a script in a mystery anime is concerned, the only one that I can think of that betters Higurashi (and I mean the overall franchise) is Monster.

To summarize my opinion:

The good:

The script. The way they brought the mystery full circle was superb.
The antagonist. One of the best character analyses of an antagonist I've seen in a long, long time.
The confrontations. As far as drama was concerned, it was far and away most intense during the confrontations. Shion and K1 in Minagoroshi-hen, Oryo and K1 in the same arc, the Yamainu and Rika in the scene where Shion was a hostage in Matsuribayashi-hen, etc, etc.
Seiyuu. All-star seiyuu cast with many of them in absolute top flight. One of the best group performances I've heard.

The bad: (most of these relate to execution)

Animation. Better than the first series... still really subpar.
Music. Half-decent soundtrack by Kawai... certainly not anywhere near his best work, and on a few occassions the choice of music didn't fit the scene.
Atmosphere. No where near as well executed as the first series. Strangely inconsistent at times, which is odd since it was so dense and completely absorbing in the first series.
Horror. The really creepy moments that we knew and loved in the first series almost completely disappeared. I'd say this series was a lot more mystery/drama compared with the first series which was a lot more mystery/horror.

Personally, I think this series was slightly better than the first, but that's because I have huge respect and admiration for the way the script answered all the questions. That was one of the few thing that frustrated me in the first series: that it ended with so many unanswered questions (I was almost certain there would never be a sequel after I saw the first series), but this series really fixed that nicely and deserves all the credit for the answers. But, with the lack of creepy Higurashi moments that defined the first series, I can totally understand where people who preferred the original are coming from.

In conclusion: Higurashi Kai: A+ script, questionable execution.

8/10: Very Good.

angel.shade

2008-01-02, 22:26

The solutions to big mysteries are usually disappointing as people tend to either be pissed they got it wrong or think it was a too easy mystery, or that the writer cheated them by not giving enough clues. I for one was happy that I got the mastermind right but quite a few details bugged me.

I actually guessed Takano was a little fishy from the first time she spoke. Studio DEEN gave her the Teen Queen voice type, the kind you usually hear in shoujo romance anime coming from the lips of the villain-girl. Takano's voice just drips with such disdain and condescension that it's almost impossible to not realize she's up to no good. =p

Edit: I was actually very satisfied with the plotline of Higurashi. Reality-twisting stories really are some of my favorites. I just thought the story would have played out better considering the core plot if it had been darker, more violent and visceral throughout.

gaguri

2008-01-03, 05:49

The second season has become far more tamed than the first.

The biggest problem I had with the second was its lack of tension. And I'm not talking just about tension from mystery or thriller moments, but the dramatic tension that develops within and between characters. In the first season, there are two powers that are at work inside each character; one is trying to manipulate fear and turn it into a raging demon, and the other is trying to believe in their friends no matter how suspicious they are, or how hopeless the outcome may be. Season 1 masterfully executed this, jumping from seemingly innocent mood to the frightening horror that lurks under it...until the evil finally overwhelms the good. Look at Shion's arc. She is constantly in a great torment, because she wants to protect Satoko for Satoshi's sake, and she wants to believe in her sister, and she wants to spare Keichi because she likes him in many ways. But she is constantly confronted by visions, hallucinations, and at the end defeated by the syndrome, because she lacked the strength and belief in her friends. I think that's what made her defeat more terrifying and sad at the same time.

In season 2, there is no conflict in this sense (well, majority of the second half anyway) because the characters have already won. As Rika said before, it doesn't matter if they reached a BAD END when they all died, because they all united together and believed in each other. They have already won. There were tension developed throughout here and there, like the friends trying to win Satoko's trust (the phone call scene) or Keichi calming Shion's murderous rage down. But other than that, most of the drama came from 'will they succeed or will they not' rather than 'will the character finally open up and believe in each other, or will he go crazy and kill everyone'.

So that's how I saw them as two different type of dramas. And you're right, maybe it's just that I'm liking the first type better than the second, and neither is necessarily superior to each other.

I also think the directing in season 1 is superior. The way they built up suspense when Shion was leading Rika to the kitchen before the bloody battle, or the way Rena (and Shion/Mion) slipped in and out of innocent and murderous mood...I'd have say they were top notch. And the fact that season one shouldn't really be blamed for lack of explanations, since they were all explained in the second season. Story of season 1 and 2 essentially need each other to stand solid and talking about one without linking to another should be avoided.

I still think this season is a very good one though, for reasons already stated before.

angel.shade

2008-01-04, 01:08

I agree with the above post which put forth my issues with Kai more eloquently than I have been able to.

It was never about KILLER LOLIS or pointless gore. It was about mood, atmosphere and tension. It was that anxious feeling when you KNEW someone was about to go Oyashiro-sama on a mofo.

Kai's worlds just felt way too damn easy after the difficulty of the previous worlds, and there weren't a whole lot of moments that really disturbed me in Kai, except perhaps for the early life of Miyoko, and that was more sad than truly disturbing on a level akin to the outcome of Meakashi-hen.

After all the characters have been put through, they may deserve a happy ending, but I still think it should have been more difficult than that. Also the Yamainu are the worst special-forces unit ever formed.

Liddo-kun

2008-01-04, 11:04

Animation Quality: 8
Voice Actors: 10
Script: 7
Editing: 7
Emotional Involvement: 8

Total = 8

Have been following Higurashi since last year, and I would have to say it was quite a ride. From the horror and darkness of season 1 to the hope and light of season 2. It all patched up into one good ending - and I mean good!

For the animation I don't have complaints, I've seen far worse animation in other animes.

How was it so easy for 6 children to defeat an entire gang of special forces units in the mountains? - it's like a scene from one of those disney movies where kids win against adults. :uhoh:

shuin0120

2008-01-04, 12:25

I just finished the season 2 (marathon in 1 day >_< ) my impression of this anime in overall was excellent the story, animation, voice actors and directors are really good and it was satisfying ending (overall there are no dead and everyone cooperate each others including Hanyuu).

This anime is one of promising story so it is ok to have a season 3 :D I will look forward to it.

angel.shade

2008-01-04, 14:39

How was it so easy for 6 children to defeat an entire gang of special forces units in the mountains? - it's like a scene from one of those disney movies where kids win against adults. :uhoh:

That was by far the worst part of the ending to me. It felt like a sick mockery after everything the characters have been through, not to have a serious and epic ending, but instead that comedic abortion.

MarthX

2008-01-04, 15:05

Actually, Satoko does nearly all of the work and it's been said all series that's she good at making traps. She said if she got serious she could take down an entire army... well she wasn't kidding. You shouldn't think of Satoko as a mere child because her trap making skills are beyond that. I'm also tired of people tossing around the word "special force." The Yamainu are just a counter-intelligence group. You make it sound like they're trained for this kind of thing, which is not the case. In all previous worlds, the Yamainu did everything at their own pace with the element of surprise. In Matsuribayashi, Operation 48 hours forced them to act off their pace and without the element of surprise. They lured them into a mountain full of traps that Satoko created throughout the years. They didn't stand a chance.

The problem with the anime was how silly they portrayed Satoko's traps. They're supposed to be serious and life threatening. These aren't just any child's traps. And because of how silly the traps look, it makes it hard to grasp Satoko's skill. Everybody still thinks of her as a child.

angel.shade

2008-01-04, 18:03

She is a child, though. While children that young can occasionally be extraordinarily talented, what strikes me as ridiculous is that the Yamainu were numerous, and they had guns. It doesn't really matter if they were just spies (which they were) and not a hardcore killer military unit. A person with a gun has a massive advantage over someone without a gun.

I can buy the Yamainu getting creeped out by the Oyashiro-sama deal, especially after living in Hinamizawa for so long and being exposed to the superstitions and legends, but what I don't get is why all their guns are either paperweights or mysteriously absent.

And yeah I agree that they downplayed the lethal nature of Satoko's traps. Considering the history of the series I find this strange too. They had no problem showing people messily murdered and tortured to death, but they display her traps as something from a Wile E. Coyote cartoon, when her traps were much more deadly, akin to the traps used in the first Rambo movie.

I think it would have been much less harmful to the whole suspension of disbelief that is so important to fiction if the Banken had done the dirty work of removing their errant comrades rather than the kids. In past worlds, the Yamainu were efficient and even managed to kill trained law enforcement personnel. It just really kind of breaks the immersion when you see a reasonably skilled group of armed adults taken out by a bunch of kids, scary voices on a radio and some holes in the ground.

MarthX

2008-01-04, 18:09

A person with a gun has a massive advantage over someone without a gun.

Having a gun is irrelevant if they're unable to locate their targets on the mountain. What are you going to do, shoot blindly into the trees and hope you hit something? Everybody was being sneaky. If you recall, in Minagoroshi everything was going fine while they were being sneaky. It's only when they attacked head-on that Keiichi got shot and everything fell apart.

gaguri

2008-01-04, 18:54

I'm sorry but that scene just looked way out there for my taste too. Omg it's ghost waaa. Comon. Do you know why Home Alone 3 (the film) was funny? Because a bunch of professional thieves were obliviated by a bunch of traps set by a little kid. Except it doesn't work here because the mood is supposed to be tense and dramatic, it really was one trash scene. Like I said before, it was less of a psychological battle and more of action between the forces of good and evil. Although Takano still manages to keep it interesting to the end.

Klashikari

2008-01-04, 19:12

Just some food for thought: I'm surprised that "deadly traps" are still watered down just because they were made by some children...
The fact the anime executed these scenes ridiculously or not isn't the problem here, but rather how the word "child" is so sticky.
Would you actually make fun of these children stuck in guerilla? They are using same weapons than some adults, but the threat of a kalashnikov is lessened a lot just because of the age of the user?

What is actually dangerous is the weapon itself. The user merely determine how well it can be used that's all.
If we happen to give 10 years more to Satoko, it would be quite funny that much less people would actually rant about "traps owning some military forces" (and you know that would happen).
On a more serious note, children aren't stuck in this image of "game, carefreeness, etc.".

Using this argument to bash this scene is irrelevant. I won't question how badly done it was shown (as MarthX and other people already repeated a lot of times that DEEN screwed a lot the traps looks and some setup), but it is quite going in circle with the same flaw argument as "child are joke, so traps like this can never do that".

[/end of rant + off topic]

I believe this looping discussion should end once for all as it is going in circle over and over, and people obviously won't have a common agreement on wherever "X" was good or right.
Buf if you still insist, please go back in episode 23 thread (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=59195) instead. This thread doesn't have the purpose to discuss "how traps in episode 23 were bad", but overview of the second season. If the second season is summaried by this peculiar scene, I think something is very wrong then.

Benny1

2008-01-04, 21:43

Oh, cool, this thread popped up.

Though certainly, this season succeded in doing a higher quality recreation of the source material, I believe this is where it's success ends. However, this is just because I am not a fan of Minagoroshi-hen and Matsuribayashi-hen. They just do not fit. Why should the show change from a beautiful mystery, horror, and just sheer amazing experience, into this action packed piece of WHAT. There is simply no reason that suddenly these two worlds end up perfectly. They just DO. Yes, I know Berkanstel visits Akasaka and all. I don't care. It's a very cop out ending.

Minagoroshi-hen begins to fail already when everybody starts to remember everything. No, they don't remember as clearly as Keiichi does in the epic Tsumihoroboshi-hen scene where he remembers killing Rena and Mion. But, just, all effect is lost when suddenly it's happening to everybody. I was absoultely in shock when Keiichi remembers in Tsumihoroboshi-hen. However, in Minagoroshi-hen, it turns into whoops somebody else is remember something that will make us inevitably avoid a disaster! Wow! I started to lose interest. Keiichi pulling everybody together was easy to get tired of. Certainly it was nice to see Teppei overcome, but the process was not satisfying. The ending is standard fare. Everybody dies. I was happy to hear the old main theme arranged into piano when Keiichi died, though. That was pretty. Oh well nothing else important.

Takano and Friends was important background which dragged if you knew it like I did, but this isn't any fault. It could perhaps have been placed better, or maybe could have been shortened some, but it's the way it was in the game, I guess. No complaints here, except for the fact it has completely removed the mystery which was one of the single most pulling factors of the first season. Whoops, suddenly, we're looking at some kind of action show! Tomitake fighting people on cars! Random bs! Wars with gunz and stuff, yo! What the heck is this doing in Higurashi? I don't know! Whatever. Hanyuu standing up to Takano with the bullet and all was awesome, and seeing Takano FINALLY break down and cry was perhaps something finally ending. I like that scene, it's well done. How it comes about is a train-wreck.

And thus,
Animation Quality: 8. It was good most of the way, save for the end. It got bad then.
Voice Actors: 10. They really did their job. In particular, I love Takano's VA to death.
Script: 3. Sorry.
Emotional Involvement: 3. I was bored. A few good scenes in a pile of boring garbage.

Overall: 4.5/10. I dislike it heavily and personally recommend a fan of the first season to pretend this does not exist. Nothing on the level of the final climax of Tsumihoroboshi-hen. Can you imagine Keiichi's shock when he realizes he has killed Mion and Rena? I think the manga does it pretty well.

angel.shade

2008-01-04, 21:58

words about higurashi kai

You seem to be a bit offended by it all. =p

I agree with almost all of what you said, but I still enjoyed Kai. Just not "OMGLOVED" it like I did season one. Season one caused me to go to work two days in a row on two hours of sleep each. Kai was more like when I remembered to watch it, but it wasn't painful by any means.

Except maybe the ending... but that's a horse that's been beaten to death.

I'd give the entire series an 8 out of 10 and Kai a 6.5-7/10.

MarthX

2008-01-04, 22:55

A mystery isn't very good if it doesn't have an answer. Let's not have Higurashi like LOST where it drags its mysteries on forever without ever giving you solid answers.

Sorrow-K

2008-01-05, 07:49

It's very rare to get decent answers in anime mystery. Anime mystery tend to have the attitude that the initial questions (in other words, trying to get the audience intrigued) are far more important that putting respectable answers to those questions. Answers in anime tend to be either underwhelming (Noir) or not really well thought through (Myself; Yourself). And that's in those cases where we get them at all (Fate/Stay Night, Touka Gettan, hell, pick a mystery anime at random, it'll almost certainly have unanswered questiosn).

That's why Higurashi Kai is such a breath of fresh air in that respect.

angel.shade

2008-01-05, 10:46

A mystery isn't very good if it doesn't have an answer. Let's not have Higurashi like LOST where it drags its mysteries on forever without ever giving you solid answers.

Eh, there's nothing wrong with Higurashi's "answer." The conclusion of the mystery is fine. There's everything wrong with how damn easy it suddenly became--with Takano, once so strong and confident, suddenly becoming an ineffectual limp dick of a villain and the Yamainu getting their asses kicked by a bunch of kids, and all the comedic-action sequences that just totally destroyed the dark, moody, serious atmosphere the series had going for it.

I'm of the opinion that if Higurashi had a "bad ending" it would have worked with the story pretty well.

Benny1

2008-01-05, 10:47

Honestly, I still believe a good deal of the answer is obtainable even from the questionable season 1. Or at least, most of the main details. If you somehow got the significance of the syringes, and the disease and all, kudos to you. However, one thing is made very obvious in season 1: Takano is the villan. This is simply the key detail, and though it might be difficult to fully get everything from this, the military takeover in arc 3 shows something is wrong quite easily, and from the inconsistancy of the Sonozaki families actions (Mion constantly claims to be able to do nothing but also do a lot with the curse) show a lot of what you think is going on is just a lie.

It is nice to see Rika and friends get a good end, I just think Ryukishi07 wrote himself into a corner.

Proto

2008-01-05, 12:24

Eh, there's nothing wrong with Higurashi's "answer." The conclusion of the mystery is fine. There's everything wrong with how damn easy it suddenly became--with Takano, once so strong and confident, suddenly becoming an ineffectual limp dick of a villain and the Yamainu getting their asses kicked by a bunch of kids, and all the comedic-action sequences that just totally destroyed the dark, moody, serious atmosphere the series had going for it.

Takano's success was a mirror of the old saying "A succesful career comes from a string of little successful events". Her confidence came that all his plans were carried out with the precision of a Bach fugue. Exact, rhytmic, every passage was the logical continuation of the previous one . You can also see from the pieces that she is quick to lose confidence and become depressed when things don't go her way, as what was happening moments before her first meeting with Nomura (not to mention she was borderline lvl 5 ATM). The series of failures that started to take place in Matsuribayashi undermined her confidence and the stability of her planning, and her natural inability to improvise surfaced. I don't really see how that is off character.

BakaOnna

2008-01-05, 12:25

And that's probably why he wrote Miotsukushi-hen. Because people disliked the way everything happened so easily with Matsuribuyashi-hen. Of course, then fans may still complain. :rolleyes:

Hopefully it'll get animated in season 3.

Matrim

2008-01-05, 12:31

seeing Takano FINALLY break down and cry was perhaps something finally ending. I like that scene, it's well done. How it comes about is a train-wreck.

Amen.

Eh, there's nothing wrong with Higurashi's "answer." The conclusion of the mystery is fine. There's everything wrong with how damn easy it suddenly became--with Takano, once so strong and confident, suddenly becoming an ineffectual limp dick of a villain and the Yamainu getting their asses kicked by a bunch of kids, and all the comedic-action sequences that just totally destroyed the dark, moody, serious atmosphere the series had going for it.

What he said. I cannot fathom how anyone could feel any tension whatsoever in the final episodes, even my cat would have guessed that no one would be hurt and there would be an utterly and totally happy end.

It is nice to see Rika and friends get a good end, I just think Ryukishi07 wrote himself into a corner.

He(?) sure did.

As for Takano, once someone mentioned that the mastermind was one of the characters we have seen quite often in the anime - well, no one was even close in fishyness to Takano, so she was an obvious choice. That said, by anime standards it was an awesome mystery, even though you had to rely so much on tips and other pieces not present in the anime itself.

I love Takano's VA to death.

Good, I thought I was the only one who did that. ;)

Proto

2008-01-05, 12:43

As for Takano, once someone mentioned that the mastermind was one of the characters we have seen quite often in the anime - well, no one was even close in fishyness to Takano, so she was an obvious choice.

Before the answer arcs you could fall into the obvious mislead and think the Sonozaki's were the masters of all what is evil :p

Still, one way to explain the overcoming of Rule X in the final chapters would be the eventual reward the characters get after their continuous learning, even if it was a painful trial and error, in every world. Every character close to Rika having an inconcious, inherited, weak yet accumulated experience. Cheesy and convenient? Yes, but then again world resets are as well. That was you can just blame quantics physics and the messy multiverses it introduces or something akin.

angel.shade

2008-01-05, 14:20

Takano's actually a good antagonist type. The problem wasn't that she broke down--adding a human element to an evil character is always a welcome thing. The problem was that she started losing it a little too soon, and her loss of control became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Had she been able to hold together and rely more on her own abilities and less on the totally useless Yamainu, she might have won.

Also, I actually did think Oryou was behind it all for a while, especially during Watanagashi-hen and Meakashi-hen. But Takano's creepy-condescending voice just told me that she was up to no good. I was a little disappointed when the Sonozaki family turned out NOT to be the enemy. Oryou is a damn awesome antagonist.

And I too have much love for Takano's voice actress.

Matrim

2008-01-05, 15:12

The most damning evidence against Takano is the burning of "her" body - there is no need to do that with a convenient swamp around and the body was found out too often to be a random, one in a thousand, error by the evil guys.

Takano's actually a good antagonist type. The problem wasn't that she broke down--adding a human element to an evil character is always a welcome thing. The problem was that she started losing it a little too soon, and her loss of control became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Very true.

You can also see from the pieces that she is quick to lose confidence and become depressed when things don't go her way

She was calm and cool as the Snow Queen in ep.13, though, despite the protagonists managing to overpower several of the Yamainu.

angel.shade

2008-01-05, 15:59

I think she was in absolute top form in #13. Things were not going her way but she kept her cool and adapted to the situation quite smoothly.

Not to mention whoever designed her "villain" costume is awesome. Her character design upon assuming her "Major Takano" persona is great.

Proto

2008-01-05, 16:36

I think she was in absolute top form in #13. Things were not going her way but she kept her cool and adapted to the situation quite smoothly.

I think there is a difference between the guinea pig is bitting back a little and the guinea pig is no longer there though :heh:

Hareoic

2008-01-05, 17:18

And that's probably why he wrote Miotsukushi-hen. Because people disliked the way everything happened so easily with Matsuribuyashi-hen.
If Miotsukushi-hen ends the way I think it does, people will be even angrier.

Benny1

2008-01-05, 22:42

Yes. To be honest, from what I have heard, Miotsukushi-hen is basically him saying you want it? Well here it is.

Sterling01

2008-01-05, 22:51

Yes. To be honest, from what I have heard, Miotsukushi-hen is basically him saying you want it? Well here it is.
I sometimes think of Miotsukushi-hen as The End of Eva... I mean Higurashi.

I really don't know why I do though

angel.shade

2008-01-05, 22:53

I sometimes think of Miotsukushi-hen as The End of Eva... I mean Higurashi.

I really don't know why I do though

Because it's a more eff'd-up alternate ending, just like EoE was for NGE? Except the original #25-26 in NGE was horribad while the Higurashi Kai ending was not (just had some issues).

You aren't the only one who made the correlation!

SirusRiddler

2008-01-06, 01:44

The final line cut from the episode:

Takano: Kimochiwarui...

FlareKnight

2008-01-06, 01:58

Oh well maybe I can be labeled as being too simple. But after watching these characters struggle and die for so long I was hoping they'd find a way to get out of it alive. Thus when they did I was ok with that.

Do have complete respect for Satoko's ability to create traps that can cause serious damage. Thanks to Klashikari's blog and the tips that especially hit home.

Kazuki_Kun

2008-01-06, 02:32

Answers are never as satisfying as the questions would lead you to believe; and some of the ways the answers were exceted aren't too great.

Also, at some points, Matsubayashi seemed sickeningly sweet, a total opposite from the first season. I enjoyed the first season in a way for the mix of horror, realism and mystery, in season 2 it all seemed too happy-ish for my tastes, gone was the depressive side ( minues dark Rika and an odd few scenes) and everyone seemed happy-go-lucky . (Also, was I the only one who thought things like the log rolling yamainu thing from episode 23 was way too over the top?, and the Rena and K1 'YAYY' bit.) x_x

That aside, I love all the characters so much <3

gaguri

2008-01-06, 07:42

I don't know if this has been mentioned before (since I haven't been following any discussion threads before this) but I think I heard Higurashi cry exactly once in the entire second season (compared to numerous times in season 1 where it set that brooding mood). Which is also bit inappropriate I thought, since it cried at the last episode (I think?). Whatever that means.

Klashikari

2008-01-06, 08:00

That's the complete opposite: the higurashi has the symbol of ephemeral life and such, lively during summer etc.
The lack of these cry is sign of change but obviously how things go farther than before in the previous arcs.
The cry were still done in several instances in S2, especially in Minagoroshi-hen for obvious reasons.

gaguri

2008-01-06, 08:39

Didn't sound at all like ephemeral life in season one though. Whatever it traditionally means, they clearly intended it to foreshadow a relentlessly approaching horror. Never mind then.

angel.shade

2008-01-06, 13:29

I think DEEN probably overused the cicada cry in the first season because it sounds foreboding and creepy.

Not nearly as whacked out as the twisted, clanging white noise from Silent Hill, but close. =p

Liddo-kun

2008-01-07, 04:47

Didn't sound at all like ephemeral life in season one though. Whatever it traditionally means, they clearly intended it to foreshadow a relentlessly approaching horror. Never mind then.

Got to agree with this, the cicadas' cry fit in perfectly on season 1's creepy atmosphere.
Like it's saying that hidden under all the cheerfulness there's something evil going on.

Either it's overused in S1 or there isn't much creepiness left in S2 so it's barely used.

Mint Kashiro

2008-01-07, 14:28

I fell in love with Higurashi, and Kai was simply amazing to me. The ending felt almost too easy, so I hope the 'true end' gets animated. Even then, there was a deep emotional involvement with it for me, mostly with the 'fight against fate' and even Takano's 'fight against god'. (There are personal reasons for this, though.)

Mion and Shion Sonozaki are easily my favorites. At first, it was only because Mion reminded me of one of my own characters, Mint Kashiro (<- avatar), but that turned out to be almost only appearance-wise as the plot started to reveal itself. And I found it hard to not fall in love with Shion, and found the two twins easy to identify with.

Gah... I really have to change my avatar for this forum sometime. XD; (threw this together at school without any tools because I needed one)

angel.shade

2008-01-07, 16:41

The best thing about the second season was, without a doubt, Kasai.

There is no bigger badass in all of Higurashi than Kasai.

Also, DEEN used the cicada cry in Season 1 in much the same way Resident Evil uses distant zombie moans, random thumps and other noises heard in the mansion, and how Silent Hill uses distorted white noise and mechanical clanging, shrieks and screams in the background...

... to make you freak out if you play/watch it in the dark!

Keiichi no Hibi

2008-01-09, 14:55

The best thing about the second season was, without a doubt, Kasai.

There is no bigger badass in all of Higurashi than Kasai.

I think Akasaka could probably take him, honestly.

angel.shade

2008-01-10, 16:47

I think Akasaka could probably take him, honestly.

Akasaka vs. Kasai, no holds barred, last man standing... would be impossibly metal. =O

Liddo-kun

2008-01-11, 00:43

I think Akasaka could probably take him, honestly.

My bet would be on Akasaka on this one, Kasai was only tough because he's armed with a shotgun.

This might be a bit off-topic, but on the Higurashi Daybreak 3d fighting game for the P.C. Akasaka has a move similar to the punch he used on the Yamainu's van - takes off almost 1/2 the opponent's lifebar.

angel.shade

2008-01-11, 05:06

My bet would be on Akasaka on this one, Kasai was only tough because he's armed with a shotgun.

No dude Kasai was badass because he was so cool and composed at all times. You could ice a six-pack of beer on his head during a crisis.

Akasaka on the other hand was just a borderline pedo with too much of a crush on Rika... >>;

Edit: this is the wrong thread for this.

Liddo-kun

2008-01-11, 05:27

No dude Kasai was badass because he was so cool and composed at all times. You could ice a six-pack of beer on his head during a crisis.

Akasaka on the other hand was just a borderline pedo with too much of a crush on Rika... >>;

My last thoughts on Akasaka vs. Kasai since it's going off-topic.

Akasaka - came back to help Rika because Rika's prophecy saved his wife (he did not come back for pedo reasons), repaying a debt inspite of the danger is the trait of a real man imo. Plus he's tough - able to take on 5 Yamainu all by himself.

Kasai - being calm when they rescued Dr. Irie, volunteering to stay behind when the Yamainu assaulted the Torture chamber - he has good points too.

If they're going to fight however, Kasai (without a weapon) is sure to lose to Akasaka.
Because Akasaka knows Martial arts while Kasai has no hand to hand combat training.

Ichihara Asako

2008-01-14, 00:35

I just got around to finishing this, finally. I wasn't actively following it as it aired, because it's the kind of series best binged (lesson learned from S1) so I watched it all over the weekend.

Overall, I enjoyed it more than the first season, I think. Especially Hanyuu. She's adorable, and finally kind of explained why Rika was... well, the way she was. And all of the characters had some nice development, for that matter.

The animation lets it down in some areas (as with the first season) but overall I think it's an excellent series. I'm not sure where they're gonna be taking S3 though... as this concluded really nicely. But then so did Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori, and they're doing an S3 of that too... >.<

BanditKing

2008-01-23, 11:01

Eryops

2008-01-23, 16:15

Just finish watching the Kai in one go and like it quite a bit but watching Matsuribayashi i can't help but feel keiichi is no long needed.Even if hes not in there i think Rika can go through it quite fine with the others seeing how most of the event is already set for her.Seeing how he was important in Minagoroshi then turning nothing more but a small sidekick in Matsuribayashi was quite disappointed.
Since he already had his chance to shine in the previous arc, I don't think it was unreasonable to focus more on other characters in this one.

Though I very interest about piece 52 info I wonder how well rika will take it if Akasaka was seduced by Takano and went to her side.Massive Massacre-hen?
Don't worry; Akasaka is immune (http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4543/026wk0.jpg) to Takano's charms. :)

MarthX

2008-01-23, 23:42

Akasaka prefers DFC

Terrestrial Dream

2008-01-24, 19:05

Gave it a 7, could have given a 6 but I though it was injustice to the early part of the show. I really thought the beginning was great and it was great when they revealed that Takano Miyo was the villian and well after that I thought it would be all about hating Takano and trying to get revenge on her. But the writer did something that I thought was very impressive, they gave a reason to pity Takano by showing her past. Then came the final arc, which sucked. I thought it would be great but it was just too perfect, as in everything went right for Rika and her friend. Everyone lived even Satoshi, so it was really boring and anticlimactic at the ending. No suspense what so ever, so many damn plot hole and what made it worse was the ruined potential for the ending.

MarthX

2008-01-24, 20:04

What plot holes?

Terrestrial Dream

2008-01-24, 21:20

What plot holes? Well I maybe be nip picking here, but first when those Rika were being taken away Akasaka came and how he beat all those guys so easily. I don't know that really felt weird, because Akasaka in the original didn't had that kind of strength but suddenly he beat like 10guys like nothing. Also this I think is kinda of nip picking also, after they got beat why didn't they just ran over Akasaka with a car or something. Then there are the traps around the last episode, which seemed to be something that can't be made in one day. Though I think this show was good, but last arc really ruined it for me.

Klashikari

2008-01-24, 21:29

Well I maybe be nip picking here, but first when those Rika were being taken away Akasaka came and how he beat all those guys so easily. I don't know that really felt weird, because Akasaka in the original didn't had that kind of strength but suddenly he beat like 10guys like nothing. Also this I think is kinda of nip picking also, after they got beat why didn't they just ran over Akasaka with a car or something. Then there are the traps around the last episode, which seemed to be something that can't be made in one day. Though I think this show was good, but last arc really ruined it for me.
You didn't check the episode thread i guess.
1. First Akasaka was quite the rookie at that period, and faced enemies he didn't expect to be that strong, especially that his objective was to retrieve and protect the kid. Hence, he didn't aim for the guys and got owned quite early.
Akasaka then got experience and training for 5 years.
(using the "original" is very misleading, as it refers the game. 1st season is arguably less faithful than Kai)
2. They ran away because Shion and Akasaka arrived, armed.
3. We already explained in the episode thread that the club members went on that area on purpose because that area was Satoko's childhood playfield, where she set tons of traps during the YEARS.
That's why Okonogi though they were doomed because the area was at their advantage, but they didn't know the forest was in fact the best place for the club members to retaliate

There isn't little to no plothole. granted, the execution is obviously discutable. But the script (as it should NOT be confused with execution) doesn't have any plothole (until someone want to argue again with hanyuu).

Rayneing

2008-01-25, 03:12

Kaeso

2008-02-11, 03:58

Really liked the 2nd season it awnsered a lot of questions from the 1st, and set up some new ones as well (what did Shion whisper to Keiichi?) the story was amazing, and the voice acting was very good as well, the animation seemed a little lacking in places, and i loved how Rika was explained more. felt the part about Satoko could have been shortened a bit, even though it was important. defiantly an emotional show, just like the 1st season loved it and hope to see more =)

Rayneing

2008-02-11, 04:08

Er, you did watch the scene at the end of episode 22, right? You do know episodes 14-24 all have scenes after the credits, right? You can see what Shion whispered to Keiichi there.

Rising Star

2008-02-28, 18:09

The second series was cool, very cool! If there is gonna be a series 3 then I'm very excited.
It's been a wonderful series and I really am still begging for more :(
I'll give it a 9/10, losing a point because out of all the shows greatness there was a element which gave series 1 a 10/10 In my opinion and it was missing in series 2 and that is - there wasn't really any horror. Where the hell was it higurashi? =0
I mean compared to the first series, the first series was creepy!
The characters we're great- some better than other.
Even though she was the villian I had a soft spot for Tanako, from seeing her in child form and what she went through, it sure made me feel sorry for her in a way.
Rika, Rena, everyone was great!
And for the record Akasaka and Kasai can kick some ass! XD

I realised there was less gore in this series 2 too I'm not gonna say that was a negative thing though mind.

LifeILL

2008-03-11, 15:58

Okay, I am surprised to see that SO many people value season 1 much more than season 2.

I have never played the game, read the manga, or anything and I can still tell that they left out stuff in Season 1. In Season 1, it was rocky, inconsistent, choppy, and on the whole it looked like remains of a large meal you ate, although a very good meal.

What I'm saying is that Season 1, to me, did not flow well AT ALL. Yes, I loved the horror/craziness aspect of season 1 (who didn't?), but I thought this was the ONLY aspect that season 1 prevailed in. The light-hearted moments/ the filler moments/ the dialogue are nowhere on the same level as season 2. There were times when I just hated the comedy stuff, the characters playing games, wasting time, repeating the same events over and over again. It seemed really cliche and the good stuff didn't until madness sets in. It's like you have to go through all the muddled filler first to get to the really good stuff.

Also, I thought the presentations of the characters were a little off at times. Sometimes a certain character would go nuts while another time they will just remain calm and quiet. It just bugged the heck out of me. So Season 1 was just mostly mediocre.

Yes, I do realize that Higurashi has a really good story, really high creepiness factor, but I thought that they just weren't presented as well as it should have (especially the story part). So I would only give Season 1 a 5 or maybe 6 out of 10.

I realized that Higurashi was so much more than just horror/creepy stuff, but if the other parts aren't presented well, then what's the point really?

Season 2, however, was a completely different story. It seemed to have corrected every single mistake in Season 1, you feel that the characters are way more fleshed out, feels more human, acts more rational, more mature. And I love the shift in main character from K to Rika. And I love how they just threw K to the side (There were many times where I would forget that he even existed) and focused on other characters instead. It just felt more rich.

And the most important part was that the stortytelling (or at least the presentation) improved dramatically. Season 2's Higurashi has one of the best stories I have ever seen in any anime. They toned down a lot of the comedy (all the ecchi/moe stuff for some reason just felt IMPORTANT and necessary here, unlike in Season 1 where they were there for fanservice only it seems), the gore is also toned down, but the story felt more serious this time around, just more tragic and more to relate to. I just loved how consistent it was, every episode was just as good as the rest, even the "fillers", there was rarely a moment wasted in Season 2. They put in so much detail, little things, little moments that we never saw in Season 1. Everything just flowed so smoothly, the pacing was absolutely perfect from a normal situation into tragedy at the end.

To me, Season 2 was something completely on its own level, almost a completely different anime. It was near flawless. I'd give it 10/10.

I thought it was infinitely better than the first season.

The thing is, if Kai was still like the first season, where they were going crazy and killing each other with horror and suspense, then really what's the point? The characters, the story wouldn't evolve at all, it would just be the same things over and over again.

Triple_R

2008-03-19, 19:19

I've just recently watched through all of Higurashi Kai, and only a week or so ago finished the original Higurashi anime for that matter. That's why I'm making my very first post on the Higurashi board only now.

Before I begin, I should state that horror, in any entertainment medium (movies, video games, anime, etc...) is one genre that I've rarely had any appreciation for. Gore for gore's sake rarely appeals to me as well, which is why I couldn't get into Elfen Lied. So, that certainly will impact my take on both of these two seasons of Higurashi, and accounts for part of my disagreement with the board concensus on the two seasons.

I do like unsolved mysteries, and an anime that feels like a good detective novel in animated format (which is why I like Death Note). For that reason, and also since Higurashi does a great job of handling psychological thriller material, and slice-of-life episodes, I did enjoy Higurashi Season 1 a fair bit.

However, Higurashi Season 2... magnificent. Truly magnificent. I perfered it to the original season myself. Here's why...

Animation Quality: 8

I have no major qualms, but no major compliments either.

Voice Actors: 10

Very well-casted anime, with strong voice-work from top to bottom.

Script: 9

Addictive, with great flow, good twists and turns, and a masterful job of fleshing out all the key characters. In fact, I think that we might have had too much of a good thing with the fleshing out of all key characters. The storyline felt a bit too much decompressed, and I felt that Takano might have been focused on a bit too much. Personally, I didn't want her to be a sympathetic villain; I wanted to route hard against whichever person was causing so much incredible grief and misery for Rika, her friends, and her community. Takano came very close to being a sympathetic villain.

All in all, I think that the 2nd season could have been cut short by 4 episodes, and be slightly improved by it.

Editing: 9

The series was very good at conveying the emotions and tragedy of Rika's situation, as well as of the situations of all the people who impacted upon her and her life. I believe that skillful editing had a lot to do with that, as the flow from one scene to another was typically superb, and the choices for backgrounds and focuses were typically wise. My only complaint is that there were a few key scenes that could have perhaps been jazzed/sparkled up a bit to carry greater impact. Still, it's a very minor nitpick.

Emotional Involvement: 10

Few animes have succeeding in making me care about the main protagonists, and their ultimate fate, as much as this one did. Part of me was dreading the end of the 2nd last arc since I knew it wouldn't end well for Rika (though the "meeting of Hanyuu and souls", and Takano's great villain laugh scene took some of the sting away from me). And the supporting cast protagonists were simply sensational.

The final arc of Higurashi Kai was probably one of the most emotionally satisfying anime arcs I've ever watched. Anime, I find, has a tendency to have poor or weak endings, but Higurashi avoided that, imo. After over a season and a half of pain and tragedy for Rika, Keiichi, Rena, Mion, Shion, and Satoka, it was truly thrilling to see the inspirational comeback against the shadowy antagonists of this series.

There's a couple things in anime that I'm a bit of a sucker for - that I'll love everytime I see it.

One is a plotline that involves a charming and likeable protagonist go through loads and loads of seemingly hopeless situations and depression to rise up and truly earn a splendidly happy ending (this is why I like Buso Renkin a lot; Mai HiME's ending doesn't fit the bill here because it didn't feel earned to me). Kazuki was that protagonist in Buso Renkin, and Rika is that protagonist now.

The other thing is well-done GAR.

Keiichi had some good GAR moments during the middle sections, but the man who really stole the show was Akasaka.

Akasaka's surprise infiltration of the Yamainu, and saving Rika from them in her moment of greatest need, with a thorough beating of the Yamainu... one of the finest scenes I've ever seen in anime. I never imagined that Higurashi could ever produce such a wonderful "cool good trounces menacing evil" gar scene, and yet it was the perfect culmination of Akasaka's character development up until that point, and Rika's often showed adoration of him. In any anime, a scene like this is sheer ecstasy to watch, but in an anime like Higurashi... truly awesome.

All in all, I give Higurashi Kai a 9.5/10 (Akasaka makes me round up ;) )

SharmistA

2008-03-25, 09:23

aldw

2008-03-26, 01:01

I do think that the story presentation of the second season was generally much stronger and cohesive than the first season, which was more horror/gore oriented, but not as tightly focused plotwise.

Klover

2008-04-08, 11:06

Well.I had seen the first season about two years ago and i wonder would they make a second season.But when i chek on the net last Year, It really seen my wish had came true.It was out.

1st season -
my friend recommanded me to watch this anime,but he only gave me 10 epi and i was surprise with the storyline .Man!It was gore and a lot of horror thing appear .I was shock and unable to sleep for the first night when i had seen the anime. I was so frightened taht someone would open my door and do me the stuff like the anime.
For season 1 , i give it 9.5/10 for quality,voice.9/10 for story. coz it have too many mysterious left behind without being solve and just call it a end with K1 chan had succesfully break the "oyashiro sama's curse"

2nd Season -
I'm happy to see Rika and the guys can break the fate and create miracle.But was upset in the first story coz they were just one more step to go .However, it was all sove in epi 26.But i still don't understand what happen in the end of 26.The girl wh look like Rika but is an adult(the one with the same cloth and haircut) appear in front of Takano Miyoko .What she say had what bussiness with Takano's parent accident , and was Takano's parent saved from the accident.It just shown that in the end Miyo pust the twenty flag into his nori and a woman who would sound like her mother call her to go to sleep.What happen.Someone please tell me.

I was completely imerse in this anime when i watch it.I coul felt that my whole body shaking when i watch it.I give 10/10 for everything.Hopefully the 3rd season would be as interesting as the 1st and 2nd season.

Oh!and the live action.Hope it won't ruin the good image of the Higurashi's character in my mind.And i do hope that they also have some bloody scene inside the movie.

Dreamiel

2008-04-08, 23:54

First post :)

I haven't play the games or whatsoever, so I dunno about all the spoilers.

In my opinion, the second season is a fresh change from the more dark and gory first season... I think it is more acceptable and refreshing because of that, and eventhough the last episodes are a bit cheesy, it goes well because I have been drowning in blood in the first season :P lol...

Anyway, 9/10 from me, should be perfect 10 but the animation quality takes the one :( GJ nevertheless, an enjoyable anime (along with the prequel)

It was cheesy because the anime was deprived of the drama of Miotsukushi-Hen, and got stuck with Matsuribayashi's ending. I didn't like how they ended season 2, and we can only hope that season 3 will be: Saikoroshi- ?- Onisarashi- ?-Miotsukushi.

oompa loompa

2008-04-18, 05:01

when i first heard of higurashi, i did a bit of research, general summaries and peoples ratings. the show seemed to have tremendous appeal, and seemed like something so completely different. however, (i couldnt actually get down to watching the show because i suffer from severe anime addiction once i get into a show, and i had my finals going on at that time) when i heard that the second season had nothing of the gore or horror of the first season, i really began to wonder whether it would be worth it. i mean, wasnt the whole appeal of higurashi the gore and the shock? the first season satisfied all my expectations, particularly the first four episodes, i was ready for it, but it hit me like a hammer. the ending was cheesy, but the last scene was wonderful.
On to Kai. i thought my worst fears would come true and i would be extremely dissapointed.

now, after watching the whole of the second season, i can confidently say that higurashi is one of the best animes i have ever watched. the second season if anything, surpassed the first. the message that fate can be crushed was put out very strongly, especially in the last scene of the credits, while it might have seemed insignificant, rikas time travel (? this is what im assuming it to be, to change takanos past) just shows this exactly

as much as i hate to admit , it was one of the few shows that really really had me choking up, despite the severe lack of romance, and the fact that it was a happy ending. everything came together beautifully.

Adding to my appreciation of the show is the mystery itself ( how could i have forgotten that? ) the mystery itself was brilliant, how all the loose ends are tied up in such a logical manner, and most importantly the fact that most of the events determined by 'fate' were not supernatural, but rather by human device.

The only thing lacking is animation quality in a few places. All in all a wonderful wonderful show, im not sure what theyll put in the 3rd season, but bring it on.

9.5/10 , its been my privilige to watch this show :)

EDIT:

and as a question, for more experienced higurashi-ites does higurashi have rewatch value? i thought it was incredible, but since it is a mystery and all... anyone have any experience with this?

Klashikari

2008-04-18, 08:21

and as a question, for more experienced higurashi-ites does higurashi have rewatch value? i thought it was incredible, but since it is a mystery and all... anyone have any experience with this?
If you change your "expectation" on the rewatch, it worth it actually.

Sicne you know everything, when rewatching, you will get a specific and comfortable position to understand completely the situations and feel empathic etc to certains scenes which were kinda "meh" without prior knowledge (such like Rena's desperate attempts to reason keiichi in onikakushi, which weren't quite possible to get before Tsumihoroboshi).

Eryops

2008-04-18, 12:11

If you change your "expectation" on the rewatch, it worth it actually.

Sicne you know everything, when rewatching, you will get a specific and comfortable position to understand completely the situations and feel empathic etc to certains scenes which were kinda "meh" without prior knowledge (such like Rena's desperate attempts to reason keiichi in onikakushi, which weren't quite possible to get before Tsumihoroboshi).
It's also interesting to catch or realize the significance of things that you had missed the first time you watched it. You can see for example Okonogi driving one of the Yamainu's vans and visiting the school in Tsumihoboroshi-hen. In the first watching one wouldn't have realized he was more than a background character.

Bou

2008-04-19, 07:14

Have just finishd this series, a very well done series.

Much better than 1st season in quality but I only give it a 9/10 because of the boring Takano's past part, I thought it was a little boring.

Popsicle

2008-04-22, 23:36

Animation Quality: 8
Voice Actors: 10
Script: 9
Editing: 10
Emotional Involvement: 10

I liked Kai, although I like the first season better. I love how at certain parts in the anime I was like "NO DON'T KILL HER ("her" referring to more then one of the girls in Higurashi Kai)! T_T" I didn't want to see what happened next sometimes. I got so addicted to watching this.. I was up late. Takano's past part was a little boring, I still enjoyed it, I felt bad for Takano.. she went through some terrible stuff.

Taricitous

2008-05-14, 05:34

I liked Kai, although I like the first season better exact same thoughts i gave this series a 7 althought it may deserve better, i wont be leaving specific ratings since i have no experience on the in-depth matters, my opinion on season 1 is alot better then season 2 due to the fact that there was uncertainty and suprising plots in season 1, however season 2 pulls it most of it together nicely. i never understood the overwhelming craze that Shion had for Satoshi, the guy didnt make much impact on her from my point of view in comparison to Keiichi
i thought season was needed but didnt 'shine' as much as season 1 did due to the fact that it was to reveal the 'answers' which pretty much answered in season 1 except for the end of the never-ending loop, other then that, the memories of the deeds done by the main characters was already shown in season 1, however it may be a overly bias opinion since i had suspiousion of Takano from the very once arc the way she talks just aint right and it ended been cleared up :)
it was obivious that the character's once attempt would end in vein also (hence preditable) just disliked how each of them was hunted down.
In the last arc, i really didnt understand why Shion was left out till the day of the festival and why they brought Shion in the arc before hand (since she never attended the same school) the sudden inclusion of Shion from a side-factor role (wasnt part of the club) then suddenly droping her again.
The series ended (so-far) with a happy ending but truth be told that however it ended it would be satisfying since it is Higurashi (thumbs up)

Going off-topic a little:
Firstly the very 1st question arc ~ from season 1, i dont recall Rika been murdered, it may be something i have missed but i thought it was odd when it ended after the death of Keiichi, if this was to be true, it wasnt answered.
Second in the second question arc when 'Mion' was supposingly killing everyone, at the end of the arc AFTER her fall, Keiichi was hospitalised due to the his injury from 'Mion', after he was told of 'Mion''s death, she shows up again on his bedside, was that his disease/parasite playing up? or did she actually survived and came back to finish what she started???...
Thrid the third question arc i think when Keiichi goes and kills Satoko's uncle and making the same mistake as Satoshi, Keiichi was the ONLY Surivior yes? how? he was infected with the disease/parasite, wasnt answered
(i have my own speculations/hypothesis on these events)

Klashikari

2008-05-14, 05:45

1) As for shion, Love at first sight exists. Also, please bear in mind the anime simplified a lot how long Shion could be with Satoshi.

2) Even when Shion doesn't transfer, depending of the "settings" of the world, she can pass by some times here and there.

offtopic questions:
1) She has been murdered, but the time period happens just before that.
2) Keiichi had an hallucation
3) Because Keiichi wasn't at the village when the Yamainu triggered the disaster plan. Anyway, Keiichi still died, several months after the tragedy, after turning completely nuts.

Taricitous

2008-05-14, 05:52

Eryops

2008-05-14, 06:34

Keiichi was the ONLY Surivior yes? how? he was infected with the disease/parasite, wasnt answered
Everyone that visits Hinamizawa gets infected by the pathogen. However it remains quiescent unless its host becomes highly stressed or paranoid.

EusebioKun

2008-05-15, 16:48

imo Season 1 was better than Season 2.

KholdStare

2008-05-26, 03:02

Note: This review is both for seasons 1 and 2, since I don't think I can review one without the other.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni:

Animation Quality: 8
Voice Actors: 8
Script: 8
Editing: 7
Emotional Involvement: 9

Average = 8/10

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai:

Animation Quality: 9
Voice Actors: 8
Script: 8
Editing: 8
Emotional Involvement: 7

Average = 8/10

Note: 8/10 in my scale means "Excellent," not "Okay."

First off, I never played the game. I do however think that this is one of the best anime I have ever watched. The reason is because I never played the game. The first season did leave out many things the game had, but I will argue that Kai fixed many of it. What I mean to say is, the fake arc in Kai filled in many holes that season one didn't touch upon, and that made all the difference. It is as if the adaptation changes direction just a bit, but the result being the same. Therefore, I give my props to the script of season one because Yakusamashi-hen.

Kai proved to be quite disappointing for a couple of reasons. First, it is completely not Kai's fault. The reason I was not "into" Kai as much as the first season is because the pace completely switched around. I was so used to the pace of season one (4-6 episodes per arc) that the last Matsuribayashi-hen (which has 11 episodes) just seemed to be unnecessarily boring. However, this cannot be fixed in any way, because season one was paced so fast that it went through six arcs, leaving only two real arcs for Kai. The best scenario in my opinion would be to have 5 arcs for season one (including one answer arc) and three for Kai. For example, I would have liked Takano's past to be one episode shorter. At the end of Matsuribayashi-hen, there was no climax. I have already predicted what would happen in the last two episodes that no plot twist could have surprised me. In fact, I expected Hanyuu not to die also when she was about to get shot. In summary, the first season's pace was too fast to the point that it left little story left for Kai and caused a dramatic change in pace.

However, Kai received very good responses from game players. I believe that the pace of Kai is right for game players, since almost everything was revealed (with some exceptions because of major season one screwups that could not be fixed, such as giving the doll to Rena/Mion). With this topic I would like to say that I preferred season one's pace more. In fact, I found it to be okay because I didn't know how much was left out. Of course later on I knew how much was left out, thus that is why I now prefer Tsumihoroboshi-hen to be saved for Kai. So my point is the anime would have to go at a somewhat faster pace than the game to be fully enjoyable, so while game players might have enjoyed Kai very much, to the average anime viewer me (me), it was a bit too slow. I just think that not everything had to be answered because that could ruin the suspense for the anime (but not for the game, since both are enjoyed differently in my opinion). For example, I applaud Studio DEEN for not showing the Mion/Shion switch in the notebook and Shion getting the tattoo by accident, because that would just further confuse the viewer.

After saying all this, I must hate the series, right? Not really. I just like to nitpick at things I am annoyed about. Both seasons had episodes that received a good amount of 10's from me, and I greatly enjoyed them. In fact, I think that the script for the game (or rather, the plot of the series, not the script/execution) is very good, and I would probably rate it 9.5/10. I can't find anything good to say about this series because it can't be put into words. All I know is that I had lots of fun watching it, and I would recommend it to anyone. However, I won't say that Kai is better than the first season. Kai saved the first season and let it make more sense, so because that fact, both of them are regarded as equally good for me.

Final score: 8/10, "Excellent"

10: Masterpiece
9: Outstanding, memorable, and usually has some kind of personal impact
8: Excellent, meaningful, and often addictive. Ratings of 8 or higher are considered exceptionally good.
---
7: Very good. Most anime I enjoy goes here.
6: Good, enjoyable. Most anime I watch starts here.
5: Average, kept my interest somewhat, but nothing too memorable.
4: Below average, watching it feels like an obligation.
3: Very bad, but I only watched it due to obligation. (if finished)
2: Painful, why did I watch this at all? (if finished)
1: Nightmare beyond words. Thankfully I've never rated anything this low.

For more info on my anime ratings please refer to the link in my signature.

reptar300

2008-05-27, 15:42

8/10 overall

Season 2 was great, but I really missed the horror moments and also I was glad it was a happy ending but it felt rushed to me... oh and the ending was kind of confusing to me a little.

gibits

2008-07-05, 17:21

I started off with the manga and ended up watching the anime to get my fix.

The plot is one of the best I've read so far, with lots of twists and turns. Even in its condensed form I thought it paced itself well.

The worst part is the animation. Its just plain bad, especially the "psycho" parts, were just laughable rather than menacing. At those parts I had a hard time being scared, I would compare it to loony tunes quality of animation at its worst.

8/10 I want to give it a 10 but the animation was just too bad. I wish the manga would get scanlated but that seems dead atm.

Proto

2008-07-05, 17:25

Well... you could say that the second season brought the animation level up a few levels but indeed, the first season is just ... quirky :p

anime ronin

2008-07-06, 22:15

just finished season dos about a week ago. it was excellent! when i was done watching season 1 i asked myself "what the heck did i just watch?" but when i saw season 2 it all added up. it did take a while for all the questions to be answered though, i nearly gave up on it... lucky i didnt. it was a great anime though through season one it was a bit of a snorsvill but i got really into it when season 2 hit.
so overall i give it a 9 out of 10

anime ronin

2008-07-06, 22:18

Ryuugu-chan

2008-07-31, 22:17

I have no idea how to right a recent review for season 1 or season 2 of Higurashi...So I'll just put my rating for both seasons! :heh:

Season 1/Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni

Animation Quality: 9
Voice Actors: 10
Script: 10
Script: 10

Overall: 9 1/2

Season 2/Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni Kai

Animation Quality: 10
Voice Actors: 10
Script: 10
Script: [I]10[I]

Overall: 10

Overall 2 seasons : 10!!

:heehee:

kingsky123

2008-08-01, 12:40

i dont know, i found the animation quite unque. i think they were trying to put in something different when they made the character's exspressions the way they did.

loony tunes animation isnt bad... =P

RenaFuura

2008-08-02, 18:50

I give the whole series 8.5/10 btw in the first season chapter 1 was rena and shion acting crazy or was that all in keiichi's mind and why were those plumber guys trying to capture him?

Shinigami_Mello

2008-08-02, 20:55

I give the whole series 8.5/10 btw in the first season chapter 1 was rena and shion acting crazy or was that all in keiichi's mind and why were those plumber guys trying to capture him?

I'm assuming most people on this thread have watched the series, but just in case, you might want to put that in spoiler tags xD

Rena and Mion, not Shion. But no, they were perfectly normal. It was Keiichi who got paranoid thanks to the syndrome and started seeing things. And they were probably trying to catch him because Irie was alerted that he wasnt acting right. (Remember, the Yamainu WAS working for Irie before)

RenaFuura

2008-08-03, 13:55

I'm assuming most people on this thread have watched the series, but just in case, you might want to put that in spoiler tags xD

Rena and Mion, not Shion. But no, they were perfectly normal. It was Keiichi who got paranoid thanks to the syndrome and started seeing things. And they were probably trying to catch him because Irie was alerted that he wasnt acting right. (Remember, the Yamainu WAS working for Irie before)

Oh, yeah I never thought of that before, lol. Thanks for the help :D

Eczema

2008-10-29, 13:07

9/10 for Kai. Introduced a terrific main villain, and answered all the questions from the first season and then some. The new character Hanyuu is adorable, and the ending is deeply satisfying. The grand scheme of the plot is amazing and incredibly creative.

Golden Witch Drugs

2008-10-29, 16:13

Hm... Me neither knows how to write a propher review... But here we go...

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni:

Animation Quality: 7
Voice Actors: 10
Script: 7
Editing: 8
Emotional Involvement: 9

Average = 10/10
"The first season was my favorite season. Somehow I think Kai became a little too peaceful for me. And I also think that Kai captured the emotional involvement as well as the games did. That was a dissapointment. Anyways, back to first season. I really liked the actors, their voices were so perfect *-* But the animation wasn't that good though :( But I liked the animation in the first season better than the second. And I cried alot at Meakashi-hen and Tsumihoroboshi-hen. They really capured the emotional feelings there.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai:

Animation Quality: 6
Voice Actors: 9
Script: 4
Editing: 7
Emotional Involvement: 5

Average = 6/10
"The second season was a dissapointment. To be honest. When it was released I followed the first 3 or 4 episodes or so, then I stopped watching. About half a year later I finished the series. It was kind of boring. They didn't make it so understandable and a little bit "same scenes all the time". But I reaaallly liked the end of Minagoroshi-hen. I cried so much when Kei-chan died :'( But I didn't feel so much emotional feeling otherwise. That was also a dissapointment."

ayu-smepai

2008-11-23, 16:22

Higurashi No naku koro ni Kai

Animation Quality: 8
Voice Actors: 9
Script: 7
Editing: 8
Emotional Involvement: 7 1/2

I was disspointed of how long Minagoroshi-hen went, Unlike the other arcs this one just had too much going on, It also lacked in emotion which the first season had plenty on.
Thinking about it it just seems like they never really tried to make the story as intrestng as it was in Minagoroshi hen.
Now Matsuriboyoshi-hen wasnt so bad, Hanyuu transfering wasnt that bad ether but the thing that really dispointed me was when they tried to make it filled action at the end , They just failed on that part pretty much

HanyuuChan

2009-04-05, 16:09

The thing is when people hear Higurashi Kai they think it's going to be exactly like Higurashi there is a reason the Kai (solutions) is there instead of just Higurashi 2. The mistake deen made IMO was adding Meakashi-hen and Tsumihoroboshi-hen to the first season as they are not a part of Higurashi but of Higurashi Kai.

Though I also think that when Umineko gets an anime people will think "OMFG more Higurashi type shit" when they are completly different in mood and tone

You are so right about right I still get really iritated when I see people say This wont be as good as higurashi becouse it is not funny with adults going crazy and killing each other. And thats not the plot of umineko. And everyone keeps commenting on the umineko trailer vids about the lack of moe girls =_= it is the same with kai. I loved kai becouse it is the realationship between the characters I love so much

vedicardi

2009-04-15, 11:31

I was very happy with how they wrapped up season two and brought everything together extremely well, but there was just so many damn sequences and episodes that wasted time. At the half way point the tension drops so dramatically I could have skipped a few episodes and still have totally understood what was going on.

Great series overall.

AudriSampson

2009-05-20, 14:26

I preferred Kai over Ni on about all fronts. When each story of Ni came up It seemed that each story was who's going craze this time. When it came to Kai I feel like we got alot character devolepment and backstory. For me thats alot better then the blood and violence that seems to get alot of people about the first season.

I also have to give high reviews for the last arc. We finally got to see what made Takano and Satoshi tick.

It was also really nice to have Shion for the entire season :)

typhonsentra

2009-05-20, 20:07

I liked the show, but I've complained about it before and.... I just don't like the message in Kai. Not that I disagree with the message but the theme change took away a lot of the fun from the last season and I really despise ham-fisted and overwrought messages from the author told by the characters before the final battle.

Yami Sonozaki

2009-07-06, 15:02

Honestly, like most people here, I enjoyed the first season more, in a big way thanks to Meakashi-hen. It was my favorite chapter by far (not really because all the killing, but also because of the emotional involvement). If they would have added Meakashi-hen along with the other chapter to Kai, that would have been awesome. I don't really have any complaints about the first season, except one that still haunts my mind, the Mion ladder scene. Other than that it was awesome. Of course the series wouldn't be complete without Kai answering all of the "wtf's" left from the first season. Even though the Massacre chapter in Kai was amazing, the final chapter was a little weaker than the rest. If the creators would have put Meakashi-hen and the other chapter in Kai, as some of you said it should have been, then both of them would have gotten a 10 from me.
It's the best anime I've seen so far, and I don't think it will go off my #1 spot for some time.
Also the poems, I love those damn poems <3.

As for the score:

The first season gets a clear 10 from me, despite some of the animation problems. It made me laugh a bit, but it didn't disappoint me in any way.
As for the second season, it gets a 9 because of the lack of action and emotional involvement (don't get me wrong here, there was some, but not as much as the other chapters) in the final chapter.

As for Umineko, yeah of course it will not be Higurashi 3 like some people think, since it's another game, another story, but I have high hopes for it to be at least as entertaining as Higurashi was :) It was made by the same people after all, it can't be bad =P.
Well I guess that's it.

Archon_Wing

2009-08-29, 06:42

Oh, how did I not write anything on this series? It's only my favorite. :D

The first season of Higurashi was an extremely jumbled mess. I'll admit it was an interesting jumbled mess but the direction was quite off and the pacing was really erratic. Then again, that season had 6 chapters in it. So basically there was already part of Kai in the first season. As the mood of the story changes greatly from the first to second half, it just didn't really fit. And of course the art was terrible.

Despite all of this, the shock value and confusion was used pretty effectively. It managed to create a story that kept me watching. The complexity of the story left a lot of interesting details and plot threads to explore. And of course, the characters themselves played a huge role; you'd just really feel sorry for what's going on. Because you realize they are all genuinely good people that are being hurt from forces out of their control. So by the end of the series, I was rooting for them to get out of this mess. The impact of the turning point in first season's episode 25 was huge. It marked the ending of despair and a slim glimmer of hope that would start the long uphill battle for victory.That battle would not be without tons of more pain and sacrifice.

So even with the crappy direction, the story was simply too strong to mess up. I would give s1 a 8/10

Kai often gets a lot of flak for not being as suspenseful or as shocking as the first season. Indeed, it must have been misleading. Higurashi, by and far, was not a gore and violence show no matter how you slice it. In fact, even in season one, there aren't really that many extremely graphic scenes. Yes, they are shocking and effective but that's the point. Excessive use of violent scenes would make it less significant. People who expected that kind of shock value from Kai were basically looking for the wrong show. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with wanting that kind of thing, but sometimes you simply can't expect a show to be what it isn't. Personally, if Kai were to duplicate the same thing as the first, I would have found that boring and formulaic as with many other shows that just repeat more of the same.

With that out of the way, Kai is far superior to Ni in terms of storytelling. No longer are we relying on strange gimmicks to confuse us or "oh shit" moments, but we are here to view the crew's struggle and to find out what is happening. And so piece by piece, the mysteries are finally revealed. So now we know that it's all a conspiracy and Takano is the culprit, we can have a happy ending with the cops taking Takano away... "I would have gotten away with it... if it weren't for you meddling kids"

Well, no. That is not enough. Despite their best efforts, they still end up losing one more time because Takano's willpower is just that strong. I find this actually kind of fresh. A lot of series will usually have our protagonists struggling, then they find the answer in the last 5 minutes of the climatic battle and we have an instant resolution. But not here. Just trusting your friends isn't enough. Knowing how to win isn't enough. You aren't winning just because your willpower is strong and you are the good guys. Takano wants to win just as bad. A lot of the stuff is out of the protagonists' control and thus the only thing they can do is take advantage of what is given to them.

Initially, I found Matsuribayashi-hen somewhat anticlimactic. It did seem kind of convenient at places and Takano's minions got insanely stupid, not to mention that they apparently got the Ewoks to help them. But by the end of Minagoroshi-hen, and with Hanyuu's decision to finally assume her role, victory did seem inevitable. It became a matter of not if, but how, and a diablos ex machina would have pretty much ruined anything. And since by this time we are supposed to be rooting for the protagonists, it did seem that all the miracles would occur with enough rolling of the dice. So Rika did cheat to win. But wouldn't you after all this? Everyone is using whatever at their disposal to get what they want. It's only fair that Rika and friends should too.

The note in the last episode about Old Maid was pretty interesting. After all, a lot of the series involved placing blame and that led to tragedy. Also, the constant struggle of "our" happiness vs "their" happiness. But are these things mutually exclusive? Must someone always win or lose or be the one that gets blamed? Because that type of binary thinking has led to many previous tragedies.

In the end I saw a pretty damned epic story that started from the depths of confusion and despair to enlightenment and hope. Where there is distrust (Onikakushi-hen), there will be forgiveness (Tsumihoroboshi-hen). Where there is ignorance (Watanagashi-hen), there will be truth (Meakashi-hen). Where there is isolation (Tatarigoroshi-hen), there will be unity (Minagoroshi-hen), and where there will be inaction (Himatsubushi-hen), there will be action (Matsuribayashi-hen) And ultimately that will be the key to finally escape the endless cycle of tragedy.

So yea, I rate this a 10. :D

klare

2009-08-29, 08:56

nice writing archon, i feel mostly similar :)

but i actually view Higurashi and -Kai as a complete one long series, no fun if u only watch one of them

-Kai does have better animations and everything looks smoother

but the most memorable is still the first chapter of Higurashi, i really feel the chilling on my back while watching it, the unpredictable Rena is really scary

for me -Kai is 9/10

Archon_Wing

2009-08-29, 19:41

but i actually view Higurashi and -Kai as a complete one long series, no fun if u only watch one of them

Yea, that is why I had to talk a bit about the first season, as I felt it would be incomplete to just talk about half the story.

but the most memorable is still the first chapter of Higurashi, i really feel the chilling on my back while watching it, the unpredictable Rena is really scary

Yea, that was well done. One of the important things about any show is that they need to quickly draw in the viewer into the world of the show. That's something I did not feel in Umineko, but it's a bit too early to judge that. :)

HanyuuChan

2009-08-30, 03:03

yeah but the orginal higurashi did not feel like that it was suposed to feel tragic not scary

Yami Sonozaki

2009-08-30, 03:48

Well the last episode of Onikakushi-hen was tragic in my opinion.

Archon_Wing

2009-08-30, 12:14

I felt most of the stories were tragic. The deaths were senseless and you felt sorry for the characters as it was so preventable. But on the hand it wasn't stupid, because their options were extremely limited.

Well ok, Keiichi's actions in Watanagashi-hen were pretty dumb. -_-

Ever17

2009-09-02, 21:47

Higurashi Kai :3

I loved this season so much, and following it as the episodes came out made it even more worthwhile. I really liked how this season was done. The animation was a lot better than the first season, and it was very suspenseful right until the end. They way they portrayed Rika's struggle to beat her fate was so cool :3 and whenever she would reach a breakthrough I would find myself super excited XD because she was that much closer!

Though the first season really was full of the question arcs, it really did set the viewer up well for kai. One of my favorite parts of the higurashi series are how well all of the character's are done. You can't help but really appreciate how well all of the characters are done.

Even Takano, because she had such a horrible past. Ya, she did some horrible things, but part of you still feels bad for her.

Overall, really well done. Though when it ended I was hoping for more eps, and even with rei out, I'm still sad to say that higurashi is over.

Rika nano desu ~

XGeneral2000

2009-11-11, 01:32

I was recommended this anime by a friend, and it was described to me as an epic psychokiller-loli-gorefest (since I liked Elfen Lied). So naturally, I was sketchy at first, since I like to watch shows with some substance, not just a lot of shock value. I'm glad I decided to go ahead and watch the show. It has a lot more depth than its reputation would have you know.

I had my doubts at the end of Onikakushi-hen. Virtually nothing was explained, and it looked like a pair of batshit-insane chicks trying to kill an even batshittier-insaner guy who just kills them first. Then commits suicide. I knew there had to be more, so I kept watching. Watanagashi-hen seemed to be a rewind of Onikakushi-hen with different batshit-insane chicks killing different victims. More stuff was explained, but it still didn't fit together nicely. I figured after watching Tatarigoroshi-hen that it was starting to cycle through each character, making a different girl batshit-insane each time. Rika's corpse and the Great Hinamizawa disaster only added to the confusion. After watching Meakashi-hen, though, things started to make more sense. By this point, I had worked out a few things behind the time loop and Rika (though, of course, I didn't quite have it). Things began to make more sense, and I was intrigued, so I kept watching.

Well, what do you know? This anime is about friendship! Who would've guessed?

Tsumihoroboshi-hen had a different tone than the previous arcs, particularly toward the end. For the first time, we saw the friends working together instead of apart, and for the first time, we saw an arc with no major character deaths. Though they couldn't stop the fated disaster, they were one step closer.

Everytime, something went better, and the trust got stronger. Onikakushi-hen was averted when Keiichi talked it over with Mion, instead of coming to conclusions himself. Watanagashi-hen was averted when Keiichi gave the doll to Mion (although that's not really a trust issue so much as it is a luck issue). Tatarigoroshi-hen was averted when the friends persuaded Satoko herself to come to terms with her present situation and make the painful, but right, choice, instead of attempting to take matters into their own hands and kill Teppei. Tsumihoroboshi-hen was averted when Rena discussed her problems to Mion before she killed Rina and Teppei. Finally, the cast had come to terms with their own demons, and had learned to confide in each other as a friends, true friends. Now, finally, they could begin to fight fate, as we saw in Minagoroshi-hen.

So many animes focus on the power of friendship, but not many of them look at the other side of the spectrum. It doesn't always work out. When friendship breaks down, the results can be disastrous. Minor misunderstandings cause people to jump to erroneous conclusions, and without lines of communication to friends, things spiral out of control. Keiichi's lines as he remembered Onikakushi-hen and Rena's lines as she held her cleaver over Keiichi really hit it home; things fall apart when you lose trust.

And even then, the friendship was not enough. I really appreciated the fact that the "OMG We need to trust each other!!" revelation didn't magically fix things. The Great Hinamizawa disaster still happens. Even with the entire cast working together to protect Rika, they still lose. That scene at the end of Minagoroshi-hen, where Takano blows everyone's brains out at her leisure, really stuck with me. Takano was no run-of-the-mill villain. She had everything on the line; her life, her legacy, and her dream, and damned if she was going to let something like friendship take that away from her. She had seen life and humanity at its worst. She had seen her friends torn away from her and killed. And so it's no surprise that her determination is just as superhuman as Keiichi and co. Takano was favored to win, and so the cast needed to use anything and everything they had to stop her. If a single thing had gone wrong, it would have all been over. The perfect execution of a perfect plan: that was awesome.

I've seen a lot of people say that the second season is worse, as the second season doesn't have the action and suspense of the first. I can't really agree, and I don't really think it's a fair comparison. The first season was the set-up and character development, where the viewer is presented with the mystery and we learn about all of the individual characters (with the exception of Rika). The second season is the climax and conclusion, revealing the answers and wrapping it all up. The 2nd season lacked the horror and gore that was so prevalent in the 1st, true, but that didn't make it any worse. The point of Higurashi is not just to be "an epic psychokiller-loli-gorefest." It's sort of like Elfen Lied; some people watch it for the bodies, and some people refuse to watch it because of the bodies. If you can just get past the damned bodies and look deeper, there's something more.

Saikoroshi-hen in the OVA was an interesting concept. If you had the option to go back in time and fix all of the mistakes you ever made, would you? If you could go back and get your parents to stay together...prevent your friends from going into drugs and alcohol, and maybe even suicide...ask out that girl you liked before she started dating that abusive jerk...things that may have been impossible to forsee at the time, but preventable in 20/20 hindsight...would you? It's a difficult question. On one hand, it's true that hardships make you stronger, more aware, and more grateful for what you have, just as Rena stated at the end of it. But on the other, some of those decisions affect others, too; how can we be the judge of that? I suppose ultimately, Rena is still right; humans can't, and aren't meant to, make that sort of decision. We are not the dealers of fate. We simply play the hand we are dealt the best we can. If we can do that, that's enough.

On an unrelated note, I think it would positively suck to go into an alternate reality and find out that you were a complete bitch, and have to deal with a reputation you didn't earn. I also think it was a bit excessive for Hanyuu to tell Rika she got freaking beheaded (projection of fantasy on Hanyuu's part? @_@ She must not be happy with all of the crap Rika gives her...Watch your back, Rika-chama...). Poor Rika!

On the other hand, Rika owning Satoko was priceless.

That said, I still had my complaints. The deformed faces got a bit old after a while, and it diverted my attention; also, the voices didn't always match the face. Shion's ladder scene in Watanagashi/Meakashi-hen, for example, showed her with a WTF-batshit face, but a low, menacing voice, and I feel it would have been better to just show her hair + shadow over her eyes and the ladder trembling in her hands. The music, as well, didn't always fit the mood, especially during the really intense, fast-paced scenes. I listened to some of the original BGM, and I agree that it would have been more appropriate to use that in some cases. On the topic of the game, I didn't know just how much was taken out until I perused the forums here. I was still able to enjoy the anime, but it looks like I missed out on those "extra touches" that make it that much better (like the time-stopped bullet at the climax of Matsuribayashi-hen.

Everything considered, a solid 9/10. Not perfect due to what I feel were errors on Studio DEEN's part, but definitely worth my time.

In conclusion, "Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies."

:)