Mouryou no Hako [Archive] - AnimeSuki Forum

Meirin

2008-08-28, 08:02

The supernatural/horror/mystery novel Mouryou no Hako by Kyougoku Natsuhiko will be getting a TV anime adaptation.

Broadcast: October 2008

魍魎の匣
Mouryou no Hako

Synopsis:

The story follows a series of bizarre murders of schoolgirls who have been dismembered and stuffed into boxes. The private investigator hired by a missing daughter's mother joins forces with an antique book seller and others to unravel the murder spree.

Characters will be designed by CLAMP, animation will be provided by Madhouse. (From ANN)

The manga adaptation of the novel is currently being serialized in the quarterly horror/mystery anthology magazine Comic Kwai (http://www.kwai.org/). The artist is Shimizu Aki.

Two volumes of the manga are released as of 18/08/2008.
Covers:

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/MouryounoHako1.jpg http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/MouryounoHako2.jpg

From the September issue of Newtype, two double-page spreads (click for full size):

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/th_hako1.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/hako1.jpg) http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/th_hako2.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/hako2.jpg)

Close-ups (would anyone care to translate these?):

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/hako3.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/hako4.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/hako5.jpg

-------------------------------------------------------------------
From NeoSam's posts:

According to MoonPhase's anime list, the detective/youkai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yōkai) novel Mouryou no Hako by Kyougoku Natsuhiko will be getting animated.

The novel was published in 1995 under the general novels label Kodansha Novels (http://www.comipedia.com/light-novel-label/kodansha-novels).
Here its cover:

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5351/19448661aj5.jpg

Staff:

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Orriginal Work: Kyougoku Natsuhiko
Director: Nakamura Ryousuke
Series Composition: Murai Sadayuki
Original Character Concept: CLAMP
Character Design: Nishida Asako
Color Design: Shinohara Megumi (???)
Propp Design: Kimura Masahiro
Animation Production: MADHOUSE

-------------------------------------------------------------------
More staff info for the Mouryou no Hako anime:

Art Director: Kaneko Hidetoshi
Photography Director: Igarashi Shinichi
CG Director: Seuga Tomohiko (???)
Editor: Terauchi Satoshi

Source: MoonPhase diary (http://d.hatena.ne.jp/moonphase/20080708)
-------------------------------------------------------------------

There's a live-action movie of this novel, here its official site:
http://mouryou.jp/

bahamut zero

2008-08-28, 08:27

CLAMP Character Designs..... maybe the next Code Geass?

Meirin

2008-08-28, 08:48

Not necessarily. :heh: CLAMP also did the character designs for another Madhouse production, Sweet Valerian.

From the August issue of Newtype (click to enlarge):

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/th_080708.jpg (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/080708.jpg)

More character sketches at:
famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/anime/news/1216536_1558.html)
mycom (http://journal.mycom.co.jp/news/2008/07/10/009/index.html)

---
Information about the movie adaptation from EigaWiki (http://eiga.wikia.com/wiki/The_Shadow_Spirit):

The Shadow Spirit (魍魎の匣, Mouryou no Hako) is a 2007 Japanese movie directed by Masato Harada. The film is based on the second novel in a series written by Natsuhiko Kyogoku about a Shinto priest who runs a book store.

Plot:
In 1952 the mutilated corpses of young women are found in boxes and a strange psychic is thought to be responsible. When the daughter of a former actress goes missing, a private detective, a writer, and a policeman team up with a Shinto priest nicknamed "Kyogokudo" to get to the bottom of the mystery.
---

A note about the translation of Mouryou no Hako (魍魎の匣):

魍魎 = all kinds of spirits and goblins
匣 = box

*reira*

2008-08-28, 09:28

I really like the atmosphere I'm getting from this plot...not too sure about the designs, but still extremely intriguing. Is the casting for it still undecided?

Meirin

2008-08-29, 09:52

I really like the atmosphere I'm getting from this plot...not too sure about the designs, but still extremely intriguing. Is the casting for it still undecided?

Yes, as far as I know. It's worth keeping an eye on MOON PHASE for it.

Echoes

2008-08-29, 14:58

The supernatural/horror/mystery

Sold! Wait, there's more?

Characters will be designed by CLAMP

Wo-wo-wow.

animation will be provided by Madhouse.

Wo-ho-ho.

Needless to say, I'm psyched. The synopsis sounds really neat too, bizzare and morbid; something I'm bound to enjoy.

vel

2008-08-29, 15:10

Close-ups (would anyone care to translate these?):

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/hako3.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/hako4.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/Shanghai_Alice/link/hako5.jpg

Story: In the summer of Shōwa 27 (1952), an accident happened with a girl falling from the platform of Musashi Koganei station of Chuou line. Kiba who happened to be there listened to enigma from such a girl as witness. Then, the case went out into deeper water.

Color Design: Shinohara Megumi (???) → Oono Harue
CG Director: Seuga Tomohiko (???) → Suga Tomohiko

Sorry for bad translation.:heh:

SaraFilipa

2008-08-29, 17:51

Sounds VERY interesting. :)

Meirin

2008-08-31, 18:15

Thank you for the translation, vel! :)

orion

2008-09-01, 09:25

Yeah, this looks like a nice gory title. Hope someone subs this.

The live-action trailer looked good too.

Flame-X

2008-09-17, 19:20

The OP song is done by Nightmare and the single is already out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9qvLVpXhx0

Shiroi Hane

2008-09-17, 20:38

There was also a small piece on this with character art in the first Animage Original

http://lh4.ggpht.com/shirobane/SNGVRi_Ui5I/AAAAAAAALGU/3JOHuPgkWRU/s288/DSC05290.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gTaDZ_MR1BVQ4o1UA_v-Hw)

desi09

2008-09-18, 22:20

Yay! A series that I'm actually looking forward to this fall!

SaraFilipa

2008-09-20, 11:45

The OP song is done by Nightmare and the single is already out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9qvLVpXhx0
I really like it. This anime sounds so awesome. I'm excited. :D

monir

2008-09-20, 14:46

CLAMP Character Designs..... maybe the next Code Geass?
Next Code Geass? I'll cry. I mean it. One crack-pot plot device should be the limit drawn for one calendar year. Since Code Geass fills for that particular quota, we don't need any more for year 2008. :p

Madhouse's involvement means I'll automatically check out couple of episodes. Any dates on when it is coming out? Please not 2009... please not 2009.

:heh:

Fevvers

2008-09-20, 19:48

Daaarn, really would like it more if it were Shimizu Aki's character designs instead of Clamp's noodly excuse for character designs! =/

Anyway, the first chapter of the manga had an interesting beginning with a fitting creepy atmosphere, so I'll definitely give this animu a chance. Never heard of the director though, so that makes me a wee bit wary.

BluWacky

2008-09-22, 05:14

Madhouse's involvement means I'll automatically check out couple of episodes. Any dates on when it is coming out? Please not 2009... please not 2009.

7th October - official website here (http://www.ntv.co.jp/mouryou/) confirming it etc.

darkchibi07

2008-10-07, 14:41

So did anyone check out the first episode? I've scanned through the RAW, and looks pretty damn creepy!

BluWacky

2008-10-07, 15:33

I swear AnimeSuki is trying to stop me from writing about this show. That's twice today I've somehow lost a post either through my own idiocy or means unknown.

Anyway, yes, watched the raw. It's pretty hard going for Nihongo neophytes like myself - there's all this dialogue about the five signs that a tennyo is going to die from Buddhist mythology and stuff like that which makes it quite difficult to know exactly what's going on without constantly pausing.

Brief plot synopsis for the first episode:

Interesting fact - the literal title is "The Things Concerning the Five Signs of Tennyo Decay" (tenningosui no koto) but "tennin gosui" is the title of a novel by Yukio Mishima which has the much nicer title above.

Anyway, as something of a prologue to the main events of the show (given that only one of the main characters definitely shows up here) we get the story of Yoriko Kusumoto, a poor girl who lives with her self-absorbed mother and a dollmaker, and Kanako Yuzuki, a mysterious intellectual who takes a shine to her. They start spending all their time together and basically declare their love for each other after a whole load of weird friendship rituals initiated by Kanako including binding Yoriko with string and telling her they are twin stars, plus attempting to strangle her to see if she'd give her life for Kanako etc. In the meantime, the dollmaker (Sasegawa) gives Yoriko a present of a handmade doll that suddenly comes alive in her hands, freaking her out massively.

Kanako tells Yoriko to meet her at the train station, where she seems strangely sad and withdrawn (and attention is drawn to a small mark on her neck). As a train draws by she leaps in front of it and apparently kills herself (although we see her corpse smile as she is carried away...) leaving a Detective Kiba (who obviously served in the war as he dreams of bloody soldiers coming for him), who was on the train, to console Yoriko.

There's also a man with a head in a box that sings. But that was never referred to again as far as I was aware.

To get this out the way, although I am inordinately excited and probably tending towards obsession with this show already, I don't think it's that great. Given that I didn't really understand all the dialogue it's entirely plausible that it's more pretentious than Mamoru Oshii reciting Proust to his bassett hound or something. The animation is very smooth, but not spectacular (and will probably decrease in quality from hereon out), although the background art work is very good indeed. The acting is fine, if perhaps a little understated at times. The music is pleasant.

I can't really comment much further on anything as it's only the first episode, but it's just interesting. It's a big ol' mystery what's going to happen (as far as I can see the live action film did away with the whole train suicide thing and had Kanako go missing, so I've no real idea what's happening here) and it's striking an intriguing balance between what COULD be supernatural and what is just damn creepy. I actually think it's even quite an original kind of story to be telling - Japanese detective anime tend to be episodic or arc-based, whereas it's clear from the structure of the episode that the story will run the whole way through (do we know if this is 13 or 26 eps yet?).

I'll be rewatching when decent raws come out to see if my opinion of the production is any better, but things are looking promising at the moment.

Kaoru Chujo

2008-10-08, 04:47

I thought it was extremely good. The story was mysterious and ominous, not pretentious for me. But I find it easy to suspend disbelief if there seems to be some payoff, which there was.

I liked the way Nishida Asako (the anime character designer, who did Simoun, Touka Gettan, Vampire Knight) softened the Clamp-style character designs just enough.

I thought the music was good and the voice-acting (Takahashi Mikako and Tomatsu Haruka) was excellent. And Kiuchi Hidenobu is one of my favorite male voices.

NakedAngelX

2008-10-08, 10:37

I'm kind of hoping for it to be like ghost hunt,
gonna watch it now, let's just see how creepy it is :D

Matrim

2008-10-08, 19:07

I thought it was extremely good.

Noticing how few replies this thread has, I was a bit afraid I might be the first to say that. ;)
I usually mostly skim the raws in a few minutes but this time it enthralled me enough to watch all of the first episode. If the plot is anywhere near as engrossing as the atmosphere of the anime this might be a winner. And visually it's pretty damn good looking indeed, the character designs are thankfull spared the worst of CLAMP"s deformities that plague certain other series. Maybe if the subbers realise there is no need for everyone to sub tales of the Abyss, someone might sub this one instead. I would like to some day see what exactly was all that talk about killing, dying and being reborn was all about. ;)
That said, I suspect a lot of viewers will brand the series as too angsty or "emo". Let's see if the second episode will be more about an actual detective investigation.

Sakuya

2008-10-08, 20:59

That said, I suspect a lot of viewers will brand the series as too angsty or "emo". Let's see if the second episode will be more about an actual detective investigation.

Yes, and that's exactly why I'm so excited about this! The designs for this first episode looks awesome. Can't wait for the subs. :eyespin: While reading a blog's synopsis on this, it occurred to me I have skimmed through the raw manga for this first chapter. Probably the reason I didn't remember much of it was because the manga's title was actually "Comic Kwai Vol.1" with Mouryou no Hako as the subheading. Was pretty confused if it was a manga anthology or if it was a tankouban... Anyway, the story was pretty strange and creepy there too.

SeijiSensei

2008-10-09, 08:10

Maybe if the subbers realise there is no need for everyone to sub tales of the Abyss, someone might sub this one instead.

This is the only other fall show I've anticipated besides Nodame. According to the fansub wiki (http://fansubwiki.com/Who_Subs_What:_FALL_2008), the only sub groups to have signed on so far are AnimeYoshi and perhaps a joint between Anime Club Generation & AnimeCrazy.net. Like you I'm stumped why so many groups felt compelled to sub Abyss. You'd think a series involving Madhouse and CLAMP would attract more attention than this show has gotten so far. Having Kuwashima Houko in the cast (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10153) is another big plus for me.

SaraFilipa

2008-10-09, 16:50

I have yet to watch it (I'm waiting for a subbed version...), but I have to say that I loved the opening/ending animations, somehow the whole thing reminded me of Death Note, in a good way. :)

Meirin

2008-10-10, 13:17

Maybe if the subbers realise there is no need for everyone to sub tales of the Abyss, someone might sub this one instead.

We can only hope. :heh: There is probably a greater degree of difficulty in translating this series than some of the other anime this season. Some knowledge of Japanese history and literature and quite a bit of additional research would be required. I'm watching Chinese subs for now but am highly anticipating AnimeYoshi's effort.

Ep 1 thoughts:
Marimite + mystery + dancing + BAD END = Mouryou no Hako?

I thought it was a very good first episode, with smooth pacing and an interesting atmosphere. Hints of Code Geass's ugly down-turned mouths remained, but overall the character design is quite pleasing. The voice-acting was excellent, Tomatsu Haruka is definitely the seiyuu to watch for this season. I hope this is one series that'll start gently and slowly draws the audience into its mystery, episode by episode, until we're perched at the edge of our seats desperate for more clues or a resolution.

Could the head in the box belong to Yoriko? I think it's probably a different victim, as the hairstyle and eyes are rather different. I did not expect it to start singing...

Yoriko seems to be rather prone to hallucinations: the doll, her mother at the paper screen. I wonder how much of the rather surreal dancing-in-the-moonlight sequence actually took place. But then again, lots of anime characters have been randomly breaking into dance recently (see Antique Bakery).

This series is definitely giving off Oniisama e... vibes. I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the detective quartet will become involved with the case.

Marina Ismail

2008-10-11, 09:24

orion

2008-10-11, 10:00

I didn't find it angsty or emo.. I just found it boring and I only watched it because from anidb it said it was about them finding out about the mass murder of school girls... and what I got from the first ep is um.... I don't know what to say...

some weirdo girl choking her friend and then going "lawl jking, jking!" and then some yurish (to me...) scenes and then all of a sudden she jumps in front of the train I guess? Ya.. not a series for me. :S

Maybe it's tied into what's about to happen. Those girls are in the OP and ED so they are prob very important.

Just gotta hang in there.

asrielchase

2008-10-11, 14:17

the two girls will indeed tie into what's going to happen. the whole story is consisting of up to 3 - 4 events , and kanoko getting hit by the train is merely the beginning..

sapphire-pyro

2008-10-14, 22:24

There's already a script of this out, and a fansub group said that they'll be using it and will be releasing the subbed video soon xD

I'm not fond of shoujo-ai stuff x_x but I'm very interested on the guys in the main cast *_* Have they actually appeared aside from the OP? I only see the two grils from the screenshots x_x

killbethy

2008-10-15, 04:48

I desperately want to see this show, so fingers crossed on someone subbing it. As soon as I saw the genre, studio, and character designs I was sold.

monir

2008-10-15, 10:50

I just watched episode 1 with the .ass file. Good translation by Yesy. Formula made the .ass script. Looks like Formula will do the same in the future so imaptient folks can watch the sub with a RAW file. More information on Formula's website (http://evaforum.com/formulasub/).

The thread is now moved to the fansubbed section.

Kaoru Chujo

2008-10-15, 12:32

...I'm not fond of shoujo-ai stuff x_x but I'm very interested on the guys in the main cast *_* Have they actually appeared aside from the OP?....Yes, they are starting to appear in ep2, which was also really good, for me.The scene in the car seemed long to me, but I didn't understand all that was said, so that would make a difference in my enjoyment. The complexities of the relations among the characters seems interesting, and some of the acting is very good. I especially admired Takahashi Mikako as Yoriko.

Some of the animation is horrible: at one point, a pocket was jumping around on a guy's jacket. But some is excellent: I loved the scenes of the car travelling through the countryside.

pparker

2008-10-15, 15:28

Nishida Asako (the anime character designer, who did Simoun, Touka Gettan, Vampire Knight) softened the Clamp-style character designs just enough.
Wow, this may be the hidden gem of the season. I guess I've seen everything else now except Michiko To Hatchin, and this has tremendous potential in comparison to the most-hyped series. I quoted above, because I happen to like CLAMP designs first of all (xxxHolic, Tsubasa Chronicle), but I like Touka Gettan (Nishida Asako working with Carnelian original designs) even better, so it makes sense why I would like the looks of this show.

Really, it's the first show I've seen in a long time that gave me that Yami to Bōshi to Hon no Tabibito/Touka Gettan feeling, which I love. The dense, opaque but aesthetic mystery that pulls you along despite not knowing where you are going, almost due to the art and characters alone. You're okay waiting to find out what happens, even if it takes months. (I say that knowing nothing about the source material, and obviously not wanting to). If this stays even close to its initial quality, it will be one of those niche classics that may never even reach R1, but will forever be rewatched and passed down by a devoted fan base.

signorRossi

2008-10-15, 15:57

This is definitely the show that made the best impression from the first episode to me from all the shows that started lately. Just the genre I was waiting for, I am somewhat satiated by shows that have girls with swords or Uzis and 'end of the world settings' ..... :eyespin:

SignorRossi.

Sakuya

2008-10-15, 20:49

Some of the animation is horrible: at one point, a pocket was jumping around on a guy's jacket. But some is excellent: I loved the scenes of the car travelling through the countryside.[/spoiler]

I just watched episode one and I love the characters. Every close-up of Kanako's face is just so perfect and elegant combined with the sakura petals! :eyespin: But I do agree (for in episode 1), the animation during the dance scene was pretty disappointing. When they zoom out to show the girls dancing in the moonlight that was okay but when it was close up of them dancing combined with this motion blur effect they used it was kind of weird.

Slice of Life

2008-10-16, 03:10

Oh, the lesbians-on-drugs archetype strikes again. Can't say I'm too happy about it. -_-

signorRossi

2008-10-16, 09:42

Oh, the lesbians-on-drugs archetype strikes again. Can't say I'm too happy about it. -_-

Lesbians on crutches, to be exact (at least one of them). :D
I am confident that that is only a first impression deriving from the fact that they depict a close (and mad for sure) relationship. Let's see if they provide us with mindless mystery or mystery with brains.

SignorRossi.

Ashlotte

2008-10-16, 13:45

Wow that was an extremely well animated first episode...Almost to the point of absurdity...I mean I like good eye candy, but that threatened to eclipse the plot itself for me. :heh:

Either way was a very intriguing first episode and I have not one single clue where this show is going to go from here, just the same though I find myelf extremely interested to find out...Guess I can't ever pass up a good mystery.

aorta

2008-10-16, 15:16

This series is the based on the second novel of the Kyōgokudō(京極堂) Series. The first novel, The Summer of the Ubume, is being released by Vertical in English on August 4th, 2009. So maybe they'll release the second novel also.

tbl

2008-10-16, 16:25

Kirarakim

2008-10-16, 18:36

This is the only other fall show I've anticipated besides Nodame. According to the fansub wiki (http://fansubwiki.com/Who_Subs_What:_FALL_2008), the only sub groups to have signed on so far are AnimeYoshi and perhaps a joint between Anime Club Generation & AnimeCrazy.net. Like you I'm stumped why so many groups felt compelled to sub Abyss. You'd think a series involving Madhouse and CLAMP would attract more attention than this show has gotten so far. Having Kuwashima Houko in the cast (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10153) is another big plus for me.

The number of subbers is never evident of the quality of the series. In fact it is usually the opposite. Usually the mundane/generic series end up having many fansubbers while the true gems get overlooked.

CocoWawa

2008-10-16, 19:29

Well, I must say I really enjoyed this episode and I hope that it will keep going with the same quality. I actually watched it almost three times in a row today :P.

The only disappointing part for me was the dancing in the full moon scene. I too didnt like the blur effect and the jumping motion was a little bit strange. The voice acting seemed quite tuned down or monotonous also, considering the happy dancing they were doing, and there were no background noise, it was just strange. As someone mentioned, I too wonder how much of that part actually took place and if some just were Yoriko's delusions.

The character design reminds me of Claymore, especially the eyes. That Kanoko girl even has silver irises :3.

Spoiler for My thoughts on episode one:
Well that's a good guess, however there are a couple of things that oppose that guess. For instance Kanoko was crying and later said something like "I... probly.. soon" as if she was knowing she was going to die (or leave Yoriko) soon. And secondly I dont think pimples are a sign of getting old. I get them when I sleep too little, which is something they probably did too with all the midnight dancing and dating :P.

I don't know but maybe she pushed her on the track because she thought she was going to leave her. If she killed her they would stay together anyway because of the "reincarnate-in-to-same-person" thingy. But that still doesnt cover the appearance of the pimple :S, maybe it was a sign of sickness?

Anyhow, I think it can only get more interesting from here. Looks very promising. Looking forward for the next episode.

Fevvers

2008-10-17, 05:39

It was a decent first episode, nothing I'd write home about. For a series that's going for the whole mysterious route though, the music is far too obstrusive, instead of atmospheric. It wasn't that bad, just not what I expected and hoped. We'll see how it prgresses though, hopefully for the better.

I still prefer Shimizu Aki's design over Clamp's. Oh, well...

BranGor

2008-10-17, 07:48

I didn't find it angsty or emo.. I just found it boring and I only watched it because from anidb it said it was about them finding out about the mass murder of school girls... and what I got from the first ep is um.... I don't know what to say...

some weirdo girl choking her friend and then going "lawl jking, jking!" and then some yurish (to me...) scenes and then all of a sudden she jumps in front of the train I guess? Ya.. not a series for me. :S

I'm guessing you rather have a cast of characters that are flat and static, along with no personality or impact on the plot besides prolonging it?

Yea, Macross F is probably the series for you :S

kamikazex

2008-10-17, 07:58

sigh.....corruption. good start though

orion

2008-10-17, 08:16

I think one Yoriko saw Kanoko's pimple, she realised all that talk about not aging/goddess stuff wasn't true (prehaps a lie in her mind) and so she pushed Kanoko in front of the train in anger.What do you guys think?

Pimples don't normally grow on the back of your neck. Maybe it was something else there that got mistakened for a pimple.

signorRossi

2008-10-17, 10:19

Pimples don't normally grow on the back of your neck. Maybe it was something else there that got mistakened for a pimple.

They do, they do. Just eat some sausage with lot of plural phosphate for conservation in it and you will get them everywhere. :twitch:

Brack

2008-10-17, 11:29

orion

2008-10-17, 11:31

They do, they do. Just eat some sausage with lot of plural phosphate for conservation in it and you will get them everywhere. :twitch:

That is not normal pimple (acne (http://dermatology.cdlib.org/93/commentary/acne/hanna.html)) development. To have a solitary pimple on the back of your neck and not have any on the face which is the most common site is well... ridiculous.

I still think it's prob not a pimple (acne) that we were shown.

Kaoru Chujo

2008-10-17, 14:55

I felt this was a bit of a let down. Shows like Mononoke, Requiem Of The Darkness & Hakaba Kitaro have raised the bar so high now, that the frankly pedestrian visuals this show has just isn't good enough anymore. The two train scenes were passable, but the visuals throughout didn't create the sense of dread the story demanded.Interesting opinion. Thanks for that thought. But perhaps we don't need dread quite so soon, or at all. Maybe you're expecting the show to be something it isn't. I find the characters more interesting than those in Mononoke, for example, where they seemed somewhat one-dimensional to me. And as lovely as that animation was, it created an otherworldly feel, whereas this show seems to work from the real world out. And I'm finding much more dread or weirdness in this show than in Ghost Hunt, for example.

ZeusIrae

2008-10-17, 15:09

okay.....splendid visuals and really creepy story.I am in.I still have no idea what this is about.An other massive mindfuck to had to my list.

What creeps me out the most are the smiles.They are just plain scary.And Yuriko's smile at the end suggest she knew what was going to happen...but what did happen?We have no idea.

Shiroth

2008-10-17, 16:27

The CLAMP designs in this remind me a lot of the ones used in Suki (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=2305). Good to see they'll still use one of their other styles now and then. Carnelian would have been a great choice for this series --- i couldn't stop thinking of the Touka Gettan OP during those night scenes.

Very lovely first episode. The creepy scenes were very creepy (especially the opening one), and i rather enjoyed the dialogue between the two girls. All prepared to finding out what the hell is going on.

Solace

2008-10-18, 06:46

Finally saw the first episode of this. It's going on my must watch list. I loved every moment of it.

UltimaWolf

2008-10-19, 04:05

^ Agreed, Can not wait to see the next episode and find out what happens next.
The war flashback on the train was kinda creepy, it came out of no-where I had to check and make sure I was still watching the same thing. :heh:

ZeusIrae

2008-10-19, 05:02

BTW, I don't know if you cares but the show takes place in 1952(year 27 of the showa era which begins in 1926).
The flashback didn't come out of nowhere, it tell us something important about the policeman.He was having a nightmare about the war, he's a veteran.

ZeusIrae

2008-10-19, 05:03

Solace

2008-10-19, 05:54

I was wondering about the year thing, but I had figured that he was having a trippy flashback (it appear guilt related). But it did come out of nowhere for me. I thought the splash of blood was someone getting hit...and then it kinda went weird from there....

What's really got me going wtf is the opening scene. Since I'm not too knowledgeable about Japanese myth/folklore...what's with the head in a box? Does it represent a bad omen or is it an actual creature? Or is it just there to mess with your head and probably never be mentioned again. :p

Doppel

2008-10-19, 06:19

Solace:

The opening scene with the head in a box is basically the title of the show, Mouryou no Hako means "The Evil Spirit in the Box", mouryou is a mythological monster/spirit/creature typically of an evil nature. It's what Yoriko's mom called her during the slowdown scene in the gap of the sliding doors.

I'm not sure if it represents a bad omen or if it has other implications, but hell I think an evil creature's head in a box is bad enough haha

cyth

2008-10-19, 06:23

Solace

2008-10-19, 06:27

Dop

2008-10-19, 11:15

Well that was an interesting first episode. The head in the box, the detective's war flashback dream, and the story between Yoriko and Kanako which, while seeming like Marimite gone horribly wrong, kept making me think of the film Heavenly Creatures to the point where it wouldn't have been too surprising if they'd killed Yoriko's mother!

I loved the whole style of it, as well. Looking forward to the next episode to see where it goes from here.

Kaoru Chujo

2008-10-19, 12:52

I decided to check out this show only because of the high praise being tossed around at ANN, so my expectations were relatively high considering I decided to skip it completely before it aired. I don't know, I guess I'm not convinced over the displayed morbidity, I didn't feel any dread whatsoever, the yuri was pretty weak as well. I find the overall response toward the series a bit pretentious, and I strongly feel that quality animation isn't a good excuse for missing fabric of a compelling story. I wasn't moved by the two teenagers having or pretending to have a deep bond between each other, and I emphasize that this relationship shouldn't by any means be glorified just because one of them jumped (or got pushed) in front of a train. Just two crazy chicks, nothing more, nothing less. About Yoriko's mother, was she working for yakuza (possibly prostitution later on) or was she taunted by that guy to join a religious sect? <_<; I will give the show a few more episodes only because its description was hinting that the first episode is a prologue to a bigger picture.I actually found the head in the box kind of attractive, rather than dread-inducing, so I know what you mean. But I think of the lack of that kind of intensity as subtle rather than weak.

On the other hand, the emotional intensity was extremely high. I thought Takahashi Mikako was wonderful as Yoriko, and the relationship and the dance were both great. Bring on the angst! "Two crazy chicks" is a phrase that doesn't mean anything, to me. They had real feelings and were full characters. Desperation might have been involved, but no pretense, at least on Yoriko's part. We don't know what was involved for Kanako. That's part of the mystery. If it helps, I suspect more gore and more dread are both coming, but that might not be a good thing, for me.

I don't see any pretentiousness around here, just honest enjoyment.

My first thought was that the buyer might want to marry Yoriko's mother and was trying to buy her daughter's favor with a doll.

One thing I loved about ep2 was......the way the detective was so completely tone-deaf to Yoriko, and really didn't know how to deal with her at all. He was as out of it, in his way, as she was.

Shiroth

2008-10-20, 07:07

Episode two was decent enough. I'm glad we're jumping right into the detective side of the story. A little time jump can be a bit confusing if you don't keep a look out of the dates that are mentioned at the start of the second part of the episode.

Matrim

2008-10-20, 10:40

It's almost as if this show deliberately kept its best seiyuu for the second episode. Hisakawa Aya's character had quite a presence as befits a retired actress and I guess Kuwashima Houko's one will be more important than it looks if we disregard the famous seiyuu.

I am confused as hell about what is going in this series but I am confused in a "I want to see what happens next ASAP" and not in a "delete now" way. The hospital scene was quite a tease plotwise, the characters managed to talk a lot without revealing anything definite to the detective or the viewers. And the countryside car trip was simply beautiful.

sapphire-pyro

2008-10-20, 19:03

I LOVE the detective and some supernatural stuff in episode 2 xD Oh this is so interesting! I can't wait for the other two guys to show up xD The one who was playing with the kitty in the OP seemed fun xD

Kaoru Chujo

2008-10-21, 17:01

Ep3: just gets better. The early images from Kanako's point of view on the operating table are amazing, as is the wonderful late meeting with Yoriko. More props to Takahashi Mikako. And then the disappearance. The strong police detective. Yoriko saying she wishes her mother would die, and the mother calling her a demon and bringing in an exorcist. The guy knocking into her on the road. The evil doctor. Lots of great stuff.

yang_wen_lee

2008-10-22, 10:21

Hi
Sound's Great...
I LIKE the story ,,,,

I read what members write so I said to my self : you should see it ..
by the way ...
How many Epi of this show? Wish if it less than 30 Epi!!!

See Yaa

Thingle

2008-10-23, 06:01

I hope not 30. Maybe 12 or 13 at most.

Aero's subs are teh secks, but they're HD heavyweights. I'll have problems cramming them into CD's

Shiroth

2008-10-23, 06:41

It was official announced that the series will last 13 episodes.

Thingle

2008-10-23, 09:59

Some guy uploaded downscaled episodes.... Good. Good.

yang_wen_lee

2008-10-23, 14:06

It was official announced that the series will last 13 episodes.

If that so I can watch the show without problems ;)

I've seen the first Epi with Aero sub ^_^ I like it :p

WAITING for the next Epi......:rolleyes:

See Yaa

SMage

2008-10-27, 00:33

Episode 3

This may be premature assertion, but I'm going to say that Mouryou no Hako is the best directed anime I've seen this year. The characterization isn't the strongest I've seen and the story is still up in the air, but the atmosphere is deeply engrossing, the music is well used and the visuals are downright beautiful. Since this show has yet to conform to a usual anime plotline, I have no clue where the creators are going to go with this, and at this point in the narrative, it seems that they want to provide more questions than answers. Since I don't won't to get my hopes up too high, I might as well set my expectations low and say that there is a good chance that the show may not live up to what it has laid down. However, as of episode 3, Mouryou no Hako looks like a ballernia who is in the final minutes of an otherwise perfect run.

Matrim

2008-10-27, 08:38

This may be premature assertion, but I'm going to say that Mouryou no Hako is the best directed anime I've seen this year. The characterization isn't the strongest I've seen and the story is still up in the air, but the atmosphere is deeply engrossing, the music is well used and the visuals are downright beautiful.

Premature or not, I am jumping on this (rather empty, alas) bandwagon, too.

The opening scene of episode three was really creepy and although cliched, the red filters in in few of Yoriko's scenes worked like a charm. The disappearance of Kanako in the end of the episode did manage to surprise me even though we saw the ransom note earlier. There was too much equipment in the room where Kanako was and if add the scary appearance and tons of guards near the black box hospital, I suspect she might be used as guinea pig in some top secret experiments.

orion

2008-10-27, 12:12

I don't know if I should feel sorry for Kanako or not. She was being kept alive because of some inheritance issues and then kidnapped for the same reason apparently.

Who thinks that Yoriko manufactured that story about Kanako being pushed? I sort of think that Yoriko did the dirty deed herself or Kanako jumped.

Kaoru Chujo

2008-10-27, 12:15

I can't say "best directed" yet. Kurozuka and Kannagi are also worthy contenders for that crown. But I think this has just about everything, including the first stages of characterization.

And so far, I feel sorry for everyone but the apparent lawyer and the blonde doctor. Certainly for Kanako and Yoriko. The opening scene of ep3 was heart-rending. As for the accident, all possibilities are still wide open, for me. Nothing is pushing me in any direction...so to speak.

White Manju Bun

2008-10-27, 12:18

Who thinks that Yoriko manufactured that story about Kanako being pushed? I sort of think that Yoriko did the dirty deed herself or Kanako jumped.

I just started this series, in the middle of epi 3 at the moment but as soon as everything happened my first thought was Yoriko pushed her. I dont think Kanako jumped and after seeing the beginning of epi 3, Kanako's vision seems to support that. It does look like Yuriko is the one who pushed her but Im still not 100% sure about that.

The timeline of this series is throwing me off, the skipping days and such. I wasnt sure so Ill ask but the, did Kiba-san say Kanako died 6 months later back in epi 2? Right after they talk about transferring her to the hospital and her sister says she wont let her die? I didnt quite understand what he was referring to.

Im liking this series though, I love suspense and needed a good fix of it.

Shiroth

2008-10-27, 12:39

Who thinks that Yoriko manufactured that story about Kanako being pushed? I sort of think that Yoriko did the dirty deed herself or Kanako jumped.
My first thought after that scene was that she made it up, though i guess it's pretty impossible to say at this point if she's telling the truth or not. =/

orion

2008-10-27, 14:05

The timeline of this series is throwing me off, the skipping days and such. I wasnt sure so Ill ask but the, did Kiba-san say Kanako died 6 months later back in epi 2? Right after they talk about transferring her to the hospital and her sister says she wont let her die? I didnt quite understand what he was referring to.

Im liking this series though, I love suspense and needed a good fix of it.

The timeline is confusing me too. I don't think that Kanako is dead yet.

Maybe we should start a timeline for this one. This is sort of like pen and paper RPG time. :heh:

Here's my input....

1952 date unknown: Kanako and Yoriko become friends.
1952 date unknown possibly after grandmother's death: Sekiguchi meets a man on the train with girl's head in box.
1952 date unknown: Kanako and Yoriko plan to go to a lake on August 15th. Possibly a double suicide.
8/15/1952: Kanako has an "accident" at the Musashi-Koganei station (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musashi-Koganei_Station) (Approx. Koganei (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koganei,_Tokyo), since it doesn't exist for 6 more years.). Kiba is on train home. Kanako is transferred to another hospital. Yoriko tells her mother to die.
8/17/1952: Yoriko's mother starts thinking that Yoriko's been possessed by a mouryou.
8/18/1952: Yoriko's house gets purified. Yoriko meets man in town (the same one that was on the train with Sekiguchi) after being driven out of her house by the exorcist and has the inspiration for the "Kanako was pushed" scenario.
8/25/1952: Kidnap note was found by Kiba in the possession of Youko.
8/25/1952 onwards: Kanagawa police called in.
8/29/1952: First body part found (right arm). Kanako is still in the hospital supposedly. Yoriko visits hospital using the "Kanako was pushed" scenario to gain access and sees Kanako. Kanako attempts to say something to Yoriko and the police but they don't hear her. Kanako vanishes moments later.
8/30/1952: Second body part found (both legs). Sekiguchi arrives by train after being called in to help a newspaper with the Dismemberment case in Mitaka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitaka,_Tokyo). Gets lost and shows up at hospital.
8/31/1952: Start of ep. 3 and Kiba flashback.

We can update and correct it as things progress. This is prob one of those titles that you have to write things down so as not to miss something.

Koganei and Mitaka looks to be neighboring cities apparently (http://gojapan.about.com/cs/japanmaps/l/bltokyodistrict.htm).

Shiroth

2008-10-27, 14:16

Not a bad idea at all orion. I'll help update it as episodes appear.

orion

2008-10-27, 14:23

Hey, do you guys think that Yoriko looks like Kanako's mother and that may also be a reason why Kanako was strangling her?

Shiroth

2008-10-27, 14:31

Hey, do you guys think that Yoriko looks like Kanako's mother and that may also be a reason why Kanako was strangling her?
Someone on another forum i go on mentioned that. It's a high possibility, i'll give it that.

If that is true, then we may be able to come up with answers as to why the two are so strongly connected.

Kaoru Chujo

2008-10-27, 14:39

...did Kiba-san say Kanako died 6 months later back in epi 2? Right after they talk about transferring her to the hospital and her sister says she wont let her die?...I believe the line was actually "it happened six months later." Because it came right after Kanako's mother saying she wouldn't let her die, dying was the implication, and that's what the sub said. But it could have been something else (something we saw in ep3) that was being referred to, I think.

White Manju Bun

2008-10-27, 15:17

Hey, do you guys think that Yoriko looks like Kanako's mother and that may also be a reason why Kanako was strangling her?

Has her mother been shown? I just thought we've seen her older sister. Did I miss it. Also thanks for the timeline, it helped alot!

@Kaoru: ok thats what I thought, it just sounded weird when I read it but thats what I assumed her meant.

orion

2008-10-27, 15:21

Has her mother been shown? I just thought we've seen her older sister. Did I miss it. Also thanks for the timeline, it helped alot!

@Kaoru: ok thats what I thought, it just sounded weird when I read it but thats what I assumed her meant.

Her mother was strangling her in episode 3. It was in that flashback that Kanako had while she was in surgery.

No problem. I'm just glad I'm not the only one that needs to take notes for this one. :heh:

Matrim

2008-10-27, 15:30

I believe the line was actually "it happened six months later."

Interestingly enough the subs differ about that. [Nightshade-Yesy] has translated it "I heard later that it was two weeks after that" (15:18, ep. 2).
Aero has it as "I learnt later that it happened half a year later".

orion

2008-10-27, 15:59

If the series has events for 6 months, then we'll find out which translation was correct and what event Sekiguchi was referring to.

Matrim

2008-10-27, 16:12

I think he says 'hantsuki" which my dictionary has as "half a month".

White Manju Bun

2008-10-27, 18:17

Her mother was strangling her in episode 3. It was in that flashback that Kanako had while she was in surgery.

Oh right, my brain forgot that note. I guess Ill have to watch that part again. Im still wondering if Yoriko is lying. Her explanation did seem pretty good and she is glad Kanako is alive, of course her own subconscious could be doing this to block what she really did.

Zippicus

2008-10-27, 18:24

I've seen the first 3 episodes and I'm liking what I'm seeing despite being still very much in the dark as to what the hell is going on. The only negative so far is the incoherent timeline, honestly I wish writers/directors would stop using gimmicks like this so much.

Kaoru Chujo

2008-10-27, 19:22

I think he says 'hantsuki" which my dictionary has as "half a month".Having already corrected someone else on that score, you'd think I'd get it right myself, lol. It was definitely "hantsuki": "half a month."

As one who liked Touka Gettan, I don't mind these time shuffles at all, as long as they are telegraphed in some way and/or I'm not left in the dark for too long. In Touka Gettan, the first episode was the last thing to happen, the second episode told what immediately preceded that, and so on to the last episode -- which was the beginning of the story. Of course, it shouldn't just be a game, and should have some dramatic purpose.

orion

2008-10-27, 19:32

That means that Sekiguchi is referring to the dismemberment case finding of the right arm which was 2 weeks after Kanako's accident.

Sakuya

2008-10-27, 20:32

Am I the only one who's confused about episode 3? What exactly happened to Kanako and what were all the bits and pieces of white broken stuff on the bed and floor? :confused:

Shiroth

2008-10-27, 20:49

Am I the only one who's confused about episode 3? What exactly happened to Kanako and what were all the bits and pieces of white broken stuff on the bed and floor? :confused:
We're all just as confused as you, don't you worry. :p

I don't think anyone can give a full explanation to that yet.

orion

2008-10-27, 21:01

Kidnapped? Spirited away? Became an angel? Hey, the fun part is starting. How do you remove a body in a room full of people without leaving a trace of blood from the IVs being removed first? Stuff that looks like cement beside the bed on 2 edges only.

What about a full bed switch with Kanako on it? The elevator door masking the sound of the switching. The MD screaming and dropping stuff masking the last bit of noise from the switch.

Thingle

2008-10-28, 03:36

She was abducted,right? That's why she disappeared.

Zippicus

2008-10-28, 03:50

She was abducted,right? That's why she disappeared.

That's what the audience is being led to believe so far, well not completely, but it's the most likely situation presented at this point.

Thingle

2008-10-28, 04:20

Kidnapped? Spirited away? Became an angel?

These are plain BS. No one ascended to the heavens. Kanako was just a kid with a wild imagination that's all... and braids girl was an idiot to take her seriously.

Zippicus

2008-10-28, 04:47

These are plain BS. No one ascended to the heavens. Kanako was just a kid with a wild imagination that's all... and braids girl was an idiot to take her seriously.

Well not to say that isn't the case, but they did go out of their way to show us an image of butterflies flying around above her bed. One of the symbolic meanings of butterflies is a persons soul. They dropped a couple more hints that there might be some supernatural stuff going on as well. And we are talking about a show that presented us with a head, seemingly alive inside a box in episode 1.

Thingle

2008-10-28, 04:53

^Delusions. Our braid girl was distressed. It's usual to see things in such a mental state.

Matrim

2008-10-28, 09:07

These are plain BS. No one ascended to the heavens. Kanako was just a kid with a wild imagination that's all... and braids girl was an idiot to take her seriously.

Maybe but the guy on the train thought he saw a living head in a box, so it's not as if the two girls are the only ones to think there is something supernatural.

What I don't get is what kind of idiot would send a ransom note before performing the actual kidnapping. I would venture that Youko wrote the ransom note herself and and then dropped it "accidentally" in order for Kiba to see it.

Kaoru Chujo

2008-10-28, 12:31

We don't know anything yet. Maybe we'll have a better idea today. I would never call it "BS," though. It's a more serious thing than that. Are Kanako, Yoriko, and the amateur detective all delusional? Maybe, maybe not. We don't yet know if we are dealing with a real evil spirit, and if we are, all is possible.

The way Kanako disappeared was awfully sudden, considering all the lines that had to be disconnected. And the strange substance on the floor was significant. Why did the local detective lie about knowing what Kanako said? And what did she say? Why is that box building there? Who is the blonde doctor? What is the relationship between the local detective and him? Who was the guy who knocked against Yoriko in the street? Is it the same guy as had the head in a box? Was it Kanako or Yoriko's head or someone else's?

Kanako's sister seemed in too much distress for it to have been intentional that she dropped the note, but maybe. Whether she dropped it intentionally or not, she might have written it. Her lawyer might have written it, too. The time discrepancy between the note and the disappearance is fascinating.

Broadcast of ep 4 ended 30 minutes ago.

musouka

2008-10-28, 13:27

They dropped a couple more hints that there might be some supernatural stuff going on as well.

Supernatural things are alluded to, but only in context of the characters' mental states. The mystery itself and those involved are entirely human.

Thingle

2008-10-28, 14:56

^ See. Fairly telegraphed.

The plot mystery isn't like a cro cop head kick, but more like a brock lesnar right hand. I saw that pattern from a mile away.

It's a crime story, so it's human of course.

orion

2008-10-28, 21:01

Thingle

2008-10-29, 00:49

well, maybe there was just a box with no head and our detective is only hallucinating.

White Manju Bun

2008-10-29, 12:36

Well I kind of wonder about anyone who didn't report a guy with a girl's head in a box on a train. You'd think that would be a big deal or something. And then wanting the girl's head for his own. I wonder about Sekiguchi. :heh:

I wondered that as well but in this anime I dont know what to expect anymore :heh:

Is anyone else wondering where is the rest of her body?

Well if the head in the box is Kanako's which for some reason I think it is, Im not even speculating on where her body is right now.

Thingle

2008-10-29, 23:08

^ The head in the box is more likely to be Yori's. Take a closer look at it.

Wild guess
Kanako was the killer

SMage

2008-10-30, 00:33

Out of curosity, what's so bad about having some supernatural elements to spice up a thriller? Sure, the best mysteries tend to be explainable with purely down-to-earth reasons, but I'm fine with a few supernatural elements so long as the anime continues to be engrossing.

Thingle

2008-10-30, 00:54

^ To distract the audience, of course.

White Manju Bun

2008-10-30, 04:24

^ The head in the box is more likely to be Yori's. Take a closer look at it.

Wild guess
Kanako was the killer

Hmmm Im definitely gonna have to rewatch the beginning then cuz I thought the hair was longer but I agree with your part in the spoiler if Yori is in the box.

lightbringer

2008-10-31, 21:11

Visually, this show is pretty good. But god, do they manage to drag some scenes out... Can't say I particularly care about either of the two mystery/lunatic girls, though. Or any of the other characters, for that matter.

Anyway, I'm hoping that Yoriko does not turn out to be the one who pushed Kanako off the platform, because right now, she might as well walk around with a sign on her back saying "I PUSHED HER". It would be really boring if it turns out to be true.

On the other hand, the body count might yet go up. We don't know whose body parts are being found right now, after all, and there might be even more victims later on. At the very least, the focus should shift from "who pushed Kanako" to "where is Kanako and how was she removed from that bed" or even to "who dismembered Kanako" if she is unlucky enough, both of which should be more interesting.

White Manju Bun

2008-11-01, 14:07

ok Im offically lost...

watching epi 4, cant tell if Kanako is dreaming or is seeing reality. Sorry but the arms and legs walking around REALLY creeped me out.

Now we've jumped to Sept where it seems the body parts are being found so it appears she really doesnt have limbs...or they are someone elses and someone want to explain what the heck that opening scene was about???? Now he's killing people just to find whoever is in the box?? @_@

Thingle

2008-11-01, 14:11

^ Maybe it's still a delusion. If it were true (machine limbs), then that is the biggest attempt to jump the shark this year. Kanako's still too foggy to think rationally.

Gotta love Youko's panic attack though, it makes her MORE womanly.

The Kanako case and the limbs are separate things as of now. What's implied this ep is that the abductors (and killers) get prostitutes, although Yori's no longer the only person talking about mystery men.

White Manju Bun

2008-11-01, 14:34

^ Maybe it's still a delusion. If it were true (machine limbs), then that is the biggest attempt to jump the shark this year. Kanako's still too foggy to think rationally.

Agreed so hopefully there will be no shark jumping :)

The Kanako case and the limbs are separate things as of now. What's implied this ep is that the abductors (and killers) get prostitutes, although Yori's no longer the only person talking about mystery men.

Yeah figured that too but the opening scene still bugged me since it appears if they guy is doing it (again forgot his name) it seems like there are a few besides him since limbs now seem to be popping up everywhere. You gotta wonder how many killers are out there.

One thing I forgot to mention in my other post, always nice to hear Sawabe Junichi <3

Thingle

2008-11-01, 14:56

^ Until I see Kanako without her limbs attached, I'll treat the two as separate cases. There is a big possibility that Kanako's arms and legs have an uncertain future, but there aren't any leads yet.

Kirarakim

2008-11-01, 14:59

My policy with this show is to just sit back and watch because I am too confused to try to guess anything not to mention I bet a lot of things we have been seeing are probably purposely misleading.

I do think the "supernatural" stuff is probably in the characters heads, although some of what they think they see might be linked to the real truth somehow.

Thingle

2008-11-01, 15:04

the word confusing is granted. this is essentially a detective story.

Shiroth

2008-11-01, 15:12

Walking legs and a set of hands was completely wth, though that's the kind of wth i've wanted to see in this series.

I hope we hear more from Furuya Tohru's character. He knows how to do a great creepy voice.

Thingle

2008-11-01, 15:38

I like more Youko.

orion

2008-11-01, 18:56

I think that...

Kanako may have already been processed. The last shot of Kanako isn't showing any limbs and the guy with gloves on is looking inside a box at her. He's also most likely on a train. The light from the box opening only extending to past her neck and the view of the face of the gloved guy showed the end of the flap being above the level of his chin. I don't think that Kanako is in a full body-sized box but a rather small one.

That dream sequence could have been a way to show the viewers what happened to Kanako. The limbs walking off meaning that they may show up in boxes sometime soon.

Another timeline update...

1952 date unknown: Kanako and Yoriko become friends.
1952 date unknown possibly after grandmother's death: Sekiguchi meets a man on the train with girl's head in box.
1952 date unknown: Kanako and Yoriko plan to go to a lake on August 15th. Possibly a double suicide.
8/15/1952: Kanako has an "accident" at the Musashi-Koganei station (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musashi-Koganei_Station) (Approx. Koganei (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koganei,_Tokyo), since it doesn't exist for 6 more years.). Kiba is on train home. Kanako is transferred to Mimasaka Medical Clinic under the care of Drs. Mimasaka and Suzaki. Yoriko tells her mother to die.
8/17/1952: Yoriko's mother starts thinking that Yoriko's been possessed by a mouryou.
8/18/1952: Yoriko's house gets purified. Yoriko meets man in town (the same one that was on the train with Sekiguchi) after being driven out of her house by the exorcist and has the inspiration for the "Kanako was pushed" scenario.
8/25/1952: Kidnap note was found by Kiba in the possession of Youko.
8/25/1952 onwards: Kanagawa police called in.
8/29/1952: Right arm found in a steel box in Otarumi Pass which can be accessed (http://www.takaotozan.co.jp/takaotozan_eng1/course/course08.htm) via Mount Takao (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Takao).
8/30/1952: Both legs were found at Lake Sagami (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Sagami) in a wooden box.
8/31/1952: Yoriko visits hospital using the "Kanako was pushed" scenario to gain access and sees Kanako. Kanako attempts to say something to Yoriko and the police but they don't hear her. Kanako vanishes moments later. Sekiguchi arrives by train after being called in to help a newspaper with the Dismemberment case in Mitaka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitaka,_Tokyo). Gets lost and shows up at hospital. Gloved man was also sighted on the property. Dr. Suzaki murdered later that evening. Amemiya went missing.
9/6/1952: Hachiiouji (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachi%C5%8Dji) (Lake Sagami), right leg in a wooden box.
9/7/1952: Choufu (http://en.wa-shoi.com/?page=100494) , left leg in a wooden box; Noborito (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noborito) , right arm in a wooden box
9/10/1952: Akishima (http://www.virtualjapan.com/wiki/Akishima), 2 left arms
9/15/1952: Prostitute disappears.
9/16/1952: Tanashi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishi-tokyo,_Tokyo), body part found. Prostitute’s head shown in box.

Does it look like 2 different train lines are being used (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%AB%C5%8D_Main_Line)? Otarumi Pass, Mitaka, Hachiiouji, Kanako's accident,Akishima and Tanashi were along the Mitaka-Takao section whereas Choufu and Noborito were along the Tokyo-Mitaka section. Maybe the one killer is taunting the police.

Thingle

2008-11-02, 02:12

I wonder what her sister's reaction might be if she sees her limbless.

orion

2008-11-02, 04:34

So...

Does anyone believe that Sekiguchi is a copycat killer? Or is the opening sequence a dream reflecting his obsession with the girl in the box on the train and his desires to find one of Dr. Mimasaka's collegues from the military research unit who he thinks is behind all of this?

And...

Do you think that finding the parts at Choufu and Noborito are subtle digs at Youko (Choufu is the Hollywood of the Orient at that time) and Dr. Mimasaka (Noborito was the site of secret military research during the war)? If so why would the murderer feel the need to make it personal? Unless the killer is taunting the police by trying to tell them that he is close to Youko and Dr. Mimasaka?

Matrim

2008-11-02, 20:14

Does anyone believe that Sekiguchi is a copycat killer?

It would be too obvious since they basically showed it as if this was the case so early in the series. But I am still way too confused to be in a position to make any educated guesses, let alone theories. But I still harbour an irrational suspicion of Youko. After hearing Yoriko's story she thinks she has seen the black attired guy? Sounds fishy to me...

I think the most memorable part of episode four was Yoriko getting even creepier. I mean when she talked about Kanako becoming an angel

orion

2008-11-02, 20:26

I think the most memorable part of episode four was Yoriko getting even creepier. I mean when she talked about Kanako becoming an angel

Kanako is Yoriko's next life or some similar stuff. So I guess becoming an angel means that Yoriko will have a happy next life as well as dying before she become corrupt (before becoming an adult; age and wither). Yoriko pushing Kanako to her possible death and Kanako's ascension assured both in Yoriko's eyes. She's quite looney to me right now.

Thingle

2008-11-03, 02:03

It would be too obvious since they basically showed it as if this was the case so early in the series. But I am still way too confused to be in a position to make any educated guesses, let alone theories. But I still harbour an irrational suspicion of Youko. After hearing Yoriko's story she thinks she has seen the black attired guy? Sounds fishy to me...

I think the most memorable part of episode four was Yoriko getting even creepier. I mean when she talked about Kanako becoming an angel

It is an abduction/serial killer story. It just happened that some of the people involved are fascinated by spiritual things (we aren't even sure of their involvement). So focus on the facts and discard these angel tales.

Kaoru Chujo

2008-11-06, 02:23

It is an abduction/serial killer story. It just happened that some of the people involved are fascinated by spiritual things (we aren't even sure of their involvement). So focus on the facts and discard these angel tales.It's looking more to me as if the answer will be material rather than spiritual, but I'm still not ruling anything out. In ep4, Yoriko's mad look when she spoke of Kanako ascending made me think they were trying to tell us she was just crazy. But I still can't figure out a plausible way of abducting Kanako, especially since the evil blonde doctor doesn't appear to have been a party to it.There seem to me to be indications both ways in ep5. The remote viewing looked at least extrasensory, if not spiritual. But the bookseller's final statement that there is nothing miraculous in this world was pretty direct, especially after his seemingly mystical but probably Sherlock Holmesian correct statements about things he shouldn't have known.Anyway, color me pleasantly confused.

Mega-Japan

2008-11-06, 16:05

Just watched all 4 episodes and jeez, this anime is confusing O.O
In fact, "confusion" is the sub-name. I really tried to understand it but didn't get farther than what the picture was showing.
The whole thing about people being murdered and put into boxes reminds me a LOT of Sai from Majin Tenten Neugami Neuro.
Since I don't like Aero, I'll rewatch it if a better group picks it up or if Ureshii catches up to try and catch things I probably missed.

Thingle

2008-11-14, 00:45

What happens in ep 6? Has anyone watched the raw?

Sorrow-K

2008-11-14, 05:49

Having seen up to episode 4, one of the best things about this series is its choice of period setting. Japan in the fifties is such an interesting time and place as the entire country was in something of a state of flux, particularly culture-wise, with the growing influence of the West just after the war and the conflict with traditional Japanese culture. It's an idea that was addressed overtly in the first episode and then again in ep 4, but it seems to me that this idea of traditionalism v modern Westernism and Japan's interpretation of it is one that the Japanese still really grapple with to this day (at least if their media is any indication). Kure-nai is a recent work that immediately comes to mind that explores this idea. So far this is teasing us with a possible exploration of this theme. We know it's going to happen, we've seen the hints of it and it's pretty much stuck it's probe in a time and place where the signal is at its strongest.

It looks like the idea of Japan's emergence as an economic power is on the cards as well. There's this rather obvious linkage between this and the cultural impact of an open, international Japan in ep 4 when the scene segues from a shot of an array of chimney stacks blowing smoke into the air to a chaotic red light district at night. There's an irony, and real power about the shot of the chimney stacks, considering what we know now but they probably didn't know then, about the environmental impact of blowing all that dirty smoke into the air. It's a topical example that serves as a reminder of how commonly held views about something can change so drastically over just a few decades.

The story itself is really interesting, even if the mystery is holding the cards very close to its chest. There's a real meticulous analytical feel about how the mystery is being processed by Detective Kiba. I love the stark contract between him and Yoriko, he's so logical and she's so emotional. They're on such different wavelengths that they can barely communicate with each other. The war trauma at the crux of Kiba's character is an interesting one, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they make of it. It is a bit convenient that he's dealing with nightmares about the war and could possibly be involved in a case involving research into super soldiers (a kettle of fish in itself; let's hope this show makes more of that idea than Nijuu Mensou no Musume could), but I'm okay with forgiving the occasional contrivance (as long as it doesn't get to a certain level).

I'm liking what I'm seeing in this show so far. The set up for a serial murder mystery is perfect, the atmosphere is absorbing and there's numerous interesting themes in play. There could be more to these characters, but the hooks are there for some probing character analyses here and there. Hopefully the answers we get will do the initial mystery justice (too often with mystery anime the answers are anticlimactic).

Matrim

2008-11-27, 09:54

Almost a month later and one more episode watched I am probably even more confused than I was before. ;) First half of the episode was in my opinion needlessly long, second part was pretty much dialogue only. I am not sure if it was my imagination or the subs but I think it was implied Youko was actually Kanako's mother, not sister? Whatever the case is, if Kanako dies she probably will inherit the money, so I am even more suspicious of her. I am also interested how the hell are they going to prove who Kanako's father is without DNA tests. :)

Shiroth

2008-11-27, 10:05

Almost a month later and one more episode watched I am probably even more confused than I was before. ;) First half of the episode was in my opinion needlessly long, second part was pretty much dialogue only.
Yeah, waiting a while for subs doesn't help this show. I was a little lost at the start, though finding out the first half was just a story being told i felt alright. I do agree that the first half went on for a little to long just to prove a point when he could have been done in just a few minutes.

What a character Kyougokudou is --- very awesome. I'm guessing he has some kind of mind reading ability.

Kirarakim

2008-11-27, 16:13

What a character Kyougokudou is --- very awesome. I'm guessing he has some kind of mind reading ability.

Possibly or it could be something not supernatural at all. I really think this show is purposely trying to confuse us about what is real and what's not. And throw in Sekiguchi's novel (I think that is what he is writing) and it gets even more confusing. But I have to admit I am really enjoying it. And I am really happy that the 5th episode was finally subbed. I hope the next couple come out soon as well.

orion

2008-11-28, 01:42

I am also interested how the hell are they going to prove who Kanako's father is without DNA tests. :)

HLA typing (http://www.drgreene.com/21_71.html) or rare family blood type (http://www.journalarchive.jst.go.jp/english/jnlabstract_en.php?cdjournal=pjab1945&cdvol=50&noissue=9&startpage=764) possibly. Maybe the testing was already done. The lawyer didn't strke me as being completely truthful.

Kogura

2008-11-29, 08:25

Well i have finished watching Ep 07-08. With my basic understanding of Japanese, here is small summary for both eps.

in Ep07

there is a huge discussion about the Mouryou the word. Kyougokudou explains what the word means in actually its original from, and how the meaning of the word slowly changes as it travels through different region of the world. later on, it is brought to attention that the new paper reporter (the driver - i can't remember his name atm) states that he might have a lead on who is possibly responsible for all the murder cases - the head priest of the local shrine. Kyougokudou listens and states it as one of the possible suspects.

in Ep08

Akiba the detective visits the law doctor about those murder cases, and he receives some more information about the body they found. more importantly none of the body parts they found, are Kenoko's. the story then shift back to the Kyougokudou's resident as more people join in the conversion about the possible suspects for these murder cases. one of the most important facts they discussed is about kenoko's sister;she is really kenoko's mother. last part of this eps is about Yoriko, as she tries to find her place in the current world, until she finds herself trapped with the mystery man in white glove.

Kikoto

2008-11-30, 05:58

Seeing this show to ep8.
At end of ep.8 Yoriko behave as always stupid and is caught by that white glove man,who also abducted Kanako and seems is the real killer.
I suppose he will process her in next episodes,and in ep 11-12 when our detectives will finnaly unravel who/where the murderer is,we will see both Yoriko and Kanako heads in one box eternally together,yup real yuri love ^^
It seems that all supernatural stuff in this serie is just some delusions/illusions.
But seeing this anime bad end is rather only logical conclusion,when they both die.
But still I have hope for our both heroines,if I won't have hard proof of their death.

Kikoto

2008-12-02, 14:51

I just saw raw of ep 9 :(

http://i34.tinypic.com/2j5dfsm.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/2uqyhxs.jpg
Well we see Yoriko's arm cut off plus a piece of her hair stained in blood,so it's rather obvious she's dead,sadly.
The only thing which amazes me is mysterious man,Kubo Shunko,motivation in doing this,I wonder if Yoriko gave her life willingly hearing a promise of eternal life,but rather I think that she was strangled and after that dismembered,if he cut her when she was alive then I rather don't want to think about it.
I really wonder why they put Yoriko as such important character from start if she was killed like any other schoolgirl,maybe she was put there for that purpose so anyone who watched from start could feel something for this character,after all she is not anonymous as other victims.
I wonder what Kanako will do knowing about Yoriko death like that,and what it would mean in terms of her next life.
Also I really wonder now what happened to Kanako,don't tell me she is some kind of immortal experiment and Kubo Shunko taking limbs/body parts from other girls is trying to make her immortal or something,he pushed her on the train to be able to test her maybe.
But really shame Yoriko died,I wanted happy ending for Kanako/Yoriko.
I really wonder if we really will see some supernatural things in this anime,rather everything supernatural which happened so far was some delusions/illusions.
But maybe animators will give us some candy and at the end we wil see Yoriko/Kanako happy together in some distant future in their new reincarnated bodies.But sadly I doubt it.
I also hope that bastard too will get similiar painfull dead.

orion

2008-12-04, 01:08

Kikoto

2008-12-10, 15:34

I still think Kanako is alive,I think that our mysterious man just cut her arms and legs so he could easily move her around in some bigger box,seems she is a bit special for him,like a final masterpiece or something more which will be revealed in last episodes.

As for episode 10.

http://i37.tinypic.com/oiuq0j.jpg

Seeing Yoriko face at the end just creeped me out.
She just look like she was suffering a lot,at least she has strange grim on her face in the moment of her death,only thing I hope that she was struggled first,before other stuff happened.
As for Kubo well that devil escaped so easily,shame.
Seems I have to wait for subs to properly understand this episode better,really Kubo's motivation is just a mystery,well maybe he is Kanako father who got insane and that would explain few things for me easy.

Matrim

2008-12-16, 19:19

OK, please tell me something happens in the next episodes. Episodes 5 and 6 were as if taken from a whole different series than 1-4, so much talking about things which could have been said in much less time. OK, the second half of the episode was an exposition need for the overall plot of the series but the first half was quite a snorefest apart from Kyougokudou being really cool. Oh, and the cat, too. :)

Kirarakim

2008-12-18, 12:42

Shiroth

2008-12-18, 12:51

I've got nothing against episode six, i enjoyed it quite a bit though just like episode five i was more interested with the second half of the episode.

It's still funny to think that the whole episode was those three sat around a table, and it still looked absolutely stunning.

vspirit

2008-12-18, 13:59

...Sougetsu-san sure is a busy man this season.

achirist

2008-12-21, 19:02

I'm just dropping this show; the delays between episodes coupled with the general obtuseness have completely lost me, and I don't want to listen to long dialogues about "spirituality" either.

Sorrow-K

2008-12-24, 07:08

I enjoyed episode 6 but I understand why it would turn some people off. There certainly is a lot of talking which doesn't necessarily work well for animation. In this case it probably would be better to just read the book but since I can't I stick with the long animated discussion. Although the discussion about the different supernatural techniques, then leading to the story of the box maker was really interesting to me. I also really do love the quiet atmosphere of this series.
They really took the roundabout way to get to where they were going in ep 6. I admit at times that I had a lot of trouble keeping up, which makes me think this is one of those series that's better watched over a short period and/or requires a second viewing. Nonetheless, when they finally got there, I was seriously intrigued. I chuckled at Kyougokudou's final declaration: "How troublesome... I hate dealing with those (mouryou)".

Matrim

2009-01-28, 18:10

Posted by me a long time ago:
I am not sure if it was my imagination or the subs but I think it was implied Youko was actually Kanako's mother, not sister?

There was too much equipment in the room where Kanako was and if add the scary appearance and tons of guards near the black box hospital, I suspect she might be used as guinea pig in some top secret experiments.

And what do you know, judging by episode eight's developments I was right about both things. But still I really wish I had just waited for the whole series to be subbed before watching it, I am confused as hell and totally struggle to follow the plot due to the the gaps between episodes.

Proto

2009-02-09, 19:32

Definitely this is a series that is better seen in one or two sits as opposed to weekly or whatever other format given that each episode gives such loads of information. I watched till ep. 8, and I'm neither not that confident on my Japanese abiltiies to see the rest, nor do I want to spoil such an excellent series by just understanding half of what is said.

I think we should take every scene where Sekiguchi is alone with a grain of salt, given how he seems to be delusional half of the time, what with showing us passages from the meta story of the book he's reading with the characters from the proper story doing the casting, coupled with his passing comment about him being depressive.

Though it becomes just harder if we assume that the story lies to us.

Dop

2009-05-12, 08:33

Wait! What's this I see? Ep 9 subbed??? Woo-hoo!
I'd almost forgotten about this series. Thanks Himmel & RMS!

Only four to go. Let's hope that one day the whole series is subbed. Then maybe I'll sit down and watch the whole series in one go, because I'd need to.

Shiroth

2009-05-12, 09:07

I think the best thing to do with this show now is to wait until it's all been subbed, i mean it's been months since i've seen episode 8, so i'll probably feel a little bit lost if i started with episode 9 now. Will probably marathon the show show when it's complete. :)

SeijiSensei

2009-05-12, 09:44

I had enough trouble following the story when it appeared every week or two. :) Like Dop and Shiroth, I'm very happy to see someone has chosen to finish Mouryou no Hako, but I'll wait until it's finished before watching it all again.

qmeister

2009-05-12, 16:27

I just discovered this series when looking through the AniDB list of Madhouse works. I watched the first episode and, well, I'm amazed I hadn't heard about it sooner. It's definitely yet another example of Madhouse quality that I've come to expect. Hopefully someone will finish it properly.

Famke

2009-05-12, 19:20

Thanks to share this information

Wuzz

2009-05-13, 00:21

i was really struggling trying to sub this myself, i have watched episode 9 maybe 100 times! thanks you guys for finally picking it up.

that particular part where eno-san says "joohatsu shita anata no teeshi wa kami wa... etc etc" i could never figure out what he was saying.

the last 2 episodes are pretty EPIC too, REALLY pulls the series together and ties up all the loose ends. i gasped quite a few times. many surprises

SeijiSensei

2009-07-07, 22:47

I"m thrilled to see that Aoi has decided to pick up Mouryou no Hako starting with episode 10. I've really enjoyed Aoi's work on Genji (http://www.animesuki.com/series.php/1368.html), so I'm happy Mouryou no Hako has attracted that group's attention. I may break my earlier commitment to wait until the series is completed before watching it again and start over with episode one in the next week or two. I trust that having picked up the baton we can expect Aoi to cross the finish line!

Thingle

2009-07-07, 22:56

oh yeayeayeah!! Finally! That troll sub of ep.10 got me.

Shinkun

2009-07-08, 00:43

That troll release got me too! :frustrated:

Someone previously said that they were upset because Kubo escaped... Not quite, huh? :D Totally loved the plot twist at the end, though! My jaw dropped when the gang was informed about what had just been discovered!

Dop

2009-07-08, 05:31

Hurray for Aoi. Hope they'll continue with the remaining three episodes!

Kirarakim

2009-07-08, 05:42

Oh this is really good to hear. I put the series on hiatus until it was finished being subbed so yay. I am looking forward to finishing this series.

Shiroth

2009-07-08, 06:17

Oh this is really good to hear. I put the series on hiatus until it was finished being subbed so yay. I am looking forward to finishing this series.
Like i've said before, same what i'm doing. Wait until the series has been completely subbed, and rewatch it from the start. I've forgotten quite a bit.

Thingle

2009-07-08, 08:18

Like i've said before, same what i'm doing. Wait until the series has been completely subbed, and rewatch it from the start. I've forgotten quite a bit.

MnH has been a special case. I tend to watch each ep twice.

Dop

2009-07-14, 08:07

Woo-hoo! Aoi have put out episode 11 only a week after episode 10! That's fantastic of them!

Thingle

2009-07-15, 14:04

Kudos to Aoi ppl.

SeijiSensei

2009-07-15, 18:43

Kudos to Aoi ppl.

Shinkun (http://forums.animesuki.com/member.php?u=30075) has been doing some terrific work (http://animesuki.rut.org/group.php/34.html) of late. I started with Genji; now he offers us the rest of Mouryou no Hako. I've also watched a couple of episodes of Hidamari no Ki; that's a pretty interesting show as well. I don't know how he's found the time to start subbing Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, but he has! I've quickly grown to respect his work. I need to spread some rep around before I can give Shinkun more, so I leave it up to the rest of you for now!

Fate21

2009-08-12, 08:02

Episode 1 is cute :)

X-Japan

2009-08-14, 20:23

Alright, I just saw episode 12 and I am a bit confused. If someone explains it to me, I would appreciate it.

1. Mimasaka was the one who made Yuzuki Kanako into a huge machine. Was that huge machine the ones we could see in Mimasaka's laboratory?

2. Sazuki stole Kanako Yuzuki's "unusable" parts. If Kanako was already machine, why did he do this? Did he think he was getting the actual girl? And apparently, Sazuki had some kind of way to fix Yuzuki Kanako. How is this possible if what he stole was just unusable parts and Kanako had already been fixed into a machine? What I guess is that he was lying, as Akihiko Chuzeenji implied, just for the money.

3. Can someone clear up the inheritance thing? Sazuki was blackmailing Youko Yuzki with revealing that Mimasaka was her real dad and her mom who was dying wasn't her mom. First of all, did her mom know that Youko Yuzuki was not related to her? Apparently she did not, only the fake dad knew. And if the mom found out, I guess she would not get the inheritance? So that is why Sazuki was blackmailing her? To get the money?

4. From what I understood, the faked kidnapping of Kanako Yuzuki was set up by Sazuki in order to induce the inheritance money even though Youko Yuzuki's mom was not dead, since the costs of her medical care was high. But what exactly were they kidnapping? Just he unusable parts. So this question is similar to one I made above. Did they know she was already machine when Sazuki took her?

5. Who impregnated Youko Yuzuki with Kanako Yuzuki? I think it was her fake dad, not sure though.

6. Can anyone remind me who Amemiya was? This series took so long to sub that his character slipped my mind. If someone could remind me without spoiling episode 13

White Manju Bun

2009-08-21, 13:54

So glad the subbing for this is back on done apparently, there are only 12 epis right? By the grace of kami I actually remembered most of what had happened after I also put the show on hiatus after I watched epi 6. On 10 at the moment and still loving every minute of it. Question who's the seiyuu for Kyougokudou?

Edit: my bad there are 13 epis so one more to go!

Shiroth

2009-08-21, 14:15

Question who's the seiyuu for Kyougokudou?
I've been wondering that myself actually. Such a strong, powerful voice.

& yeah one more episode to go. Though i will say that episode 12 is easily the best episode of the series, Kyougokudou at his complete best. Let's see if the last episode can top it.

White Manju Bun

2009-08-21, 14:31

I've been wondering that myself actually. Such a strong, powerful voice.

He finally addressed himself by his proper name so I could chk ANN, its Sanji's seiyuu from OP.

& yeah one more episode to go. Though i will say that episode 12 is easily the best episode of the series, Kyougokudou at his complete best. Let's see if the last episode can top it.

Just finished 10 and damn that was so good, moving right on to 11. There needs to be more anime like this :)

X-Japan

2009-08-27, 18:56

Yes, this is one of the better anime to have come out since Seirei no Moribito

Shirogane

2009-09-13, 19:54

Sorry if this is a bit off-topic, but the fist novel of the Kyogokudou series, "The summer of the Ubume", has been released in english about a month ago. I definitely recommend it to who liked the anime series; besides being an interesting story in itself, there is a lot of background information about the characters (I found the bits about Enokizu particularly interesting)

I really hope they'll translate Mouryou no hako too; I bought the japanese novel some time ago, but it's so long that I don't think I'll ever have the courage to start reading it in japanese. Since there is a few key differences between the story told in the anime and in the live action movie, I'm really curious to find out which one was actually following the novel :o

Shiroth

2009-09-14, 03:29

Thanks for the heads up regarding the first Kyogokudou novel. Will hopefully pick it up by the end of the month.

MikaMiaka

2009-09-21, 18:05

This title is beautiful to look at but it's downright boring. I don't care what happens to any of the characters, and it's such a waste because it's been a while since I have seen anything so beautiful looking. The backdrops and character designs are gorgeous but the story -- less so.

When is 13 coming out though -- I want to see the ending irregardless.

Cosign

2009-09-28, 17:51

What's going on? According to ANN this show first started airing a whole year ago but episode 13 is still in the works? Has everyone dropped it already?

*shudders!* Please don't break my heart

Kirarakim

2009-09-29, 11:09

I don't think it is boring at all. In fact I found the anime very intriguing and I really want to know what it is going on. That being said I stopped at episode 6 because the subs were so slow (and it's not the type of series you want to wait a long time between episodes because it is easy to forget all the details).

SeijiSensei

2009-10-06, 20:27

Aoi seems to be back from hiatus, though there's no indication which of their current series will show up soon. I'm hoping we'll see episode 13 of this show followed by a couple of new episodes of Hidamari no Ki.

I sympathize a bit with MikaMiaka. The show got very "talky" in the second half with long disquisitions on mysticism, Onmyougi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onmy%C5%8Dd%C5%8D) and the like. I enjoy shows with a substantial dose of Japanese culture, but even I found Hako a bit yawn-inducing at times. That doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to seeing a subtitled version of episode 13.

SeijiSensei

2009-11-04, 10:26

I checked in at Aoi (http://www.aoi-anime.info) the other day and was dismayed that their site had disappeared. I began to fear we'd never see episode 13 of Hako (or more episodes of Hidamari no Ki for that matter). Today I checked again and they're back online; the updated projects page reports:

Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – Meiou Shinwa – Status: Ongoing
Les Miserables: Shoujo Cosette – Status: Ongoing
Mouryo no Hako - Status: Ongoing
Hidamari no Ki – Status: Ongoing, kind of stalled

So I haven't given up hope that Aoi will deliver the final chapter of this intriguing series.

Shiroth

2009-11-04, 13:07

Yeah i still have hope that they will release the last episode. When it is eventually released, i may have to rewatch episode 12 just before it. :p

SeijiSensei

2009-12-01, 21:06

Aoi has yet to release subs for any more series since August (http://www.animesuki.com/group.php/34.html), so I'm becoming more and more pessimistic that a complete version of this show will ever appear. I had some hope we'd see a well-established group like Live-eviL, gg, or Frostii take this show on when it was first released, but it just seems to have fallen between the cracks. Please, subbers, won't one of you pick this up, even if it's just for the one remaining episode?

Revenger1589

2010-01-01, 18:37

Last Episode was subbed. Mind = Blown

I'm downloading right now so I can't confirm if it's real.

Dop

2010-01-01, 18:51

What...? Could it be...??
I certainly hope so.

Revenger1589

2010-01-01, 22:05

It is real, god damn I can't believe this.

2010 is already an awesome year.

-KarumA-

2010-01-02, 05:23

Last Episode was subbed. Mind = Blown

I'm downloading right now so I can't confirm if it's real.

Yesh, it was catching dust for so long that I stopped checking. Seems like I can get my hands on all of them subbed now X3 finally!

Shiroth

2010-01-02, 08:37

Yes finally! :D

Will hopefully watch later today.

Dop

2010-01-02, 15:13

And now Aoi have posted one as well - a smaller file, by the looks of it.
Truly we are blessed with riches!

achirist

2010-01-02, 18:34

Wow! It's been years...maybe I will download all of it and marathon some day soon.

Echoes

2010-01-03, 04:56

Abbsolutely brilliant ending. Worth waiting for; without a doubt.

A huge thanks to the fansubbers, I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to finally complete this masterpiece.

Now, off to finish off Aoi Bungaku.

Shiroth

2010-01-03, 05:48

I haven't seen any of the series in months, and it's crazy how episode 12 explained pretty much everything. The whole show makes sense now!

-KarumA-

2010-01-03, 11:03

for me it has at least been a year since I last touched this, this is a perfect New Years pressent
I dropped it after everyone stopped subbing it for some reason, but now =D yayz!
Lets hope the older eps have enough seeders, cause I deleted those D:

ragnarokr

2010-01-03, 19:49

For some reason I can't seem to download the files from anirena, is there some problem with it?

Shinkun

2010-01-04, 01:54

Works fine for me.

Pixelation

2010-01-05, 03:13

Wow, episode 13 finally subbed. Sounds promising too...

I know what I'm doing when I get home... =D

White Manju Bun

2010-01-05, 13:32

Brillant. Why cant more series be like this. I cant believe I actually finished this since usually when series subbing slows I tend to drop it but I couldnt drop this and am glad about that.

Dop

2010-01-11, 13:42

I'd decided a long time ago that I wasn't doing this series any favours by watching the odd episode now and again whenever one appeared. So I'd decided to wait until I'd got every episode, and then one day I'd sit down and watch the lot.

Well, today was that day, and I have to say that it was totally worth waiting for. What a wonderful, stylish, and well thought out show that made you really engage your brain. Intelligent anime, for grown-ups. More like that please!

If only one of the western anime companies would take a chance on a show like this, just to show what anime can be like when it tries.

Finally, applause to all the fansubbers who translated this show over the last fifteen months or so - it's been a long wait, but we got there in the end. I think I appreciate that it can't have been an easy series to do.

Revenger1589

2010-01-11, 22:53

Dekigari released episode 14, I think it's just a special but more Mouryou is always good.

SeijiSensei

2010-01-12, 00:12

Among the many reasons I wanted to watch this show was the presence of Kuwashima Houko in the cast. So it shouldn't be too surprising that I was disappointed by how quickly her character disappeared from the story line. I'm glad she got an episode of her own (14), even if it was largely a recap of the first half of the series.

This is probably one of the creepiest shows I've ever watched. I'm still not sure I understand exactly what transpired, particularly the line between science and the supernatural. What powers the girl in the box? Was there really ever a girl in a box, or was this simply the product of Kubo's imagination? The opening presents the event as if it were true, but then later we're offered the plausible explanation that it's simply a scene in Kubo's novel. Yet at the end the tables seemed to have turned once again, and we're led to believe it really is Kanako's head moving in the box.

Other than the extraordinary character of Kyogokudou, I was most drawn to the star-crossed lovers Kiba and Youko. I so hoped they could end up together, though I knew it would never come to pass. The confrontation between Kyogokudou and the sham exorcist is perhaps the high point in the series for me.

Finally, the artwork in this series was just magnificent, probably the best I've seen since Moribito. I watched the OP on almost every occasion for its beautiful mixture of art and choreography, especially the segment where Kanako dances across the screen exposing Kyogokudou's room in the background.

If only one of the western anime companies would take a chance on a show like this, just to show what anime can be like when it tries.

Shows like these seem so far removed from what gets licensed these days. No ecchi and no real "action" to speak of makes it an unlikely candidate for licensing, but maybe a sub-only operation like Sentai might take a chance on it. I suspect Mouryou no Hako will sit on the shelf at Madhouse right next to Dennou Coil. I can't find any sales figures for the DVD or BD releases in Japan, though Hako's viewing numbers weren't that great (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geocities.jp%2Fanimesityouritu% 2F2008b.html) (look for Tuesday, 25:29).

SuperKnuckles

2010-01-12, 06:15

Wow. I hoped we got to see more of Kyogokudou's sister like in episode 14 thoughout the actual series. I thought the men were pretty, but then she comes along...

And wow, though only 15 minutes or so, it has quite the retrospective on the whole thing. This show even does recaps right..

As for the science of the show and the girl in the box, I think it's fairly evident that they were actually there. And the heads in the boxes being preserved like that, being a failed attempt at immortality.. And to think of it, the show ends with the start of television broadcasting in Japan. How ironic that they were going after such a forbidden and impossible science and then the TV turns on. lol

White Manju Bun

2010-01-14, 14:03

Wow I think epi 14 answered more questions for me then 13 did. Kyogokudou's sister's perspective on anything was a fresh way of looking at it. Id almost forgotten she was in the story since I didnt watch it back to back to back most of the time.

Her monologue at the end was awesome along with her walking to the box as the credits rolled. Simple amazing.

I agree with Seji, definitely one of the creepier anime Ive ever seen but I truly loved every minute of it.

achirist

2010-01-20, 18:02

I've just watched through the remaining episodes I hadn't seen, and I have to say this is probably one of my favorite series of all time. The artwork is wonderfully beautifull, the writing is intelligent, the characters are complex, mature, and fleshed out. While it crossed slightly into the 'horror' genre it managed to preserve an overall sensitivity and did not descend into thoughtless, immature gore. I remember way back when admiring the first episode very much for the romantic attitude of the two girls, and soon I came to adore the male characters as well. Such a good plot! But I couldn't believe how naive Kanoko was to just agree to meet this obviously creepy person at his dark house alone.

I didn't like episode 14 very much--one of the pluses of this anime for me was that it wasn't narrated/centered around a girl like that.

SeijiSensei

2010-01-20, 20:41

As for the science of the show and the girl in the box, I think it's fairly evident that they were actually there. And the heads in the boxes being preserved like that, being a failed attempt at immortality.

When the box was in the laboratory it was connected to lots of tubes and wires which presumably provided the necessary infrastructure to keep the head "alive." On the train none of these support structures were there, thus my original question, "What powers the girl in the box?"

achirist

2010-01-20, 20:50

When the box was in the laboratory it was connected to lots of tubes and wires which presumably provided the necessary infrastructure to keep the head "alive." On the train none of these support structures were there, thus my original question, "What powers the girl in the box?"

They explain in the show that, just like your laptop, once you unplug the girl she will still work to some extent for a day or two, but then she will die. So the girl in the box was essentially dying when Kubo saw her, which is why she could only make a slow, abbreviated attempt to speak.

eccdbb

2010-01-27, 01:21

What happened to the diaphragm? :confused:

Or rather was the sound an illusion due to the train whistling + brain freak-out?

Kanon

2010-02-14, 13:10

I can't believe I missed such a gem back when it aired. But in a way, I'm glad I did, the wait between the subbed episodes would have been a torture and would have probably made the show harder to understand. I would have loved speculating about this show though, this was the best mystery show I've seen in years.

I loved how Kyougokudou explained everything in the last two episodes, really EVERYTHING. He even went as far as to explain the motivations of the major players in the story. I thought I had figured out most the show by then but some of the revelations were totally crazy :twitch:

We need more shows like this. It seems there is a whole novel series starring Kyougokudou, I'd love to see a new anime about one of those novels. The characters of Mouryou no hako were so enjoyable.

Shiroth

2010-02-14, 14:50

Yeah, i'd love to see the Kyougokudou novels animated. Mainly because it's pretty much the only chance i'll have, as well as many others of being able to experience them.

Dop

2010-02-17, 05:52

I loved how Kyougokudou explained everything in the last two episodes, really EVERYTHING.

It was really one of those classic detective fiction "I have called you all here tonight..." moments, and it completely blew my mind with how brilliant it was.

We need more shows like this. It seems there is a whole novel series starring Kyougokudou, I'd love to see a new anime about one of those novels. The characters of Mouryou no hako were so enjoyable.

In agreement on all counts here - a Kyougokudou series would be completely awesome. We need more shows like this.

Speaking of the novels, I just found out the first Kyougokudo book, The Summer of The Ubume is out in English.
(amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Ubume-Natsuhiko-Kyogoku/dp/1934287253), amazon.co.uk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1934287253?qid=1266404183&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=8-1))
Cool! I've ordered a copy. Mouryou no Hako is the second book in the series, so we can only hope Vertical release more!