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LKK · 2012-01-09, 15:47

I was impressed by the scenery detailing. The slightly unkempt schoolyard, the rust on the roof railings were 2 of the details that stood out for me. That attention to detail bodes well for the show. If they keep up with such minute detailing, this could be a visual winner for creepy atmosphere.

ETA: Another detail that just came to mind. Although I hear it's not uncommon for Japanese hospitals to not have a labeled 4th floor, the fact that the elevator buttons did not include a button for the 4th floor shows the town is highly aware of the superstitions around the number 4. (If you don't know, the Japanese don't like to use the formal word for 4 because it sounds too much like their word for death. That's why some hotels and hospitals don't have a labeled 4th floor. Similar to how many Western buildings don't have a labeled 13th floor.)

Silvance · 2012-01-09, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by viperdk1

I'd say you're probably right - though if it sells over in Japan...to quote the old phrase, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Oh good. I guess I don't have to see a specialist then. XD

Also, I tried watching the opening without the sounds... It suddenly became my favorite opening for this season. It's so freaky, man. Maybe the thunderstorm outside and my dark room improved it even more. :3

Quote:

Originally Posted by LKK

(If you don't know, the Japanese don't like to use the formal word for 4 because it sounds too much like their word for death. That's why some hotels and hospitals don't have a labeled 4th floor. Similar to how many Western buildings don't have a labeled 13th floor.)

Well that's really interesting. I've always wondered why I never hear anyone say "Shi."

Miraluka · 2012-01-09, 16:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvance

Spoiler:

Ha, its just their faces after a surprise test.

DXMichael · 2012-01-09, 16:32

Hmm...the anime does have some kind of creepy vibe to it, but it doesn't want to make me cringe up or curl into a ball, nothing like that. It actually keeps me more focused on the anime itself and makes me take a closer look at the things they say, do and the things around them. Oh, and the opening is waayyy to cheerful.

I had my suspicions near the start when Kouchi was in the hospital bed and he was visited by three of his classmates. They seemed very uncomfortable saying his last name to the point that they requested being allowed to say his first name. Sakakibara, a name which Mei Misaki says is related to a terrible death that happened.

At the very start, we are given some images and dialogue. We are given the name Misaki from 9th grade and class 3 and that the event happened 26 years ago. This could mean some things. Either Kouchi is in the present day telling a story that happened 26 years ago involving Mei Misaki, or someone related to Mei Misaki was the one that was involved in the horrible death 26 years ago and the present day is now Mei Misaki and Kouchi in school together. Other explanation could be paranormal, undead, or just maybe even an illusion created by everyone in the class, lets not forget that all the students acted as if she was still alive and still in the class.

An image of a knife on the floor covered in blood shows up. This may perhaps be the reason Mei Misaki wears an eyepatch. Another image we see is an elevator, which looks pretty similar to the one Mei and Kouchi was in when they were in the hospital. In that scene, Mei says "My poor other half is waiting for me there" and goes to the Basement level 2 which is the Morgue. Note that she also said she was there to deliver something and she had a doll in her hand.

The class seem pretty obediant and quiet during lesson, even the teachers are serious. But when class is over, they act like any normal class would, with the anime going from shot to shot of the classmates, but they appear to be submissioned into fear on not mentioning Mei Misaki.

These are just clues i've seen, anyone is free to question or correct me

Overall, an interesting first episode. I would want to get more interested in the characters in the future episodes as not much was seen from them.

Hiroi Sekai · 2012-01-09, 16:33

Not bad, not bad at all. This was supposed to be my extra series of the season that I wouldn't write on but watch nonetheless, but it looks like I picked up a few more without thinking.

Anyways, I like the direction this show is going, and 12 episodes seems like a good length for something like this. I'm personally not a fan of ALI PROJECT, but I did enjoy the ending theme myself. Aside from that, the atmosphere is quite good and I'm interested in seeing where this will lead.

Candyshark · 2012-01-09, 16:41

heh 3 rows of girls 2 of guys besides that guy in the back. What starts to disturb me in PA works animation they are like CLAMP everybody loks too attractive. I knwo wierd aspect to pick on but part of me wishes to see few blander character here and there.

Wandering_Youth · 2012-01-09, 17:07

Hmm, a creepy town, creepy school, school faculty and classmates that are very suspicious...

I initially never knew of this anime till I was bored and looked up the description for it. Now I'm hooked because of the mystery, gloom and doom atmosphere.

This is anime is such a contrast to most of the previous anime that I recently watched so it's a nice change.

I'm expecting heads and limps to go flying at some point in this anime or at least gory death scenes.

Ray · 2012-01-09, 17:12

Gah, I want moar. I love the eerie atmosphere that was present throughout the episode.

Design-wise, the MC reminds me of Satoshi from Corpse Party. I seriously hope that this will be the only parallel I will be able to draw between these two horror stories.

Shear666 · 2012-01-09, 17:29

... as much as I enjoyed the first Episode I will murder the Guy who thought that opening Song was a good Idea

Kanon · 2012-01-09, 17:46

What a fascinating first episode! Most definitely my favorite this season alongside Nisemonogatari's.

As has already been said, the atmosphere was positively creepy and oppressive. I was particularly impressed with the musical direction, the BGMs not only sounded beautiful, they fit the tone of the series perfectly and as a matter of fact largely contribute to it. That is good use of music right there.
Too bad they weren't as inspired when they chose who would perform the Opening song. It's completely out of place. You could replace it with any other song (that isn't an Ali project song, that is - otherwise you wouldn't notice a difference) and it would fit better.

I enjoyed the directing as well. The scene where several people are talking to Kouichi stood out for me. I loved how we got to see what everybody else in the classroom was doing. A lot of other series would have simply focused on the small group gathered around Kouichi, resulting in a static and boring sequence.

Moving on to the plot. We don't have much to go on yet, a girl named Misaki Mei was killed 26 years ago (but 26 years from when? 1998?), however, a girl by the same name roams the school. Said school looking horribly shabby (rust EVERYWHERE). The classmates are friendly on the surface -at least some of them are- but are obviously trying to hide something. The biggest mystery right now is whether she's a ghost/zombie/whatever supernatural stuff allows a dead girl to walk or a girl pretending to be Misaki for some obscure reason.

Dop · 2012-01-09, 17:53

This looks promising, I loved the whole creepy and unnerving atmosphere that the show created. That dilapidated look to the setting, and I also noticed the missing fourth floor in the hospital and realised why it was missing.

The atmosphere of this show does give me hope for a more suspenseful kind of horror story rather than just splashing around the ol' claret.

TurkeyPotPie · 2012-01-09, 18:07

Interesting first episode, but I didn't quite get the creepy feeling of impending dread I was expecting (and hoping for). Still a good setup. I knew almost nothing about this show going in, so when I saw Koichi's cellphone I was like WTF? What an old school phone.

So this is only one cour? A pity, it would be nice to get a longer horror show.

Utsuro no Hako · 2012-01-09, 18:59

That was the first time in a while where I got to the end of an episode and was surprised it was over already. They got through a good bit of the manga while still maintaining a slow, creepy vibe. Hopefully they can maintain that pace for the rest of the series.

I'm still not sold on the Noizi Itou designs. The secondary characters look fine, but Sakakibara and Misaki look so much better in the manga. The rest of the animation is excellent, as expected from PA Works. It's nice to see them give us a setting that's run-down and bleak for a change.

The OP ... well, at least it's better than Ghosthunt. When the ED started, I thought for a moment that it was Amagami SS, but as it went on it reminded me more of Angel Beats.

My only major complaint is that over the last couple seasons I've gotten used to watching a light comedies -- Yuru Yuri, Squid Girl -- with dinner on Mondays. This creates a completely different mood.

DezoPenguin · 2012-01-09, 19:03

Excellent first episode. If Bodacious Space Pirates is the "damn, I had no idea it was going to be this good" show of the season, then Another is the "just as excellent as I expected it was going to be." At least from the first episode. It's not particularly scary, per se, but there's an excellent sense of atmosphere as everyone else has already mentioned, and so many hints are dropped just by looking around here and there (Sakakibara's mother's absence (and why his dad left the country, and what his grandfather had to say...)? What his aunt said about following the rules? The existence of a class officer for "countermeasures"? What it is the kids aren't saying about the significance of his last name? What the teacher said about everyone graduating in good health? Why Mei's desk is so battered and scratched? Even that one girl's injured ankle... And none of that even touches directly on the conversations Kouichi had with Mei.) that I'm eager to delve deeper into Yomiyama's mysteries...

As everyone else has mentioned, though, that Ali Project OP is completely awful. It's not a good song generally, and the bouncy pop melody is utterly alien to both the teaser sequence before it and the show after it. The imagery during the opening scenes was quite nice, though.

Mentar · 2012-01-09, 19:04

Picture me surprised by the overall positive reception here. Around the 6 minute mark I simply gave up. The usual Ali Project howling weakened my defenses, but when a total of 6 characters where shown, and every single one of them managed to somehow annoy me, I aborted.

Then again, old supposedly creepy legends put me to sleep sooner than anything else. So please scout the way ahead for me, and if some friends convince me that some great story lies behind all this, I'll probably give it a second chance. But for now, not. Pity for the pretty backgrounds.

Arya · 2012-01-09, 19:04

Nice first episode. The pacing fits perfectly with the oppressive atmosphere and the detailed animation. Remarkable animation, I'd say.
I also noticed the missing 4th floor button, but didn't know why. So thanks to LKK for explanation.

Spoiler for for Mei:

Zakoo · 2012-01-09, 19:05

Holy crap, it's 1 am here, it's dark, the anime doesn't seem to have any loli to excite me.

In short, it makes me shit my pants, WHERE THE HELL IS THAT DAMN FLOOR 4?
No I won't be able to keep it up, it's worse than Higurashi, my heart will explode before the anime ends.

AzureWrath · 2012-01-09, 19:18

Four is pronounced similar to death in Chinese so some buildings don't have a 4th floor because it is associated with death (it is a superstition kind of thing).

Now this might have already been mentioned, but what does our MC's (Sakakaibara or so?) name mean? Does it give any insight into the plot?

Zakoo · 2012-01-09, 19:20

Man, it was such a reason? Shi and Shinu? The camera was centered so much between the passage 5=>3 I thought there was some plot.

LKK · 2012-01-09, 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zakoo

Man, it was such a reason? Shi and Shinu? The camera was centered so much between the passage 5=>3 I thought there was some plot.

I don't think the missing #4 elevator button was a plot point so much as an atmospheric touch. Meant to add to the creepiness factor rather than to indicate some weird and possibly sinister happenings on the "nonexistent" 4th floor. (If there weren't such a standing superstition in Japan about the number 4, that would have been my explanation for a missing floor.)

2012-01-09, 15:47	Link #161
LKK Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 62	I was impressed by the scenery detailing. The slightly unkempt schoolyard, the rust on the roof railings were 2 of the details that stood out for me. That attention to detail bodes well for the show. If they keep up with such minute detailing, this could be a visual winner for creepy atmosphere. ETA: Another detail that just came to mind. Although I hear it's not uncommon for Japanese hospitals to not have a labeled 4th floor, the fact that the elevator buttons did not include a button for the 4th floor shows the town is highly aware of the superstitions around the number 4. (If you don't know, the Japanese don't like to use the formal word for 4 because it sounds too much like their word for death. That's why some hotels and hospitals don't have a labeled 4th floor. Similar to how many Western buildings don't have a labeled 13th floor.) __________________ Avatar: Hazuki of Natsuyuki Rendezvous / Signature: flowers from Natsuyuki Rendezvous Last edited by LKK; 2012-01-09 at 16:03.

2012-01-09, 16:32	Link #164
DXMichael Psycho Falling Deep Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: The Anime World Age: 29	Hmm...the anime does have some kind of creepy vibe to it, but it doesn't want to make me cringe up or curl into a ball, nothing like that. It actually keeps me more focused on the anime itself and makes me take a closer look at the things they say, do and the things around them. Oh, and the opening is waayyy to cheerful. I had my suspicions near the start when Kouchi was in the hospital bed and he was visited by three of his classmates. They seemed very uncomfortable saying his last name to the point that they requested being allowed to say his first name. Sakakibara, a name which Mei Misaki says is related to a terrible death that happened. At the very start, we are given some images and dialogue. We are given the name Misaki from 9th grade and class 3 and that the event happened 26 years ago. This could mean some things. Either Kouchi is in the present day telling a story that happened 26 years ago involving Mei Misaki, or someone related to Mei Misaki was the one that was involved in the horrible death 26 years ago and the present day is now Mei Misaki and Kouchi in school together. Other explanation could be paranormal, undead, or just maybe even an illusion created by everyone in the class, lets not forget that all the students acted as if she was still alive and still in the class. An image of a knife on the floor covered in blood shows up. This may perhaps be the reason Mei Misaki wears an eyepatch. Another image we see is an elevator, which looks pretty similar to the one Mei and Kouchi was in when they were in the hospital. In that scene, Mei says "My poor other half is waiting for me there" and goes to the Basement level 2 which is the Morgue. Note that she also said she was there to deliver something and she had a doll in her hand. The class seem pretty obediant and quiet during lesson, even the teachers are serious. But when class is over, they act like any normal class would, with the anime going from shot to shot of the classmates, but they appear to be submissioned into fear on not mentioning Mei Misaki. These are just clues i've seen, anyone is free to question or correct me Overall, an interesting first episode. I would want to get more interested in the characters in the future episodes as not much was seen from them. __________________ Last edited by DXMichael; 2012-01-09 at 17:52.

2012-01-09, 17:07	Link #167
Wandering_Youth lost in wonder forever... Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: edge of my dream in the land of twilight...ZzzZzZ	Hmm, a creepy town, creepy school, school faculty and classmates that are very suspicious... I initially never knew of this anime till I was bored and looked up the description for it. Now I'm hooked because of the mystery, gloom and doom atmosphere. This is anime is such a contrast to most of the previous anime that I recently watched so it's a nice change. I'm expecting heads and limps to go flying at some point in this anime or at least gory death scenes. __________________

2012-01-09, 17:46	Link #170
Kanon Kana Hanazawa ♥ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: France Age: 37	What a fascinating first episode! Most definitely my favorite this season alongside Nisemonogatari's. As has already been said, the atmosphere was positively creepy and oppressive. I was particularly impressed with the musical direction, the BGMs not only sounded beautiful, they fit the tone of the series perfectly and as a matter of fact largely contribute to it. That is good use of music right there. Too bad they weren't as inspired when they chose who would perform the Opening song. It's completely out of place. You could replace it with any other song (that isn't an Ali project song, that is - otherwise you wouldn't notice a difference) and it would fit better. I enjoyed the directing as well. The scene where several people are talking to Kouichi stood out for me. I loved how we got to see what everybody else in the classroom was doing. A lot of other series would have simply focused on the small group gathered around Kouichi, resulting in a static and boring sequence. Moving on to the plot. We don't have much to go on yet, a girl named Misaki Mei was killed 26 years ago (but 26 years from when? 1998?), however, a girl by the same name roams the school. Said school looking horribly shabby (rust EVERYWHERE). The classmates are friendly on the surface -at least some of them are- but are obviously trying to hide something. The biggest mystery right now is whether she's a ghost/zombie/whatever supernatural stuff allows a dead girl to walk or a girl pretending to be Misaki for some obscure reason. __________________

2012-01-09, 19:03	Link #174
DezoPenguin Beta by Accident Author Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Maine Age: 52	Excellent first episode. If Bodacious Space Pirates is the "damn, I had no idea it was going to be this good" show of the season, then Another is the "just as excellent as I expected it was going to be." At least from the first episode. It's not particularly scary, per se, but there's an excellent sense of atmosphere as everyone else has already mentioned, and so many hints are dropped just by looking around here and there (Sakakibara's mother's absence (and why his dad left the country, and what his grandfather had to say...)? What his aunt said about following the rules? The existence of a class officer for "countermeasures"? What it is the kids aren't saying about the significance of his last name? What the teacher said about everyone graduating in good health? Why Mei's desk is so battered and scratched? Even that one girl's injured ankle... And none of that even touches directly on the conversations Kouichi had with Mei.) that I'm eager to delve deeper into Yomiyama's mysteries... As everyone else has mentioned, though, that Ali Project OP is completely awful. It's not a good song generally, and the bouncy pop melody is utterly alien to both the teaser sequence before it and the show after it. The imagery during the opening scenes was quite nice, though. __________________ RadiantBeam's Complete Index to the Shadowverse

2012-01-09, 16:41	Link #166
Candyshark Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011	heh 3 rows of girls 2 of guys besides that guy in the back. What starts to disturb me in PA works animation they are like CLAMP everybody loks too attractive. I knwo wierd aspect to pick on but part of me wishes to see few blander character here and there.

2012-01-09, 17:12	Link #168
Ray Garnet Join Date: Dec 2011 Age: 29	Gah, I want moar. I love the eerie atmosphere that was present throughout the episode. Design-wise, the MC reminds me of Satoshi from Corpse Party. I seriously hope that this will be the only parallel I will be able to draw between these two horror stories.

2012-01-09, 17:29	Link #169
Shear666 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2004	... as much as I enjoyed the first Episode I will murder the Guy who thought that opening Song was a good Idea

2012-01-09, 17:53	Link #171
Dop Mmmm.... Join Date: Sep 2006	This looks promising, I loved the whole creepy and unnerving atmosphere that the show created. That dilapidated look to the setting, and I also noticed the missing fourth floor in the hospital and realised why it was missing. The atmosphere of this show does give me hope for a more suspenseful kind of horror story rather than just splashing around the ol' claret.

2012-01-09, 18:07	Link #172
TurkeyPotPie fushigi ojisan Join Date: Jan 2011	Interesting first episode, but I didn't quite get the creepy feeling of impending dread I was expecting (and hoping for). Still a good setup. I knew almost nothing about this show going in, so when I saw Koichi's cellphone I was like WTF? What an old school phone. So this is only one cour? A pity, it would be nice to get a longer horror show.

2012-01-09, 18:59	Link #173
Utsuro no Hako Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011	That was the first time in a while where I got to the end of an episode and was surprised it was over already. They got through a good bit of the manga while still maintaining a slow, creepy vibe. Hopefully they can maintain that pace for the rest of the series. I'm still not sold on the Noizi Itou designs. The secondary characters look fine, but Sakakibara and Misaki look so much better in the manga. The rest of the animation is excellent, as expected from PA Works. It's nice to see them give us a setting that's run-down and bleak for a change. The OP ... well, at least it's better than Ghosthunt. When the ED started, I thought for a moment that it was Amagami SS, but as it went on it reminded me more of Angel Beats. My only major complaint is that over the last couple seasons I've gotten used to watching a light comedies -- Yuru Yuri, Squid Girl -- with dinner on Mondays. This creates a completely different mood.

2012-01-09, 19:04	Link #175
Mentar Banned Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hamburg Age: 54	Picture me surprised by the overall positive reception here. Around the 6 minute mark I simply gave up. The usual Ali Project howling weakened my defenses, but when a total of 6 characters where shown, and every single one of them managed to somehow annoy me, I aborted. Then again, old supposedly creepy legends put me to sleep sooner than anything else. So please scout the way ahead for me, and if some friends convince me that some great story lies behind all this, I'll probably give it a second chance. But for now, not. Pity for the pretty backgrounds.

2012-01-09, 19:04	Link #176
Arya Senior Member Join Date: May 2004	Nice first episode. The pacing fits perfectly with the oppressive atmosphere and the detailed animation. Remarkable animation, I'd say. I also noticed the missing 4th floor button, but didn't know why. So thanks to LKK for explanation. Spoiler for for Mei: right now nothing could be said, anyways at first I had the impression that the MC was the only one who could see Mei, but now I'm not sure. The prologue talked about a girl dead 26 year before. Before middle ninety's looking at that phone So, after her death the class lived as she wasn't dead until graduation, then ... i thought for some reason they repeated that behavior over and over again. But now i'not sure, she looks real. Ah, did something suspicious happen with the three "welcome" schoolmates? I mean one girl with the bandage ankle, the second absent __________________ *The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them.*

2012-01-09, 19:05	Link #177
Zakoo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Gensokyo	Holy crap, it's 1 am here, it's dark, the anime doesn't seem to have any loli to excite me. In short, it makes me shit my pants, WHERE THE HELL IS THAT DAMN FLOOR 4? No I won't be able to keep it up, it's worse than Higurashi, my heart will explode before the anime ends.

2012-01-09, 19:18	Link #178
AzureWrath Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011	Four is pronounced similar to death in Chinese so some buildings don't have a 4th floor because it is associated with death (it is a superstition kind of thing). Now this might have already been mentioned, but what does our MC's (Sakakaibara or so?) name mean? Does it give any insight into the plot? __________________

2012-01-09, 19:20	Link #179
Zakoo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Gensokyo	Man, it was such a reason? Shi and Shinu? The camera was centered so much between the passage 5=>3 I thought there was some plot.