Backlog-- Higurashi review (writing sample 2 of 3)

Based on a popular series of visual novels for the PS2 in Japan, "Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni" is actually a surprisingly well-done anime. It's well characterized, intensely atmospheric, nicely paced, and shows a remarkable understanding of the execution of psychological horror. Yet for what it does right, there are a few things that dampened my enthusiasm for it, but weren't enough to make me push it away in favor of something else.

Too often an anime can't decide on a tone, switching randomly from cheery, goofy humor to grim seriousness, and this is present in "Higurashi" to an extent. But here such drastic shifts actually add to the overall effect as we see events involving the same set of characters in the same town go from bright and happy to hell in a handbasket over and over again, and there's almost an element of parody to seeing such aggressively cutesy-moe characters perform/get involved with acts of unspeakable evil (and in some cases, enjoy them to a degree that would make Heath Ledger's Joker squirm uncomfortably in his seat). It's kind of like watching an episode of Sesame Street turn into a trip to Silent Hill.

But this is part of what makes the first season (episodes 1-26) so damn fantastic-- the seemingly-unrelated arcs are all very nicely written, leaving the viewer to try and figure things out for themselves and keeping explanation rather limited; the violence is rather toned down (or at least compared to shows like "Elfen Lied" or manga like "Battle Royale"), but no less effective because the animators understand that teasing and suggestion and sound effects-- all the classic techniques of horror, even going back to "Psycho"-- can leave a bigger impression than simply watching someone get their head smashed in with a bat; the dramatic tension is masterfully built and sustained, and watching different characters-- all generally decent individuals-- slowly come unhinged for a variety of reasons is engrossing and, more importantly, believable. There is something oddly compelling about seeing things change but utimately go wrong again over the same two weeks, like a twisted take on "Groundhog Day," and the concept of being toyed with by some vague force beyond human control or understanding touches on something quintessential in horror, the fear of the unknown, quite well.

In all honesty, "Higurashi" is at its best-- at the most mysterious, most disturbing-- when focused on the Hotel California-esque nature of the town of Hinamizawa, the possible curses of ancient gods, the twisting, well-developed mysteries, the unexpected reactions of children to extreme stress and emotional pressure. The second season, "Higurashi Kai," instead decides to go in a different direction.

This season is entirely devoted to explaining EVERYTHING and bringing us a nice conclusion while setting up for another season. While this is done fairly well, it still takes away part of what made Higurashi so damn interesting, of being able to draw up one's own conclusions without having a somewhat "resident Evil 4" canon shoved down your throat.

To be fair, "Higurashi Kai" is still enjoyable-- we get an unexpected but excellently developed antagonist, and a seemingly minor character gets an important expansion-- but this is balanced out by, again, taking away the mystery and by bringing in a shamelessly, helplessly-moe character (while characters like Rika and Satoko balance this out by being competent and well-developed, this new character is literally standing around, looking helpless and whimpering half the time). Hell, "Kai" almost turns into a cookie-cutter anime entirely as we see the good old tropes like Big Faceless Corporations and Mystical Powers play such a big part. But by then, you're invested enough in the characters and their struggle that you want to know what happens anyway, so I guess it cancels out.

Speaking of the characters, while the ultra-loli designs lead me to believe that the original creator has a serious fetish (come on, the adults all look fine-- the kids could stand to look just a bit less creepy), they all manage to be likeable and sympathetic in their own way; even protagonist Keiichi went through periods where I really liked him (rallying the town together to save someone from domestic abuse), and times where I wished he wasn't there (threatening kids to let you win a card game? REALLY? :/). Even other characters who only appear for a little bit or who have incidental parts are interesting and at least feel three-dimensional rather than just vehicles for exposition.

In the end, "Higurashi" was a pleasant, dark surprise, with enough wacky humor and cringe-inducing violence to satisfy a wide range of tastes. And as much as I did enjoy it, I'm hoping that after this upcoming season it comes to an end. No matter what form of media it is, the worst thing a good series can do is not know when to stop.