Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

Synopsis:

Hinamizawa looks like your normal country-side town with no more than a population of 2000. Shortly after Keiichi Maebara moves to town he slowly learns from his friends that not everything is peaceful as it seems when he hears the story of what happens after the annual Watanagashi Festival. Even though the festival a celebration to commemorate and give thanks to the local god, Oyashiro-sama, every year for the last four years one of the towns-people is murdered and another disappears. Determined to discover why his friends are hiding this town secret, Keiichi soon finds himself getting drawn into bizarre series of events that take place around the festival.


Reviewer: Endosanity
Number of episodes watched: 26


Review:

Right from the start you'll notice that Higurashi no Naku Koro ni has a strong, remarkable, original plot. What makes this series out of the ordinary is that it's not one long 26 episode story, what actually happens is a series of events told from a different characters point of view and plays out over a few episodes. It also shows what could have taken place had things been said differently or if someones actions changed slightly, which may seem a bit disorienting at first but then you realize you're just getting answers to questions you were probably already asking. Now, the characters aren't someone to get attached to or look for depth... that would only ruin it to be honest. They are only plot devices to unfold the story with and I didn't mind this at all and this is coming from someone who relies on the characters to make an anime stand out but here it's the plot that's putting this series at the top of my list.

It's extremely violent, bloody, and may even have you wincing at times thinking "ouch!" so whatever you do... DON'T LET THE FIRST EPISODE FOOL YOU! I can't stress that enough as it's all cutesy right up till the last few minutes as the shit is about to hit the fan. The animation is a little old looking but easily overlooked as you're going to be pulled into the towns mysteries anyway and you won't even notice it after a while especially when mixed with such a compelling plot. *HIGHLY* recommended.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (opening)

Recommendation: |Very High|