Anime Review: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kira OVA 1

Gigano

Whose Eyes Are Those Eyes?
Oct 15, 2009
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[HEADING=1]Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kira OVA Review[/HEADING]

Introduction:
The Higurashi no Naku Koro ni series is a venerable Japanese series based on an adventure game series of kinetic sound novels (for all practical purposes that I can see visual novels [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_novels]), whose excellent horror mystery setup have allowed it to expand into other mediums as well, most notably the main anime series [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/anime/6503-Anime-Review-Higurashi-When-They-Cry]. There are two main seasons of said anime, with a 5 OVA series constituting what can arguably be termed a 3rd season. In celebration of the series' 10th year anniversary, four new OVA's have been released as a tribute to he series, and the first of these - the "Penalty Loving Chapter", or Batsukoishi-hen - is the subject of this short review.

[IMG width=400, height=250, alt=Although it admittedly does provide a fitting contrast to Keichii's fantasies on the other characters, which are certainly no less preposterous.]http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/120/b/7/higurashi__kira_by_eplc_nlnja-d3fawds.png[/IMG]
Actually, they can: "Not at all" seem quite sufficient.

Review:
The first OVA is an adaption of an extra side story to the "Eye opening Chapter" (Meakashi-hen) of the four Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai visual novels, which was subsequently dropped since it was deemed too silly an irrelevant to the story (...but not this OVA). Set in Hinamizawa as usual, the story concerns main character Keiichi Maebara being at a loss - quite literally - for how to triumph in the club games outlined in the main series, and consequently suffering the embarrassing punishments the club levies on the losers as a result. When all appear lost, his "Soul Brothers" - other male characters of the series, who formed this unlikely alliance in the first episode of Rei as well - burst through the ceiling (!) to help alleviate his woes. This quickly devolves into all of the Soul Brothers having various indecent fantasies on which embarrassing penalty games to subject their female opponents to, although there might be decidedly unpleasant things in store for Keiichi as well lest he continue down this path...

The story is a weird blend of moe, fanservice, and lolicon ecchi ...all utilizing beloved characters from a series that deliberately avoided or subverted this in its prime, and was all the better for it. Not that I'm opposed to featuring more overt sexuality, even with less than pleasant implications/very niche appeal, in a story: After all, I've given very positive reviews [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.301706-Visual-Novel-review-Swan-Song] to visual novels which do this in a thematically appropriate way. But here it completely and utterly clashes with what the main series was ever about, adding absolutely nothing but discomfort to the lore. It does reference elements of the main storyline in its scenario and composition, most notably the very first chapter of the series, but since it's all used to what I'd call degrade the series proper, this adds nothing of interest. Except perhaps show how the good scenes of the original series could've looked in HD.

Speaking of this, there's nothing to fault on the technical side of things though; this is certainly the best Higurashi has ever looked. DEEN's vibrant but slightly stiff and unrefined artwork (which I happen to be quite partial to, despite recognizing its rough feel as a potential flaw) is still in place, and it's been given the HD treatment with more detail than ever seen before. Character designs are unchanged, and will be instantly familiar to those acquainted with the series. All the original voice actors return, and their performances is as good as ever (no english dub exist, and considering the one for the first season I pray one never will).

Final thoughts:
Kira continues the trend of the first Rei episode to go in the exact opposite direction of what made the original series appealing. Even disregarding the borderline lolicon sequences that'll alienate a very considerable amount of fans alone, the heavy focus on cutesy comedic moe stuff - and nothing else - is sure to also leave many of the remaining fans of the series very much wanting for a more substantial offering.

Comparative technical brilliance cannot make up for what is a lackluster offering. One which not only confuse the phrase "tribute and celebration" with "sexual deviancy", but also fail to include the basic elements that would ? for good reason - have drawn people to the original series. Obsessive completionism aside, there's little to warrant spending one's time watching this. It's more Higurashi, sure; but sometimes, less is more. One might desperately hope that - like Rei - Kira have gotten its most unfortunate and deviant tendencies out of the way with this first episode. Though I remain most vary and doubtful about the subsequent offerings to come, after this very disappointing and - unless you're the type who like to fantasize about 10 year old girls cleaning windows with their buttocks - at times outright repulsive first outing.

[HEADING=1]Final score: 2,5/10[/HEADING]

EDIT 21/02/2012: Short update on OVA's 2 - 4:
All four OVA's have now been released and fansubbed. The second one was equally bizarre, though it thankfully dropped the creepy sexulization that so damned the first. The third and fourth were actually almost decent[footnote]This coming from someone who's in it for the murders rather than the moe; Those who're fans of Higurashi because of the latter might well find them excellent.[/footnote], focusing on the relationships between Mion/Keichii/Rena and Rika/Hanyuu respectively.

In conclusion, Kira follows the same trend Rei did, with an atrocious and creepy first episode, whereupon it gets better and better, if never reaching the level the first two seasons were on.

Anime:
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.187959-Higurashi-no-Naku-Koro-ni-Kai-When-they-Cry-2-user-review#5770913]
Mardock Scramble: The First Compression [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.351010-Mardock-Scramble-The-First-Compression-Anime-Review]

Games:
Assassin's Creed 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.158316-Review-of-Assassins-Creed-2#3940624]
Steins;Gate [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.315473-Steins-Gate-PC-Game-Review]
Swan Song [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.301706-Visual-Novel-review-Swan-Song#12038332]
 

AnAnemicTurtle

New member
Aug 17, 2009
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Disappointing, but I can't say that I didn't expect it. Let's hope that this hasn't set the standard for the rest of the OVA.
 

lapan

New member
Jan 23, 2009
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I never had any hopes for it to begin with. since the story is already concluded all the OVAs can do is fanservice.
 

Stoic raptor

New member
Jul 19, 2009
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I saw that coming when I saw the opening.

It still has the possibility to change though. But even if it did I don't think it would be much better.
 

[Kira Must Die]

Incubator
Sep 30, 2009
2,537
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I actually expected it to be like this, even before I saw the trailer. But yeah, I was really hoping to get some violence or creepiness out of it. I would've actually liked to see an original story arc or something.
It's alright, it wasn't that bad. It was still good to see Higurashi again, and we still have 3 more OVAs coming up (Although the next one doesn't look any better.)
 

Gigano

Whose Eyes Are Those Eyes?
Oct 15, 2009
2,281
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Well the mystery has been solved in the anime...what else could they do?

Ah well. I'm going to watch it anyways because I have to....er..I mean want too.

EDIT: I juts watched it. It isn't the Higurashi that attracted me to the series! However like I said, the mystery is over and I wasn't really expecting anything scary. It was a bit over the top with it's fan service, but it was still cute. I enjoyed it.