Beneath A Thousand Skies

Happy Halloween!

As someone who has a couple of anime that I will rewatch every time the spooky season comes around, I thought it would be fun to make a list this year. Now, this is not a top ten. I am not out here arguing that these anime are the best of the best, and I am not 100% positive about all the ones here. These are ones though that I have personally enjoyed, flaws and warts and all, and some that are underappreciated that I feel deserve more eyes on them; and some are just plain fun.

1. Another (12 episodes, 24 mins per ep.) | OP

Genre: Horror, Mystery

In class 3-3 of Yomiyama North Junior High, transfer student Kouichi Sakakibara makes his return after taking a sick leave for the first month of school. Among his new classmates, he is inexplicably drawn toward Mei Misaki—a reserved girl with an eyepatch whom he met in the hospital during his absence. But none of his classmates acknowledge her existence; they warn him not to acquaint himself with things that do not exist. Against their words of caution, Kouichi befriends Mei—soon learning of the sinister truth behind his friends’ apprehension.

The ominous rumors revolve around a former student of the class 3-3. However, no one will share the full details of the grim event with Kouichi. Engrossed in the curse that plagues his class, Kouichi sets out to discover its connection to his new friend. As a series of tragedies arise around them, it is now up to Kouichi, Mei, and their classmates to unravel the eerie mystery—but doing so will come at a hefty price.

****

This had to be number one on the list as it has become a Halloween tradition that I watch this series every year either on or around the 31st. Admittedly the rewatches don’t have quite the same impact as the first time I watched it in anime society at uni – for one I know when the tragedies are coming, but that has never detracted from my enjoyment. Another manages to blend mystery and horror into a compelling story, that particularly on that first watch has you waiting sometimes literally for the next axe (or umbrella – if you know, you know) to fall, and does an excellent job of making you suspect one thing, and then another, until you’re as suspicious and paranoid as the characters caught in the mystery.

Very much looking forward to rewatching this tonight by floating candlelight.

2. Kakurenbo (Movie, 24 mins) | Trailer

Genre: Horror, Supernatural

Among the high rises of steel pipes, meshed power lines, and faded neon lights, exists a game that children dare to play within the ruins of the old city.

“Otokoyo,” a secret game of hide-and-seek, one where all who play wear fox masks and only begins when seven have gathered. But it is no normal game, as all who have played it have gone missing. Many whisper it is the work of demons, but that is just a rumor… or is it?

Kakurenbo follows the story of seven children as they play Otokoyo for the first time and discover why if you play, you never return.

****

Another traditional Halloween rewatch, and its a short watch too if you don’t want to invest in a whole series. Kakurenbo was the first anime I ever cosplayed from, so it has a special place in my heart. It is also creepy as hell, and really gives new meaning to hide and seek. The animation is a wee bit dated now, but is still fantastic for the story being told; but its the sound design that always stuck with me.

3. Shiki (22 episodes, 22 mins per ep.) | OP

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Suspense

Life is idyllic and unassuming in the small town of Sotoba, a simple place where everyone knows everyone. However, tragedy strikes when Megumi Shimizu, a young girl with high aspirations, unexpectedly passes away from an unnamed illness. Over the torrid summer months, as more unexplained deaths crop up around the village, the town’s doctor—Toshio Ozaki—begins to suspect that something more sinister than a mere disease is at play.

Toshio teams up with Natsuno Yuuki, an apathetic and aloof teenager, and siblings Kaori and Akira Tanaka, two of Megumi’s friends, to unravel the dark mystery behind the deaths in Sotoba. With their combined efforts, the investigation leads them toward an eerie secret pertaining to the new family in the Kanemasa mansion.

****

It’s been a long time since I watched this one, but its one I keep meaning to rewatch. For me, its the animation that hooked me and keeps it fresh in mind, it’s a distinctive style with some creepy ass eyes and crazy hairstyles. It does remain one of my favourite vampire animes though (after Black Blood Brothers which is later in the list); and takes an interesting approaching to them, and to the impact in a remote area as well as looking at death as a whole.

“Death is impartial to everyone, be it the young or old, rich or poor. Thus death is not particularly tragic.”

4. Highschool of the Dead (12 episodes, 23 mins per ep.) | OP

Genre:  Action, Horror, Suspense, Ecchi

It happened suddenly: The dead began to rise and Japan was thrown into total chaos. As these monsters begin terrorizing a high school, Takashi Kimuro is forced to kill his best friend when he gets bitten and joins the ranks of the walking dead. Vowing to protect Rei Miyamoto, the girlfriend of the man he just executed, they narrowly escape their death trap of a school, only to be greeted with a society that has already fallen.

Soon, Takashi and Rei band together with other students on a journey to find their family members and uncover what caused this overwhelming pandemic. Joining them is Saeko Busujima, the beautiful president of the Kendo Club; Kouta Hirano, an otaku with a fetish for firearms; Saya Takagi, the daughter of an influential politician; and Shizuka Marikawa, their hot school nurse. But will the combined strength of these individuals be enough to conquer this undead apocalypse?

****

This one is absolutely a guilty pleasure, and is definitely not for you if you can’t stand fanservice because oh boy… I usually get annoyed by fanservice, but the thing is with HOTD I actually like the story beneath it, love the opening song, and really like some of the characters. It’s ridiculous – matrix boobs (if you’ve ever seen the clip you know) and all, but at the same time I had so much fun watching it.

5. Witch Hunter Robin (26 episodes, 25 mins) | OP

Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Supernatural

Though hidden away from the general public, Witches—those with supernatural powers—have always existed in human societies. Neither numerous nor inherently evil, Witches are nonetheless capable of creating disorder by misusing their powers for criminal means. The task of solving supernatural crimes falls outside of the jurisdiction of normal authorities and is instead handled by the Solomon organization.

Having finished her training in Italy, Robin Sena transfers to Solomon’s local Japanese branch, STNJ. Possessing powerful pyrokinetic abilities, she is herself a Witch, putting her at odds with STNJ’s methods of dealing with rogue Witches. In particular, Robin opposes the use of an elixir called Orbo, which can weaken or even neutralize a Witch’s powers. If Robin wants to find her place within the organization, she must find a way to navigate the internal politics of Solomon while also handling the threat of hostile Witches—but both seem to be dangerous for very different reasons.

****

Witch Hunter Robin is very much a slow burn of a series. There’s action, but not so much big boss energy as a series of skirmishes, that are almost secondary to the character story. This anime is very much about Robin treading the line between the witches she hunts, being a witch and the organisation; and it is very character focused, with the entire cast adding to that focus; but it is slower paced as a result. It has a very gothic vibe, especially with the animation and art which leans on the darker side; and the sound design is fantastic. Not necessarily a series that will have you on the edge of your seat, but one that will gradually hook you in.

6. Tasogare Otome x Amnesia (12 episodes, 23 min per ep.) | OP

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural

Seikyou Private Academy, built on the intrigue of traditional occult myths, bears a dark past—for 60 years, it has been haunted by a ghost known as Yuuko, a young woman who mysteriously died in the basement of the old school building. With no memory of her life or death, Yuuko discreetly finds and heads the Paranormal Investigations Club in search of answers.

A chance meeting leads Yuuko to cling to diligent freshman Teiichi Niiya, who can see the quirky ghost. They quickly grow close, and he decides to help her. Along with Kirie Kanoe, Yuuko’s relative, and the oblivious second year Momoe Okonogi, they delve deep into the infamous Seven Mysteries of the storied school.

****

CHOIR JAIL!

So, this is another one with that healthy dose of nostalgia attached. We watched this at anime society, and it has one of the most ridiculously memorable and singable openings and every week without fail we would all launch into it – and it has probably stuck in my mind more for that than any other reason. That’s not to say its not a great anime outside of that, because I really enjoyed the show too, the animation is fantastic and it taps very much into the ghost story feel. It’s a ghost story, a school mystery, and slow, creeping build of tension, truth and bittersweet feelings.

7. Mayoiga (12 episodes, 24 mins per ep.) | OP

Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Suspense

A bus full of eccentric individuals is headed toward the urban legend known as Nanaki Village, a place where one can supposedly start over and live a perfect life. While many have different ideas of why the village cannot be found on any map, or why even the police cannot pinpoint its location, they each look forward to their new lives and just what awaits them once they reach their destination.

After a few mishaps, they successfully arrive at Nanaki Village only to find it completely abandoned. Judging from the state of disrepair, it has been vacant for at least a year. However, secrets are soon revealed as some of the group begin to go missing while exploring the village and amidst the confusion, they find bloody claw marks in a forest. As mistrust and in-fighting break out, will they ever be able to figure out the truth behind this lost village?

****

Now, this is one that is less popular and I remember when it aired it seemed almost entirely below the radar; and I can admit its not got the best writing, and some absurd tropes in terms of characters. Yet, it was still one I ended up really enjoying, with some genuine, emotional moments that worked despite any other failings, and I think that and the fact that concept of disappearing and starting anew can resonate with everyone at some point or another means it has stuck with me. The animation is solid too.

8. Elfen Lied (13 episodes, 25 mins per ep.) | OP

Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Romance, Suspense

Lucy is a special breed of human referred to as Diclonius, born with a short pair of horns and invisible telekinetic hands that lands her as a victim of inhumane scientific experimentation by the government. However, once circumstances present her an opportunity to escape, Lucy, corrupted by the confinement and torture, unleashes a torrent of bloodshed as she escapes her captors.

During her breakout, she receives a crippling head injury that leaves her with a split personality: someone with the mentality of a harmless child possessing limited speech capacity. In this state of instability, she stumbles upon two college students, Kouta and his cousin Yuka, who unknowingly take an injured fugitive into their care, unaware of her murderous tendencies. This act of kindness will change their lives, as they soon find themselves dragged into the shadowy world of government secrecy and conspiracy.

****

This one has a lot of gore, violence and nudity – so if that’s not for you, this may not be the anime for you. It is an anime that has provoked debate because of that, but it is also one of the most memorable anime I’ve watched with a dichotomy between that bloody brutal aspect, and the more mundane, slice-of-life aspects. It does suffer a little with pacing because of that combo, and because some of the timeline and background were manga only, it didn’t always have the best flow; and it does take a couple of episodes to really get into its stride. However, if you can get past that, this is anime that takes a long look at love and hatred, good and evil, and many other issues, with a compelling story and a fascinating main character.

9. Black Blood Brothers (12 episodes, 24 mins per ep.) | OP

Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy

Black Bloods and Red Bloods, vampires and humans. Despite their differences, these two races once fought together in a crusade against a formidable foe. A decade later, the vampire war hero Jirou Mochizuki, known as the “Silver Blade,” travels with his younger brother Kotarou to the Special Zone—a safe haven where vampires and humans live in harmony.

However, their journey is suddenly faced with danger when a conflict erupts between vampire migrants and human forces from the Special Zone. With the rise of a developing conspiracy from an old enemy, Jirou will need the help of his new ally, Mimiko “Compromiser” Katsuragi, as well as the power of his ancient bloodline to protect what he treasures the most.

****

This is my favourite vampire anime, and it does not get enough love. There’s a lot of humour in this one (which is not something I always get on with, but it fits here, with the animation style and how its ended), but also a lot of heart and emotion. I found the worldbuilding fascinating, and loved how much history – wider and personal was built into quite a short series, as well as how much the characters and relationships are developed into a incredibly satisfying conclusion.

10. Nanashi kaidan (Season 1, 10 episodes, 3 mins per min.) | Trailer

Genre: Horror

The collection of horror short stories center on those uneasy feelings of “something out there” that children sense in their lives.

****

This one was a recent discovery, and so far I have only watched season one so I can’t comment on the rest. Part of what makes this special is that it is Tokyo Animation College students and graduates who have conceived the stories and character designs, so its not a large, mainstream production. It’s a bite-sized series, center on those uneasy feelings of “something out there” that children sense in their lives and that children can relate to. The animation is pretty, but somewhat limited, but that keeps the focus on the story and that eerie, creepy feeling.