A forgotten masterpiece

Nov 29, 9:35 PM

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Feb 2014

1704

Is it really forgotten?
Sure, It's not mentioned by name as much, but I always felt it was always there on the backdrop of people's consciousness.
But yes, S1 has constant off-model issues that were prevalent with DEEN adaptations at the time, as well as structure-wise the question arcs always feeling they're "blue-balling" you by the constant "resets" in "momentum", an issue that the answer arcs do not have.
Granted, we hate on DEEN, but it was the studio that picked the VN adaptations no one wanted to make, and they at least tried.

I've never played the original VN (Though I have played Umineko), but yes, the anime is very good, I watched the whole thing in a single week, and probably watched 15-18 episodes in a single day at some point in 2020.

Nov 29, 9:47 PM

#3

wizdom224

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Jul 2021

1676

Forgotten? I think it's very popular, even today. Lurking the forums and checking through people's profiles, I see Higurashi fans everywhere (even Umineko). At least I would say that Higurashi is mainstream anime among active anime fans.

anubhav7630 said:
What's your opinion on higurashi s2 and 1 as well?

I don't know what to think about the anime adaptation specifically since there was a solid year between me watching the anime and reading the visual novel. But I can say that I did enjoy the anime and I love Higurashi just in general, much more since having read the visual novel.

Nov 29, 11:31 PM

#4

ImagineSisyphus

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Nov 2019

40

Forgotten? Bitch, I started the franchise like 10 days ago.

A new fan.

I finished 2006, Kai and Rei.

Halfway through Gou.

Nov 29, 11:33 PM

#5

Dumb

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Jun 2020

4165

It is definitely not forgotten lol, even if it is only mainstream for its horror components and not its heart, it will always be known. And even if it's forgotten in anime sphere, it and Umineko dominate the visual novel rankings I believe

Nov 30, 5:37 AM

#6

Ledatsiuha

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Apr 2024

11

deleted........

Nov 30, 8:41 AM

#7

Philleotardo1954

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Mar 2022

378

ImagineSisyphus said:
Forgotten? Bitch, I started the franchise like 10 days ago.

A new fan.

I finished 2006, Kai and Rei.

Halfway through Gou.

Gou is not it it’s the opposite of everything kai is. They disrespect keichi for no reason without the town villagers defending him (plot hole since the villagers were always teased as having a hive mind in the way to stop fellow villagers from being messed with)

Nov 30, 8:43 AM

#8

Philleotardo1954

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Mar 2022

378

Forgotten ? I still want an ACTUAL good new anime. Unlike gou where we get more pointless rika and keichi torture. Also they literally created plot holes of villagers not defending fellow villagers just to shit on keichi. Getting him knocked out by random bullies who never show up ? Again ? And serve no purpose to the plot after ?

I want another higurashi but one wrote by the actual author and not the hateful woman who wrote gou and who got sotsu promptly rated at 6.5. Which I’m sorry you can’t claim the new shit as good rated 6.5 long time fans knew it was dookie.

Higurashi 2006 7.8 / 10

Higurashi Kai 2008 8.3 / 10

Rei 8 / 10

Gou 7 / 10

Sotsu (I’m really sorry, I really tried to like this) 5.5 / 10

Philleotardo1954Nov 30, 8:49 AM

Nov 30, 9:30 AM

#9

speedranime_

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Dec 2021

43

I would prefer the season 1 better.

The coloring and style just better for horror than S2. S2 is too bright and cutie.

Yeah, there's a gap moe in it. But S1 has too and enough not like S2 that is felt too much and yadda2.

So, S1 gave best paranoid feels for me in anime. On Par Steins;Gate when switch, but in very early episode.

Forgotten Mastepiece?

I dont think so. For me and a lot people. This anime is the best trully thriller horror anime ever and hard to replace/beat it.
This anime's top of mind for horror. So, hard to forgot.

Nov 30, 10:47 AM

#10

Laplace_kun

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Nov 2019

2251

Well the VN was truly up there when it came out.

I like both seasons equally, though they rushed through stuff (especially S1). The art and animation could have used some work, but it's still a fine experience.

Gou and Sotsu though, I try to pretend they don't exist.

"All truth is meaningless. In the end, 'meaning' comes from the mind of each individual human. Even when there is a single truth, it can mean different things to different individuals. The truth has no meaning in itself!" - Erika Furudo

Nov 30, 8:44 PM

#11

OzuWatchinAnime

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Aug 2014

34

It received a new anime within the past few years. If you ask me, that means there's still plenty of demand for it, and it's far from forgotten. But I guess everyone else here has pretty much already told you the same thing, lol.

Nov 30, 8:52 PM

#12

Kaboomist04

Offline

Sep 2022

5

anubhav7630 said:
My reaction to higurashi:
S1:uhh okay? Wtf? This is horrible
S2:oh- I'm sorry s1
This.. Is so peak guys explaining literally everything we saw in season 1 and delivering a satisfying conclusion. Higurashi s2 right there gentlemen is art, it's beautiful, I wish I could experience this for first time again. It's sad that this anime is kinda forgotten nowadays but this will be one of my favs of all time!
What's your opinion on higurashi s2 and 1 as well?

edit: yeah y'all are right.. can't say it's forgotten as the vn still dominates but in case of anime I definitely think this is very underrated.. this amazing piece of art has only like 400k members.. it deserves more in my opinion

Unfortunately, we had opposite experiences.

I greatly enjoyed s1’s dark atmosphere, intriguing mystery, and fun characters. After nearly every episode I would theorize about what was going on (I was widely off mind you). I couldn’t get enough of the story and was at on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Then came season 2.

Despite having great character writing (Rika and Takano especially), s2 was a massive disappointment. The creepy and terrifying tone from s1 completely disappears and the solutions are pretty terrible and unsatisfying. They rely on coincidences (such as Satoshi killing his aunt on the night of the festival) and a disease that does whatever the plot needs it to do at the current moment. These solutions feel like an insult to anyone who tried to pay attention and solve the mystery (something the anime itself invites you to do).

On top of that, the conclusion is pretty silly. It pretty much amounts to “The power of friendship” allowing a bunch of middle schoolers to defeat a group of highly trained special forces operatives. It just felt too cartoony for me to take seriously.

These problems (along with a few others) have sadly tarnished Higurashi in my mind, despite my respect for R07 as an author.

Nov 30, 9:53 PM

#13

anubhav7630

Offline

Aug 2021

36

Kaboomist04 said:

anubhav7630 said:
My reaction to higurashi:
S1:uhh okay? Wtf? This is horrible
S2:oh- I'm sorry s1
This.. Is so peak guys explaining literally everything we saw in season 1 and delivering a satisfying conclusion. Higurashi s2 right there gentlemen is art, it's beautiful, I wish I could experience this for first time again. It's sad that this anime is kinda forgotten nowadays but this will be one of my favs of all time!
What's your opinion on higurashi s2 and 1 as well?

edit: yeah y'all are right.. can't say it's forgotten as the vn still dominates but in case of anime I definitely think this is very underrated.. this amazing piece of art has only like 400k members.. it deserves more in my opinion

Unfortunately, we had opposite experiences.

I greatly enjoyed s1’s dark atmosphere, intriguing mystery, and fun characters. After nearly every episode I would theorize about what was going on (I was widely off mind you). I couldn’t get enough of the story and was at on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Then came season 2.

Despite having great character writing (Rika and Takano especially), s2 was a massive disappointment. The creepy and terrifying tone from s1 completely disappears and the solutions are pretty terrible and unsatisfying. They rely on coincidences (such as Satoshi killing his aunt on the night of the festival) and a disease that does whatever the plot needs it to do at the current moment. These solutions feel like an insult to anyone who tried to pay attention and solve the mystery (something the anime itself invites you to do).

On top of that, the conclusion is pretty silly. It pretty much amounts to “The power of friendship” allowing a bunch of middle schoolers to defeat a group of highly trained special forces operatives. It just felt too cartoony for me to take seriously.

These problems (along with a few others) have sadly tarnished Higurashi in my mind, despite my respect for R07 as an author.

yeah I agree with this tho.. the creepy tone and that uncertainty was gone in S2 but that was expected if they wanted to give that happy kinda conclusion and yeh the conclusion was kinda childish but for me I thought why not there kids anyway but that's only because I stopped enjoying s1 after like 15 eps ig? so when s2 tied up all those loose ends it felt amazing even though ending was childish.. I'll overlook that

Nov 30, 10:40 PM

#14

xXGoreGrinderXx

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Jul 2023

199

it will always be a favorite of mine and hold a special place in my heart. in a way its the first anime i ever watched 😅 i watched naruto as it aired on tv in 2004 and loved it and grew to discover and love anime as a medium. every anime that aired on toonami, adult swim, jetix etc i watched but i had never chosen an anime and watched it start to finish until my family got a desktop computer in 2008 where i watched higurashi as my first anime under my friends recommendation and absolutely loved it. the creepy and eerie atmosphere, characters and soundtrack. and while i was so confused it drew me in so strong me and 5he confusion and lack of knowing propelled me through. now i own all 3 seasons in the boxset sentai released 8ish years ago. it makes me happy to see a post about it again 🖤

Dec 1, 1:30 AM

#15

AryaVai

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May 2021

158

I don’t think Higurashi: When They Cry is a forgotten series at all. In fact, I finished it a few months ago, and it left a lasting impression on me. Whenever someone asks for a good horror anime, it’s always the first series I recommend. I make sure to emphasize watching both Season 1 and Season 2 to get the full experience.

Season 1 was absolutely phenomenal. The dark, unsettling atmosphere and constant sense of mystery kept me hooked from start to finish. The tension and unpredictability created an incredible horror experience, making me eager to uncover the truth behind the eerie events in Hinamizawa. Its masterful use of horror elements and atmosphere left a profound and lasting impact on me.

Season 2, on the other hand, shifted gears and provided all the answers in a way that I found deeply satisfying. The reveal that

came as a complete surprise, and her backstory added so much depth to her character and the overall story. I also loved that the series didn't purely rely on a supernatural explanation for the events something like Oyashiro-sama's curse. Instead, it introduced

This grounded and scientific approach to the mystery was both fascinating and unique.

That said, I felt that Season 2 lacked the dark, oppressive atmosphere that made Season 1 so captivating. While the ending tied up the story nicely, it felt a bit simplistic and childish to me.

Despite these minor issues, I still love the series as a whole. Season 1 stands out for its brilliant horror and atmosphere, while Season 2 earns my admiration for resolving the story and providing meaningful answers.

AryaVaiDec 1, 1:41 AM

Dec 1, 4:33 AM

#16

VincenzoG

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Aug 2023

1

Forgotten? It's a really popular anime.

Dec 1, 2:57 PM

#17

YamiLoon

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Aug 2024

125

It's not that it has been forgotten, it's well-known in the anime community

Dec 4, 11:52 PM

#18

ZanSyakz

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Nov 2020

71

It's not forgotten but rather they keep it underground. Lots of people will say you're edgy person if they know your favourite series were When They Cry

Dec 9, 11:56 PM

#19

Philleotardo1954

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Mar 2022

378

ZanSyakz said:
It's not forgotten but rather they keep it underground. Lots of people will say you're edgy person if they know your favourite series were When They Cry

Rena’s too much for it too not be liked by most. The opinion on higurashi over the years has changed positively

Dec 14, 12:19 AM

#20

GodDestroyer3223

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Jul 2020

5

might have to open a new thread but what makes gou and sotsu so bad ? i watched it and liked it

Dec 14, 1:10 AM

#21

wizdom224

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Jul 2021

1676

Reply to GodDestroyer3223

might have to open a new thread but what makes gou and sotsu so bad ? i watched it and liked it

@GodDestroyer3223 Yeah, you should probably open a new thread.

That said, here's my opinion (spoilers):

Yesterday, 9:26 AM

#22

WatchTillTandava

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Jun 2019

6702

Well, yeah, and not just season two. I love season one equally as well - or almost equally. I cherish the simpler classic aura of season one, but if I absolutely had to select one over the other I'd give the slight edge to season two since it trends more in the thriller direction versus horror and thriller is my favorite genre (plus, there are not nearly enough of them, at least of this type and caliber, in anime - not from ones I've seen and am aware of anyway), plus the whole rogue governmental elements political conspiracy stuff, plus Hanyuu, plus more explanation and explicit depiction of the parallel universe-hopping, plus Takano's backstory and more time spent getting to watch Takano act overtly and the whole final battle.

And season two probably has the art style of the series at its pinnacle and the one I most frequently imagine the characters in when I envision them in my mind.

To me the whole main story of the anime is encompassed in season one, Nekogoroshi-hen, season two, and the three episode Saikoroshi-hen arc of Rei, and those 54 episodes across the board are a uniform 10/10 and one of only seven 10/10s I've given to different series in anime out of hundreds.

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