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There comes a time when expectation are put down heavily. This arc of Higurashi being a heavy case as I originally had not cared for it much in the anime, have now loved it more than the first arc adaption of how well the pieces, and bonuses fit together.

Story - For the anime fans who have already seen this: There is actual more material that is covered that the company DEEN left out that would perk your ears.

To the manga fans: If you like the first arc storyline adaption then you'll love this even more of how well is just clusterf**ks you in the ... end of it all. However if you like the second arc adaption you might be in for a little easy realization here or there.

Art - This is another part that heavily shut me up. The first volume has very shoddy art at times, and often looks like there was another character model set up for Rena late in the first volume. Is it any better than the previous arcs artwork?

Somewhat I really felt that the real course of the artist for this arc bloomed in the second volume. (Mind you that it was 300 pages of translation, NOT including the bonus chapter) that really kicks in once Keiichi comes to take action that the traditional "Creepy eye" scenes start to kick in that really make you want to shat your pants, and run t how well the the artwork turns around for each character have their own significant trait of "Creepy eyes" from switching from cutsesy mode to just I want to rip your brains out mode in a literal snap that no other arc artwork captured so well.

Character - Did I mention Teppei needs to get shot, horse stretched, and hung? Okay, but really the heavy central plot character here are Keiichi, Satoko, and Ooishi who makes his mark as a new character this time around, and fans might notice another surprise when Keiichi speaks to "Another" character as well. The characters don't fall into a cliche, nor are they to niche.They pass,and succeed at being creepy little demonspawn.

Enjoyment - I'll admit I bought the second volume yesterday only on a whim after I was dissapointed with the first volume of this arc. I was heavily proven wrong, not only by the damn size of the book (325 pages all in one volume), but also how well the manga version was adapted compared to the anime that at the first difference between caught my eye to it's end.


Overall - Originally the first arc being my favorite for a very long time now, i've recently found this to be the most significantly adapation to hone itself anew to scare me half to death of me wanting to shat myself at my Barnes and Nobles, to me hauntingly enjoying it that made me like it so much in the end of it all.

Whether you find yourself wanting to keep the light on after reading it, or just tossing it aside as one you don't want: This arc is a definite try to say the least. Not only for the anime fans to get a new piece of meat to chew with new scenes not in the anime, but also for new fans for the series to scare themselves, and enjoy.

There comes a time when a great industry has it's couple of falling moments. Dragonaut being this heap that comes from Gonzo, in an horrible reek of bad stench.


Story:

Plot holes, plot holes, plot holes, oh the humanity! The story around this of course sets itself up in a future aspect, but never thoroughly goes into any detail of why that is. Eventually this gets worse with repetitiveness. It seems Gonzo had wanted to play with the beautiful art design as an distraction for all the amount of loopholes the stories situations provide. The introduction has a great start for the first 2 episodes, but ... fall utterly, and (I put huge emphasis on this) flat face down with all the cliches. It goes in the sense of one character going to one spot, leaving, and then coming back to a different place with the exact same background/environment only for the character to acknowledge it as a separate place, not to mention bringing up events that have been nowhere near close to be noted in the past to be subjected to horrible director writing skills. The story did have it's very very small times where it kept itself up high, but tripped,and failed disgustingly later.

Art:

One of the two saving factor for this anime was the great character designs by Gonzo. Their high quality,top notch animation never inconsisted to fall short of what good reputation Gonzo has. Although the downside is Most if not all female character I saw had huge breasts( enough to cause spinal injuries, and burst out in their entire) it went far enough to give a young 12 year old a pair even. :/


Sound:

Originally I played off a episode first sub then to dub, and in the end they both had their ups, and downs. Justin Pate's performance seems off throughout casual scenes, while Daisuke Ono just sound like he got tired for the most part. The opening, and ending are very nice, and come to fit somewhat well for the series, the soundtrack is okay, but a bit self reliant on repeated notes that ironically give it a great tone for their well chosen scenes.


Characters:

Cliche city, how I wished this wouldn't have to come to this. Character personalities? Pfft, what of them? 3/4 of the entire cast make 180 turns out off their original presented personality that it completely blows development aside. The typical romance of calling each others names for the entire series becomes so incoherent you want to listen to an Inuyasha, and Kagome monologue. Other characters tht have compete loyalty to another in the beginning of the series of solemn protection begin to doubt who they are. (Despite proclaiming well in the past they've made me mind up) While another goes from loving to out of the ball park begging his so called hated friend to save his other.To top it all off only the supporting cast practically get anything in short of solid character personalities In short very,very,very,very badly done by Gonzo, and the director.


Enjoyment: Obviously i've dropped this series short in, but aside that I can't say there weren't times that I did enjoy it. The first 2 episodes set up a great premise if handled better would've made, a MUCH better piece of work from Gonzo. However in the result of it all I was entirely disgusted with how this anime was soon handled, never have I encountered such a horrible dialogue and slow paced plot in the face of Gonzo, or any anime i've seen thus far.


Overall: I give this series a 4 based on a very sad reason of the side details, not the plot, or characters that make an anime what it is, I utterly hated how Gonzo executed this series in a "Great cover, low value" kind of way. I enjoyed the great character designs that made characters beautiful, but that it from being focused on that in attire made sick with fervor of how it could have been if handled in a much better way. In short I geuss I could saw this was a bigger disappointment to me than any anime i've seen.


On a side note i'd really like to reflect on why Funimation got this series again? Ugh.

Well after adventuring to find the entire eries, what I found wasn't the best find.


Story-7/10: The story felt more or less expected, the story was part of Shion's perspective of the Watangashi-hen arc (As from Watanagashi-hen it was from Keiichi's)
Although retaining the same story, it added things i didn't expect to see, some weren't even in the anime version.

Overall the story was very expectable, but still kept me on my toes.


Art-6/10: The artwork for this arc was much different from the last arcs. It was almost shoujo like. I was highly dissapointed it didn't capture some of the scenes that well, unlike the anime ... version that had. The blood is there, but far from being as such with it's predecessors. The "Scary slit cat eyes" are not used, and even the new the question of sanity look is very poorly done.

The artwork was a high dissapointment for me compared to my liking of the Onikakushi, and other "-hen" artwork.

Character-8/10: Although as I said above everything was quite predictable the exploration of Shion's side of the story, and view on everything was well done. As with seeing the others personalities return as well made it much better to enjoy (As much as I hate to drag it) the artwork.

The characters are still good, and Shion was much easier for me to understand after i read the entire thing.

Enjoyment-7/10: My enjoyment on this series relied on my love for the anime, and yearning to finish even when i resorted to untranslated chapters. If it weren't for me not liking the near shoujo artwork i'd enjoy this much much more, and it would've been a favorite.


Overall-6/10: If your a fan of the manga, and don't mind artwork you'd probably enjoy it, but if your not a fan of shoujo, and you still want to go through with reading this be my guest, and go right ahead. It didn't meet my expectations, but it still was able to like all other Higurashi arcs keep me enthraled with it to the end.

This has become one of my most favorite manga, and i can't wait until it get's licensed for U.S. distribution.

As well with a good story that kept myself on my toes on wandering what and how everything would happen next.

The art was overall okay it had it's ups and downs, but when it needed to get bloody, or scary it got the edges and everything for it.

The characters.......Yukiteru reminds me alot of a more wimpish version of Light Yagami, and Simon from Gurren Laggan. By the time at the beginning he doesn't want to do it at all, and is scared of Yuno a bit, ... his social skills, self confidence, and bravery are at low levels but when Yuno or his friends are endagered he becomes couragoues and willing to fight to save what's precious to him. Later in the story he accpts himself to become god, and take over Dues the man behind the inciednt of the survial game with more confidence in himself and in Yuno aswell.


My overall enjoymnt of this series so far is very high becuase after finishing a chapter i began to think "What if this happened, or did he finally do it?"


Overall my score to this masterpiece of pyschological horror, and being a master of suspense brings to a perfect for me.

If your fan of series like Higurashi, Paranoia Agent, or Elfen Lied you'll probably enjoy this.