StoryWhen a series called Higurashi burst onto our screens in 2006,
it changed the rules of anime. Instead of telling a linear story, a
cycle of extreme violence repeated itself every six episodes and kept
viewers on the edge of their seats, making the title an instant fan
favorite. Now, three years later, the same animation studio and writers
have given us Umineko no Koro ni - but does it live up to the high expectations its predecessor promised?
Set in the year 1986, the remote island of Rokkenjima plays host to a
family gathering to decide the new head of the Ushiromiya clan.
Eighteen people assemble and that day, a typhoon cuts off all
communications from the mansion. Two days later, only one of these
people walk away, causing a witch-hunt for the perpetrator. The story
plays out like a closed room murder as the truth of the fateful night
is revealed. After reading an epitaph in the main hall, it seems that
the legendary Golden Witch has a hand in the fortune of the family. She
now intends to use them as a sacrifice to facilitate her resurrection
and panic ensues as the bodies start to stack up. However, the
sorceress' plans are foiled by one of the grandchildren, Battler, who
refuses to acknowledge the witches powers. The two go head to head in a
game of detective, and the fateful night is relived over and over...
Sounds complicated? That’s because it most definitely is. The viewer
needs a clear head and unbroken focus on this show, as the threads of
plot are ever so intricately woven together. From a jump between
gameplay on the “chessboard” to events in the outerworld, be prepared
for the introduction of more devious witches and a complex timeline.
Rules in the “game” are also somewhat bewildering: Beatrice will make
certain statements about incidents on Rokkenjima in red text that are
fact. Battler must in turn use these to disprove the use of magic on
the night of bloodshed. If you thought the repetitive arcs of Higurashi were baffling, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
My view of the show after the first arc could be summed up in just
three letters: WTF? The barrage of characters, their subsequent
murders, the rules of the game, sudden resurrections – it is just too
much to take in with no knowledge of the Umineko universe. I found information on a wiki site absolutely invaluable, as
it gives an insight into what is happening. Suddenly making sense, the
plot rattles by quickly and addictively, with the finale setting up for
a second season. Fans of the VN complain that much of the story has
been missed, and using the anime as a starting point I would tend to
agree. However, I found this glimpse into the elaborate fantasy world
irresistible and plan to embark on the original to have some mysteries
explained.AnimationJudging their past works, Studio Deen has a firm history in stunning artwork and they lend their penmanship to Umineko with a gorgeous flourish. CG is used sparingly throughout, but adapts
well to the furore of onscreen magic. Angular faces with large,
expressive eyes are framed beautifully by stylishly drawn outfits and
delightfully detailed backgrounds. The characters, Maria in particular,
lend themselves to moments of complete insanity, and the wide eyed
maniacal look is successfully taken straight from Higurashi.
Also borrowed from the sister show is the use of gore and violence,
which was unfortunately censored on Japanese television. Perusing the
original VN, the characters are dreadful, so it was amazing to see the
striking transformation from schoolboy scribblings to professional
animation.SoundSetting the tone for the dark Umineko, the opening track makes use of
stirring vocals that blast out evocative Italian lyrics. The ED
features a rapid cacophony of choral voices accompanying a twisted
visual deluge, successfully giving the feeling of a descent into
madness. A host of experienced seiyuu lend their talents to the cast,
most noticeably Rie Kugimiya as the softly-spoken Shannon. Sadly,
Beatrice doesn’t fare as well; her voice sounds too masculine to my
ears and her evil laughter begins to grate from the first chapter. My
major audio niggle, however, is the pronunciation of the Golden
Witches’ name – to me, Bea-ter-rich just didn’t sound right...CharactersThe initial influx of almost twenty characters is extremely daunting;
with so many faces and names to remember, most get filed away in the
“do not care” part of my brain. As the story progresses, the main
protagonists emerge as a headstrong and tenacious pair who are prepared
to do anything to win the battle of minds. Initially, Battler is
utterly feckless and annoying, making crude comments to each woman
about how lovely her mammaries are. Strangely enough, the weird pervert
becomes more endearing, and some of his later questionable one-liners
are laugh out loud funny. Even if he is quite hot-headed and prone to
shouting a lot, he is the perfect match for the resplendent Beatrice.
The Golden Witch is the ultimate player of mind games, and her
manipulative tactics are well thought out. As much as you want to hate
her, it is this despicable and underhanded side of Beatrice that makes
her the perfect adversary you want to see go on. The lolicon’s dream
girl, Maria seems extremely over the top at first with her demented
demeanour. However as her backstory is unfolds, the viewer can build up
a sense of empathy for her situation. Also, watch out for some
brilliant parental tips from her mother, Rosa.OverallUmineko is difficult to score overall. My initial reaction to the first
arc may be the same for the majority of viewers who are not prepared to
read the manga or delve deeper into the legends of the witches. As a
standalone series, therefore, I believe the anime is quite baffling and
this will turn a lot of people off. However, after delving deeper into
the accompanying material to help understand the mysteries, I would
probably go so far as to rate it 8/10.