This review contains spoilers, though you can read any part but the one starts with the title "Don't expect anything good."
The review starts off with a relatively long intro. Compared to that, the part where I criticize the series itself might seem a bit superficial, but I don't think it'll go against guidelines or negatively affect your reading experience. You can skip it if you want. So, let's get started.
And honestly, I don't love this review but since I finished it, I decided to publish.
-
The horror genre is pretty popular right? People love to be scared, and sometimes they even pay for it. Whether it's live-action films and series, games, or haunted houses, there are many industries that make money by focusing on this negative emotion.
What about anime though?
Even though I don't read much, it's clear that horror has a big presence in the world of manga. Many mangakas like well known Junji Ito, offer their unique stories and art styles, and they can get quite popular and well-received.
But can you say the same for anime? How many "horror" titles are in the top 200 based on popularity on Anilist?
17, and among those, there are examples like The Promised Neverland or Chainsaw Man, which none of you would confidently call "horror anime." I'd say maybe 8 of those 17 can truly be considered as actual "horror."
So, even though there are plenty of horror series that don't make it to the top 200, anime is one of the industries where this genre remains mostly recessive. There are many reasons for this and they can be discussed by length, but for now, let's just say that horror is a risky genre that almost guarantees failure if studios don't deliver high production quality (an example).
After all, a manga is usually written and illustrated by a single person, so it doesn’t cost much to produce. On the other hand, you know how it is with anime. From animators to screenwriters, there are dozens, sometimes even hundreds of people working together to complete a single season of anime, often at a cost of several million dollars. And if all this isn’t done well, the result can be a complete failure, it doesn’t get watched, and not meeting financial expectations of the studio and the broadcaster.
Anyway, if you're relatively new to the anime world and you're looking for a horror anime, there are a few series that definitely will stand out. Tokyo Ghoul, Parasyte -the maxim-, Elfen Lied, The Future Diary…
…and Another. This pal is the main focus of this text, obviously. It's why you're here.
Released in 2012 and still one of the frontrunners in its genre today, this series seemed like a good starting point to re-enter the horror genre 1.5 years after the last horror series I watched a considerable amount of. I didn't expect much, it was enough if it wasn't bad.
Even though I say so, Another is actually a production of exactly the quality I expected in general. Although I like it more than any other real horror anime I've seen so far, the fact that it's not that big of a deal seems to prove the unpopularity of the genre or my lack of culture. But it surprised me and entertained me to some extent, especially towards the final episodes. Let's talk about it.
-
I say that, but don't think it's bad. Still, I don't think Another will please everyone, you might have to adjust your expectations or even your taste, and if it's the latter, believe me, it's not worth the effort. Don't like it, don't watch it, that's fine.
For example, if you're looking for a solid story and plot, I'm sorry but f*ck off, man. This is a stuuupid anime. Its initial mysterious set-up doesn’t lead to a satisfying explanation, and things take a really different and wild turn.
You might expect that in the horror genre, but don't think the characters to act logically or intelligently. They are all idiots. There are 2 main reasons for the horrible things that happen. One is the curse that makes this story exist and the other is the stupid decisions and actions of the characters.
I’m not sure how accurate it is to say this, but for some reason, Another gives me the vibe of a B-grade indie film made by high school friends who gathered the necessary crew and equipment. The script feels like it was written while they were talking like, "Whoa, let's do it like this, make this happen like that, holy shit, this slaps." While it may not be good, there’s a fun side to it.
It'd probably not be wrong to split Another into two parts in terms of tone and pace.
Until episode 10, it's a mystery and a thriller. It's like, "There's something bad, but what is it?" There's a curse that everyone tries to hide but the main character stubbornly tries to find out about. At certain times every year, people who meet specific conditions die in suspicious ways. That's the fun part, the deaths.
Whether it's interesting or mundane, There are a lot of death scenes in Another. Scenes like a boy getting caught and being torn apart in a boat motor while swimming to catch a seaball, or a girl falling down the stairs in a panic and accidentally jabbing her throat on the tip of her umbrella, usually happen in surprising and entertaining ways. I wish they were a bit more explicit, but there's the TV censorship thing of course.
Especially in episodes 9 and 10, after the story fully unfolds, by episode 11 it turns into a slasher (not exactly a slasher though, but you get it).
Everything, everyone gets messed up, people are slashing each other, deaths multiply, places go up in flames… Chaos, mayhem!
The last 2 episodes are simply chaotic. Characters’ stupidity, different types of deaths increasingly continues. Tension at the top, what's gonna happen now?
It's not that stressful though. Honestly, I probably watched those parts with a subtle smile on my face, because it was funny! The essential thing about Another is that it's entertaining. In all my sincerity, I don't give a shit about the quality of the story or how all of these things developed. I watched it like a dumb, and I'm happy to.
The thing I wasn't happy with was the big plot twist. It didn't shock or excite me, I don't know, it felt kinda lame.
I tried to focus on its structure and atmosphere more than the story itself. In short, Another is dumb fun. If you turn off your logical brain functions and just enjoy watching people die in various ways, you might have a good time like I did. You might even like the story of course, but personally, I didn’t care.
Still, while I had fun and laughed and all that, I have to say that Another is not that great. It's above average. It's not good, but it's fun is probably the best way to sum it up, and that's how I scored it.
Personally, my scores are generally below average, but if you dive into Another with expecting it to be a 7/10 series like its score on Anilist, you probably won't be disappointed.
-
The visuals are nice. Even if I watched the first episodes of Another and Blood-C back to back, I’d never guess there were only 5 months between them. While Blood-C is not bad, Another is something else. The animation quality may not be that exceptional, but the drawings, colors, camera angles, character reactions, and overall editing are really well done.
And it also looks modern. Regardless of the quality, Blood-C looks like it came out in the late 2000s, whereas I wouldn't mind if Another was aired last year.
As for the sound, it doesn’t stand out as much as the visuals, but there are no issues. Sound effects, voice acting, and music, they’re all good. Nothing particularly memorable, though.
Another is an example of good production is the path to success. If you do it well, people will like it. And they have adapted the source material well, I hope. If it's a faithful adaptation without any serious changes, I'm sure it's not bad. As I said, if the genre is horror, that's extra important.
I didn't watch the OP/ED, so I won't talk about them.
-
Another can probably be chosen as an introduction to horror anime. I don't know how scared you'll get, but it seems to me that you'll probably enjoy it. Be aware that, despite its stupidity, it is a fun plot rather than a quality story, and enjoy it.
8 out of 10 users liked this review
