don't read unless you want to get spoiled or you've watched this anime.
" How does it feel to not exist? "
- Misaki Mei
Ah, Another. I still can't believe I've watched it as I got inferred by my friend to watch it. It has a very good premise, to begin with, and mayhap one of the most underrated anime series on this genre. Not many people know how flawless the story development is and how shocking the ending is. It's another series which gives you another insight of another very good anime in another genre (Okay, I used "another" word too much). However, people just can't stand against the premises do this anime gives for the audiences. Yes, the horrible violence and profanity do exist here and they just can't get it so much. Not many people like this anime either and it's turned out to be a low rated series despite its premise is so exceptional. Don't even compare Another to another horror-themed series alike Shiki, Corpse Party, or even Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni. Those what have aforementioned have gore and horror, but it has no contest weighed to Another. Because for me, Another is "more than a horror series." It gives you an exciting story despite it has gore and horror. It'll give you more than horror and gore as it has the psychological and thriller as the strong traits of this anime series.
"Death isn't kind. It's dark and black and as far as you, as far as you can see, you're all alone, there's no one else. But, it's no different when you are alive, right? It doesn't matter how many relationships we seem to have. We're all alone."
- Misaki Mei
The premises of the story is outstanding. As I said before, Another has everything it needs to be a very good anime series. It's somewhat flawless as It has a wide variety of premises fulfil with psychological and thriller genre. It also has mystery as the characters have a riddle to solve with and horror as the background of this series. There are some flaws (which I can explain later) but it's pretty much disguised by the thriller which is outstanding. Pretty much sure that Another deserves more appreciation as its whole genres have satisfied the hunger of my demand to watch horror, thriller and mystery in a show (something I've demanded before I watched this series).
- Kouichi met Mei in the hospital.
The story itself starts from Sakakibara Kouichi, a student who just moved to Yomiyama from his old school and transferred to a school where his mother was also a student there, Yomiyama North Middle School. Alas, he's moved to a 3-3 class, which appears to have an enigmatic side and dreadful atmosphere inside. On that class, he met again with the one who doesn't exist, a girl named Misaki Mei, aloof girl who wears a left-eye patch which appears to have an enigmatic and calm personality. After he met with her, students avoid him. Kouichi doesn't have a clue about the girl, so he tries to find out.
The psychological side here reveals to be the strongest trait of this series. I wonder if Another has no psychological side, it'd be a terrible show to watch, no doubt. The psychological side to "survive from the calamity" of each character shows at its finest, as they are willing to do anything to save themselves, no matter what it takes. Another strong side of Another is the unexpected thriller which constantly appears in every episode, or maybe every scene, I'm not sure. The mystery side is pretty flawless yet uncertain as there are some sections which I can't understand (I need to re-watch it once again to realize about it), the subtle stuff here is rather hard to solve compared to another series. The supernatural and horror are the backgrounds of those premises, which also gives me a strong feeling of the calamity inside the class and also the insight to cover the flaws of its mystery genre inside the story.
"It's sad when people die."
- Misaki Mei
The characters are somewhat flawless. I can tell from the main protagonist, Mei Misaki who appears to have the most character development over insight into the story. She appears to be a cold, anti-social and enigmatic person yet somewhat melancholic and quite clever to solve the puzzles of the 3-3 class. Kouichi Sakakibara is the next who have the most development. I must say he is ~~a bit of male version of Chitanda,~~ a person who questions a lot of things happen yet somewhat imaginative, calm, sociable and friendly, commonly a nice guy. The next is Izumi Akazawa, ~~a solemn tsundere girl~~ a strong leader with unabashed and frank personality who is responsible for the class and will do anything to stop the curse, it doesn't matter how and why. For the other characters, I can say a lot of Reiko Mikami, Kouchi's aunt who is caring and nice to each other yet somewhat doesn't have interest over the calamity in the 3-3 class. Other than that, I can't say more about the character.
"The music gives a very good warmth of its story, art is very genuine yet memorable, and the voice actors are transcendent."
True, that's all I can say about the visual and audio appearances of this anime. Voice actors are talented and I have to say more about Mei Misaki, her voice is somewhat very unique and recognizable even she said the word frankly in a low tone. The music, I can say that I love the Opening theme so much as it gives you the thriller and enigmatic feeling every time I listen to that song. For the art, it's somewhat unique and perfect, as the event taken from the past, it's, of course, such a memorable art despite the anime released in 2012. Overall, the visual and audio appearances are very good, I like it.
" Don't watch this if you want action. This isn't shounen. "
There, read it, clear and loud. Don't watch it if you expect for a show with a lot of actions in every scene, this anime has no action material, so be ready to get a big forfeit and regret your decision to watch if you expect or demand the action. Do watch if you want to experience an anime with a lot of tragedies inside the story which is unexpected yet enigmatic in every section. It'll give you a lot of it and you'll have no regret nor forfeit to watch Another. Also, as I said previously, it's more than a horror show, it has the morality inside the story and a very deep philosophy about life. So overall, I very enjoyed this show and gave it a very high rating, like it or not, I don't care with what you are thinking, Another deserves more than 7, as it's the most underrated series which deceived by the audience's favour to dislike the violence in an anime series. Okay, that's all and thank you for reading this blatantly long review.
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