Another discussion thread

[something]

アナザー

Horror mystery or something from PA Works. And yes, I find the thread title amusing.

Airs Wednesday, January 11 at 01:05 JST on TV Saitama

Animation studio: PA Works

ANN Entry (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=13258)
Official Site (http://www.another-anime.jp/)


Note
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[FUNiOP]

Great first episode. All the beginnings to a great horror story are here: it's spooky, intense, mysterious, and leaves you wondering what the hell is going on, or at least how exactly everything will be connected. It's obvious that the main character is at the center of this creepy story of death that the story will focus on, but he has no idea what's going on. Other than the conversations giving the most basic backstory of the situation at the beginning, we're just as much in the dark, and we also have to rely on the subtle hints given by the characters to try to figure it out. Plus, it's gorgeous. I sure hope it keeps the quality up.

[Fencedude]

Japan, Japan, Japan. I thought we'd come to an agreement. That whenever you were struck by the urge to hire ALI Project for something, you'd instead go and hire Yousei Teikoku. Everyone is happier that way. I'm very disappointed in you right now.

Anyway, interesting, and fairly creepy. I was impressed by how the entire class has unique designs, and they went out of their way to demonstrate that.

Reminds me a bit of Ookamikakushi.

[Sly05]

An OP with Ali Project and creepy dolls? What is this, Rozen Maiden?

I really enjoyed the sense of dread that lingered behind every action in this episode. Everything everyone did came across as wrong; from the questioning glances of the three representatives and the attempt to test Kouichi disguised as handshake to the dead silence of the classroom during his introduction. This made me eager to see what is so frightening to everyone and made a great hook for the series.

PAworks looks poised to deliver another favourite. This episode got me really excited for the series.

[EmperorBrandon]

I was impressed by how the entire class has unique designs, and they went out of their way to demonstrate that.

Yeah, I rather liked that. One of the things that stuck out about the episode to me, along with the general creepiness of the class and the way they behave too.

And wow, I didn't realize the iinchou girl was Nonaka Ai. Seems a good bit different from her usual roles.

[FUNiOP]

Oh right, Ali Project. I thought most of what I said would be complaining about that. I guess the episode was gripping enough that I actually forgot about that point by the end of it. At least they don't get as much anime work anymore.

[bear]

They kept implying that they thought Kouichi had been there before. Of course he doesn't remember (happens a lot in Japan it seems;)). Wonder if it connects with some or all of the rest of his family. Dad maybe? The class seemed to know a hell of a lot about him.

[nakimushi]

Terrific background art, which is what I expected from a PA Works production. The character designs are also all quite nice. They did a good job setting the creepy tone as well.

Story-wise, so far so good. Although horror really isn't my favorite genre, if it is well done I do enjoy it.

[HitokiriShadow]

It's 2012. Why the fuck do I still have to be subjected to ALI Project recycling the same goddamn song for the umpteempth time in an anime OP?

Man, every single student in the class has a very distinctive and detailed look, like they actually matter and aren't a random background character. Though it was a little awkward to be going through all ~30 of them on screen while Kouchi talked to just a few of them, with the spoken dialogue not coming from the people on screen (who were usually saying something).

Anyway, that was a very nice first episode. It was suitably creepy and did a good job of getting me interested in the situation.

[HitokiriShadow]

Reminds me a bit of Ookamikakushi.

My first association was Higurashi, just because the first shot in the show was of a dam.

[Fencedude]

Reminds me a bit of Ookamikakushi.

My first association was Higurashi, just because the first shot in the show was of a dam.

I was trying to be a tad less obvious, but yeah, definitely that too.

[TheGreenMan]

Definitely creepy.
The elevator doesn't go to the 4th floor?
Yuri? Did that girl run her hand through the other girl's hair?
Really freaking creepy show.
Another different role for Nonaka Ai.

[Ingraman]

The elevator doesn't go to the 4th floor?
Nope. Especially not in a hospital. ^_^

It's kinda like how many buildings in western countries don't have a "13th" floor. I'll give you a Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_floor) explanation.

[superdry]

Definitely a show to watch another episode or two. The first half of episode one really bored me, but my curiosity piqued at the end with the conversation with Mei.

It's 2012. Why the fuck do I still have to be subjected to ALI Project recycling the same goddamn song for the umpteempth time in an anime OP?


I guess I'm glad I've never heard ALI Project do an opening for an anime as a) I don't care about the band and b) I usually skip the OP every time.

[EmperorBrandon]

The elevator doesn't go to the 4th floor?
Nope. Especially not in a hospital. ^_^

It's kinda like how many buildings in western countries don't have a "13th" floor. I'll give you a Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_floor) explanation.

I knew about 4 being a "bad" number of sorts in Japanese because it sounds like "death", so I got what was up with the elevator. Interesting reading up about that.

[something]

I guess I'm glad I've never heard ALI Project do an opening for an anime as a) I don't care about the band and b) I usually skip the OP every time.
If you watched anime in the first half or so of the last decade, you have definitely heard Ali Project. They were unavoidable. I liked them the first few times, but... yeah I share the "no more please" sentiment.

I'm actually surprised they were tapped for this. What's the last anime OP/ED they did? I don't remember hearing them (in anything I've seen) since Tatakau Shisho.

[superdry]

I guess I'm glad I've never heard ALI Project do an opening for an anime as a) I don't care about the band and b) I usually skip the OP every time.
If you watched anime in the first half or so of the last decade, you have definitely heard Ali Project. They were unavoidable. I liked them the first few times, but... yeah I share the "no more please" sentiment.


I looked at the wiki for Ali Project to see what songs were featured in anime and Rozen Maiden and Noir are the only ones I really watched, and, as I've mentioned before, I usually skip the OP (and EDs).

[EmperorBrandon]

I'm actually surprised they were tapped for this. What's the last anime OP/ED they did? I don't remember hearing them (in anything I've seen) since Tatakau Shisho.

Looks like Katanagatari would be the only one between then and Another.

[Fencedude]

I looked at the wiki for Ali Project to see what songs were featured in anime and Rozen Maiden and Noir are the only ones I really watched,

So you have seen shows using their songs

and, as I've mentioned before, I usually skip the OP (and EDs).

And this is completely irrelevant to the point at hand.

[superdry]

So you have seen shows using their songs

I have, but I only know now that they did the OPs for those two series I have watched a while back. Back then, I had no clue, and, frankly, didn't care. So, I have no recollection of what those songs sound like.


and, as I've mentioned before, I usually skip the OP (and EDs).

And this is completely irrelevant to the point at hand.

It is relevant since I didn't understand the annoyance of ALI Project doing the OP of Another mentioned by you and a few others. Until I looked them up, they could have done songs of shows I have watched, but would have never known since I usually skip the OPs and EDs.

[HitokiriShadow]

I looked at the wiki for Ali Project to see what songs were featured in anime and Rozen Maiden and Noir are the only ones I really watched, and, as I've mentioned before, I usually skip the OP (and EDs).

If you've heard the Rozen Maiden Op, then you've heard almost everything they've ever don. Pretty much everything else sounds almost identical to their Rozen Maiden song.

[strangefour]

-Now that is how you tell a ghost story! I'm tired of this not scary or even funny bullshit everytime there is a scary story segment in anime. I get it you're trying to be like when kids tell stories in real life. Well guess what, the reason they can't tell scary stories is because you never give them good examples of how to tell them!
-Damn creepy doll OP.
-Creepy row of students.
-Oh great another eyepatch girl. I am tired of quiet little girls with medical eyepatches. If you show me a girl with an eyepatch she better be some kind of sexy busty space pirate villainess not just another Rwei Ayanami clone with a stigmatism.
-"What's your name?" ". . . Death."

-Today Haro has been replaced with a myna bird. Let's see if anyone notices.
-This is one depressing introduction to the classroom.
-Lots of defined character designs. Are they just showing them off beor they slowly kill them one at a time?
-Gah Cg car pan.

Aww poor Sakakibara doesn't get to find out Mei is a member of the undead yet. Nice moody show. Just wish Mei didn't have a silly eyepatch.

[strangefour]

I guess I'm glad I've never heard ALI Project do an opening for an anime as a) I don't care about the band and b) I usually skip the OP every time.
If you watched anime in the first half or so of the last decade, you have definitely heard Ali Project. They were unavoidable. I liked them the first few times, but... yeah I share the "no more please" sentiment.


I looked at the wiki for Ali Project to see what songs were featured in anime and Rozen Maiden and Noir are the only ones I really watched, and, as I've mentioned before, I usually skip the OP (and EDs).

Yeah I don't get the hate on for Ali Project either. I liked the song they had in Code Geass. The Katanagatari OP wasn't that good but mainly because the first OP was so perfect. And I haven't seen anything else they've had a song in. In this show the dissonant funky song they do fits.

[HitokiriShadow]

I looked at the wiki for Ali Project to see what songs were featured in anime and Rozen Maiden and Noir are the only ones I really watched, and, as I've mentioned before, I usually skip the OP (and EDs).

Yeah I don't get the hate on for Ali Project either. I liked the song they had in Code Geass. The Katanagatari OP wasn't that good but mainly because the first OP was so perfect. And I haven't seen anything else they've had a song in. In this show the dissonant funky song they do fits.

Tip: Those of us who are really sick of Ali Project didn't have a problem with them when we had only heard one or two of their songs either.

But by the time you've heard your tenth Ali Project OP/ED (but have only heard about 1.5 songs), they're really fucking obnoxious.

[EmperorBrandon]

But by the time you've heard your tenth Ali Project OP/ED (but have only heard about 1.5 songs), they're really fucking obnoxious.

I have heard a few, and though they do all sound pretty much the same, the fact doesn't really annoy me as much as it seems to annoy others. Frankly I was actually a little pleased hearing the Ali Project OP here, but that's mainly because it makes me think of Shigofumi, which has been one of the best anime series I've tried recently.

[something]

Episode 1:

- Well that was a fantastic opening scene.
- Urgh yeah, I'll be skipping the OP.

- Way back in 1998 eh?
- Super awkward class rep visit! Obviously upon shaking his hand, Izumi learned something unsettling about him.
- And of course that's Misaki... the dead girl. Or, half of her. And I knew it would be the morgue, heh.
- Jeeeeeeeze, talk about oppressive music right before the eyecatch.

- This sure is a depressing town.
- And there's Mei <3 With her desk not looking too great.
- I like Nonaka Ai's Yukari. Bet she dies. She makes it sound like Izumi (Yonezawa Madoka... Uiiiii!) has a lot of pull around here.
- She's also pretty disturbed to know Kouichi can see Mei.
- Sakakibara, a name associated with a death in the class. Well, my immediate guess is: Kouichi's deceased mother killed Mei.

Fantastic first episode. Maybe a liiiiiiiiittle slow at times, with shots lingering a touch longer than dramatic effect required, But not by very much. And it sure set the oppressive, almost dead atmosphere of the class and school and town.

[Damius]

Well, the main reason I watch this is because the Animation studio is PA Works. Let’s hope they will impress me again!

- All the students have the same emotion…
- Did we have Yuri for a second there?? The look, her hand in her hairs!
- It looks like pretty surprising Kouichi can see Mei… Hmm…

Welll…that was really creppy…but I really like it. Definitely want to watch more!

[Damius]

The elevator doesn't go to the 4th floor?
Nope. Especially not in a hospital. ^_^

It's kinda like how many buildings in western countries don't have a "13th" floor. I'll give you a Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_floor) explanation.

I didn't know that, thanks for the interesting read!

[Damius]

I was impressed by how the entire class has unique designs, and they went out of their way to demonstrate that.


Yeah, I was impress by that as well! Also, the backgrounds are just gorgeous!

[TheGreenMan]

Hmmm...creepy dolls and OMG WHAT'S UNDER THAT EYEPATCH? And Mei's smile when she's taking if off. Totally creepy and sinister.
This show does a great job of using sound effects and music.

[Fencedude]

Wait, don't stop there!

ARGH!

So many questions, and still no answers.

I really love Mei though.

[Sly05]

This episode was a big tease with Kouichi's classmates getting close to telling him why their class is cursed on a couple occasions and ending before we got to see what's under Mei's eye patch. With his introduction to creepy dolls at the shop/museum and his interest in sculpting (not to mention the obvious prominence of dolls in everything), I wonder if Kouichi is going to try his hand at doll making? At any rate, I'm curious to see what their relationship is to whatever sinister things are going on around the class.

[nakimushi]

With his introduction to creepy dolls at the shop/museum and his interest in sculpting (not to mention the obvious prominence of dolls in everything), I wonder if Kouichi is going to try his hand at doll making?

His interest in sculpting was kind of necessary to give a boy a somewhat plausible reason to go into a shop filled with nothing but creepy dolls. :sweat:

Still not sure if I will ultimately like this show or not, but it clearly benefits from CR's 1080p option. It is very pretty - austere and grim, but pretty nonetheless.

PA Works attention to details keeps shining through. I loved how they showed the corpse-like palor of Mei's hands as she was walking.

[Sly05]

His interest in sculpting was kind of necessary to give a boy a somewhat plausible reason to go into a shop filled with nothing but creepy dolls. :sweat:
I don't know, I'd go in myself because it looked awesome. How often do you get to see a shop that sells conjoined twin dolls? :P

[FUNiOP]

Oh man. Again almost nothing actually happens, and again it's absolutely fascinating. Essentially nothing really changes in what's going on in the area, but Kouichi slowly starts to realize why all this classmates are so freaked out, and what the truth about Mei really is. And his classmates start to realize some of the reverse themselves. And they stop at such an important part!

[HitokiriShadow]

Mei takes off her eyepatch! And then the episode ends. ;_;

We're going to have to wait until next time to see if there's something interesting about her eye or if she's just toying with Kouchi and she actually has a perfectly normal eye and is only wearing the patch because she thinks it looks cool/cute/whatever.

The nurse is pretty fun. She's going to die soon, isn't she?

So some girl died the day Kouichi saw Mei in the hospital and the girl's name may or may not have the same family name as Mei. I'm pretty confident that Mei is NOT the girl that died, but that the dead girl is who she made the delivery to.

[strangefour]

-"Hey. Are you a ghost?" "The opening theme may have already begun."
-The screaming lemon (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=755046),
-Come on Sakaki join the art club. Dead girl was in the art club... or murdered by them.

-Countermeasures against what damn it? Tell Sakaki you are a ghostbuster already.
-Creepiest shop ever.
-Mei likes creepy conjoined dolls...
-EYEPATCH IS OFF! *covers eyes*

Random shots of creepy dolls creeping me out. Most of the random cuts are totally unrelated to the story but help set the atmosphere without resorting to jump scares. Yet it does many of the set ups for jump scares, like the footsteps walking up to the nurses station. Just lots of horror filming tropes, but for some reason here it works for me. Maybe just for the fact it's animated and not an badly lit horror movie. The sometimes over the top haunting soundtrack probably helps.

[EmperorBrandon]

And Mei's smile when she's taking if off. Totally creepy and sinister.

I loved the look on her face when she was taking it off. So awesome... Quite curious to see what happens next with this series.

[Damius]

- Arg... forgot to mute the OP at first, another series which have nothing to do with this one (except well you know) came to mind…
- I’m still impressed at how every classmate has a detail character design…
- Well…some creepy dolls… eyecatch!
- The nurse sure was funny!
- Lots of creepy dolls…
- Mei removes her eyepatch… Episode end! So what is under the eyepatch?

This anime sure is done really well…

[something]

Episode 2:

- Mochizuki sees screaming lemons.
- Kouichi, girls don't like overly persistent guys.
- The nurse is so cute. Please don't die, cute nurse.
- Would really like to figure out just what Izumi is protecting the class from... other than maybe Kouichi himself.

- Damnit Kouichi, you're acting like a stalker.
- Creepy dolls and creepy old woman. And a conveniently timed dropped call!
- Jeeze, the music is sooooooo oppressive.
- Haha, oh that eyepatch cliffhanger. Nice.

Still intriguing.

[something]

Random shots of creepy dolls creeping me out. Most of the random cuts are totally unrelated to the story but help set the atmosphere without resorting to jump scares. Yet it does many of the set ups for jump scares, like the footsteps walking up to the nurses station. Just lots of horror filming tropes, but for some reason here it works for me. Maybe just for the fact it's animated and not an badly lit horror movie. The sometimes over the top haunting soundtrack probably helps.
I think jump scares are shit, so I'm glad this show has avoided them. Though I keep wondering when it'll succumb to the temptation. There's a chance for one like every 30 seconds, so they've got to fall into the trap eventually. Hopefully not though.

[FUNiOP]

Start off an episode with a shot of those naked conjoined dolls. This show sure knows how to be creepy. That whole first scene was just as creepy as could be. It's all done really well. This is looking to be possibly my favorite completely new series of the season. And that ending. I knew there would be something like that at some point, but it still caught me off guard. Well, once she grabbed that umbrella, I kind of figured that would happen. I guess I just wasn't expecting it to be quite as brutal. So the truth has finally been revealed, and the bodies immediately start to drop, and this show clearly isn't afraid to do away with some of the more major characters right off the bat. Damn. This show. Pretty crazy already.

[bear]

Start off an episode with a shot of those naked conjoined dolls. This show sure knows how to be creepy. That whole first scene was just as creepy as could be. It's all done really well. This is looking to be possibly my favorite completely new series of the season. And that ending. I knew there would be something like that at some point, but it still caught me off guard. Well, once she grabbed that umbrella, I kind of figured that would happen. I guess I just wasn't expecting it to be quite as brutal. So the truth has finally been revealed, and the bodies immediately start to drop, and this show clearly isn't afraid to do away with some of the more major characters right off the bat. Damn. This show. Pretty crazy already.

Looks like if you see her you die.:eek: I don't think anyone is safe in the show.

I find that the ED actually makes the show creepier just by the contrast.

[Fencedude]

Ahh...well. Damn.

Wow. Just...I don't...wow.

THIS IS A REALLY FUCKING CREEPY SHOW

[Ashyukun]

Looks like if you see her you die.:eek: I don't think anyone is safe in the show.

I find that the ED actually makes the show creepier just by the contrast.
Yeah, I'm on board for the 'if you see Misaki, you're going to die' theory as well.

As for the ED... I'm convinced that the characters besides Kouichi are all going to die- and in the order they show up. Not that I'm expecting Kouichi to SURVIVE, mind you- but I'm thinking the ending is of them all in the afterlife (*cough*preparing to revolt against God*cough* Sorry, wrong show... :catgirl: ), and then Misaki fades out at the end because she can't stay there...

[strangefour]

-Okay I get it. I'm tired of this OP. Go away Ali Project.
-Oh she just has traffic light eyes.
-Dolls are hollow places for death to crawl into... They just found a way to make dolls even creepier.
-"What I'm trying to tell you is I am the dead that will not die. Boo."
-Aww those two boys are so gay for each other. Wait... am I just seeing homosexual innuendo everywhere now because of all the yuri baiting shows? *shrug*
-*smack* When the cute meganeko asks you to walk home with her in the rain, you walk home with her damn it Kouichi!

-"The first year"... What it the story of a dead girl got creepier for the nest 25 years?
-Nobody in this town likes to give straight answers.
-Next month? Dude if you guys don't want him flirting with a ghost you should explain some shit to Kouichi.
-Fujioka Misaki. Fujioka (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0zWLehGewU)!
-Hello Lovecraft. I was wondering how long it would be before you got name dropped.
-What's wrong with our little meganeko? She acts like she's seen a gh--- GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Well that was shocking. I knew death of some of the well designed supporting cast would be coming eventually. But that was fast, brutal and bloody. She kept twitching... I don't think many of the class will survive this semester. *waves goodbye to everyone in the end credits* Maybe one of you will survive if you explain everything to Koichi.

[bear]

As for the ED... I'm convinced that the characters besides Kouichi are all going to die- and in the order they show up. Not that I'm expecting Kouichi to SURVIVE, mind you- but I'm thinking the ending is of them all in the afterlife (*cough*preparing to revolt against God*cough* Sorry, wrong show... :catgirl: ), and then Misaki fades out at the end because she can't stay there...

Oh great, we get a scorecard showing all the redshirts. So this is going to a Final Destination type show where the suspense comes not from who gets it next but by what freaky means they croak.

[FUNiOP]

I figured this would be the case since the series started. Reminds me even more of Shiki than ever before.

[HitokiriShadow]

o_0

Well that was a messy way to go. And I wasn't expecting a death quite yet to begin with. Sad to see her go so soon, I liked her and hoped she'd be around a little bit longer.

Seemed a little unnecessary and contrived to have her umbrella fall in just such a way that it impales her through the throat when she was already falling and could have easily died by breaking her neck. Hell, we even saw her fall in just such a way that would have done that.

Anyway, we finally get confirmation that no one else can see Mei. Except when their own death is imminent, apparently.

And Sakakibara finally finds out the chunk of the story of 26 years ago that we already know. Apparently that part isn't the problem. What they really don't want him to know is something that happens after the graduation, something that we don't know either.

[nakimushi]

o_0

Well that was a messy way to go. And I wasn't expecting a death quite yet to begin with. Sad to see her go so soon, I liked her and hoped she'd be around a little bit longer.

Seemed a little unnecessary and contrived to have her umbrella fall in just such a way that it impales her through the throat when she was already falling and could have easily died by breaking her neck. Hell, we even saw her fall in just such a way that would have done that.

To me, as gruesome as the way Yukari died was, it was necessary to preserve the tension over whether something supernatural is really happening here or not. If she had just fallen down the stairs and broken her neck, it could easily be seen as "just an accident". However, dying by being impaled by her own umbrella, seems like more than "just an accident" even if it really was "just an accident". :)


Anyway, we finally get confirmation that no one else can see Mei. Except when their own death is imminent, apparently.

I'm actually not convinced that has been confirmed yet. At this point, I still think it is very possible that Mei is alive, but being shunned by the class for some unknown reason. Looking at it that way, just the fact that Koichi was talking with the girl who no one is supposed to talk to, could have been enough to fluster Yukari enough that she ended up falling on the stairs, since there might be serious consequences for talking with Mei.

When Kouichi sees Mei on the roof at 17:50, and leaves to go see her, the boy he is with (Kazami) looked up at where Kouichi is going, and he appeared to be angry, not scared at what he saw. I cannot think of a reason why he would be angry at Kouchi going up to an empty roof - which is what he should see if he could not see Mei (even if there was a "no entry" sign).

The warning Koichi gets by phone from Teshigawara a few moments later "about not getting involved/messing with things that aren't there/don't exist", in my opinion, could also be interpreted as the class shunning Mei.

Obviously at some point the show will reveal whether or not there is actually anything supernatural happening, but I personally think the ambiguity will remain for a while longer.

[bear]

The warning Koichi gets by phone a few moments later "about not getting involved/messing with things that aren't there/don't exist", in my opinion, could also be interpreted as the class shunning Mei.

Obviously at some point the show will reveal whether or not there is actually anything supernatural happening, but I personally think the ambiguity will remain for a while longer.

Well, there is a possibility that the real horror is the rest of the class. Each year there could be a scapegoat, forced to play the role of the original girl. Mei is just this year's. Maybe there is really a supernatural element and something bad happens if they don't play the game. But then there's that damn doll's eye...

[nakimushi]

The warning Koichi gets by phone a few moments later "about not getting involved/messing with things that aren't there/don't exist", in my opinion, could also be interpreted as the class shunning Mei.

Obviously at some point the show will reveal whether or not there is actually anything supernatural happening, but I personally think the ambiguity will remain for a while longer.

Well, there is a possibility that the real horror is the rest of the class. Each year there could be a scapegoat, forced to play the role of the original girl. Mei is just this year's. Maybe there is really a supernatural element and something bad happens if they don't play the game.

Sure, but even that situation could be seen as ambiguous. Is there a curse that causes bad things to happen, or is it just a urban legend/superstition that the class has gotten themselves so worked up about that they are paranoid and continually on edge to the point that they become accident prone, in sort of a self-fulling prophecy? :)

But then there's that damn doll's eye...

Well, Mei did say it was a doll's eye, but it could just be a green contact lens, to go along with what seems to be the red contact lens in her right eye. :)

It may not actually be red - it could just be the lighting. Nobody else in the show has unnatural colored eyes, so if her right eye were actually red, I would think Kouichi would have asked about it though.

I think the only thing that was actually confirmed in this episode is that people will start dying. Why they will die has not yet been confirmed IMO.

Now if Yukari shows up next week and offers to share her umbrella with Kouichi again... :)

[William K]

Eeek... gives a new meaning to the phrase "A character gets shafted"...

First random speculation based on Mei's story about dolls without bodies and hearts/souls. The original classmates, when they pretended that Misaki was still alive, created some form of spirit that sucks the souls from others to remain 'alive'

[HitokiriShadow]

Anyway, we finally get confirmation that no one else can see Mei. Except when their own death is imminent, apparently.

I'm actually not convinced that has been confirmed yet. At this point, I still think it is very possible that Mei is alive, but being shunned by the class for some unknown reason. Looking at it that way, just the fact that Koichi was talking with the girl who no one is supposed to talk to, could have been enough to fluster Yukari enough that she ended up falling on the stairs, since there might be serious consequences for talking with Mei.

When Kouichi sees Mei on the roof at 17:50, and leaves to go see her, the boy he is with (Kazami) looked up at where Kouichi is going, and he appeared to be angry, not scared at what he saw. I cannot think of a reason why he would be angry at Kouchi going up to an empty roof - which is what he should see if he could not see Mei (even if there was a "no entry" sign).

The warning Koichi gets by phone from Teshigawara a few moments later "about not getting involved/messing with things that aren't there/don't exist", in my opinion, could also be interpreted as the class shunning Mei.

Obviously at some point the show will reveal whether or not there is actually anything supernatural happening, but I personally think the ambiguity will remain for a while longer.

I suppose it may not be completely confirmed, but I think there's a lot more to suggest it is the case than not. This is the kind of show where we probably shouldn't fully trust *anyone* but at the moment, I'm not getting the feeling or seeing a reason not to trust Mei and take her words at face value.

And I find it hard to buy that Yukari reacted that way just because Kouichi was talking to her. Especially since Yukari already knew or at least had reason to suspect he had been doing so.

I think there are explanations for the boy's reaction earlier in the episode as well. I had thought he saw her during that scene and then forgot about it by the end, but if the rest of the class really can't see her, it would make sense for him to react that way precisely *because* he didn't see anyone there.

I do, however, agree that there is still a decent chance that the class is just shunning her. The stuff about "not getting involved with things that don't exist" does sound a bit more like what someone would say if they were trying to get Kouichi to conform to their charade than if it was actually the case.

Oh, and the what Mei said about her cousin and how they used to be much closer makes much more sense if Mei is actually a (mostly) normal girl that's getting screwed by the rest of the class because of tradition and whatnot.

[Ashyukun]

One thing that I'd be quite interested in knowing: Kouichi indicated that Mei had been taking the exams along with the rest of them but had finished/left early each day. Was the teacher picking up her exam? Was there actually something on the paper?

That she's not actually something supernatural is definitely a possibility- we've obviously intentionally not been given enough info to determine either way yet. I think the only thing certain is that the body count is going to keep going up...

[nakimushi]

That she's not actually something supernatural is definitely a possibility- we've obviously intentionally not been given enough info to determine either way yet.

That's pretty much what I think as well.

So far, we really only know 4 things for certain:

1. The school has a scary legend about a dead girl named Misaki, and seemingly no one wants to tell Koichi about it: the lone exception being Mei.
2. We have seen no one interact with Mei except for Kouichi.
3. Yukari is dead.
4. Conjoined twin dolls are really creepy looking. :)

Anything beyond that, at this point is still pretty much speculation or educated guessing, including whether or not there is any relation between those four points of information.


There are few more things that we know with varying degrees of certainty, depending primarily on how much we trust or believe the people who told them to Koichi:

1. Koichi's mother is dead, and 26 years ago she was a member of the original class from the school legend. [The class membership information came from Reiko]
2. A girl with the name of Misaki died in the hospital recently. [from the nurse, who initially seemed to be confused about the name]
3. That girl was Mei's cousin and they were close. [from Mei]
4. Mei's last name is Misaki. [from Mei - and the show's website character page (http://www.another-anime.jp/character/) :)]

This show has done a really nice job of not giving definitive evidence of which way it is heading. Almost everything can be explained in more than one way.

[Fencedude]

1. The school has a scary legend about a dead girl named Misaki, and seemingly no one wants to tell Koichi about it: the lone exception being Mei.

It was pointed out by a commenter on a blog that, strictly speaking, a gendered pronoun has not been applied to the student who died 26 years ago.

Now, I'm pretty certain the translations are using a female pronoun for a reason, but its worth keeping in mind...

[nakimushi]

1. The school has a scary legend about a dead girl named Misaki, and seemingly no one wants to tell Koichi about it: the lone exception being Mei.

It was pointed out by a commenter on a blog that, strictly speaking, a gendered pronoun has not been applied to the student who died 26 years ago.

Now, I'm pretty certain the translations are using a female pronoun for a reason, but its worth keeping in mind...

Well, in the first recitation of the legend (at the beginning of the first episode) that is definitely true. The student is always referred to as a student, or as Misaki. A pronoun is used only once, and the one used is そいつ (soitsu), which is gender neutral but is also frequently translated as "that guy".

Although, interestingly enough, when Mei tells the story to Kouichi in episode 3, the times she doesn't use "student" or Misaki to refer to the student, she always uses その子 (sono ko), which is typically used for small children and for girls/young women. Although an much older person might do so, it would be unusual for someone's of Mei's (apparent) age to refer to a 9th grade boy as その子.

However, when Mei quotes Misaki's classmates during her retelling of the legend, they all use あいつ (aitsu), which can refer to either sex, but it also can be translated as "that guy" - obviously depending on the context of course.

This show is just chock full of ambiguity. :)

[TheGreenMan]

Note to self: NEVER buy an umbrella with a pointy end.

[Damius]

- Well, she just has an doll’s eye under the eye patch... Hmmm...
- Wow….a death already… Umbrella can be really dangerous… So when you can see Mei you die, is that it?
- What a creepy show…

I guess...we will know more about that doll's eye...

This thread will definitely be a big help to understand the show better!

[Goggen]

That'll teach her to run in the hallways.

Anyway, this might be a totally obvious observation but I'll mention it anyway. I rewatched the prologue in episode 1, and there's a brief cut to this (http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/5382/another1.png) shot.

But in between all the unsettling imagary, there are also similiar quick cuts to this (http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/5769/another2f.png), this (http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1622/another3.png) and this (http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/7664/another4.png). I'm thinking those are probably not random.

[Ingraman]

That'll teach her to run in the hallways.

I'm sure that she'll remember it for the rest of her life...





;_;

[something]

Episode 3:

- Already been spoiled on who dies in this ep. Not directly, but two different things combined made it obvious. Oh well.
- Knew it would be a doll's eye.
- And Mei gives Kouichi the story from the first episode.
- Yukari is so cute.
- Kouichi you're much too curious for your own good.
- Yukari is so dead. Already knew that was coming, as mentioned earlier. Oh well. What a shitty way to die too.

[FUNiOP]

Another one down. I'm going to pretend that's why it's titled that. As expected, we're looking to get a death an episode, at least for a while, but not necessarily just students. Actually, despite that, the first two to go were pretty similar. I wonder if this will prompt Kouichi to realize that he has something to do with this. After all, he's clearly the reason she got involved in the first place. Of course, he doesn't even know for sure that it really had anything to do with Mei, but I'd imagine it won't take too much more of this for him to start realizing that. Plus, she's starting to get a little more of the story during each episode, when he's not building relationships with characters who are destined to die by the end of it. How depressing. At least her death wasn't quite as brutal.

[Sly05]

It was fairly obvious who was going to die this episode, so the death didn't come as much of a shock. Still, too bad as I liked her and the deaths continue to be squeamishly gruesome.

[bear]

The megane girl who died last episode also had her mother die at the same time. The nurse had a younger brother in class 3. If they follow the pattern then I'm going to assume that they'll find he's croaked too. I wonder if he's one of the students in the ED since it was conjectured that those are the ones that are doomed.

I'm assuming Kouichi's sister is on the list with those headaches.

[Fencedude]

I knew Mizuno's days were numbered, but wasn't sure they'd do it this episode or not.

This is rapidly spiraling out of control for all involved.

[HitokiriShadow]

"My little brother is in your class." The nurse is screwed, she has zero chance of surviving the show and pretty good shot at dying in this episode.

... and there she goes. ;_;

[strangefour]

-Umbrella nooooooo!
-Before you die, you see Mei.
-Her mom died too? Man this curse/ghost/insanely coincidental series of accidents is wicked.
-Oh a death a month. Thank you chatty rumor kids. You provide exposition that Kouichi really needs.
-Aww poor cute nurse. Your brother is in class 3. You are not long for this world. I just want to hug her.
-Chekov's glass truck?
-Calm down it's not like it fell on you.

-Old shop lady has the same dialog. Is she a marionette?
-Suicidal doll!
-Class full of secretive asshole.
-Situation changed my ass. Your countermeasures are useless.
-No. No sexy nurse. Get off the elevator. Please get off. :(
-Who ever's doing the sound design for this show needs an award. Squishy.

Crazy theory that won't happen ever: Everyone in class 3, except Mei, is already dead. They are just ghosts hanging on because someone still loves them. When that friend or family member dies, so does the ghost. We have yet to see if any family members interact with the class. But then the teacher would have to be a ghost, and the rumors at the beginning of this episode sound like there are kids who know the kids in class 3. Could be a whole dead school, but that would make no sense for Kouichi to be going there. Unless he is insane.

[Damius]

- So they really don’t want to tell him…
- Mizuno was helping him to understand and she died… that was way too obvious.

Who will die next episode? Kouichi’s sister?

[Ashyukun]

Crazy theory that won't happen ever: Everyone in class 3, except Mei, is already dead. They are just ghosts hanging on because someone still loves them. When that friend or family member dies, so does the ghost. We have yet to see if any family members interact with the class. But then the teacher would have to be a ghost, and the rumors at the beginning of this episode sound like there are kids who know the kids in class 3. Could be a whole dead school, but that would make no sense for Kouichi to be going there. Unless he is insane.
I think that the theory that everyone actually CAN see Mei (and she's perfectly alive) but are acting like they can't as part of the 'countermeasures' is more likely than this- if nothing else, Mizuno kind of counteracted this theory since unless she was also nuts, she'd not be discussing things with her dead (by your theory) brother.

There's also something odd that hasn't really been addressed yet regarding Mei (well, OK- there's a lot odd that hasn't been address/answered about her, but...)- when she first met Kouichi at the school, she denied having met him earlier at the hospital going down to the morgue. Yet she changed her tune later, telling him that the girl who had died was her cousin.

I'm also wondering how long it will be before Kouichi goes and talks to the artist who is making the dolls- it looks like she has to play at least somewhat into things...

[something]

Episode 4:

- Oh jeeze her mom died the same day. This curse doesn't mess around.
- One dies every month. Guess it'll be a bit of time between each episode, then.
- Well fuck. Based on what we just heard about the curse affecting family members too, the nurse is totally fucked now. ;_;
- ...I think everyone should be wrapping a foot thick of padding around their umbrellas now.
- The nurse knows too much now. ;_;

- Jeeze, don't hold a conversation by a big pane of glass. Everyone knew that was coming, so each second they stood by it made it all the more inevitable.

- ...The woman at the doll shop is a doll herself, isn't she? I bet she totally is.
- More creepy Mei.
- And Reiko is totally gonna die too. She's too pretty to live. Headache of death.

- "That means it started in May..." when the "other" Misaki girl died? Or did Yukari die in May and they're just mentally noting when it's begun?
- Fuck. There goes the cute nurse. ;_; Did they need to do a double-take on her face exploding? :sd:

Just had to go and kill my favorite character.

[TheGreenMan]

Heart attack? Not gruesome enough.
And now the ignoring begins.
INFODUMP. Good to see that Mei is not a ghost, but alive...or maybe not? So, there's a ghost, or ghosts, who think they're alive, throwing off the roster? But there's no explanation to why the deaths are happening though.

[bear]

INFODUMP. Good to see that Mei is not a ghost, but alive...or maybe not? So, there's a ghost, or ghosts, who think they're alive, throwing off the roster? But there's no explanation to why the deaths are happening though.

Probably Kouichi is the one since he's been sick and the deaths seem to be related to him. Possibly has to do with his family given the creepy librarian's comment. Maybe he's not dead but it's the fact that a member of his family is in the class that's the problem.

So what's the deal with Mei's eye?

[Fencedude]

Well, at least we know that Mei exists.

The rest is about what I expected.

Now a love story between two students who don't exist?

[FUNiOP]

Another episode, another death. This one happened very early on in the episode, and this time almost none of the episode was even about that. Takabayashi doesn't even get that much. More importantly, it's the fact that the connections between these deaths can't be ignored anymore, and when Kouichi gets isolated from the class, he goes to Mei and gets some much-needed info. Some was expected, but it's good to have the facts confirmed. Now let the mystery continue!

[strangefour]

-Goodbye nurse. :(
-Heh. Nice shot of Kouichi talking to an invisible Mei (blocked by another student's head).
-Kouichi goes right to the scene of the crime. 1972.
-Kouichi is in a very relaxed interogation. Can he have a bowl of noodle soup? That would calm him down more.
-Not yet 3 o`clock. Classroom is empty. All the kids bags and books are still there... Is my dead classroom theory right?
-"Who is dead?" Everyone but you poor Mei. Well, soon enough they'll all be dead either way.
-You kids have a weird Lottery thing going on.
-Brave little Takabayashi. You'll be dead tomorrow.
-Or he can die right now. Damn.

-Screw you guys. You're all being assholes to Kouichi. Just because he's the angel of death.
-Kouichi is a thing that does not exist. His only romance option left is cute lil` Mei.
-Pay no attention to the elevator behind the curtain.
-The mystery of the extra student. So Kouichi is a member of the living dead.

My crazy "everyone but Mei is a ghost" theory doesn't seems more credible this week. Mei finally explaining the other half of the story we barely knew in fact makes it seem very possible. So the possibilities seem to be:
A) Everyone in the class except Mei and maybe Kouichi are ghosts.
B) Kouichi is a ghost and death follows him.
C) Some kid in the class is a ghost and death just kinda happens randomly (if this is true I bet countermeasures girl).
D) No one is a ghost, they are just all suffering from mass hysteria because of a clerical error from 26 years ago.
E) The town is sacrificing children "accidentally" for a good honey harvest. Bees (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmxfZGkfByE), my god (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ-5Mg_12zo).

[something]

Episode 5:

- No I don't need to see the nice nurse die again. Skip.
- Kouichi, you really need to leave this school or something.

- The class has made a decision about Kouichi. What? Really, can't they just try to get him expelled or something?
- Uh oh. Guy I don't remember is trying to break the rules. And... suffers an instant heart attack. Okay, Kouichi, look... STOP ASKING GODDAMN QUESTIONS. You are going to get everyone around you killed. >_>

- Looks like they're doing what I thought... pretending he doesn't exist. Just like they're doing to Mei.
- "How does it feel to not exist?" "Not great." Heh.
- Now that neither of them exists, Mei suddenly becomes a deeper character. She can be more open with Kouichi.
- Oh wow, it only started in May for Mei.
- I like this set-up. There's an "extra student" in the class, and their presence causes others to die. But nobody knows who the extra is - not even the extra. A recipe for maximum distrust and anxiety.

Okay, so I get why Kouichi was chosen for the silent treatment. He's far too inquisitive for his or their own good. And since he's the only one who will address Mei, dealing with him is the quickest way to get yourself killed.

What about Mei, though? Because it was her cousin - or whatever - who died? I don't remember if she died before or after Mei started getting ignored.

I also wonder how this knowledge gets passed from year to year among the students. Do recently-graduated alums let he upcoming second years in on it? And why would anyone believe such a thing? They'd have to put it into effect right away to prevent the first death. Maybe it's just such a prevalent rumor that everyone knows... Hm.

[Ashyukun]

-Heh. Nice shot of Kouichi talking to an invisible Mei (blocked by another student's head).
This was rather nice framing of the shot- since we knew that we were supposed to be seeing things from the POV of the others besides Kouichi, they couldn't give away (yet) whether or not they could actually see her...


C) Some kid in the class is a ghost and death just kinda happens randomly (if this is true I bet countermeasures girl).
*high fives* Oh good, I'm not the only one who thinks she'd be the most interesting for it to be...

[HitokiriShadow]

Good grief, now a heart attack just when someone is about to tell Kouichi, and us, something useful? And now the entire class is treating Kouichi like he doesn't exist.

I was getting ready to complain that this show was becoming incredibly frustrating in its heavy handed attempts to keep information from us and Kouichi, but then it finally starts handing some out.

But it hasn't yet given a reason to not fucking tell Kouichi anything. And now he's being ostracized BECAUSE they didn't fucking tell him anything. On the other hand, I think everyone that's died had passed something along to Kouichi....

Oh, and I'm failing to see how the entire city, if not all of Japan, wouldn't know about so many deaths happening in one class. That's the stuff of national news.

[something]

But it hasn't yet given a reason to not fucking tell Kouichi anything. And now he's being ostracized BECAUSE they didn't fucking tell him anything. On the other hand, I think everyone that's died had passed something along to Kouichi...
I think the latter is the main problem, although the show is inconsistent about it. For example, why was fragile-looking boy not punished (yet?) for showing Kouichi the class roster and explicitly writing Mei's name down (I think, can't remember exactly if he did) when telling Kouichi to ask her for information? The rules of this curse are still rather unclear.

I do think him being a transfer student complicates things. They'd stabilized the status quo before he came (and after Mei's relative died, I guess), with Mei as the sacrifice and the numbers lining up. But Kouichi came and screwed the balance and I don't think they knew what to do. Did they need to ignore him? Would a student arriving late cause an issue? Perhaps that had never happened before. And since he wasn't around from the start, would he understand and believe them and agree to ostracize Mei? Could they even tell him about Mei directly without risking death?

Obviously not telling him didn't work out either. But I really I think they were just at a loss as to what to do and tried to find a middle ground - don't talk about her, but try to warn him off indirectly. Unfortunately for them, Kouichi is too inquisitive for their own good...

Oh, and I'm failing to see how the entire city, if not all of Japan, wouldn't know about so many deaths happening in one class. That's the stuff of national news.
The news media in anime is generally rather awful at their job.

[Orochimaru]

Can someone tell me if this is censored on crunchyroll? I'd kind of like to watch it this season, but since I'm 5 episodes behind anyway, I may as well wait for DVD version if it's censored...

[something]

Can someone tell me if this is censored on crunchyroll? I'd kind of like to watch it this season, but since I'm 5 episodes behind anyway, I may as well wait for DVD version if it's censored...
There's not much to censor. There's some bloody deaths, but it doesn't linger on the gore, and if anything was censored I didn't notice or it was such minor censorship that I forgot. I'd just watch it now, BDs won't add much if anything.

[Orochimaru]

Can someone tell me if this is censored on crunchyroll? I'd kind of like to watch it this season, but since I'm 5 episodes behind anyway, I may as well wait for DVD version if it's censored...
There's not much to censor. There's some bloody deaths, but it doesn't linger on the gore, and if anything was censored I didn't notice or it was such minor censorship that I forgot. I'd just watch it now, BDs won't add much if anything.

Good, thanks. I think I'll do that tonight...

[Orochimaru]

Episode 1:

-OP sounds like Code Geass's ED. I kind of like it but it's kind of slow.
-Something about the way she says "sou" is very familiar...
-Dead girl... and that noise... maybe if I were watching this on the Tv with the lights off I would feel scared, but on a relatively small computer screen it doesn't have the same effect...
-Mmm that closet shrine thing makes me feel nostalgic...
-Yeah, yeah, dolls are creepy, but Ika Musume's were definitely creepier.
-Pretty women aren't his type? :sweat:
-Ok, what the fuck voice is that? Something recent...
-That song is slow. Not bad, but just too slow. And the slow panning seems to exacerbate whatever's going on with CR for me. I think I'll be skipping that in the future...

EDIT: Horizon.

[Orochimaru]

Heh. I always thought the Rozen Maiden and Code Geass songs sounded exactly the same, but I didn't realize it was such a rampant problem:sd:. I don't think I've heard it in any other shows...

[Damius]

- Do they really have to let us see the nurse dying again?
- Takabayashi you should not answer Kouichi questions….this does not look good at all…I have a bad feeling.
- And yeah…there it is…heart attack…. Oh well…
- Well, so the class has the expected reaction ignores Kouichi and pretends he is not there.
- So Mei really exists! Great!
- So we now have some information… It took long enough.
- So who is that extra student…? Hmm… no one (not even himself) knows…

[Orochimaru]

Well that was cool. This show makes me happy. It's easy to pay attention to. And it reminds me of Higurashi. I love Higurashi...

[strangefour]

-Aww Mei adorably accepts being the non-entity.
-The Rules! Is this all going to be a Mei flashback episode? I hope so.
-Yay flashback! Starting after miss countermeasures talked to Kouichi in the hospital.
-Back to now. Oh well that means more Kouchi & Mei bonding.
-Mei's mom is hiding her other eye. Cyclops family?
-Mei is nothing but another doll to her mom. poor Mei. No wonder she accepted being the non-entity so easily.
-Mei's naked back!
-Silly Mei. You don't have to be alone anymore.
-Dad's never know anything. Why did you ask him Kouichi?

-AHAHAHAHAHAHA! Dang it Kouichi. Make that dream sequence come true!
-Someday is a wonderful day.
-Melancholy montage.
-Even art club is taken from the two who are no longer people.
-The old librarian is Kouichi's mom's homeroomteacher. And thus from the center of what happened 26 years ago with Class 3.
-The first Misaki was a boy. Huh.
-Even at best the "pretending someone isn't there" strategy only works 50% of the time.
-Kouichi was born in the town. Well that explains why his mother died. His aunt was in Class 3 at the time.
-Rather unnerving entrance there teacher. What are you planning with that magical murder bag?
-Konichiwa Stabby-san. Genki desu ka?

More secrets of the past revealed. More killing is on the way. This whole murder mess could be some insane self fulfilling prophesy at this point.

[Ashyukun]

I'm kind of disappointed that the whole dancing around and making a general mockery of the 'rules' to have fun was just a daydream. However, we get a LOT of info dumped on us, both from Misaki, the original teacher (who is now the librarian), and a bit from Kouichi's aunt. And one BIG foreboding/foreshadowing question from Kouichi's Dad over the phone...

It was definitely worth noting that Mei cleanly dodged answering if she knew who it was that was dead. She also has yet to expand upon her earlier comment about her eye allowing her to see things others can't. But, eye cancer... *shudders* yikes.

No deaths this episode... But it looks like they're going to more than make up for it next episode... it looks like sensei is about to make a few cuts of is own to the class roster...

I'm still convinced that neither Kouichi nor Mei are the 'extra' student, but there definitely is something odd going on with Kouichi as his Dad's bombshell question heavily hinted at. But... I could easily be wrong, and Kouichi could have been in the class two years prior and been one of the ones who died, which might be why Miss Countermeasures thought he seemed so familiar...

[Fencedude]

Well, that cleared up quite a bit.

Now, we take a break from your regularly scheduled horror for some disgustingly cute romance.

I wish the dance scene was real, that was awesome.

[FUNiOP]

AHAHAHAHA I can't believe they put that kind of comedy in this show. It's been so damn dreary from the first second, that scene caught me so off guard. Of course, most of the episode was very serious, and in fact things are getting even grimmer than ever before, if that's even possible. The teacher has snapped and takes out a knife, and who knows who else will snap and/or die as a result of all this.

[bear]

Finally the answers start coming. Mei's eye gets explained and how she wound up a non-enity. The bit with his dad seems to imply that it might be him, even though countermeasures girl says his hand is warm so it can't be him. I'm still leaning towards it being Kouichi or both him and Mei.

As others have said, the dance scene was a great touch and well executed. I thought they really had done it at first.

I wonder why someone slashed her painting and why the art club wasn't aware that she was the scapegoat?

[Ashyukun]

I wonder why someone slashed her painting and why the art club wasn't aware that she was the scapegoat?
The art club aren't members of their class (for the most part). As was explained in the flashback, the rest of the students aren't told anything about the 'charm', so if they only knew her from the art club and weren't in her class, they'd treat her just like a normal student.

Dunno exactly what happened with the painting though...

[bear]

I wonder why someone slashed her painting and why the art club wasn't aware that she was the scapegoat?
The art club aren't members of their class (for the most part). As was explained in the flashback, the rest of the students aren't told anything about the 'charm', so if they only knew her from the art club and weren't in her class, they'd treat her just like a normal student.
I had assumed they meant that the other classes didn't know the details, not that they didn't know she was the scapegoat. What did the classmate say to the art club members he called out? If he can't tell them what did he say? It also causes some issues like Mei wandering around during class. You'd think someone would notice. Conversely, Mei could live a somewhat normal life outside of class with clubs and such if no one outside of the class was supposed to know. Wouldn't be the first time someone got ostracized by one group in a school so it would be a plausible solution. Or maybe that was tried before and didn't work.

[HitokiriShadow]

*sigh* The show addresses the issue of the class not telling Sakakibara about these major issues.... and gives a really unsatisfying answer that doesn't really explain it and he doesn't question. "Because you already talked to me." WHY!? Why would what that make it so hard to tell him a few pieces of information that would get him to stop getting the class killed?

This really needs to be answered because the whole show starts to fall apart if they don't have a good reason to not tell him anything. Unfortunately, the show seems to consider that question answered. And after waiting so long to address it, the answer doesn't really explain much.

As for who the dead person is, I've had three people in mind. Sakakibara was always a top suspect since him being the dead person would be a natural, if predictable, "big twist." Now the show is hinting at it so heavily that it seems way too obvious for that to actually be the answer. Then there's Mei. Her insistence that she knows she's not dead is not exactly highly reliable. As for the third.... Akazawa. It would just make sense, in a way, that the dead person that causes the calamity to end up being the one most concerned with trying to prevent it.

And I assume the teacher is just going to kill himself, not attack any of the students.

[HitokiriShadow]

The bit with his dad seems to imply that it might be him, even though countermeasures girl says his hand is warm so it can't be him.

But if that was actually a useful indicator of anything, they wouldn't have so much trouble figuring out who the dead person was.

I wonder why someone slashed her painting and why the art club wasn't aware that she was the scapegoat?

They explicitly said that no one outside of Class 3 was told about the situation. Which doesn't really make much sense. There better be a damn good explanation for these rules at some point, particularly the ones relating to not telling people, because we're half way through the show and they still feel like a really heavy handed and forced way of keeping information from Sakakibara and the viewers. This episode's poor explanation isn't giving me much reason to hope it will ever give a satisfying answer though.

It also doesn't make sense that, if they didn't tell anyone before... why do they care now? And why wait until they've been neglecting Mei for several months to do it? I guess maybe they finally realized it was kind of stupid to NOT tell everyone else about the person who's existence they were ignoring.

[Moe Moe Taiga]

I love how adorable Kouichi and Mei are together. (Basically) all they have are each other. And what started out as awkward is now turning into something very sweet. I really hope she doesn't die/is dead.

That dream sequence was totally out of nowhere, I literally burst out laughing. It just shifted the tone (albeit briefly) drastically.

Also, you guys should check out Guardian Enzo's (http://randomc.net/category/another/) impressions/thoughts on Random Curiosity if you haven't already. He has some good points. (I would suggest avoiding the comments section though, as some novel readers have been posting spoilers. Thankfully, I caught one that Divine had censored and from then on have not gone below the preview screencaps.).

This is definitely my favorite series of the season (Yes, I'm predictable). Keep in mind I've only watched this, Rinne no Lagrange and Inu x Boku SS though (Need to try out some more....Nise and Symphogear for sure.). But, I really doubt anything will top this for me.

[Moe Moe Taiga]

The bit with his dad seems to imply that it might be him, even though countermeasures girl says his hand is warm so it can't be him.

But if that was actually a useful indicator of anything, they wouldn't have so much trouble figuring out who the dead person was.


Well if we go by the rules explained by Tatsuji (The Librarian) and Mei (Which may be purposefully misleading to misdirect us.) then no one outside of Yomiyama are affected by the memory alteration. So if that's the case then Yousuke (Kouichi's father) would know that Kouichi was dead. We have to assume that his father wouldn't be calling him regularly if he was dead. I can't take credit for this idea (Guardian Enzo put this theory forward.), and to be honest I'm not sure it matters. What if these 'rules' are all just bull. I'm not sure what to believe.

[Ashyukun]

It also doesn't make sense that, if they didn't tell anyone before... why do they care now? And why wait until they've been neglecting Mei for several months to do it? I guess maybe they finally realized it was kind of stupid to NOT tell everyone else about the person who's existence they were ignoring.
If you're referring to calling all the art club members out of the room, I took it not that they were going to be told about their 'non-existence' but that he simply didn't want to have to deal with Mei & Kouichi and so made up an excuse to get the others out of the room...

[Damius]

- So that is why Mei does have an old desk…
- Mei is feeling better being the non-existent one over the opposite role.
- So she lost her eye at four. But why did her mother didn’t make a red doll’s eye for Mei?
- Kouichi’s dad is calling… Kouichi continues to ask questions… so this means his dead will be the next one to die?
- Booo… the dance was just a daydream!
- Art club members doesn’t ignore Mei…since they do not know.
- The librarian sure explains a lot.
- What will the teacher do with the knife exactly??? He will kill himself? Kill member(s) of his class?

[something]

Episode 6:

- Nice, a brief flashback to when Mei was chosen.
- Mei you're so cuuuuuuute. And your mom is hot.
- It's nice to see a little more emotion out of Mei. She's been so subdued that even subtle things really stand out: her slight surprise upon hearing Kouichi's mom is dead. Her sigh after she flips around the bar int he playground.
- Mei looks better with the eyepatch on. It's cute. And the Christmas eyes are a weird match. Makes me think of Suiseiseki.
- Y'know, Kouichi, this ain't all that bad. You get to skip school and hang out with Mei, whole the others spend every day in fear they'll die next.

- ...Did dad just die? And hmm, Kouichi was in Yomiyama not even two years ago.

- Ahahahahaha, oh god please tell me this is real. Mei and Kouichi just say "FUCK IT" and start dancing in the middle of the classroom knowing there isn't shit anyone else can do. XD
- Damnit. No. He was just dreaming. Hahaha, how awesome would that have been...
- Mei smiled~ Awww.

- Huh... well, yeah. Only Class 3 has to ignore her. The art club members seem quite fond of her. So really, she doesn't have to live such a solitary life.
- Oh blah, they just get dragged away. Honestly, the whole system still doesn't make sense in some ways. You would think all students have to know about it beforehand, because nobody can guess ahead of time if they'll be in class three. But somehow that's not the case, and yet the all accept this crazy sounding story once they're in class 3? Ah I'm probably wasting my time trying to think about it logically.

- Huh. The Misaki from 26 years ago was a boy.

Well. Looks like the teacher has snapped.

Going by the blood splatters in the preview, I'm guessing the girl directly in front of him, row two, is the one to go. Unless he just kills himself.

[Moe Moe Taiga]

Fairly informative episode, seemed really quick though. It seems that Mei may be the another after all (Although this could once again just be a troll.). I'm glad they both 'exist' now....although them being all 'alone' together was really sweet. Next week is a beach episode. Mei in a sukimizu....building a sand castle....sooooo cute!!!

[Ashyukun]

Well, that certainly was one of the... messiest... of the deaths we've gotten. Enough so that they needed to partially censor some of it.

And, the plot continues to thicken... I suppose it makes good sense that since the 'charm' is obviously not working that there's no reason to continue to deny that they exist. Nice that they can get along with the others, though of course there IS the pesky little spectre of their potential DEATH hanging over their heads...

Watching the OP a bit more closely, one part in particular, I'm unfortunately leaning away from my original hypothesis that the 'Another' is Akazawa. I still think it would be best 'twist', but I'm less convinced it could be her now...

Here's what I'm assuming that the 'criteria' for the 'Another' are at this point, from what we know:

1. Has to be a member- presumably student, since it's based on the number of desks- of Class 3.
2. Can not be someone that has been killed off so far. Presumably a) that would end the 'calamity' since the extra would be eliminated, and b) it would just seem silly that they could 'die'...
3. I'm assuming that it has to be someone that we've met at least in passing and not some complete no-name from the class. This isn't from anything we've been told obviously, but from a storytelling standpoint, it would be unusual for it to be someone completely unrelated or unintroduced.

The reason that I'm thinking now that it's NOT Akazawa is from watching the scene from the beginning of the OP in the darkened school hallway where the lights are going on and off and at the end the shadowy figure appears- presumably, the Another. And after looking closely at that scene, the shadowy figure quite clearly has short hair- and of the main Class 3 crew we've met (and that are still alive...) only Akazawa has long hair and thus couldn't be that figure. Looking at it closer, it looks to me like from the shape of the hair (fairly wide higher up and tapering down a lot to the neck), it's either Mei or Mochizuki (the sickly artist boy whose sister is the waitress...). The latter has been a suspect in my mind for a while as well due to his illness- though you'd THINK that if someone had come back from the dead they'd do so in such a form that they could do things they'd NOT been able to when truly alive.

Also of note, at least to me (those who have read my speculations/predictions over the years know I put a lot of weight into divining from OP/EDs...), is the fact that the meganeko in the ED animation who appears right before Akazawa hasn't gotten much attention at all, which to me makes her at least a bit suspicious. Frankly, I'm assuming it HAS to be one of the ones in the ED animation anyway- and only one has been eliminated (quite literally) from the pool of candidates...

As to what has happened in the past years- I have two theories: one about the years where the 'charm' worked, and the other where the 'calamity' was stopped mid-year.

First, the success/failure of the charm in the past: I'd postulate that the reason it worked some years is that the class-by luck or other means- had actually chosen the actual 'extra' student as the one whose existence they would deny- thus keeping the 'calamity' at bay by cutting off the ties to death in the class. The other years, they chose poorly so to speak, so the Another was a normal part of the class and the calamity proceeded as usual. The 'charm' had a roughly 50% success rate, which means that they had been unusually good at picking out the classmate who was already dead as their 'non-existent' class member, but then if their gut instincts were good it's not wholly implausible.

As to the class 15 years prior where it stopped mid-semester, which they're trying to track down and replicate, I'm going to guess that either the 'extra' was positively identified and/or was one of the two students who were killed on the class trip- thus bringing to an end the calamity since the extra dead student was no longer there. Presumably what the guy they're going to try and track down was talking about having hidden was the proof as to who had been the 'extra' that year...

[FUNiOP]

Mei sure seems to act like she's the another, and seems to know it. Next it's time for the class trip, where they hope to find a way to break the curse based on previous years, but I have a feeling it won't go to smoothly, as happy as it looks in those beach scenes in that preview.

[strangefour]

-"Avi stetto!" Yes he has a knife.
-That's a very ineffective way to kill your self you nutter.
-Well that was some obvious censoring.
-Aww, I was expecting the flying knife as he fell to end up on someone's head.
-Well teacher's dead. Everyone's screaming. School's out of session (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qga5eONXU_4&t=45s).
-Kouichi is taking this rather well. Suppose that makes sense. This is sort of the third death he's seen.
-That's creepy. I'd forgotten all about Mei. And they don't show her till she makes a ghosty appearance.
-Really Mei? Even you shouldn't blame a suicide by insanity on the "curse."
-Friendly dude is talking to Kouichi again! Screw the rules it's survival of the fittest.
-Oh now you start talking like a sensible person little miss countermeasures.
-Hooray a class trip where people are guaranteed to die. but it might end the "curse" this year.

-Happy nightmare!
-Welcome to countermeasures coffee talk.
-No sexy bartender lady, don't tell us who you are related too. Now you're gonna die. :(
-A week without Mei. That's too long.
-Well if Mei's sure Kouchi isn't the ghost that's good enough for me.

I'm glad they both 'exist' now....although them being all 'alone' together was really sweet. Next week is a beach episode. Mei in a sukimizu....building a sand castle....sooooo cute!!!

It is a shame we don't get to have Mei & Kouichi be a cute shunned couple for a few more weeks. But next week bikini beach blood bath!

[HitokiriShadow]

Yep, the teacher just killed himself as I expected. But geez, that got rather silly.

Anyway, so at this point its clear to the students that ignoring both one and two students hasn't helped and doesn't look like doing it any further, so they stop ostracizing both Kouichi and Mei. Now that that's out of the way, they can finally explain these rules and we can hear straight from Akazawa why they never fucking told him. Surely they'll explain that stuff now, right?

....

....

....

........... Oh. What a shock. The rules don't get mentioned once. Kouichi was so inquisitive about these things to the point that the rest of the class added him to the ignore list, but now that he can finally have all that stuff explained to him.... he doesn't fucking ask.

So yeah, it looks like those rules existed purely to keep information from Koucihi in an obnoxious, heavy handed way. There's absolutely no excuse for not explaining them in this episode.

Well, at least Akazawa admits that the "cold hand" thing was unlikely to work because it would be too easy. But I guess in her situation, you'll try anything no matter how incredibly unlikely in the hopes that maybe something will actually work. Can't really blame her for that.

[nakimushi]

Yep, the teacher just killed himself as I expected. But geez, that got rather silly.

Anyway, so at this point its clear to the students that ignoring both one and two students hasn't helped and doesn't look like doing it any further, so they stop ostracizing both Kouichi and Mei. Now that that's out of the way, they can finally explain these rules and we can hear straight from Akazawa why they never fucking told him. Surely they'll explain that stuff now, right?


........... Oh. What a shock. The rules don't get mentioned once. Kouichi was so inquisitive about these things to the point that the rest of the class added him to the ignore list, but now that he can finally have all that stuff explained to him.... he doesn't fucking ask.

So yeah, it looks like those rules existed purely to keep information from Koucihi in an obnoxious, heavy handed way. There's absolutely no excuse for not explaining them in this episode.



I actually thought that Chibiki Sensei (the Librarian) explained the strategy to Kouichi really well in the previous episode, so it did not seem to be necessary to explain it to him again. At 5:30 Teshigawara even asked Kouichi if he knew the whole story, and Kouichi acknowledged that he did know it - he did not need to ask Teshigawara to explain it.

The class not telling Kouichi about Mei, also made sense to me. From what we heard from Chibiki Sensei, the strategy depended completely on acting as if Mei did not exist at all once she was selected. You cannot talk about someone who does not exist, since to do so would be acknowledging her/his existence.

To have a new student admitted after the decision had already been made, was an intractable problem. Since telling Kouchi about the rule, would essentially be admitting that Mei did exist, the most they could do was try and mention the importance of "following the class rules". Even Kouichi's aunt mentioned it to him.

Which is why most of the class was on edge with Koichi. They were clinging desperately to the hope that he might just conform to the behavior of the rest of the class and not make waves, which in Japan, is probably a bit more likely, than in the US.

Although hoping Kouichi would get the hint, obviously didn't work out, IMO it wasn't necessarily a completely futile hope. Even in the US, there are definite (classic) examples of people conforming to seemingly odd, yet unspoken rules (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQI8pZJiMe0). :)

The ineffective attempt to try and fix the broken strategy by ignoring Kouichi as well, made sense as well (following the same desperate logic of course). If the effectiveness of the strategy depended on the entire class not acknowledging the existence of Mei, then the only way to deal with a person who was acknowledging her, was to effectively remove Kouichi from the class by ignoring him too. After the teacher's suicide though, it was obvious to everyone that the ignoring strategy was just not salvageable.

[Fencedude]

Well, that was messy.

Anyway, Mei and Kouichi exist again, so we actually get interaction with other characters.

They really, really want us to think that Mei is the Another.

[bear]

Well, that was messy.

Anyway, Mei and Kouichi exist again, so we actually get interaction with other characters.

They really, really want us to think that Mei is the Another.

So far they've trolled her and Kouichi since they both almost died at some point, and you've got Kouichi not remembering that he was there two years previously.

I'm wondering if there is some surprise involving either Kouichi or Mei (or her mother) that is unrelated to the Another.

[Damius]

- So the teacher killed himself!
- The teacher killed his mother as well…
- Since ignoring Kouichi and Mei was not the key for any more deaths, they exist again!
- The deaths stopped midyear 25 years ago; because something happened in that class trip… they are not sure what though…
- Kouichi, please don’t dream about creepy things again…
- Matsunaga knows how to stop the calamity…and left a hint somewhere. What can it be?
- Mei reveals that Kouichi is not the one who is dead… Is Mei Another? Or they just want us to believe so?

It was a quite informative episode.

[something]

Episode 7:

- Well that was bloody.

- What was that thing in the sink? It was clearly involved in the murder of Kubodera's mother but I can't tell what it is.
- Oh hey. Kouichi and Mei are allowed to exist again.
- Mikami-sensei is totally going to die.

- Ew. Gooey nightmare.
- They introduced a classmate's sister. I guess she'll die too.
- I like Akazawa. So I'll assume she dies too. Everyone dies! The world ends!

You really think more people would skip town.

Next time, a cute happy beach episode! I'm sure nothing could go wrong. It's not like the ocean is ever dangerous in anime. >_>

[something]

The class not telling Kouichi about Mei, also made sense to me. From what we heard from Chibiki Sensei, the strategy depended completely on acting as if Mei did not exist at all once she was selected. You cannot talk about someone who does not exist, since to do so would be acknowledging her/his existence.
Especially since it very directly lead to the death of cute nurse and completely forgettable boy who had a heart attack. Guess you could put cute meganekko in that camp as well, though she wasn't directly trying to give Kouichi information.

[HitokiriShadow]

The class not telling Kouichi about Mei, also made sense to me. From what we heard from Chibiki Sensei, the strategy depended completely on acting as if Mei did not exist at all once she was selected. You cannot talk about someone who does not exist, since to do so would be acknowledging her/his existence.
Especially since it very directly lead to the death of cute nurse and completely forgettable boy who had a heart attack. Guess you could put cute meganekko in that camp as well, though she wasn't directly trying to give Kouichi information.

The show does seem to be killing people who gave any information to Kouichi, but that included things that didn't directly or necessarily involve Mei and we don't know yet that that's actually the reason rather than for story convenience/dramatic purposes (or that its just a red herring). And since the nurse wasn't part of class three herself and its been made pretty clear that these rules only require class 3 students to be in on it, then that couldn't have been a direct cause of her death.

But my problem isn't just that they didn't tell him about Mei, its that they didn't tell him about *anything.* And they certainly could have told him some things about the situation without getting the to Mei situation specifically. And even with Mei, do you really think they couldn't have possibly told him indirectly without ever mentioning her name or acknowledging her existence? I don't, in fact, I can imagine roughly how it would have gone. But they did their best to avoid telling him anything at all, which only led him to find things out on his own and continue breaking the rules that they wouldn't tell him about.

[nakimushi]

The class not telling Kouichi about Mei, also made sense to me. From what we heard from Chibiki Sensei, the strategy depended completely on acting as if Mei did not exist at all once she was selected. You cannot talk about someone who does not exist, since to do so would be acknowledging her/his existence.
Especially since it very directly lead to the death of cute nurse and completely forgettable boy who had a heart attack. Guess you could put cute meganekko in that camp as well, though she wasn't directly trying to give Kouichi information.

The show does seem to be killing people who gave any information to Kouichi, but that included things that didn't directly or necessarily involve Mei and we don't know yet that that's actually the reason rather than for story convenience/dramatic purposes (or that its just a red herring). And since the nurse wasn't part of class three herself and its been made pretty clear that these rules only require class 3 students to be in on it, then that couldn't have been a direct cause of her death.

But my problem isn't just that they didn't tell him about Mei, its that they didn't tell him about *anything.* And they certainly could have told him some things about the situation without getting the to Mei situation specifically. And even with Mei, do you really think they couldn't have possibly told him indirectly without ever mentioning her name or acknowledging her existence? I don't, in fact, I can imagine roughly how it would have gone. But they did their best to avoid telling him anything at all, which only led him to find things out on his own and continue breaking the rules that they wouldn't tell him about.


Think of it this way, for the strategy to be effective, once the class made the selection, they had to act as if Mei did not exist, and in fact never had existed.

IMO, there is no way they could maintain Mei's non-existence and simultaneously give meaningful/effective hints to Kouichi. If Mei did not exist, there was nothing to give hints about. The very act of giving hints that there could be a person in the class that Kouichi should pretend doesn't exist, would be a tacit admission that person did exist.

The closest thing to a hint came from Teshigwara who vaguely told Kouichi not to get involved with things that "don't exist". That is as far has he could go. Anything more specific than that would be acknowledging that Mei, or even a "hypothetical unnamed student", was actually in the class (just being ignored) which would remove the open slot in the class for the "Another", which would then start making room for itself.

The issue IMO is that people who died, did not die because they tried to give information to Kouichi, but rather because once they acknowledged Mei's existence in one form or another, they lost the protection of the strategy, and became vulnerable to the "Another".

Yukari, saw Mei and (over)-reacted to seeing her, which led to her demise. Although her falling down the stairs seemed more like a self-fulfilling prophecy than the subsequent deaths.

Unfortunately the nurse died before we heard exactly what her brother (who was a member of class 3) had told her, but it is possible he explained the strategy to her, and by doing so, he and his family lost the protection of the countermeasure, and she became vulnerable.

The boy who died of the heart attack, died at the moment he decided that he was going to talk about the strategy. Although I cannot remember for sure, I was actually under the impression that the boy who died of the heart attack had previously put the roster in Kouichi's desk, not the boy from the art club (Mochizuki).

If you think about it, Mei was participating in the plan, not just by allowing herself to be ignored. After Kouichi disregarded her initial warnings not to get involved with her, Mei was doing her best to avoid confirming her existence to Kouchi. She actively encouraged him to believe that she was not actually there. Even the portions of the legend she told Kouichi, served to get Kouichi to consider the possibility of a ghost student who was not really there. Mei continued her ruse until Kouichi finally confronted her with the class register.

The confirmation of Mei's existence that the class register provided was obviously the last straw that caused the ultimate failure of the countermeasure, which ended up leading to the deaths of the teacher and his mother - it was open season on everyone affiliated with class 3 after that.

So if in acknowledging Mei's existence a person lost the protection of the countermeasure, why Kouichi was not killed when he found out, becomes a valid question. From a plot device point of view, it obviously provides the ambiguity that suggests that Kouichi could actually be the Another, but it could just be that his late arrival into the class has given him some sort of immunity. However, I don't expect the show to answer that question quite yet.

It was interesting though that in Chibiki Sensei's explanation, he mentioned that although the ignoring strategy worked the first year it was tried, it was not always effective in subsequent years. Whether that was due to problems keeping everyone following the plan though was not revealed though.

[TheGreenMan]

Akazawa has got it hard for Kouichi.
Omnious tanker of DEATH.
The girls are pretty stacked. Oh...I forgot that anime girl's boobs get bigger the more revealing clothing they wear.
Suddenly...Mei! They have to invent something to get her into the episode, eh?
God god...this whole "I can't remember" shit is getting annoying. Take memory supplements!
A mysterous gust of wind...of premonition.
Oh...he almost drowned...oh he almost drowned...o he got chopped up by a propeller. WTF did he go out there for? A ball? "Idiot," in Akazawa's voice.

[Goggen]

WTF did he go out there for? A ball? "Idiot," in Akazawa's voice.

Well, the "calamity" isn't supposed to reach them outside of the city so he believed he was safe. My current theory: The calamity followed them because one in the group is the "another".

[FUNiOP]

Great episode. I wondered how they were going to do a beach episode. It seemed like the one show that would subvert all the usual happiness and go for a completely brutal beach trip, but it turned out to be a really good time for everyone, with plenty of silly antics from these kids finally acting like normal kids their age should be able to act, without the grim backdrop that usually makes up their lives. It does get a little more serious near the end, as Matsunaga shows up and, while very friendly with as much humor as can be appropriate given the circumstances, he does his best to try to figure out how they might get out of this mess without losing any more friends. It's just about the end of the episode by this point, and the weather gets scary and blows away a beach ball, which of course must be retrieved. The episode did such a good job at surprising me with what it was doing that at this point, I really wasn't sure whether to expect him to survive or die. And as it turns out, they just can't get out of this quite so easily. Another brutal death, another classmate confirmed to not be the another, and another mystery and sign that even leaving the town won't necessarily keep you safe from the calamity. Damn. And now the next episode looks far more brutal...

[Ashyukun]

WTF did he go out there for? A ball? "Idiot," in Akazawa's voice.

Well, the "calamity" isn't supposed to reach them outside of the city so he believed he was safe. My current theory: The calamity followed them because one in the group is the "another".
I think that's a fairly good theory. Of course, I'd say that the 'Another' NOT being one of the students we know is pretty unlikely- but that's a decent enough explanation for why they weren't as immune as they thought. Makes sense that if individual class members leave on their own that they'd be safe, since they'd be away from the 'Another'.

One other thing that stood out to me- unless my memory is completely wrong, didn't the original teacher tell them that TWO students had died on the class trip to the shrine? Both the aunt and Matsunaga only talked about ONE person dying on the trip... perhaps the theory of killing/eliminating the actual 'Another' isn't so unrealistic after all.

But... it was a fun episode while it lasted, though you knew that it couldn't. I know I kept waiting for the other shoe (and one of the side characters...) to drop the whole episode, but it was fun watching them do fairly normal HS beach stuff without the usual wariness they'd have if they had been back in town and 'in (perceived) range' of the calamity. They're still pushing Mei being the 'Another', but I'm still not buying it. She was quite cute with all the sea life, and Akazawa ending up covered in half of it was also fun. I hope neither of them die, even though one is likely to be the Another (after all, we're really down to just 6 real candidates for it...).

I'd hazard a guess that the collective partial amnesia so many people have is an effect of the calamity itself, like the records changing. I also can't believe that Matsunaga's comment about having seen Reiko recently was innocuous- it's got to be related. At a guess, it has something to do with the fact that Kouichi was in town as recently as 2 years ago...

[strangefour]

-AHAHAHAHA! That's one way to start. A fountain of "blood."
-Reiko slow down. Ghost don't know road signs.
-Miss countermeasures nominated herself for the job. She has to the the ghost. Or one of the ghosts...
-Reiko plans for bikini emergencies.
-Orca. Maru~
-Mei (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=774151) found! Starfish (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=271988) found!
-You kids are really cruel at the beach.
-Mei wears SPF 9000.
-The idiot packs too much. Convenient. I hope he doesn't spill gas on himself and burst into flames.
-Mei gets some tentacle action on the beach.
-Ghost do not obey city limits.

That was kind of a pathetic death. Sure someone had to die but I was hoping for a shark attack, sting ray, puffer fish. Something more than sick boy who can't swim very well goes for something we don't need. Still can't complain about a bikini beach episode much. If only they didn't make out people over 30 to be very very forgetful. I'm not senile yet damn it!

[strangefour]

I'd hazard a guess that the collective partial amnesia so many people have is an effect of the calamity itself, like the records changing. I also can't believe that Matsunaga's comment about having seen Reiko recently was innocuous- it's got to be related. At a guess, it has something to do with the fact that Kouichi was in town as recently as 2 years ago...

He was in town for his funeral! Maybe. I still think it unlikely he is the Ghost haunting them. But it's more likely him than Mei. Mei is too much of a cute red herring. My money's still on Azakawa if it's only one Ghost.

[Fencedude]

I'm somewhat disappointed, his death (WTF was even his name?) couldn't have been telegraphed more obviously. Another, I am dissappoint.

Decent episode though, especially for the Izumi bikini service.

And Mei must be wearing a hell of a sunscreen.

[HitokiriShadow]

Well, that was a pretty fun episode until the end. At least it killed off the last character in that group that anyone would care about. Had we even met him before?

I particularly enjoyed all of the Akazawa scenes. Which means she's guaranteed to either die or end up being the Another.

[Ashyukun]

Well, that was a pretty fun episode until the end. At least it killed off the last character in that group that anyone would care about. Had we even met him before?
Isn't he the guy with the glasses in the ED- the one who it was heavily hinted had a crush on the girl who was the first victim of the Calamity?

I particularly enjoyed all of the Akazawa scenes. Which means she's guaranteed to either die or end up being the Another.
I'm still torn on whether I think she's the Another or not. It would certainly be the most ironic for the one who nominated themselves as head of Countermeasures and who was determined to stop the Calamity being the one actually responsible for it (this time around). And I'd prefer to not see her killed off (though if she is the Another, we're obviously likely to see how she died in the first place. However... it kind of would make some sense- she's the only one that has had a persistent feeling that she'd met Kouichi before.

It's not hard to write a scenario for what could have happened: Kouichi grew up in the town after his mother died in childbirth, but went to a different Middle School than all of the others except for Akazawa, who he was friends with (and who may have had a crush on him). Two years (or so) ago, Akazawa died/was killed. It could have even been because of the Calamity if she has an older sibling- wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility for this show. That could have been where Reiko and Matsunaga met- he did say that he 'only went to the funerals', and they could have met because he had some connection to Akazawa's family and she was there because of Kouichi. Kouichi moved to Tokyo where his father was to get away from the memories, and when he moved back the Calamity's memory-altering effect altered his memories so he didn't remember what happened- or ever living there.

Akazawa being the Another does have an interesting potential though- as she said, she'd determined to put an end to the Calamity- perhaps if she IS the Another- and she realizes it- there's a way she could stop it from happening ever again by breaking the cycle.

As for the next episode- I have a feeling that at least part of the apparent brutality in the preview could be from what they find out about the class trip Reiko and Matsunaga went on...

[nakimushi]

Well, that was a pretty fun episode until the end. At least it killed off the last character in that group that anyone would care about. Had we even met him before?
Isn't he the guy with the glasses in the ED- the one who it was heavily hinted had a crush on the girl who was the first victim of the Calamity?

No, the guy in the ending with the glasses name is Kazumi. The carsick guy's name was Nakao. With as much as Sugiura was taking care of him both times after he got out of the car, I was wondering if Nakao came along on the trip with her.

Although Nakao did appear in the first two episodes, he didn't have any lines until the third episode, when he seemed upset that Izumi announced that she was going to go to high school in Tokyo after Kouichi said that's where he was planning on going.

[Ingraman]

Episode 7:

- What was that thing in the sink? It was clearly involved in the murder of Kubodera's mother but I can't tell what it is.
I'm not certain, but I'll cast a vote in favor of a sharpening stone (a well-worn one) for the knife that was rather prominently featured in the beginning of the episode. ^_^

[Damius]

- Ok… I don’t really like what happened before the OP…
- Akazawa sure likes Kouichi!
- Let’s try to forget about what happened before the OP and enjoy the beach episode!
- Yup, I guessed it right! That’s Misaki! She was there before them?
- Mei: “I thought it was going to eat me.” Kouichi “Octopuses don’t eat people.” Hehe! Maybe in Another they are dangerous?
- Yeah…messing around in Another is not the best idea…
- Ouch…that boat sure killed him…
- Well at least, they killed someone I don’t really care about.
- So now Matsunaga remembers that, he left the way to stop the calamity in the classroom… No one noticed it in 15 years?

Well, I enjoyed that episode. I particularly liked Akazawa in this episode; I think it was her best. Mei was fun too.

[Damius]

I particularly enjoyed all of the Akazawa scenes. Which means she's guaranteed to either die or end up being the Another.

As much as I hate it...this is a strong possibility...

[TheGreenMan]

Oh, you better not die, my adorable Mei!
"What I did was--" Tape breaks! That's predictable.
And the guy who made the tape dies as well...in the most improbable way possible.
The spirits really, really, really hate these kids, don't they?

[Goggen]

And the guy who made the tape dies as well...in the most improbable way possible.

Did he? Are you sure? The only deaths I saw was the girl in the car that drove of the cliff, and the other girl's older brother at the end. Did I miss something?

[TheGreenMan]

And the guy who made the tape dies as well...in the most improbable way possible.

Did he? Are you sure? The only deaths I saw was the girl in the car that drove of the cliff, and the other girl's older brother at the end. Did I miss something?

Wasn't he the guy who made the tape? I couldn't tell who it was...but it would be logical that he was killed at the same time that the tape got messed up.

Edit: *sigh* It wasn't him.

[FUNiOP]

Of course they'd destroy the tape right before it got to the important part. That would have happened even in a series that doesn't center around predestined events. It looks like they might get it fixed, though. I can see Mochizuki dying before he gets it fixed, though. And if it does end up being as simple as doing something in the tape to solve the problem, there's no way they'll be able to hear it until the very end. Another really great episode.

[strangefour]

-Keeping investigations secret is better? *shrug* Can't make it any worse. Or can it?
-Hello girls. You two are going to die aren't you.
-Hi Mei. You're so cute. No we can't tell you what we're doing.
-Okay you can come anyway Mei. You're such a cute non-entity.

-This old classroom is a death trap. *holds breath until someone dies*
-*gasp* Hooray tape! And no one died that day... yet.
-Hooray scary story time. Thank goodness it wasn't recorded on an 8track. They'd never find a player.
-The curse is getting more Rube Goldbergian in it's setting up death traps.
-DAMN IT! The tape can be fixed. It's still good. I've fixed VHS tapes. You just tend to lose any useful information at the break... >_<
-And another two bite the dust (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE&t=45s).

I don't get why, but I love this scary story so much. Yet I hate horror movies. *shrug* As long as Mei's around this is fun. I feel like watching it in the dark eating s`mores.

[HitokiriShadow]

You don't want anyone else to die? How would telling them about this seemingly important bit of information result in them being more likely to die?

There are only two reasons to think this, and no characters in the show have suggested either of them. Most of the deaths have not been from characters doing anything unusually risky (such as mucking around in an old, rickety building) and while several that died had given Kouichi information at some point, we haven't yet seen anything to suggest that knowing more about the curse or trying to stop it increases anyone's chances of dying and certainly none of the characters have said that they think this is a factor.

Though the victims in this episode did end up being one of the people that they told and someone related to the other one.

Sadly, we're back to the show being rather heavyhanded in how it keeps the characters from figuring anything out.

[strangefour]

Sadly, we're back to the show being rather heavyhanded in how it keeps the characters from figuring anything out.

Yeah but a broken tape is no where near as annoying as people standing in front of you withholding vital information just for the hell of it. Well okay they thought they had a reason. An illogical "well it's worked before... half the time" reason.

It is starting to seem like Kouichi is the major "carrier" of this virus like curse. Everyone who's died from the class has been recently near him. Is the nurse the only dead relative he's met?

[nakimushi]

Sadly, we're back to the show being rather heavyhanded in how it keeps the characters from figuring anything out.

Yeah but a broken tape is no where near as annoying as people standing in front of you withholding vital information just for the hell of it. Well okay they thought they had a reason. An illogical "well it's worked before... half the time" reason.

Well, even if it didn't work all of the time, until now, the ignore-a-classmate strategy was the only method that they had known that had ever been effective in preventing the deaths. So I find it difficult to fault them for trying it.


It is starting to seem like Kouichi is the major "carrier" of this virus like curse. Everyone who's died from the class has been recently near him. Is the nurse the only dead relative he's met?

I think so, didn't a family member of the kid who died of a heart attack also die that same day? Kouichi hadn't met the teacher's mother, and I don't think Kouichi met the brother or parents that died in this episode, but he had obviously been in recent contact with the related classmates.

The one exception though is Mei's cousin, who seems to have died (in a car accident) even before Koichi (physically) joined the class, and also before Kouchi had even met Mei. I'm kind of curious why her death has not been spoken of as having been linked to the curse. Do cousins of students not count? :) I wonder if she died before or after Kouichi met with the class reps in his hospital room?

[Ashyukun]

Of course they'd destroy the tape right before it got to the important part. That would have happened even in a series that doesn't center around predestined events. It looks like they might get it fixed, though. I can see Mochizuki dying before he gets it fixed, though. And if it does end up being as simple as doing something in the tape to solve the problem, there's no way they'll be able to hear it until the very end. Another really great episode.

Well, it really depends on just how "easy" whatever the tape tells them to do is to accomplish.

I have a theory regarding what the rest of the tape says... I noted earlier that there seemed to be some discrepancy regarding the number of deaths on the class trip. I think one of the students who was noted as having died trying to get off the mountain was actually the "Another." Most likely candidate would be the girl who fell, since he noted that the important part came when they reached the bottom of the mountain and would have found her body. But- since she was the "extra" and thus already dead, had survived something- perhaps unscathed- which she could not possibly have lived through. Matsunaga was the one who found her, and realizing the fact that she had to be the "Another" he (granted I don't now HOW he accomplished this...) killed her, thus ending the calamity that year.

If I'm right- the 'solution' is to find the "Another" and kill them/send them back to the land of the dead. However- simply knowing this is not in and of itself a solution. You also have to actually know WHO the "Another" is- and finding that out the way I'm presuming Matsunaga did isn't particularly helpful unless you want to start slaughtering the whole class to see who doesn't die despite mortal wounding. Though perhaps it could be accomplished via just inflicting any injury on everyone and seeing who didn't actually get injured by it.

As for the rest of the episode... That's probably the highest body count yet, right? One actual class member, and three family members. The explanation behind the previous episode's death was kind of interesting though... and depressingly made me think back to TM8.0. I had to facepalm a bit at their exploring though... NOBODY thought it would be a good idea to bring a flashlight??? Kouichi just needs to NOT SLEEP if we're going to see more of those dreams. *shudder*

If they give out some kind of award each year for things like sound editing in anime, so far this show is MILES ahead of everything else. The tape used to hide the cassette in the locker... my god that was freaky... probably moreso since due to computer/TV issues I was listening using headphones.

[Ashyukun]

It is starting to seem like Kouichi is the major "carrier" of this virus like curse. Everyone who's died from the class has been recently near him. Is the nurse the only dead relative he's met?

I think so, didn't a family member of the kid who died of a heart attack also die that same day? Kouichi hadn't met the teacher's mother, and I don't think Kouichi met the brother or parents that died in this episode, but he had obviously been in recent contact with the related classmates.

The one exception though is Mei's cousin, who seems to have died (in a car accident) even before Koichi (physically) joined the class, and also before Kouchi had even met Mei. I'm kind of curious why her death has not been spoken of as having been linked to the curse. Do cousins of students not count? :) I wonder if she died before or after Kouichi met with the class reps in his hospital room?
Let's see... Deaths So Far:

Episode 1: Mei's cousin- at least as far as we know. We only know about this from the nurse and Mei- and the nurse didn't seem to have full knowledge of things, and was VERY curious about where Mei was right before she died. Also curious is the fact that IIRC, hadn't Kouichi had her reference the fact that Mei had an eyepatch when he had the nurse look into things?

Episode 2: Nobody.

Episode 3: First classmate (cute meganeko) dies. Encountered Mei and Kouichi right before her death. Also, her mother died the same day- we don't know for certain whether it was before or after the classmate, but the theory it was being told about her mother's accident that had her getting pulled out of class and so freaked out. Kouichi did NOT to our knowledge have any encounter with the mother.

Episode 4: Goodbyeeeee Nurse. Mikuni HAD been very much involved with Kouichi of course, and was in fact on the phone with him when she died. *shudder* Another case of truly wicked sound editing/foley...

Episode 5: Classmate #2, about to tell Kouichi about the secret of Mei.

Episode 6: No deaths, just (dreamed) dancing.

Episode 7: Knife knife, Sensei. Also, his mother died/was killed as well. Kouichi obviously interacted with the teacher, but had no contact with the mother.

Episode 8: Dead in the water- Classmate #3. Obviously had been in direct contact with Kouichi from going on the trip- though notably with this episode's revelation he was essentially dead before meeting up with Kouichi...

Episode 9: Four on the Floor. One classmate and her parents (who Kouichi and co. had just talked to), and the brother of another classmate (who I don't think Kouichi had interacted with, though his SISTER he had talked to not long prior along with the other recently deceased girl.

So: counting Mei's presumed cousin....

Dead after interacting with Kouichi in some way: 6 (4 classmates, Mizuno, sensei)

Dead with no known direct interaction with Kouichi: 6

[superdry]

So: counting Mei's presumed cousin....

Dead after interacting with Kouichi in some way: 6 (4 classmates, Mizuno, sensei)

Dead with no known direct interaction with Kouichi: 6

I've been wondering how likely it could be for Kouichi to be the Another. But, it just seems too easy to think that though.

[Orochimaru]

Well, that was a pretty good episode (it made me hungry, if nothing else!). I also really liked Mei's interactions with the sea creatures. They definitely could have found some better ways to kill that guy, though.

[Ashyukun]

I've been wondering how likely it could be for Kouichi to be the Another. But, it just seems too easy to think that though.
The writer (I'm assuming the series isn't straying too far from the original source novel...) is obviously intending to not reveal that until much later, but has presumably been laying the groundwork so it's not completely out of left field...

Right now, IMO we have five major candidates.

Kouichi- They've been dropping a lot of hints that he could be, from being the unexpected transfer student to the weirdness regarding when he was last in town as well as how tied to everything he seems to be. His family is also very deeply linked to the calamity, with his mother being in the original class and his. aunt in a later one. Countering that, it would be a bit TOO obvious, and Mei (however trustworthy you want to count her as...) has confidently said he is NOT the "Another."

Mei- obviously the biggest lightning rod for who it could be. Very mysterious/secretive, seems to know a LOT more about a lot of things than she lets on, and also doesn't seem to be particularly scared of/fazed by the calamity. Again, the major arguments against her being the "Another" are that it has been made quite easy to assume that it could be her and thus in a good mystery/thriller it usually isn't who you initially most suspect. Not that turning the tables on that perception/expectation wouldn't also work...

The other two guys- I'm fairly certain that the "Another" has to be someone who we know fairly well, so they're prime candidates. However other than Mochizuki's sickness, there hasn't been anything to really point to or away from them. I'd call them the dark horse candidates- possible but unlikely.

Akazawa- Head of countermeasures, the girl besides Mei who has gotten the most attention and who is fiercely determined to stop the calamity and protect her classmates. Also seems to have some tie to Kouichi from the past. She's still my top pick as to who the "Another" is because story-wise it would be the most compelling: she's determined to save everyone, but in fact is the very reason they're perishing without her even knowing it. Something that just occurred to me as well... If there's any influence of the "Another" - consciously or subconsciously- in what happens, if Akazawa IS the extra student than it's possible that is why two of the deaths have been people about to give Kouichi info that he wasn't supposed to have- and that Akazawa feared would endanger the class if he learned.

[Fencedude]

Yay, the cuter of the girls lived. And that was a highly improbable death for her brother.

And Teshigawara, why are you such a fuckup?

[Fencedude]

Haha...

PV for the Episode 0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogdQAH_YPpQ&hd=1) on the BD release.

YURINOTHER

[bear]

And Teshigawara, why are you such a fuckup?

Because he's the Another?

[HitokiriShadow]

Haha...

PV for the Episode 0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogdQAH_YPpQ&hd=1) on the BD release.

YURINOTHER

I'd be a lot more excited about this if we didn't already know that one of the girls is going to die. Unless there's some sort of twist in which she didn't actually die, I'm unlikely to be able to bring myself to watch it.

[strangefour]

Haha...

PV for the Episode 0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogdQAH_YPpQ&hd=1) on the BD release.

YURINOTHER

I'd be a lot more excited about this if we didn't already know that one of the girls is going to die. Unless there's some sort of twist in which she didn't actually die, I'm unlikely to be able to bring myself to watch it.

It's like Sapphogear all over again. :cry: Only cuter because it's a happy Mei! This explains why she is so melancholy now and why she said her cousin was her other half. Adorable little Mei clones. *sniffle* I hope they dance.

[FUNiOP]

Haha...

PV for the Episode 0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogdQAH_YPpQ&hd=1) on the BD release.

YURINOTHER

Interesting. I hope Crunchyroll gets this. If not, I guess I'll have to wait for Sentai's BD release. I hope they can at least get it by then to include on there.

[bear]

Haha...

PV for the Episode 0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogdQAH_YPpQ&hd=1) on the BD release.

YURINOTHER

I'd be a lot more excited about this if we didn't already know that one of the girls is going to die. Unless there's some sort of twist in which she didn't actually die, I'm unlikely to be able to bring myself to watch it.

It was like I was watching the promo for a completely different show. In fact, a slice of life show with those two might have been wonderful.

[Ashyukun]

Haha...

PV for the Episode 0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogdQAH_YPpQ&hd=1) on the BD release.

YURINOTHER
Well, if nothing else that somewhat lays to rest my concern about Mizuno having used the eye injury to look into the death of the Mei's cousin- they BOTH at some points have eyepatches, though interestingly on opposite eyes.

[Damius]

Haha...

PV for the Episode 0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogdQAH_YPpQ&hd=1) on the BD release.

YURINOTHER

I'd be a lot more excited about this if we didn't already know that one of the girls is going to die. Unless there's some sort of twist in which she didn't actually die, I'm unlikely to be able to bring myself to watch it.

Same here. I would have watch it for sure if I didn't watch the series, but now...I kinda don't want to for the same reasons... Thinking about it, watching it and find out about the death afterward, would have probably make the death even sadder... So I don't know.

[Damius]

And Teshigawara, why are you such a fuckup?

Because he's the Another?

I would want him to be...since I don't care for him. Please let this be true!

[Damius]

- So, Nakao probably hits his head in the stairway before leaving home, which means the events that led to his death took place in Yomiyama…that would make sense.
- I wonder if they will find it…and what it could be…
- They sure want to make it scary…
- They found it…it’s a cassette…
- He had to destroy the tape… let’s hope they will be able to fix it!
- Four people died in this episode…

This episode sure was different compare to the previous one…

[something]

Episode 8:

- Obviously a watermelon. :sd:
- Yay, swimsuits! Akazawa is amazing. So is Reiko.
- So how long until Reiko's head explodes? They've been telegraphing her brain issues for ages.
- Hahaha, Teshigawara got trolled. Poor kid. No sitting next to sexy Akazawa.

- Oh now that was an utterly brilliant scene. Certain death on wheels passes them by, everyone is silent... and nothing happens. Moments later, they pass the city limits. Would have been even better if they didn't show us that everyone was fine at the start.
- Gah, she's so going to die in this episode or next. "I'm going to put an end to it!" More like it's going to put an end to you. Poor Akazawa. I hope her death is quick and relatively painless. ;_; Or that she's the Another.

- They seem quite sure about being outside Yomiyama meaning they're safe. A sense of security is very dangerous though.
- Beach fun. And ah, this is how Mei joins them.
- Haha, Mei is bad with octopi. Mei you're adorable.
- Sea cucumbers. The most vile of all animals.
- Haha, sexy Akazawa cracks me up as she's beating Teshigawara with kelp.

- Uh-oh. They're coming too close to the truth. Time for something bad to happen. But thankfully not to Akazawa yet. They just kill off the least interesting one of the group. Good choice, I don't even remember his name. Leave Akazawa alive as long as possible.

Oh boy, preview for the next episode is... interesting.

[something]

Episode 9:

- Ouch, that's one unfriendly look Akazawa gave Mei.
- Ahhhh. So being outside the city isn't necessarily not safe. Boring guys' death as set in motion already.

- Okay so the preview was a fake-out. Seeing all the dead students again is Kouichi's nightmare.
- Show sure wants us to think he's the Another.

- Man these three guys are terrible liars.
- So them + Mei find the old room. And it's full of crap. That's inconvenient.
- One of these two girls is definitely screwed. Probably the shorter haired one.
- Yeah... car accident incoming?
- Oh shit. She's moving. She's finally escaping. But she's not going to make it.
- Ergh, heavy machinery. Her death isn't going to be pretty.

- Clean up a shine, start dropping like flies. So that didn't help.
- Hmmm, there goes the next person, but who did it hit? Maybe not the short haired girl - a red herring? - but ran over the other girl as she walked home. Camera panned in on a house though, maybe it crushed through the walls and flattened someone. Well not that they can't just as well ALL die.
- Good job with the tape, dude.
- ...Close. So short hair does die. And other girl doesn't, but her brother does. That's +4 in this episode alone.

[Ashyukun]

- So how long until Reiko's head explodes? They've been telegraphing her brain issues for ages.

I'm not writing her off as biting it before the end (likely right before she could reveal something important), but I've been figuring that her head issues are because she's lived through so much relating to the calamity and the 'memory management' part of it is wreaking havoc on her memory. Far too many people (interestingly enough NOT apparently extending to the librarian...) should know and be able to provide input on things but conveniently have forgotten key knowledge.

[something]

I'm not writing her off as biting it before the end (likely right before she could reveal something important), but I've been figuring that her head issues are because she's lived through so much relating to the calamity and the 'memory management' part of it is wreaking havoc on her memory.
Yeah, as soon as Matsunaga met her and showed the same symptoms I basically wrote off it being a sign of impending death via brain injury. I was just didn't add it tot the post at that point. No doubt if she died it'd be in a more gruesome way.

[TheGreenMan]

Oh...goddamnit Mei...TELL US WHO IT IS ALREADY!
Gah...this series is almost comical. Mei told the lead guy that she could dead people the whole time...but he doesn't thing to ask her right after hearing the rest of the tape?
And I guess the next two episodes will be all the students butchering each other.
If Mei dies, then she can be with her sister in yuri heaven.

[FUNiOP]

Oh hey, it's all those scenes in the episode 0 PV. Nice tie-in there. It's getting a little frustrating not hearing who it is yet. Oh well, that's suspense. It definitely has me on the edge of my seat all the time, so to speak. Now I'm guessing lots of death awaits us in the last couple.

[Goggen]

Mei told the lead guy that she could dead people the whole time...but he doesn't thing to ask her right after hearing the rest of the tape?

Did she ever tell him that before now?

[TheGreenMan]

Mei told the lead guy that she could dead people the whole time...but he doesn't thing to ask her right after hearing the rest of the tape?

Did she ever tell him that before now?

I'm pretty sure she said so after showing him her doll eye in an earlier episode. She also told him that he wasn't the dead one during that scene as well.

[bear]

So Mei sees dead people, well, almost dead people. And of course it's raining there at a creepy inn, and the phones are out. All we need is for Jack Nickelson to say "Here's Johnny!".

It's looking more and more like Akazawa is it. She met Kouichi before and he doesn't remember being in Yomiyama then. The only reason that might be is that he knew she had died back then so his memory was blocked. Still could be someone else, but it's starting to look like it's her or someone Kouichi knew had died back then. She's also probably going to push for it being Mei out of jealousy.

And of course, Teshigawara does something utterly stupid.

[Ashyukun]

Mei told the lead guy that she could dead people the whole time...but he doesn't thing to ask her right after hearing the rest of the tape?

Did she ever tell him that before now?

I'm pretty sure she said so after showing him her doll eye in an earlier episode. She also told him that he wasn't the dead one during that scene as well.
No... she said pretty much exactly what she reminded him that she had said- that her doll her allowed her to see things that normal people couldn't. She did tell him that he wasn't the extra, but didn't give any rationalization for it at that point like she did in this episode...

She's also in a difficult spot as well if we're right that it is indeed (as it seems to be heavily pointing to...) Akazawa. If she outright accuses her of it, most would likely chalk it up as her seeking revenge for her treatment by Akazawa, or even as jealousy/wanting to eliminate her as a rival for Kouichi. Probably the only one who would earnestly believe her would be Kouichi. Teshi is likely to take Akazawa's side simply for his feelings for her as well...

[strangefour]

-Akazawa dreams about Kouichi. In the past?
-What a wonderful time for a vacation. Come on kids cheer up. Put smiles on those dour faces... You could die tomorrow.
-Two of our main suspect boys take turns taking picture. They are just teasing us about who could be the phantom student now.
-Hooray the tape works! Providing a nice scary story and the predictable solution to the crisis. Bring death to the already dead. Which can only lead to...
-Akazawa you are kind of a major bitch. I'm hoping you are the ghost just for being so mean to Mei.
-Aww Mei sad adorable back story is so sad and adorable. No wonder she's been so melancholy the whole show. Her cousin sister was so close to her and the one bright spot in her life. Mei needs a hug.
-Nice. Double explanation of why Kouichi can't be the ghost (you left out you like him Mei).
-Damn it Mei spit it out who's the--
-AAAH! *jump* Learn to knock. Quieter.
-Oh what the hell did you do... you told someone about poltergeisticide didn't you. *sigh*

Mei knows the truth! Could you kill one of your classmates to survive? Looks like someone sure can. Find out who lives, who dies and who was already dead next time! Maybe.

[Goggen]

Okay, here's my crazy theory on how the end will play out based on what we know as of episode 10 with only two more to go. Note that this is 100% PURE SPECULATION as I have managed to stay completely spoiler free for this series and intend to keep it that way for the remaining two weeks. I'll spoilerize it anyway, just to be on the safe side.

After a series of gruesome events and a high body count due both to the calamity as well as people going crazy looking for the Another, Akazawa is revealed to be it (explaining why hers and Kouichi's memories of meeting before have been erased - he knew she was dead. Hey, they have to pay that off somehow, yes?). Eventually, she dies somehow (possibly she takes her own "life" to protect her classmates after discovering the truth) and the calamity is averted for the rest of the school year.

Except, there is one final victim - Kouichi, who dies (due to events already in motion, like, say, his lung illness or whatever - hey, they have to pay that off somehow, yes?) after accomplishing some important task or plot point. His friends mourn him, very sad.

Flash forward to present day (hey, they have to pay off the "1998" thing somehow, yes?) and we're introduced to this year's new class 9-3. We see images and possibly are told the names of a select few of the students, ending with... Kouichi Sakakibara. Dun dun dunnn.... End.

And if I'm wrong about the identity of the Another, then it really could be anyone. That is, anyone except Kouichi or Mei - if it turns out it's either of those two after all, then that will have been the biggest cheat ever.

[Fencedude]

Goddammit Teshigawara, why are you such a fuckup!?

Anyway, considering that having the Another be someone random would be a major violation of the rules of plot, it'll be Akazawa, for sure.

Also, the lesbians will probably die next time ;_;

[HitokiriShadow]

Oh, fuck you Akazawa. Don't blame Mei for your failure to properly inform Sakakibara and contain the situation.

So the Misaki that died before the first episode is actually Mei's sister.

Still not sure whether or not I want to see episode zero.

[HitokiriShadow]

Anyway, considering that having the Another be someone random would be a major violation of the rules of plot, it'll be Akazawa, for sure.

It's either going to be Akazawa or the glasses girl that Sakakibara saved from the falling glass back in episode 3 or 4. How shitty do you think he's going to feel if it turns out that a loooooot of people would still be alive if he was less of a stand up guy and didn't save her?


Also, the lesbians will probably die next time ;_;

Wait, there are lesbians in this show? Other than Mei and her cousin sister I mean. How did I miss this and why did no one tell me this earlier?

[Fencedude]

Also, the lesbians will probably die next time ;_;

Wait, there are lesbians in this show? Other than Mei and her cousin sister I mean. How did I miss this and why did no one tell me this earlier?[/QUOTE]

They are veeeeerrrry background.

Background Lesbians (http://fencedude.com/Another/AnotherLesbians.jpg)

Their only other notable screentime is in the scenes in the classroom in episode 1, where they are being very touchy-feely with each other.

Also, apparently the OP Changes! Who knew? I certainly didn't, that would require watching it!

[HitokiriShadow]

They are veeeeerrrry background.

Background Lesbians (http://fencedude.com/Another/AnotherLesbians.jpg)

Their only other notable screentime is in the scenes in the classroom in episode 1, where they are being very touchy-feely with each other.

No wonder I missed them. I wish I could say that the fact that they're so minor improves their odds, but last episode killed a girl and the relative of a girl that we had never met before that episode and it killed off a guy of even less signficance an episode before that, and, uh, who was the guy that died in this episode? Had we met him before? So yeah, not a benefit here. And I think its a rule in these kinds of shows that the gay people have to be killed. :(

Also, apparently the OP Changes! Who knew? I certainly didn't, that would require watching it!I saw a little bit of it when I watched this episode and wondered about that, because I didn't remember it lingering on the school through the fence for so long, but I barely remembered what I had seen of the OP in episode 1 and didn't begin to care enough to check.

[JackW]

It's either going to be Akazawa or the glasses girl that Sakakibara saved from the falling glass back in episode 3 or 4. How shitty do you think he's going to feel if it turns out that a loooooot of people would still be alive if he was less of a stand up guy and didn't save her?


I'm pretty sure the girl Kouichi saved from the glass was the girl who died in the car crash in ep. 9.

[Goggen]

It's either going to be Akazawa or the glasses girl that Sakakibara saved from the falling glass back in episode 3 or 4. How shitty do you think he's going to feel if it turns out that a loooooot of people would still be alive if he was less of a stand up guy and didn't save her?


I'm pretty sure the girl Kouichi saved from the glass was the girl who died in the car crash in ep. 9.

You are correct, the girl Kouichi saved was Ayano who died last week. HitokiriShadow might be thinking of the glasses-girl who has yet to contribute anything to the story and remained in the background most of the time, but who is apparently important enough to feature in the ED (hmmm...).

[HitokiriShadow]

It's either going to be Akazawa or the glasses girl that Sakakibara saved from the falling glass back in episode 3 or 4. How shitty do you think he's going to feel if it turns out that a loooooot of people would still be alive if he was less of a stand up guy and didn't save her?


I'm pretty sure the girl Kouichi saved from the glass was the girl who died in the car crash in ep. 9.

You are correct, the girl Kouichi saved was Ayano who died last week. HitokiriShadow might be thinking of the glasses-girl who has yet to contribute anything to the story and remained in the background most of the time, but who is apparently important enough to feature in the ED (hmmm...).

Really? Yeah, the glasses girl I'm thinking of is in the ED, but I was certain she was the one Kouichi had saved and that she had at least interacted with him a bit at some point. I didn't think we had met the girl that died in episode 9 before that episode. Anyway, glasses girl has been appearing the background regularly and something about how she's been popping up there has seemed somewhat conspicuous. It's probably that she always has a look of annoyance, if not ill intent. Though if the Another really doesn't know they're the dead person, then she wouldn't have any reason too, other than the general suspicion and possible ill-will the class might have toward Kouichi and Mei.

[Goggen]

Yeah, the glasses girl I'm thinking of is in the ED, but I was certain she was the one Kouichi had saved and that she had at least interacted with him a bit at some point.

She came on the beach trip, I think that's about it.

[Damius]

- Even if you say cheese…no one will repeat it, why would they want to smile…
- To stop the calamity, you have to send back the dead to death… But, at this point they are not sure who the extra student is.
- Akazawa, why do you blame Mei? You didn’t inform Kouichi correctly…
- Mei, you don’t need to apologize…
- So it was Mei’s sister who died…
- So Mei is able to know who the extra student is and who is about to die with her doll’s eye…
- She is sure it’s not Kouichi…and she knows who it is… She is about to say it…but they are disturbed…

To be continued…

[Orochimaru]

Hm that was cool. I liked when Mei said "bakame".

[TheGreenMan]

Lots and lots of BRUTAL deaths this episode. Impalement, broken neck, BBQed, hanged.
Everybody goes crazy! And they want to kill Misaki! And Akazawa wants to kill Mei too...
Kouichi is gonna kill somebody next episode...but who?

[FUNiOP]

One episode left, and we still don't know who the Another is. The only reason we're getting any closer is that the whole episode is people brutally dying, lowering the number of possibilities. I don't care what excuse Mei is going to give; she should have fucking said who it was as soon as she knew. She could have saved so many people. Oh well, we'll see what happens. For what it was, though, this episode did absolutely everything right. I am very impressed.

[Goggen]

I don't care what excuse Mei is going to give; she should have fucking said who it was as soon as she knew. She could have saved so many people.

How so? They only now found out that killing the extra would end the calamity. Plus, no one would believe her anyway.

[FUNiOP]

I don't care what excuse Mei is going to give; she should have fucking said who it was as soon as she knew. She could have saved so many people.

How so? They only now found out that killing the extra would end the calamity. Plus, no one would believe her anyway.

Right, but so many of the deaths have been since they found that out. And Kouichi always would have believed her, and would have wanted to know from the beginning. At the very least, as soon as she found out that killing the extra was the way to save the rest, she should have made sure to tell at least him immediately. She easily could have during any of this time. At least it looks like she's going to do something about it herself, but it's still later than it should have been.

[ookamigirl]

Strange things were happening... even more then before.
Lots of corpses too.
Takako lost it completely, but she's not the only one.
That tape sure made a mess of things.
Awesomely intense episode.

[Goggen]

I don't care what excuse Mei is going to give; she should have fucking said who it was as soon as she knew. She could have saved so many people.

How so? They only now found out that killing the extra would end the calamity. Plus, no one would believe her anyway.

Right, but so many of the deaths have been since they found that out.

Only the ones in this episode. And she was just about to tell Koichi when it started. After that, shit was continuously hitting the fan. Of course, technically she could have blurted out the name while it was all going down, though I'd forgive her for not thinking about that when her entire class is out for her blood.

[FUNiOP]

I don't care what excuse Mei is going to give; she should have fucking said who it was as soon as she knew. She could have saved so many people.

How so? They only now found out that killing the extra would end the calamity. Plus, no one would believe her anyway.

Right, but so many of the deaths have been since they found that out.

Only the ones in this episode. And she was just about to tell Koichi when it started. After that, shit was continuously hitting the fan. Of course, technically she could have blurted out the name while it was all going down, though I'd forgive her for not thinking about that when her entire class is out for her blood.

Yeah, I guess I just don't feel the same way. She's the only one who knows who needs to die to save everyone else; the simple act of speaking his/her name to Kouichi should be the top priority. Instead she continues to play the calm, quiet, mysterious girl because that's what she does. But again, she's off to make things right despite that, so it's improvement.

[TheGreenMan]

I didn't notice this at first...but:

Meganekko girl talking to Akazawa:
"I couldn't go on."
"Just like you can't live without me!"

Surprise yuri?

[Ashyukun]

I didn't notice this at first...but:

Meganekko girl talking to Akazawa:
"I couldn't go on."
"Just like you can't live without me!"

Surprise yuri?
Yeah, I noticed that as well- though she did also note that Akazawa was fond of Kouichi as being a reason to not kill him (along with, you know, him not being the extra...) as opposed to being a reason TO kill him. Doesn't matter now, though she may be a bit hung up on it. ;P

[strangefour]

Let the blood bath begin! Mild surprise that Teshigawara started it off with accidental attempted murder. You kids really could have started moving faster sooner this episode. Someone might have been dead outside don't slowly stealth walk down the stairs. Run to see if he's okay! Run from trouble! Nope lots of leisurely strolls until a girl with a shaving razor tries to kill Mei.

Wow, Takako went from zero to insane in to time flat. It was a nice change of pace for this show to have a physical villain. For one episode. Takako's initiative of playing the tape over the hotel's speaker why shouting maniacally turned this quiet little ghost story into a hotel of horror. All based upon her faulty logic about a dead person coming back missing parts. Her seiyuu did a wonderful job this episode. So manically into the role.

Mei barely said anything this episode. Even more silent and emotionless than usual. All in the face of multiple attempts on her life. She just stood there waiting to take what was coming. I know things look bad and your sister dide only months ago. But find the will to live Mei. If not for your Koichi's sake then for the audience's.

There is no way Akazawa isn't the phantom student now.

[bear]

There is no way Akazawa isn't the phantom student now.

Does it even matter? At this point any logic to who it is has probably gone right out the window. Once Mei admitted that she knew all along who it was and didn't tell anyone it became ridiculous . One month, one dead student, now wholesale slaughter. I keep thinking it's the kid in the car just because that would be dumb. Maybe he goes over a cliff and everyone forgets what happened.

[HitokiriShadow]

Bwhahaha, this episode was awesome. Everything goes completely to hell thanks to Takako going nuts and the bodies start piling up. At least three students (Takako, Ogura who wanted revenge for her brother, red-haired guy that got toasted, maybe the guy that got stabbed... I think there might have been another) plus Mikami-sensei plus the hotel manager guy. It was a total clusterfuck of death. At this point, people going to keep dying even after the Another is killed.

Seems like Takako wasn't the another, because the end indicates Misaki is going to go kill him or her.

But I still have to poke at the possible plot holes. Wasn't it established in the previous episode (which was an hour or two before this episode starts and wouldn't have changed) that the phones weren't working?

[superdry]

Wow...what a slaughterfest all thanks to the emotionally unstable Takako. Then Akazawa starts to go insane too at the end.

So that leaves Akazawa, Teshigawara and Mochizuki as possible candidates as the Another for characters we know. Why do I have a feeling that Mei is going to die during her struggle to kill the Another?

Interesting that in such an old building the fire in the dining room didn't spread at all and exploded instead (due to pressure?). That must've been some serious lumber used to build the building.


But I still have to poke at the possible plot holes. Wasn't it established in the previous episode (which was an hour or two before this episode starts and wouldn't have changed) that the phones weren't working?

Landline phone possibly that everyone forgot? Saying to call for help even though you can't because that's sort of reflexive?

[Fencedude]

Haha...wow Takako, you went nuts. Also who the hell is her Seiyuu? I'm positive I should know who it is, but ANN is useless on this count. But regardless, goddamn was she awesome.

Actually, I don't really care who the Another is anymore, I just want the show to go out with a bang.

Oh yeah, and the expression on Mei's face while Takako strangled to death...she didn't say much this episode, but damn if that expression didn't convey volumes.

[William K]

Haha...wow Takako, you went nuts. Also who the hell is her Seiyuu? I'm positive I should know who it is, but ANN is useless on this count. But regardless, goddamn was she awesome.

It's Fukuen Misato. Nothing like her Yoshika voice at all. It's more like what if Haganai's Rika was a homicidal maniac

[Fencedude]

It's Fukuen Misato. Nothing like her Yoshika voice at all. It's more like what if Haganai's Rika was a homicidal maniac

Jesus christ. I had no idea she had that in her.

[HitokiriShadow]

Actually, I don't really care who the Another is anymore, I just want the show to go out with a bang.


This. I just want next episode to somehow top this one in its orgy of death. I don't care about anything else.

Also, the lesbians managed to survive this episode, yay! They probably won't get so lucky next time. I liked that the show made a point of showing them having a little moment (a late night rendezvous for some restroom hanky-panky?) when Takako was passing a mass death sentence on the class.

[Ashyukun]

Actually, I don't really care who the Another is anymore, I just want the show to go out with a bang.


This. I just want next episode to somehow top this one in its orgy of death. I don't care about anything else.

Also, the lesbians managed to survive this episode, yay! They probably won't get so lucky next time. I liked that the show made a point of showing them having a little moment (a late night rendezvous for some restroom hanky-panky?) when Takako was passing a mass death sentence on the class.
Heehehehe... if they do take out that many more people next episode, I'm now going to be SORELY tempted to make a highlight reel of the show to 'Another One Bites the Dust'. :P

[Fencedude]

Heehehehe... if they do take out that many more people next episode, I'm now going to be SORELY tempted to make a highlight reel of the show to 'Another One Bites the Dust'. :P

I hope the final scene is after everyone else has killed each other off, the background lesbians are out in the rain making out, since they have their priorities straight.

[ndm]

Interesting that in such an old building the fire in the dining room didn't spread at all and exploded instead (due to pressure?). That must've been some serious lumber used to build the building.


That was a backdraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backdraft). I'm not sure it would instantly burn someone to a crisp as happened in the show without supernatural help, but it's a real phenomenon.

[Orochimaru]

What a tragic and beautiful story. Mei is the another because she was in fact her mother's dead child.

Did everyone already have cell phones all the time in 1996? I didn't have one until at least 2007...

[Ashyukun]

That was a backdraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backdraft). I'm not sure it would instantly burn someone to a crisp as happened in the show without supernatural help, but it's a real phenomenon.
And a pretty good movie too boot. ;)

I think it would cause almost instant third-degree burns, massive lung damage from superheated gas inhaled, and death following shortly thereafter without (and quite possibly even with serious medical attention.

[Goggen]

Did everyone already have cell phones all the time in 1996?

1998. :) It was starting to become common just around then, IIRC, at least in my neck of the woods.

[Damius]

Actually, I don't really care who the Another is anymore, I just want the show to go out with a bang.


This. I just want next episode to somehow top this one in its orgy of death. I don't care about anything else.

Also, the lesbians managed to survive this episode, yay! They probably won't get so lucky next time. I liked that the show made a point of showing them having a little moment (a late night rendezvous for some restroom hanky-panky?) when Takako was passing a mass death sentence on the class.

I only care about that orgy of death as well. Let the lesbians survive this! Wishful thinking...

[Damius]

- So, he tried to kill Kazami because he thought he was another… Of course that would happen.
- Wow…now one more stabbed.
- Of course, the fire alarm would not work!
- There sure is a lot of blood… Takako is nowhere to be found…
- Is that Mikami’s blood?
- Wow…so now that is the proportion it got!
- So, Takako believe it is Mei… and said it to everyone, what will happen now…
- Of course, now everyone is trying to kill Mei…Mikami is even killed trying to protect Mei…
- And now Takako is dead…

Now, how will they end this next episode… Takako sure went crazy…

[something]

Episode 10:

- It'w Akazawa's turn, isn't it? I don't want it to be Akazawa's turn. ;_; If anything, I hope she's the Another so she avoids some horrible death.
- Well this is one depressing class picture.
- Oh that looks like the chandelier that turns into eyeballs in the OP.

- The tape plays. ...Hmmmmmm. This could mean a few things but I guess one could be that the class needs to kill the Another? And when he was killed here, accidentally, that ended the curse?
- Ah yes. So you have to kill the Another. So much for being the Another as a potential way to avoid a nasty death.
- Misaki twitch. A sign she knows? I guess there are still very good reasons why it could be any of Akazawa, Mei or Kouichi.

- Alright Akazawa, I really like you, but this is Grade A Bitch right here. Leave Mei alone, unless you know something about her we don't. I don't get the impression you do, though. You're just jealous Kouichi likes her.
- Well, figured asthma kid was next when I saw the inhaler bag.
- Uhhhh oh, Mei is inviting Kouichi over for some alone time. =D

- Misaki rather pointedly takes off her eyepatch to look at the photo.
- Aww, Misaki and Mei were so cute together.
- Ah yes, the eye that can see dead people. Or people about to die.
- And... Teshigawara is in an argument with someone.
- Mei does know who the dead person is. But of course before she can say anything...

Silly Teshigawara, killing people is bad.

[something]

Okay, I feel like we'll find out this episode. There's got to be at least

Episode 11:

- Good job, Teshigawara. You didn't really kill someone as a guess, did you?
- Okay, he didn't set out to kill him per se... but gah he's still an idiot.
- Old woman is killing everyone, isn't she? That had to be her sharpening the knife. And a student was just stabbed.
- The body count goes up up up!
- Heh and yep, there's crazy old woman. Man, what's her deal? She must be related to one of the students that died.
- Takako too. Don't you kill Akazawa! ;_;
- Kick to the balls, Takako? Low blow.

- Haha oh god. She's playing the tape for everyone to hear. As if this wasn't enough of a bloodbath already.
- Ummmmmmmm. I don't follow her logic. "Mei had her eye when she was four." Okay, so? She couldn't have lost it afterward? I think I'm missing something.
- Mikami-sensei. You were so hot. ;_; That's some smack to kill her with a broom though.
- And it's craziness time. I mean, moreso.
- Hahaha, fancy hair guy just gets blown up.
- "It wasn't me." lol Ayano you crazy fuck.
- And she gets herself hanged. GJ.
- Oh that was an unfortunate time for Akazawa to show up.

Watch the Another be the asthma kid. He's probably already dead and the curse is over, but nobody knows it because they're too busy killing each other (or getting themselves into deadly situations) without the help of any curse. :sd: Okay probably not. But it would be hilarious.

I rather expected Mei to turn around and stab Akazawa in the face after that bit where she seemed to realize she had to do something about it.

Heh. This show. It's hilarious. I love it.

[something]

It's Fukuen Misato. Nothing like her Yoshika voice at all. It's more like what if Haganai's Rika was a homicidal maniacJesus christ. I had no idea she had that in her.
Fuken Misato is one of those seiyuu who doesn't get a lot of credit (most people wouldn't evenknow who she was if she hadn't voiced Yoshika in Strike Witches, I feel) but she's just damn good, and I love her in every single role she's ever had.

And Misaki's face when she watches Ayano die - yeah, that was great. It's so rare to see emotion on her face, but the horror was very clear right there.

[Ashyukun]

- Ummmmmmmm. I don't follow her logic. "Mei had her eye when she was four." Okay, so? She couldn't have lost it afterward? I think I'm missing something.
Mei LOST her eye when she was four... Takako went to elementary school with, presumably, Mei's twin 'cousin' (Misaki), who had NOT lost her eye like Mei had. Takako is assuming that it was Mei she knew before, and that 'Mei' had both eyes while Mei here claimed to have lost hers at age 4, there's a discrepancy... and as Teshi demonstrated in almost killing someone over not remembering some things said/done in childhood, everyone is jumpy about things not being quite right. Takako unfortunately is a few tentacles short of an octopus (as Akazawa pointed out) since the Blood Beach Ball trip and isn't bothering to try and find out if there's a reasonable explanation... or rather, wasn't bothering. :P

[FUNiOP]

The Another was Mikami? And Mikami was Reiko? I didn't see either of these things coming. They never mentioned the two were the same person, did they? Did they even hint at either of those at all? I guess a lot of the scenes throughout the series were very subtle hints, since they played them all back in this episode now that they make so much more sense in this context. Well I certainly never put that together. And I think they had a bigger orgy of death in the opening moments of this episode than in the whole brutal previous episode, so they definitely didn't disappoint there. I guess of all people the Another could be, Reiko would be the hardest for Mei to tell Kouichi, or at least would seem the most futile to her, but I feel like she still could have done something earlier. At the very least, the rest of the crazy class probably wouldn't mind killing her nearly as much as they knew. Then again, they probably wouldn't believe the girl who most thought was the Another in the first place. Of the main characters, I guess it was only Teshigawara and Mochizuki who made it out alive, other than Kouichi and Mei of course. That's actually more than I expected. Actually, when Kouichi was about to kill Reiko and he had problems with his lungs, I thought he had died, but apparently not. And that unknown assailant who had killed Reiko, uh... did he look a little familiar?

Anyway, the series is over now, and I may be my favorite completely new series of the season, which is pretty sad considering I didn't find it great to any degree. However, it definitely did have its great moments, and overall I think it accomplished what it set out to pretty successfully. It was a suspenseful and thrilling horror with some spectacular deaths and always had you wondering who would be next to die. It reminds me a lot of Shiki in that respect. It also paints a pretty depressingly realistic picture of what a group of typical kids would do if they were told that one among them must be killed to stop the rest of them from dying, causing them to mindlessly kill each other to try to save themselves. Unfortunately, I never developed much of a connection with any of the characters, to the point that the potential for their deaths made me more curious to see how the deaths would be carried out and how the plot would be affected, as well as who the Another would eventually be revealed to be, and less fearing for the loss of people I cared about. Thinking about how the series is set up, that doesn't really surprise me. Also, the calamity and all the facts about it required an immense amount of suspended disbelief to go along with, which doesn't go ideally with how serious the show is at nearly every second. On another bright note, though, I still laugh whenever I think of that classroom dance scene that Kouichi daydreamed about.

Series Grade: B-

[TheGreenMan]

The Another was Mikami? And Mikami was Reiko?


Yeah...I don't think they mentioned that before. I guess that's why Mei didn't tell Kouichi. I was really surprised they didn't show Reiko's death given all the other brutal deaths.


. And that unknown assailant who had killed Reiko, uh... did he look a little familiar?


Yeah...WTF?

Poor poor Akazawa...cut to ribbons by glass (or is she impaled?). Did the yuri couple survive? Thank god Mei survived.

[ookamigirl]

Why did everyone just go crazy? There sure was a lot of crazy going on.
Only a handful of people made it out in the end.
The librarian was the only one calm.
Akazawa totally lost it & she was the composed one until recently.
Who would have known... Reiko was the one.
I always thought it would be one of the students...
Intense final episode.

[bear]

I seem to remember some were guessing Reiko but it seemed like most of the money was on Akazawa.

As shows go it was ok, but I never really cared about the characters that much. The slaughter at the end with the fire and the innkeepers just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the concept. Just sort of seemed tacked on to up the body count.

Mei was a disappointment in her lack of any emotion. It seemed like she was on Prozac the whole time. She could have been a character I really liked.

Kouichi's "want to go to an amusement park?" was sort of sick. "Oh, yeah most of our class was slaughtered, I had to rekill my aunt, and I was almost killed myself, but let's go have fun!"

[Ashyukun]

.... I'm kind of torn regarding the ending and the revelation of who the extra was.

First off- things going even further to hell and even more students dropping like flies was great. It was even more insane than last episode. The only real disappointment there was Akazawa getting killed off- but it's not like I was expecting her to survive (figured she'd either bit it or be the extra...). The boy Teshi almost killed was probably the most nuts out of everyone, though Akazawa got close there at the end. Nice to see that Mei and Kouichi survived as well as Mochi and Teshi. But, really?!?! A MINIDISC?!? Way to make sure nobody in the future has a chance at surviving the calamity, geniuses! :P

Now, regarding who the extra ended up being. Frankly, I think it was kind of bullshit. Looking back over the course of the show there is NO WAY that I can see that we could have figured that out. Hell- simply knowing that she was Kouichi's aunt would have given us a HELL of a clue, given how tied to things his family obviously was. I have to wonder if that is what was changed between the original source and this anime adaptation- that they excised all evidence that Reiko and Mikami-sensei were the same person until the very end. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth knowing that it was so solidly hidden that there was no way to figure out what was really going on- part of the fun of mysteries is that given the information on hand, there is supposed to be a way to figure out what happened or who the culprit was. Here, they intentionally misdirected things and omitted all but the barest scraps of information that would have given us a clue. Now I want to see the original source, and see how it was handled there. (I already wanted to see the live action movie)

Speaking of which... do we have any clue who the heck it was that killed Reiko the first time?

Still, I did definitely enjoy the show- it excelled at the creepy environment and sound, and it was fun trying to figure it out even if it ultimately was futile due to the writers being cheap and not playing by the rules. Good horror/thriller anime isn't as common as I'd like (despite my love of its near polar opposite, iyashikei slice-of-life...), so I don't regret watching it- and I'll likely pick it up when Sentai releases the BDs.


Kouichi's "want to go to an amusement park?" was sort of sick. "Oh, yeah most of our class was slaughtered, I had to rekill my aunt, and I was almost killed myself, but let's go have fun!"
I took it more as being something they couldn't have even considered doing before with the threat of the calamity hanging over them- it would just be ASKING for trouble. I'm also half wondering if the amusement park- especially the ferris wheel mentioned- has something to do with Mei's twin's death...

[Fencedude]

Huh, so it was Reiko, who was also Mikami-sensei.

Interesting.

The lesbians died ;_;

[Ashyukun]

The lesbians died ;_;
Yeah, that was probably the true tragedy of the show. At least both died and not just one, though. :P

[TheGreenMan]

The lesbians died ;_;

Ah...CRAP. That answers my question. I thought I saw one of them die but wasn't sure. Did either of them ever speak?

Come to think of it...did Reiko and Mikami-sensei sound the same?

[Fencedude]

Come to think of it...did Reiko and Mikami-sensei sound the same?

Reiko was played by Sakakibara Naoko (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=100404) (who has real credits, though that name sure is...fortuitous) while "Mikami-sensei" was credited as...Miyamaki Misayo. A name which, amazingly enough, is an anagram of "Yomiyama Misaki".

[Ashyukun]

Ah...CRAP. That answers my question. I thought I saw one of them die but wasn't sure. Did either of them ever speak?

Not really beyond foley/screaming. One said the other's name shortly after said girl was hit in the back with the knife the psycho who attacked Kouichi threw at her. She ran away and was the one he killed in front of Kouichi before attacking him.


Reiko was played by Sakakibara Naoko (who has real credits, though that name sure is...fortuitous) while "Mikami-sensei" was credited as...Miyamaki Misayo. A name which, amazingly enough, is an anagram of "Yomiyama Misaki".
Sheesh. If you have to go to THAT length to create a shocking reveal at the end, you need better writers...

[strangefour]

-A cleansing fire (http://cdn02.animenewsnetwork.com/images/cms/the-mike-toole-show/50032/bd.png) shall clean away the curse. Maybe.
-Run for your life children. Or really run into your death. But hey Mikami-sensei is still alive and some kids I don't even remember at all.
-Hello eyeball chandelier.
-Lesbians no! :(
-Some of the kids survived the chandelier, huh. Good luck surviving for much l-- HAH. Load bearing pillar you crack me up.
-Did being throw out a second story window give you brain damage? Is that why you murdered the cute lesbians?
-Nice hit Azakawa! Now hit him again until the twitching stops.
-No Azakawa. bad Azakawa. Don't try to hurt Mei. Something bad will happen to you.
-See I told you! Thor, god of thunder just said, "Oh no you don't! Mei is too cute to die." *lightning*
-Oh NOW the cell phone gets a signal. In the middle of a storm. I never get a signal in a storm.
-"Brb. In back yard killing your Another." Suddenly Mei takes charge... wait Azakawa wasn't the phantom student? Then who...

-WHAT! I... oh... Assumed it always had to be a student. Well considered class room teacher but dismissed the idea early. On the one hand that's kind of cheating. On the other it has always seemed that it's the school itself that holds the curse. The OP always tries to make that foreboding point.
-Is it chivalrous to murder your own aunt so your girlfriend won't have blood on her hands?
-And they all lived happily ever after. Except the nine dead people.
-I said happily ever after. Come on fade to black already. I keep fearing a plane will crash and kill Mei. Just end already so they can be happy.
-*whew* Oh hell no after credits seg--- oh just planting a minidisc with the tale of death to the dead again. Carry on.

Hooray happy ending! Kouichi did a good job defending Mei. He deserves a peaceful life with. Until someone tries to kill their child in another series. Another Another series....

[strangefour]

Reiko was played by Sakakibara Naoko (who has real credits, though that name sure is...fortuitous) while "Mikami-sensei" was credited as...Miyamaki Misayo. A name which, amazingly enough, is an anagram of "Yomiyama Misaki".
Sheesh. If you have to go to THAT length to create a shocking reveal at the end, you need better writers...

Oh that is an annoying bit of intentional misdirection. But unless my memory is swiss cheese I remember Reiko saying she worked at the school in the beginning of the show. Then Reiko stopped showing up and I kind of forgot about her. Obfuscating the fact that Reiko & Mikami were the same person is a slightly annoying cheat. But it doesn't bother me considering it's a minor point in an over all great show. Even knowing they are one and the same, the shock of Another being a teacher is a good twist.

[something]

Time for silliness!

Episode 12:

- Ahaha chandelier.
- Awww, lesbians died. But almost everyone is going to die, so at least they're not being specifically picked on.
- "This is not normal." Haha ummm...
- HAHAHAH, escaping the chandelier only to be crushed by a pillar.
- I don't remember yellow tanktop girl. But she's cute. Can she, at least, survive? Probably not. >_>
- Kazami, I wish Teshigawara had finished you off. Jackass.
- Yaaaaay Akazawa!
- Silly Akazawa, don't do that to Mei.
- Awwwwww Akazawa. That glass must have had some insane force to it. Mei seems surprised to see the colors around Akazawa, so it must be from her being "close to death", not being he Another.
- Mei knows who it is...

HAHAHAHA AWESOME. It wasn't a student at all. XD And not only that, the person isn't even who we thought she was. And they acted like she died earlier, though it did seem improbable to me that that could kill her. Hah.

Granted, it's kinda (more like totally) cheating to change the rules of the curse on us at the very end. In that respect, I could complain... But it makes for a great twist anyway because it's just so ridiculous.

- Her killer sure looked a lot like Kouichi though, didn't he? I mean, c'mon, shows like this aren't allowed to end without a last second encore twist. Could that be this show's? Or the calamity could just not be over, and someone other than just Reiko was dead.
- Credits? So what do they have planned for after the credits...

Post-ED:
- Huh. No encore twist. Really? I'm not sure what I think about that. Well, I didn't really want anyone else to die at that point. But I expected it.

Weird.

[Ashyukun]

Oh that is an annoying bit of intentional misdirection. But unless my memory is swiss cheese I remember Reiko saying she worked at the school in the beginning of the show. Then Reiko stopped showing up and I kind of forgot about her. Obfuscating the fact that Reiko & Mikami were the same person is a slightly annoying cheat. But it doesn't bother me considering it's a minor point in an over all great show. Even knowing they are one and the same, the shock of Another being a teacher is a good twist.

And therein is largely why their hiding the fact that Reiko was Mikami-sensei is such an annoying cheat. Before we learned the details of the Calamity, Reiko was rather suspicious. But I pretty much discounted her as being a contender once we learned the 'rules'- that the extra had to be someone in the class. Reiko isn't a part of Kouichi's class? Sure, she's vulnerable to being killed as part of the calamity as Kouichi's aunt, but beyond that? She's no longer a Person of Interest.

BUT... she's the assistant teacher in Kouichi's class? Sure, she's not a student in the class, but she is THERE and front and center in the middle of things. They could EASILY have not hidden that very obvious fact and it would still have been a good shock when we found out that she was the extra. It would have been there on the edge of possibility, but they had pointed enough other clues at the others (like Akazawa...) that it would not have been what most people assumed. It would have been a wide-eyed, 'Oh shit!!! I hadn't thought of that!' moment when they revealed it was her, and not a "WTF Reiko is Mikami-sensei? AND she's the Another? The hell?!?!" moment. It wasn't just, "I'm not left-handed either!," it was "I'm not left-handed either, and this isn't a sword it's an automatic rifle! BLAMBLAMBLAMBLAM!!!"

For me, it's a bit more than just a minor point- but it still remains a very good show that I'll almost certainly be picking up when it's released over here.

And I will definitely be trying to track down a subbed version of the live-action movie when it comes out to compare the differences between it and the anime...

[superdry]

- I don't remember yellow tanktop girl. But she's cute. Can she, at least, survive? Probably not. >_>

I thought the same thing. And, I think she survives at the end when the survivors gather around Chibiki's car. Yay! At least one cute girl survived the slaughter.


HAHAHAHA AWESOME. It wasn't a student at all. XD And not only that, the person isn't even who we thought she was. And they acted like she died earlier, though it did seem improbable to me that that could kill her. Hah.

Did the show ever tell us that Reiko and Mikami were the same people? I seriously did not remember that at all (I don't remember the flashback when she tells Kouichi about separating work and home life). She did seem a little odd at home, but nothing relaly seemed out of the ordinary. Definitely an interesting twist on the curse.


- Her killer sure looked a lot like Kouichi though, didn't he?

He pulled that creepy smile after killing Reiko. I guess that's the typical, lets zoom in on the killer and show how crazy he is.

[Ingraman]

HAHAHAHA AWESOME. It wasn't a student at all. XD And not only that, the person isn't even who we thought she was. And they acted like she died earlier, though it did seem improbable to me that that could kill her. Hah.
There was a scene earlier in the episode showing her walking down one of the hallways with blood from her wound covering a bit of her face. How she got outside and under the trees, I'm not sure... ^^;

It was decently animated, but I was generally underwhelmed by the series. Back to Hanasaku Iroha, guys!

[Goggen]

Granted, it's kinda (more like totally) cheating to change the rules of the curse on us at the very end. In that respect, I could complain... But it makes for a great twist anyway because it's just so ridiculous.

Well, they never said the extra had to be a student, just someone connected to the class. The big cheat is not telling us that Reiko was Mikami-sensei, which is something the characters have been aware of all along.

[Ashyukun]

Did the show ever tell us that Reiko and Mikami were the same people? I seriously did not remember that at all (I don't remember the flashback when she tells Kouichi about separating work and home life). She did seem a little odd at home, but nothing relaly seemed out of the ordinary. Definitely an interesting twist on the curse.


Short answer: No.

Long Answer: No, and they pretty much carefully arranged things as to make it difficult to make that link without outside information- such as knowledge of the original source where it apparently is made plain from the beginning that they're the same person.

The scene that establishes that they are one and the same person- where she tells Kouichi about separating work and home life- was never seen until this last episode. I went back and watched the first episode where Reiko was giving Kouichi pointers about life at North High. It's a flashback he has after his conversation with his father the morning of his first day at school to a conversation with Reiko earlier- she tells him (perhaps trying to give him something of a hint as to how he should behave regarding Mei...), "The third thing you need to know is to always follow the class rules. At North High, the group is much more important than the individual. The fourth thing you need to remember is..." and his recalling the conversation is interrupted by his grandmother calling him to breakfast.

That's the scene we finally see in the final episode: her 'final thing to remember' is to keep their school and home lives separated, taking off her glasses and letting her hair down and making the connection that she is in fact Mikami-sensei.

I don't have the time to go back and re-watch the whole series, but knowing that they're the same person puts a considerably different perspective on some of their conversations. Not knowing it, it looks like Kouichi has simply related what has happened at school to her since she's a sympathetic party in having lived through it herself. Knowing that she's in the middle of all of it as well, it makes her fatigue and discomfort with everything make a lot more sense. It also makes her leading the expedition to track down her former classmate who stopped the calamity make a lot more sense... it did seem a bit unusual that all of the others seemed so comfortable with Reiko despite (as far as we knew...) likely having never met her. One thing I might be interested in doing would be re-watching that episode and seeing how they react/refer to her...

[HitokiriShadow]

Of course the lesbians die. ;_; Thanks a fucking lot, Teshigawara.

Good grief, Kouchi, is it that hard to scream "She has a twin sister that died in April!" That long pause where Akazawa wasn't attacking you or being a ranting lunatic was a particularly good spot, but any time you were near her would have been nice.

Akazawa kind of pissed me off in the dinner scene, but I was still really hoping she'd survive somehow.

But I got a laugh out of the four kids biting it at once from being crushed by a chandelier. (well, okay, one of them got killed slightly later.)

I was spoiled on Mikami-sensei being Reiko like six episodes ago by an asshole that decided it "wasn't a spoiler because its obvious". By responding to someone who DID spoiler tag it, telling them it really wasn't necessary because we should have been able to figure out that obvious thing by watching. And this guy had himself been spoiled on who the Another was and had said so previously.

I had also seen multiple comments in different places that the Another was kind of out of left field, so I had written off any possibility of it being Kouichi, Mei and Akazawa a long time ago (though I had figured Kouichi and Mei were too obvious from the beginning, especially once it started pushing "hints" about Kouichi).

Despite all that, I never actually figured out that Reiko/Mikami-sensei was the another until during this episode. That actually does give Mei a good reason to keep it to herself.

[HitokiriShadow]

Reiko was played by Sakakibara Naoko (who has real credits, though that name sure is...fortuitous) while "Mikami-sensei" was credited as...Miyamaki Misayo. A name which, amazingly enough, is an anagram of "Yomiyama Misaki".
Sheesh. If you have to go to THAT length to create a shocking reveal at the end, you need better writers...

Oh that is an annoying bit of intentional misdirection.

I would be more bothered by this if the show wasn't already full of so much cheating bullshit. I stopped caring much 6 episodes ago.

Even knowing they are one and the same, the shock of Another being a teacher is a good twist.

But I'm still angry that I was spoiled on it, particularly with the arrogant "you should be able to figure this out, so its really not a spoiler". And that was his whole goddamn post! Saying that to someone who had properly tagged their entire paragraph!

Doing so robbed me of the only good thing that came out of all of the bullshit this show was pulling. Yes, the show cheated on a number of levels, but geez, at least that would have been a nice "Oh wow, did not see that coming" moment.

[HitokiriShadow]

Food for thought:

Think about how many female characters died and what kind of death scenes they got.

Now think about many male characters died and what kind of deaths/death scenes they got.

Now think about how many "major" male characters died and how many female "major" characters died.

Am I the only one seeing a distinct and potentially disturbing bias against the girls?

Also, the lesbians were murdered by their classmate. That guy survives and we see him smiling and chatting with his classmates. As far as we can tell, there are no negative consequences for him other than getting bashed on the head when he was about to kill Kouichi. This show has an massive death count, and but this guy gets a happy ending? What the fuck?

[Ashyukun]

Also, the lesbians were murdered by their classmate. That guy survives and we see him smiling and chatting with his classmates. As far as we can tell, there are no negative consequences for him other than getting bashed on the head when he was about to kill Kouichi. This show has an massive death count, and but this guy gets a happy ending? What the fuck?
I thought it was pretty clear that the guy who murdered the lesbians and attacked Kouichi, only to be cold-cocked by Akazawa before Chibiki kept her from outright executing him had died- he's who Teshi was crying over by the car since he had apparently died from his collective injuries, and I'm pretty sure in the class seating chart I saw elsewhere that marked off who had died that he was one of them.

As near as I could tell, everyone who had attacked their fellow classmates bit it in the end- Takako, Akazawa, the girl who fell to her death trying to stab Mei, the guy who killed the lesbians (and likely the guy Kouichi found stabbed earlier), and the guy who hit Mikami with the mop was likely one of the group that died in the foyer either from the chandelier or the Load Bearing Column. Well, I left out Teshi, but that was apparently an accident, though the guy he pushed off the balcony didn't die from it, it was likely the reason for a number of deaths later including his own and that of the lesbians...

[something]

I thought it was pretty clear that the guy who murdered the lesbians and attacked Kouichi, only to be cold-cocked by Akazawa before Chibiki kept her from outright executing him had died
Yeah, he was most certainly dead. And good fucking riddance.

[HitokiriShadow]

I thought it was pretty clear that the guy who murdered the lesbians and attacked Kouichi, only to be cold-cocked by Akazawa before Chibiki kept her from outright executing him had died
Yeah, he was most certainly dead. And good fucking riddance.

I thought I saw him sitting in the hospital chatting with some classmates at at the end. Guess it was someone else.

[Damius]

The lesbians died ;_;

Lesbians are so rare...why they have to died!

[Damius]

- That many deaths and only 1 minute in!
- Lesbians died… Boo…
- No…Akazawa I like you, but don’t do that to Mei!
- NNNOOOOO! Akazawa was killed by the glass…
- Even after her death, they wanted to make sure Akazawa was dead…didn’t they?
- Mei…who is it….don’t do it by yourself….
- Wait… What?? The extra was not a student!
- But, who killed Reiko the first time?

I never would have guess Another would have been Reiko/Mikami-sensei… Don’t know what to think of it really…

[Ashyukun]

You know, something just occurred to me that hadn't before... when they made Kouichi non-existent too, wouldn't that mean that technically Reiko had to ignore him outside of school as well? I don't remember if we saw any interaction between Kouichi and Reiko during that (short, admittedly) period. When I get the discs of this, I'm definitely going to have to re-watch and pay more attention. If nothing else, this show has got that going for it- there's a LOT of potential for at least a 2nd watch-through of it... I also need to pay closer attention to see if there is ever actually any interaction between Kouichi's grandparents and Reiko- I don't think they ever directly interacted, but I can't say for sure...

[bored@lazy]

Ok this might be a silly question, but what was the whole deal about Koichi not remembering stuff from a year and a half earlier? Was it because of shock regarding Reich's murder?

[bear]

Ok this might be a silly question, but what was the whole deal about Koichi not remembering stuff from a year and a half earlier? Was it because of shock regarding Reich's murder?

They established that anyone who would have known that the another had died couldn't remember it during the year that the dead person was the another in the class. All the records aslo changed to hide the fact too. Therefore he couldn't remember that she had died. Akazawa couldn't remember having met him because they had talked about his aunt having just died.

[bored@lazy]

Oh crap, bear please put spoiler tags on your post(including the quote), I replied to the wrong post so it isn't in the episode 12 subthread....

Oh, and thanks. :-)

[something]

Oh crap, bear please put spoiler tags on your post(including the quote), I replied to the wrong post so it isn't in the episode 12 subthread....
Oh, and thanks. :-)
It's in the episode 12 subthread (by coincidence, since that was the last subthread someone else replied to), so nothing needs to move. It just needs subject lines updated. I can do that now.

Edit: done.

[Orochimaru]

Well, not quite the relaxing experience I was hoping for before bed:sweat:. The ending music's pretty soothing though, and Mei can always calm me down... nothing touches her... I hope this ends well.