Episodes: 26

Year: 2006

Status: Complete, Licensed by Ganeon Entertainment

Official Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Site (Japanese)

Official When They Cry Site (U.S)

Rating: Great

Review: The story takes place in the June of 1983. Maebara Keiichi is a young boy who just moved to the small village of Hinamizawa with his family. Hinamizawa is incredibly small with a population of around 2000. As Keiichi gets used to his new life in the countryside, he finds friends at school in Ryuuga Rena, Sonozaki Mion, Furude Rika and Hojou Satoko. Life seems tranquil and uneventful at first - as it should be in a tiny place like that. However, Keiichi soon discovers that Hinamizawa has a dreadful story of murder and death in its past that continues to this day. The gruesome deaths are linked with the annual Watanagashi Festival. Keiichi soon finds himself in danger as he is now one of the targetted people!

I was almost tempted to skip the synopsis and say just watch it! Higurashi is one of the most scariest and twisted animes I have seen. The story of murder unfolds in separate arcs with different accounts, thus resulting in a nightmarish retelling of events that make it almost impossible to unravel the real truth behind whats going on. There is a good deal of violence and bloodiness in the anime but despite its gore, it will keep your mind racing to keep up with the story. Do not be fooled by the cute wide-eyed girls in the first episode - you will find a harsh slap back into reality as the anime reveals its dark and (terribly) scary side. For all you fans of suspense, psychology and “thinking” anime - you will be hooked onto this one!

More intensely psychological anime: Monster, Death Note