Toshi Densetsu Monogatari Hikiko

Wow, that was ... creepy. If you enjoyed the Ring, you'll probably enjoy Toshi Densetsu Monogatari Hikiko (Urban Legend Story Hikiko), the same for if you're a fan of Silent Hill. The CGI is somewhat dated, in my opinion, but it's a creepy and chilling horror anime that doesn't skimp on the scares. There's a hell of a twist at the end, too, one that Shamalan might have come up with. Story: 8 - Like the killer big sister, it starts out slow but builds relentlessly, coming straight for your throat. Art: 5 - Dated CGI is dated. Watch the new Appleseed movies and gawkat how far the technology has come in a short time. Some nice detail on the faces, but the arms look all gangly and wrong. Sound: 8 - Great voice acting and use of dramatic music. Character: 7 - About as well-developed as could be expected for a 45-minute movie. Enjoyment: 9 - I was pretty damn riveted, and scared to boot. Overall: 7 - Not the best, but I enjoyed it.

This is one rather spooky show, just the expressions on the characters faces make it rather scary. When they actually picked CG to make this, I think they picked a pretty good medium for a horror based OVA. The show starts out with a boy reliving his days as a 3rd year in a town. A young girl moves in to his next door apartment and he watches as she is tortured by his classmates and mother. Creepy things just keep happening because of the bulling that happens. It’s not a very underused story, but the twist at the end was rather good. The animation lookslike it would fit right at home with a horror based video game. It’s kind of in the middle between good CG and bad CG but doesn’t make it hard to watch. Most of the backgrounds look like they were created with photo rendering mixed with a little of the CG but then the characters… well, they at least are rather smooth. When they move, it’s rather stiffly, good for demons but bad for any normal characters. The voices are ok, though sometimes come off as a little stale or strict. I believe this is more because of the culture gap between the Japanese subs and what I’m used to hearing. This may change for if we get more information on who actually created this show and that but I think one of the most interesting things about this is that there is very little details about the show too (That I can find) adding to the mystery of it.

You're more than likely here because of Spiraphobia's blog, here to check out some possibly decent horror anime. Toshi Densetsu Monogatari Hikiko is a short computer animated CGI horror film (er, OVA) about a girl who gets bullied by her classmates. Seems pretty standard for Japanese horror, right? Well... Yes. Anyone who's seen a decent bit of horror (especially horror in a school setting) has seen the "ghost exacting revenge" trope, and the "pity the main antagonist and make it okay for the ghost to kill people" trope at least a million times. Hikiko does a decent job of pulling it off, given the generalcliche of the story. In general, it does a good job of telling a memorable story while keeping in mind the short timespan in order to include enough spooky to go with an explanation. I should also add that it really doesn't rely on cheap jumpscares to get the viewer scared, but the scary parts have a certain ambiance to them that will still keep you up all night if you watched this after midnight. Let's break it down a little bit more. Story - 8 As stated above, the same tropes actually work pretty well here, especially given the scarce appearances Hikiko has in the movie at all. It's hard to go too far into detail about the story without spoiling the plot of the movie entirely. It should be added that the writers did a great job of hooking in the viewer almost immediately by introducing the main characters (and their relationship) right away. Art - 5 The art is... Nothing to write home about, to say the least. The style reminded me of PS2 horror games, where all the models generally looked the same. Even the age gap seen on the main character looks like a copy and paste of the same head on a bigger body. Fast paced scenes seem a little awkward, too. If you can get past the unique design, then the movie will probably be better enjoyed. Also the camera shakes when something relevant happens. Why? Who knows. Sound - 6 The music, also nothing to write home about. The music seemed like generic horror background music, enough so that I really didn't take time to notice it. The voice acting for most of the characters is decent, but far from perfect. There were quite a few times the characters seemed like they were speaking in a complete monotone, despite a dramatic or tense scenario. Character - 6 The characters seemed fairly generic as well, the bullied girl and the class bullies, the hero who can't choose the bullied girl or his friends, blah blah blah. Again, can't say much about this without spoiling. Enjoyment - 7 All in all, the OVA was pretty solid and kept me interested throughout the entirety of the 40 minutes it ran for. I would definitely recommend the show if you're looking for something short and vaguely scary.

(watched with english sub) Hikiko Toshi Densetsu Monogatari is a gripping and spine-chilling anime series that takes viewers on a thrilling journey into the supernatural realm. With its captivating storytelling, atmospheric visuals, and intense character development, it offers an unforgettable experience for fans of horror and psychological genres. One of the standout aspects of Hikiko Toshi Densetsu Monogatari is its masterful storytelling. The narrative keeps you at the edge of your seat, weaving together elements of suspense, mystery, and horror in a truly captivating manner. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing for both intense moments of terror and quieter, reflective moments that delve into the psychological aspects ofthe characters. The visuals of Hikiko Toshi Densetsu Monogatari are atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful. The animation studio has done an exceptional job in creating a gloomy and eerie atmosphere that perfectly complements the series' dark tone. However, Hikiko Toshi Densetsu Monogatari may not be for everyone. Its horror elements can be genuinely unsettling, with moments of intense violence and psychological terror. Those who are easily frightened or prefer lighter genres should approach the series with caution.