Boogiepop wa Warawanai (2019)

'This anime is amazing for some, but terrible for others' would be my description of the anime if i were to review it in one phrase. Boogiepop wa Warawanai (2019), also known as Boogiepop and Others, is a psychological supernatural mystery horror/thriller anime based on the original light novel series by Kouhei Kadono with the same name. Unlike Boogiepop Phantom (2000) which was an anime original, Boogiepop and Others (I will be calling it BaO for convenience sake) is a more faithful retelling of the light novel. Now that some context behind the anime has been given, let's get onto the review. Story 8/10 BaO has four arcs and each tells a different story, albeit most of our recurring characters are present with each "Enemy of the World" given an arc. The anime follows a non-linear way of storytelling, meaning events are portrayed out of chronological order. A good example of another anime using this would be Kara No Kyoukai (which is amazing). BaO also shifts perspectives quite often, so the same event will be played through the eyes of a different character. This is, in my opinion the greatest strength, and flaw of BaO. By utilizing non-linear narratives and changing our point of view every couple episodes, BaO tries to link everything together creating this convoluted but satisfying web of stories. However, this may just be too confusing for many, and I don't blame them as BaO requires multiple viewings to fully understand what the story is trying to tell you, and most people will simply not have the time and patience for that. If you watched the first three episodes and are even slightly intrigued, I suggest you keep watching to see how the story unfolds, but if not, I'd say it's a good indication that you won't enjoy the anime that much. Another gripe I have with the anime's story is that it is only 18 episodes, and considering the novel had 22 volumes, a lot of the story and characters aren't as fleshed out or completely scratched from the anime adaptation. This makes the story feel loose, unfinished, and rushed, so people who have already read the light novel may not taking too much of a liking to how the anime handled the story of the novels. And for the anime onlys, will constantly feel like their missing a part of the story. I would have much preferred if each arc got a 12 episode season instead as all of the arcs have a lot of potential which is unfortunately brushed away due to the time restrictions. However, for someone who is willing to be a little patient with the anime I can guarantee that the story will not only entertain, but leave some food for thought at the end. Overall, the story is worth-watching if you can get past the hurdles and is willing to commit to the anime. Art 7/10 I'd say that MadHouse did a respectable job in terms of art and had some moments of incredible animation, which is to be expected, as MadHouse, whether you like them or not, are responsible for animating many of the most influential anime of the past two decades. Although the art in general is appealing to watch and is consistent for the most part, there are some scenes that leave me baffled due to their subpar quality. One scene that immediately pops up to mind is in episode 17 where we can see two characters with very poor lining, stiff movement, and most importantly, without a face. Albeit it wasn't a close-up, it is still noticeable enough to the point where I thought there was something wrong with my internet connection. MadHouse also didn't animate BaO in the unique gritty and dark art-style of the novel, giving it a more modernised and generic look to all the characters. This may be to appeal to a newer, younger audience who would prefer to look of the more defined characters, but may be another turn-off for those who have read the light novels. This is a bit surprising as MadHouse showed that they are willing to be faithful to the original art as shown in Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei (The Tatami Galaxy). To round it off, the art is inoffensive most of the time, sometimes amazing, and pretty terrible in a couple instances. Sound 7/10 In regards to sound, I'd say both the OP and EDs are enjoyable. The OP by MYTH＆ROID is pretty solid, although it's not as spectacular as their OP and ED in re:zero, the song is still above average when it comes to anime OPs, and songs in general. There are 3 EDs in the show, with two of them being made specifically for one episode, episode 9 and 18 to be exact. "Whiteout" by Riko Azuna is played for the rest of the episodes, and just like the OP, I would say it's a solid track. I personally enjoy it, but similar to the anime as a whole, it may not be for everyone. "Sayonara" by Riko Azuna is the ED that plays in episode 9, and I think more people will enjoy it compared to "Whiteout". This song reminds me of Aimer and Milet with powerful female vocals paired with a slower bpm. The fact that Riko Azuna can produce two completely different genres of songs is actually quite impressive and I would say the anime helped me get into her music. "See You, HeartBreakers" by Kensuke Ushio and Hajime Hyakkoku is the ED that plays on the last episode, and is a track that plays a couple of times throughout the anime. I'd say that it fits the whole theme of BaO fairly well and it's pretty powerful hearing for the last moments of the anime. Speaking of tracks and OSTs, besides "See You, HeartBreakers", there aren't any other tracks that really stand out neither positively or negatively, I'd say they did a decent enough job implementing OSTs that don't break the flow of the story but not a good enough job in terms of elevating the experience. The Voice Acting was also delivered fairly well, being neither a masterpiece or terrible (I'm beginning to see a trend here). If there was one thing I'd like to point out is that Aoi Yuuki did a pretty good job in differentiating Boogiepop and Miyashita Touka without making them sound like two completely different people. I also liked Saori Oonishi's performance of Kirima Nagi, and this is important as she is the character we see and hear from the most besides boogiepop. To summarise, the sounds tracks are solid and the delivery from the voice actors are good, especially from the two main characters in Boogiepop and Kirima Nagi. Character 8/10 Arguably the anime's greatest strength, there were some pretty good characters in BaO like Kirima Nagi, Kuroda Shinpei and the main man/gal Boogiepop. But as the characters are those who are negatively impacted the most from its 18 episode run time, you can expect some characters who fall flat. Having only 18 episodes to complete 4 whole arcs mean a lot of character development is either skipped or rushed. This leads to the ideals of some of the cast not making complete sense as we aren't given the time to see them be fleshed out as characters. As the show fits 4 arcs into one, a lot of characters are introduced to the audience without their being ample to time to establish these characters and make us care for them, resulting in a lot of character deaths to be quite meaningless, and lacking the emotional impact it should have. I will be using two case studies from the anime who I think deserved more screentime and character development. Naoko Kamikishiro plays a vital role in the beginning of the novel , yet she has half of her storyline completely scrapped out. While she had numerous impactful scenes in the novel, she barely gets any in the anime in comparison, really losing what made her character interesting in the original work. Kuroda Shinpei, plays a huge role in influencing both of our main characters in Boogiepop and Nagi, paired with his dissatisfaction of his current work, instead wanting to one day fulfill his dream of being a superhero makes him admirable. Many of the characters who met him enjoys his company and it is not difficult to see why. However, Shinpei has a criminally short time on the show compared to the lastin…

Anime is weird, then there is boogiepop. I found this strange even by anime standards. It’s so criminally underrated. I don’t know how I missed the original series or this show. Specially since it was made by madhouse. I don’t write reviews a lot, nor is this an easy one to describe. I will do my best to give you best idea of what kind of weird and wonderful ride you will experience with Boogipop and others. I guess you would say this is a psychological anime, yet to define it sort of horror isn’t really out of place. It feels a lot like Black mirror if your aware of that show. The story is the most confusing but best part of the show. It’s intentionally vague. You won’t get your hand held and filled with answers. This explores a lot of mental issues and aspects. I won’t cover them all but you will figure it out soon. As mentioned the story is non linear in parts. Meaning that not everything happens in a straight forward sequence. It’s pretty straight forward at parts and if you pay attention to names you should easily figure it out by the end of the episode/arc. To me the story is the kind that sticks to you. It didn’t make me cry, it didn’t give me depression but it made me think. It made me in some way look at myself at times or wonder if maybe I understood a character a little too much for my comfortability. It’s not a super long story(short arcs) with overarching characters that typically relate to events or characters later. The ending although not what I wanted left me wanting more. There is some light novels although I’ve yet to read them, they are often time mentioned as being master pieces, yet with no experience I cannot say. The next part to discuss is the characters. This is the absolute highlight. Some of the best characters I’ve seen recently. On the surface them seem shallow. I hear alots been cut from the source yet they felt distinctly original. Most operate in a morally grey area so there isn’t a bunch of pure evil people or white knights. Characters are complex and often suffering. Many are dealing with some sort of mental strife. Weather it’s depression, escapism, being a martyr, a messiah complex, or one of many mental states that’s briefly touched upon. No two people are completely alike and all have internal conflict. Even minor characters who appear for a few moments on screen. The arcs are short so the growth seems small for any one character but work often together to form the complex web of whatever arc. I would be a moron to not mention that the Voice actor for Boogiepop is fantastic and incredibly lends to make the character feel real and leads some credibility to the character making them seem as mysterious as they are. Sound is also fantastic. Boogiepops theme is tone setting and often times very atmospheric. The OP was so good I watched it every episode, which I have only done with a very few select anime. The ending song was not as great but still felt right. The music throughout is so tone setting and perfect that it honestly feels like this anime would drop a whole rank or two if the sound was done by anyone else. Animation is great. The moments of fighting is fluid and fast. This is the people behind one punch man after all. Enough said. The art style I personally loved. Was dark and somber most of the times. It set the atmosphere and made things feel dark, weird and ominous. The character designs aren’t over the top like most anime. They seemed far more realistic, yet they are great enough that it gives a bit of life to certain characters. I would say visually it’s just as good or better than OPM, just set in a far more realistic style. I won’t pretend everyone will enjoy it. The pacing was decent and the story was great but can easily be confusing. Some people can’t handle open ended resolutions or characters. To me with a setting that is supported to be as mysterious as Boogiepop, it adds to the whole thing by having so little definite answers. That’s the part that makes you think and wonder. Sticks with you always making you wonder about his or that. Your mileage may vary depending on if you prefer to leave some things up to your imagination or if you must know every back story and plot thread. I enjoyed a different kind of weird experience. I enjoyed having dark and weird characters show up without constantly talking for 2 hours about each plan and thing happening. Instead it feels like you witnessed an event in real life. You know enough from seeing it to piece together most but unresolved questions will linger. Should you watch? Undoubtedly yes. If you enjoy madhouse, psychological anime, or something that feels distinctively original and different. Nothing you watch will be exactly like Boogiepop. It’s a one of a kind anime in my opinion. It rushes some things and is open ended too much at times but the characters and story are so out side the box that it’s hard to compare it to anything. This is my number 1 most underrated anime. So many people will miss out by never hearing or seeing this anime from lack of word of mouth. Yet I implore you to try it. It’s something you never will know if you may like till you get the taste of it. It feels so distinctively Japanese that it’s hard for Others to general get into but once you do you are hooked in for a weird ride down the psychological masterpiece that really helped start the whole Light novel fad.

It's a story that won't hesitate to throw you into the deep end as it references events in the past and present with no mercy for the viewer. Yet if you roll with it and look past the occasionally choppy animation, you'll find a tale of growing-up that takes a different route towards the end goal, one that often leaves you both satisfied and wondering just what the hell happened. As I was watching it, I got the sense that a lot of the elements from the LN had to be chopped or moved aside due to time and (I'm guessing) the costs with licensing classic rock. Shame, because it sneaks in some very cool classic rock references, particularly in the final arc. Still, it was everything I hoped for - an unsettling tale that forced me to watch closely and think critically instead of having everything placed before me. I highly suggest watching this arc-by-arc instead of episode-by-episode. It is so much more rewarding that way.

Boogiepop and Others is many things, but an anime for casual viewers it is not. Unless you’re willing to give it your full attention, it will leave you behind. One measly episode a week is not nearly enough to keep track of such a complicated web of things: to be honest, I’ve spent the last week watching it and even then I was still feeling lost by it all. This is just the nature of Boogiepop: it sets out to confuse, only to unravel from there, but like a particularly tough knot, there is satisfaction to be found in untying it all. Most of all, it rewards patience: it’s a non-linear series, constantly recontextualising scenes from another perspective as seemingly random side characters suddenly take focus. Slowly but surely, things start to make sense, yet it still leaves us with questions that may never be answered. Where is Boogiepop from? By whom was Echoes sent to Earth in order to judge humanity? How is a Synthetic Human made? That enigmatic quality is a large part of Boogiepop’s charm. The Boogiepop at Dawn story arc begins with Boogiepop and Echoes meeting in a strange place: the sky is red and there is rubble everywhere. Could they be wandering through a post-apocalyptic Earth millions of years into the future? We never find out and it’s probably for the best that we don’t: the truth is never as interesting as what we might imagine. From an anime production point of view, the series doesn’t quite hit the heights I was hoping for. Shingo Natsume and his team are of proven quality: from Space Dandy and One Punch Man to ACCA 13, these are memorable anime with a spark that’s sorely lacking in Boogiepop and Others. It isn’t badly animated or anything, it just looks generic and tired, which only exacerbates how difficult it is follow when every character is so deadpan. This is total speculation on my part, but I can’t help but think that the controversy sparked over (light novel artist) Kouji Ogata’s distaste for the anime’s designs affected director Natsume and his team’s enthusiasm for the project. Imagine being hard at work on a project you hope people will love, only to be publicly criticised for what amounts to a creative difference? It would be hard not to lose heart, and it’s also notable that the anime’s brilliant trailer has action scenes that never appeared in the series itself. Even still, there are moments when Boogiepop springs into life: there’s a particularly evocative scene in the last episode that sees a character falling from a great height, I only wish that the whole anime was as cinematic. However, I’ve no complaints about the soundtrack, Kensuke Ushio’s work is as wonderful as ever: he swept me away into another world and largely saved the series for me. And that’s my take on Boogiepop and Others. It’s a perfectly fine anime that had the potential to be great. If nothing else, listen to the soundtrack!

Boogiepop and Others is a phenomenal anime that delves into the mind of humanity to create a compelling world that takes a deviation from the typical superhero stories we have come to expect. The world of Boogiepop and Others consists of humans turned into supernatural beings and the mythical figure of Boogiepop who keeps these beings in check in an effort to protect humanity. The subconscious plays a big role for the people as collectively they can create these beings just as they have created Boogiepop to stop them. Strong emotions and facets of human life are given incarnations and those who have enough attachment to them become possessed to carry out their will; Often these aspects are negative including death, fear, and grief. This gives the incarnations and Boogiepop a villain and hero dynamic to make the abstract concepts they represent fit in more digestible roles. The story is told in four distinct arcs, notably set apart by a rotating supporting cast who are often on the front lines of these issues. It has its strengths with lacking predictability in villains or the methods used to defeat them. However, there are some weaknesses as themes and characters are almost exclusive to their arc, so an expectation that a character, relationship, or topic will be revisited is a futile effort that can worsen the viewing experience. Each arc attempts to avoid this by being interesting itself, introducing new elements to entice each story. Often these can be genre elements such as romance, suspense thriller, and psychological themes. These themes are written to exist within the world of Boogiepop and Others, so they never detract from the viewing experience of those invested in the world built thus far. Our rotating cast of characters is the main selling point as they are ones tackling the emotional incarnations head on. The presence of these strong elements of disorder cause those fighting them to become introspective about their relationships and themselves. This creates powerful character moments that keep you invested in their ultimate survival. Regardless if they are relatable developments in the life of a high schooler or unique experiences only found in the realm of fiction, Boogiepop and Others will keep you glued to your screen until the safety of our character is assured. Arc one however, does not follow this structure as it serves more of a pilot to the world of Boogiepop and Others. Characters take a back seat as the intrigue exists in the existence of the supernatural and Boogiepop themself. It is so offbeat from the rest of the show I would almost recommend skipping it if it wasn't the source of later plot points and the only information on who Boogiepop is. My only other complaint of the show is a group known as the Towa Organization. They perpetually exist from arc two and onward but feel counter to the world itself, introducing order in this chaotic world of emotion. Their goals are also unclear (specifically their reasoning behind them) so the name can often induce groans rather than interest. However, their individual employees are often the best characters of the show. Uniquely, they are adults so the story can make use of their life experience and resources, creating distinct narratives relative to the younger high school cast. In conclusion, Boogiepop and Others is an anime that takes the human psyche and manifests it as opposing forces within human shapes. Everyday humans are tasked with combatting these forces, giving a sense of relatability to the audience and an assurance that they to could tackle supernatural odds. The emotional constructs of the villains create interesting narratives as the main cast is forced to combat their own emotions to survive. Themes of relationships and personal development are done so well that the narrative noticeably suffers when it deviates from it. I highly recommend this anime to anyone who enjoys the supernatural and the psychological tolls they have on humanity.

I never really feel compelled to write a review but I enjoyed Boogiepop Phantom (2000) that it wouldn't be right to let you know the 2019 series sucks so badly. Seriously, don't watch it, especially if you were brought here by the 2000 series. It's super mundane with no substance and which is a shame because of the occasional poignant statement that has you thinking there's a payoff to the dry dialogue otherwise. The music during episode is actually very interesting, if the dialogue wasn't so desiccated I wouldn't have been able to have appreciated it as such. Do yourself a favor and just watch Boogiepop Phantom (2000)

This is my second favorite anime of all time. Yes this anime isnt liked by alot of people. While sitting here overwhelmed with disappointment that my fav anime has performed poorly in front of the masses, the only excuse i can offer is that this anime like any other wasnt for everybody. I did enjoy this anime as my first psychological one. Before this certain anime I was strictly main stream, but after this anime has enlightened me and informed about the hidden gems of the anime world. About not to judge a book due to its appearance or its unjustified infamous reputation. I have this on a pedestal with my other top five. I call it the untouchables league. A league where only five anime can reach to stay fixated on their throne. And nothing ever will be able to touch these animes, heck even be able to reach them. If you adore psychology, the inner workings of the brain you might like this anime. And coming from a literature lover my favorite part of this anime is the script. I find it brilliant. This anime has shaped me into who I am, and for that I am grateful thats why its taking rank two in the untouchable league. Damn just realised how many times I said anime.

It's a show that is not for everyone. Boogiepop Phantom 2019 pulls off a unique story telling by showing pieces of story and piecing all of them together at the climax consistently. It has multiple arcs that are lightly connected to each other. The downside of this show is, if you are not on the same page with the author with his idea about society, it is really hard to grasp what the villians of the arc abstractly symbolizes in everyday world thus making the show hard to watch. It's uniqueness, different storytelling is a fresh of breath air to those who watched many anime. TL DR: Unique 10/10, but abstract.

I’m going to be honest. This show is underrated as hell. Boogie pop was a very unique viewing experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The animation was consistently strong, with a very entertaining story that I loved every second of. Story-8 Many people complained that the story was confusing and an incomprehensible mess. I personally understood most of it, even if I was a bit puzzled at times. The story was smart, with a collection of intriguing mysteries. I personally enjoyed the King of Distortion arc. It was trippy, sure, but it was a very unique mystery. It was well paced and interesting. That is exactly what I want to see from this kind of show. Art-9 Consistently strong. The direction was excellent, with some very good action scenes mixed in. It had a few bits that weren’t as impressive as the rest, but overall it was very good. Facial animations near the end of the show were especially impressive. Sound-10 I love the music in this show. The opening was a total banger. Myth and Roid never disappoint. The osts used throughout the show were strong, but the opening is still stuck in my head long after my initial watch. Character-6 Probably the weakest point in the series. Boogie pop is a relatively interesting character, but many of the villains were slightly.... ah... cheesy. I honestly don’t remember a lot of the characters. It was okay, but not the best. Enjoyment-8 I genuinely enjoyed this show! It had a unique atmosphere, plot, and was overall very well executed. Overall-8 Definitely give it a watch! It’s not for everyone, but it’s still quite enjoyable. Even if you don’t like it, the opening is something worth listening to over and over again.

To anyone who is curious about this show, i must give one warning... its addictive and you should make enough time to complete the series to truly understand and appreciate its brilliance! That being said, i should elaborate on why i gave that warning. Initially it would seem to make no sense or have any cohesive meaning or at least that is how i felt till for the first three episodes and then i was hooked! Its a show that is comprised of a supernatural part, a mystery aspect and an overall arc... all of which were brilliantly executed. This is why i love anime...because just beyond all the generic and whats popular, i came across a show i have not heard or even knew anything about. I started watching this going in blind and i came out with so much respect for anime as a whole! This shows is what makes animes so great! The character are so well written that their depth and development grows through each episode. You understand more and more as you watch and by the end you see every aspect of this anime as a whole! So what is this anime about....well i dont believe i have the words to truly explain anything without giving spoilers! Regardless, i will try my best to give a brief review of why i gave this show such a high number! As ineffable as the whole show is, the animation is great, the fighting sequence were so elegant and subtle yet as bloody as it needed to be. The supernatural aspect was so well explained, even the mystery/detective side of each story arc was explained eloquently and with such intricate detail that it left no stone un-turned! If you like high though, well written, beautifully executed animes then you found one that is a must watch!

i must say i didn't really understand or enjoy this anime in the first half and was kind of annoyed by the vagueness of the plot and the different time and plot lines. sooo many characters are getting introduced and normally i can't even remember 5 japanese names but with this anime i really had to educate myself in other ways, e.g. through reading wiki pages etc. just so i could at least remember who was who and what their importance was. all in all i'm kind of glad that i finished this series because it did draw me in in the last 6 episodes or so. as i said i highly recommend reading wiki articles about the characters and the plot and don't be afraid to spoiler yourself because in the end it's even necessary sometimes or else you can get lost in the plot. this anime is really walking on a thin line because normally i hhhhhhate pretentiously philosophical stories and when characters say some shit like "well what is reality anyway?" and those moments happen often but at the same time it had a modern, colorful touch and was not stinking of drain like serial experiments lain's ambience did. the sound was awesome and really unique, stopping at random times and being very influential for the overall atmosphere. probably the best thing about this anime. also i can imagine that reading the light novel in its entirety might bring more enjoyment than watching the anime because i did find out a lot of extra information through wiki pages that weren't explained in the anime but in the books.

Pros: - Voice acting (sub) was very good. Not only that but the sound design as a whole was very good, also. - Some of the characters (namely Kirima Nagi and her brother) I found to be very well written. It's always a sign that I find characters well written if I want to know more about them. - Interesting concept revolving around the Boogiepop mythos. Not quite what I was expecting from this series. Subverted my expectations in a good way. - The second arc in the series was very good. - Soundtrack was very good also. Cons: - Extremely slow paced, and often very confusing to follow. Many times I thought about dropping the series altogether because a few times I was so thrown off by how the plot was constructed. While it does add an extra level of mystery that I could maybe see working in some instances, I don't think it fully succeeded here. - While the artistry was good, but nothing too much to write home about. It was quite dull and muted most of the time, even when it didn't need to be. The character designs were alright, though. - Quite forgettable. I only finished this series earlier this month, and I still can't tell you what happened in some parts. - Too many characters. This is probably handled better in the light novel, but in the anime they crammed too many characters in before the audience could comprehend who was who. Conclusion: This is a perfectly average psychological thriller series. Some parts are quite good, but overall there's a lot of better stuff out there in this same kind of genre that you'd have a much better time seeing. My recommendation is to watch only if you've read the light novel/manga first, and are already a big fan of it. If that's you, then you may enjoy this more than I did.

In my opinion Boogiepop and others is nothing too special. It does not live up to boogiepop Phantom. Largely due to its lack of incredible soundtrack/design and distinct aesthetic Style that are present in Phantom. Additionally, although Boogie pop and others has more episodes, it is telling four different stories that are only Loosely connected, none of which are as good the single story told Boogiepop Phantom. The whole point of boogiepop is that it is told in an abstract way, it has a bunch of characters and a bunch of different stuff that happens to them, and you aren't necessarily supposed to put it all together instantly. The characters are also given very realistic designs which means there's nothing visually distinguishing for a lot of the characters. After I finished watching Boogie pop Phantom I was able to make connections that I didn't pick up on while I was Originally watching, for me this enhanced that show by making it all come together, once I understood what was happening. Although this show was longer it seems as though there is less connections to go back and make, because it's telling multiple stories that aren't really connected. From my current understanding only the main characters of Boogiepop and the other girl are relevant to stories outside the first and last one. I'm sure there are connections that I missed although I have little inspiration to go and rewatch as it would only help to understand that small section as opposed to the whole story, So the story doesn't all come together, Even if everything is understood. And the universe isn't interesting enough or explained enough to allow these stories to stand on their own. I know that the original Source material is capable of creating something so much better, as was proven 20 years earlier, I'm not sure why they changed the distinct style to look like every other anime. The intro is kind of odd and only relates to like sort of the Second Story, it doesn't really serve as a good Overture for the series. Also Boogiepop kisses with Meeoshta, which is herself, And this is not explained at any point and doesn't really work with the story because Of what is revealed about Boogie pops jealousy. There are certain aspects of the show that I did enjoy, the way in which the story is told, the weird form of Storytelling I often times found enjoyable, some of the abilities are sort of interesting, oftentimes character dialogue would point out profound and interesting aspects of the story, There was a fair amount of high quality poetic conversation, often times the way that they talked was cool but what they were talking about was not that interesting Or relevant. I thought the building that the last story takes place in was a pretty interesting original concept, unfortunately it didn't feel like they fully expanded on the building aspect, I honestly wanted the building to start moving, I'm not sure how much this would have helped the story but it would have definitely helped my enjoyment of it, as I of course have an affiliation for anime architecture. I think without Boogie pop Phantom I would have a negative opinion of this show but because this show didn't really take away from Boogie pop Phantom it currently barely sneaks out an average opinion from me. For now.

I'm fascinated by the fact that the anime is deeply philosophical, I like to get a headache from overthinking, even though it took a strong curve to the point where it annoys some because it hid important things, but I liked it. The characters are great, especially boogiepop. Madness is good at it. The great scenes in my opinion were few, it would have been better if they were more, the music is somewhat good How can the anime be better than this?. Is there anything that can be added or modified? What is the worst thing about anime? What is the thing that attracts you the most to anime?

Yeah this is the kind of show where I really didn't know what was going on for at least half the runtime or honestly getting bored during the long conversations that draw things out between punctuated moments of violence or a revelation. It makes those changes all the more stronger, but I was struggling to keep up with it which is the main reason for why I fell off watching the show and didn't complete it until binging the last third in one sitting just to finally complete it. What Boogiepop and Others (I still don't quite get the title) has going against it is that its like Full Metal Jacket in that it tells different stories through the runtime even with similar characters, making it feel disjointed. But Boogiepop has even less continuity between the characters that appear or are dropped over the episodes. What I do like is that the confusion does work to give an overall dream-like quality to the show that reminds me of Blade Runner a bit, especially at the end in the big somewhat futuristic looking tower. There are great moments of action and tension building with good lighting and backgrounds, especially from the birds-eye city landscapes. I kind of wish there was more at night from that perspective that the poster and OP hint at. There's all this talk of psychology, emotions, and the human spirit between characters that look alike or are being possessed by a different spirit that makes it hard to focus but it still has moments that hit well and draw me in. There's definitely something here, but I'm too dumb and didn't pay close enough attention to really get it, oh well.

I really enjoyed Boogiepop and Others (2019); it's a unique mystery anime with an interesting sci-fi twist that I really enjoyed. It's not a perfect anime, but it is an excellent mystery. ... I would recommend the light novels more because they have more references that didn't make it into the anime The original anime series aired almost 20 years ago now (in the year 2000), and that anime was a masterpiece, albeit a complex one with alternate perspectives and a non-linear progression of the plot. This offering is also relatively complex. Drawing and animation are good, but not amazing. I still prefer the older version because it's creepier

Quick take: if you’re looking for an easy going, linear story with easy to remember details, look elsewhere. However, if you like a mystery that takes more than surface viewing, you’ll really enjoy and be rewarded by Boogiepop. It's been a while since I've seen an anime that intrigued me this much. Boogiepop is the type of anime that you need to digest for several hours after you’ve finished it or may even need to view more than once, but I don’t think that's a bad thing . The storyline isn’t linear and often jumps between the beginning, middle and end of an event all while referencing those moments. It's a knot that you need to unwind yourself to get the whole picture. I, unfortunately, didn’t understand this going in and felt like a kid jumping in the deep end of a pool, unsure how to swim. It was a bit over my head, but coming from a long string of shows that were super simple spoon-fed plots, the complexity of the storytelling is refreshing and reminds me of some of the early shows I watched that got me into anime. Ultimately, you’re immediately thrust into a story all while learning who or what Boogiepop is. As the story unravels, more and more is answered. As long as you can keep track of characters, events and conversations, you’ll find that the nonlinearity is actually a treat and helps keep you interested in the mystery. If I had one complaint about the storyline, it's that the Towa Organization feels unresolved to some extent. The dialogue is important and at times, I felt like I was reading a text book. Every line has some bit of information in it that adds to the overall story and at times, can feel dense. On every level, this show isn’t meant for the casual viewer. This anime needs your full attention. Art wise, I found the show lacking. At times, the animation felt odd and unclean and reminded me of some 80’s anime. While I ultimately didn’t mind it and can acknowledge that it was possibly a stylistic choice, adding to the overall uneasy feeling the show conveys, it just feels unpolished by today's standards. The scenic backgrounds are detailed and enjoyable throughout the anime and make up for a lot of the odd movements of characters at times. Still, the unremarkable characteristics of the characters made it difficult at times to follow who was who. Some of the female characters look similar. Tying this in with the lack of character introduction, it can be difficult to keep track of characters at first. I genuinely love the OP and listened to it every time. It feels so fitting to the overall darkness and atmosphere of the anime. Similarly, the ending theme was enjoyable. The BGM is really good in my opinion, always feels appropriate and isn’t annoying or distracting in anyway. At first you’ll notice that BGM can suddenly cut from one scene to the next going to near silence. This can be unnerving at first, but after a little while, I realized that it makes you feel uncomfortable and I think that it adds to the overall mood of the anime. One thing I realized is that much of this anime centers around being uncomfortable or dealing with uncomfortable things, feelings or emotions. The use of BGM to create that feeling tangibly was brilliant in my opinion. The only complaint I have about characters is that I found some of the females to look similar to each other and that there is a lack of an introduction to several characters. Again, I think this isn’t a bad thing as Boogiepop doesn’t spoon feed a single thing to you. You’re learning as you go along, but it does make it difficult at times to distinguish who is who and who experienced what within the storyline. This is mainly why I suggest a second watch through might be necessary, you’ll gleam more information the second time around. Still, I found the characters to be well portrayed and acting (English) was superb in my opinion. None of the characters are interesting on the surface, but as we learn more, we see that they are all struggling with some type of loss or loneliness, a central theme of the show, adding a depth to their character that makes them feel real and relatable. I really enjoyed Boogiepop. The show isn’t perfect by any means, but added all together, I think there is a brilliance, whether accidental or intentional, that shines through and makes the dark and moody atmosphere tangible. I won’t guarantee that I understand everything about the show, but it had me intrigued start to finish and wrapped up in it's story. That is worth the 18 episodes in itself. If you like mysteries or shows with a central theme that plays out over and over, Boogiepop is an anime for you. This score was rounded up to 9.0. I believe there is a brilliance in many of the stylistic choices of Boogiepop, that whether accidental or intentional, make this show really enjoyable to me.

It's one of those painfully mediocre series with small dialogue lines, that just break you apart. I don't know what to say about this one. The story is about this weird mystery system where good and evil are always fighting, always spawning out of nowhere because one of the other exists. The protagonists are the people seeking to solve these things, until the supernatural trusts itself to beat each other. I have to say, the story was just really mediocre for me. Characters don't follow that much logic, only serving as a medium for the story to continue endlessly until the end. A mystery is established, with a person following a strange phenomenon in their hearts, or how they're affected by another one with said powers. They discover what's happening, try to fight it, and at the end, the titular, Deus Ex Machina, Boogiepop, appears to set things right. It's a formula, like a monster of the week, with people just doing things to get to the ending. Sure, I cared about some of them, but I can only remember around four characters I wanted to see succeed. The characters, not much to talk about. The third story was probably my favorite, and I have to go on a tangent to talk about that story. A man, whose done nothing good with his life, encounters a person who he can save at the cost of his own. It's such a simple idea, and we see the consequences of his actions taking part on the rest of the series. He's a person who mattered, for as much as he regrets having done something good for the world. Then another person gets involved with that saved one, and it's such a cathartic idea, that good inspires evil to change, and real evil to die. I loved it, and it was the sole reason I finished the anime, since I expected something similar to that story to play out. My interest died after that. I dragged myself to reach the ending, and I didn't get much out of it. If only it was all like the third story, but you know, maybe it's just not my thing. My ADHD brain convinced me that this non-linear structure would tell me an interesting ending to everything, but when they stopped using it, it turned way worse, revealing the real problem. If you can't tell a story unless it's with a gimmick, it's not a good story to tell. 4/10. At least the fight scenes are pretty cool. The character designs, though, they really confused me on who was who sometimes. Since some dialogue was superb, I'm inclined to believe the novels are greater by a mile.

I particularly admire stories that have some narrative richness and/or literary depth. However, I detest the exaggerated, and often incoherent, cult of anything taken as complex. With that in mind, I decided to write about Boogiepop Series, with a greater focus on its 2019 adaptation, but making some comparison to its first adapted anime. In general terms, the story refers to several strange events, sometimes given their mysterious nature, sometimes their supernatural nature, which occur in a certain city. The appearance of a strange and flashy beam of light in the sky of that city, the sudden disappearance of students, a new drug, a serial killer, in addition to an alleged supernatural apparition, according to popular rumors, of a shinigami: a reaper, a messenger of death, involved in every alleged murder. Added to that, a young girl acting as a vigilante of justice, trying to fight the hidden mysteries of that place. At first glance, Boogiepop Series distills complexity, which is therefore confirmed in its first episodes, out of chronological order, and its constant non-linear writing. But, unlike other works of this follow-up, such as Serial Experiments and Paranoia Agent, Boogiepop Series did not reach as much popularity as these pillars of the genre. In my view, much of the erroneous cult of the complex by parts of people who probably didn't even understand about its plots. Without many spoilers that compromise the experience of those who haven't watched it yet, Boogiepop, whether in its initial adaptation (Phantom) or in its most recent adaptation (Wa Warawanai), has something very passionate: how much it instigates the listener in the smallest details. The story, in so many moments following a non-linear order, tells us the events from the point of view of different characters. The fact of not being tied to a single protagonist gives us an overview, far from any philosophical-ideological bias, about the functioning of the world and society. Boogiepop, who is more of an observer than a shinigami, a killer of people who reach the height of their beauty (as described in his urban legend). It is a supernatural apparition that manifests itself in Miyashita Touka's body to protect the world from the Enemies of Humanity. A dual personality? A strong desire coming from Touka to do something for someone? A strong sense of impunity? We don't know for sure what made this supernatural being choose the young student. Contrary to what one might imagine, these enemies of humanity are not just other evil apparitions, with a thirst for world domination, or driven by a strong desire for revenge, as they are in many cliché works that approach the supernatural. Such enemies are any and all beings that, moved by their bad feelings, take attitudes that cause harm to others, including human beings. The human element is what really influences the supernatural aspect. As in Boogiepop Phantom, feelings take physical form through strange insects, in Warawanai, in the arc of the Ghoul of fear, although the doctor is human, she becomes one of humanity's enemies due to her committed attitudes. The opposite of this is also valid, when non-humans can be considered defenders and not enemies of humanity. First the Scarecrow who, although he actively contributed to the propagation of the drug that led humans to their evolution, had his moment of redemption, through Boogiepop. Showing us that, even if submerged in such remorse, even in the midst of negative thinking about personal change, if there is a sincere desire, there will be hope. As well as Echos, even though he was an apparition with the potential to be one of humanity's enemies, he comes to choose to defend others with the good he received. "Please remember that Suema. There's a difference between missing the old days and being stuck in the past. Just as the city has to change over time, it's important for people to move forward. with their lives. I know you understand.'' It is in Boogiepop's words that we perceive the evident character of personal choice. In both the Panuru arc and the King of Distortion, the central figure is personal feelings. A heart full of reversed feelings is capable of causing distortion on the outside of the person. That's why there are those who sincerely try to be better for those around them, even though they make decisions contrary to what they want. This is the distortion caused by these feelings. "If your feelings aren't gold yet, I'm sure nothing else in this world can shine." Likewise, we have the influence of feelings being addressed in the Panuru arc. Misuzu, although always being positive about life, carried a burden of sorrows and regrets in her heart, always making up these feelings in search of a false positivity, where everything in the world appears to be beautiful. This way of looking at life couldn't be more wrong. Closing your eyes and accepting everything as a way of overcoming is abominable. In this way, the person hides the pain and does not allow himself to feel what is needed. When you don't put the sufferings out, at some point this feeling will explode and make you go crazy. In other words, this wonderful world of Panuru is an illusion. A distortion. This is Boogiepop Series. Difficult, complex. But not only that... It is an enigmatic journey into what human nature is and what could be. A story with a serious plot, addressing topics such as regrets, envy, hatred, suicide. Man is not man's own wolf. Man is not corrupted by society. If this should come to pass, and this man should be lost, it was his choice. He corrupts it himself. And you? Are you an ally or an enemy of society? Ally or enemy of yourself? "A world that cannot be dreamed of or thought of in the future... Such a world is wrong. But unfortunately, I am not the one who will fight it. That responsibility is yours." Boogiepop.

I came to MAL with a bit of a confirmation bias for my "yo, the source material for this must've been so good" feeling I had while watching the show. And I had it from the very first episode. Already then I couldn't write off some incredibly stupid choices in dialogue writing as mistranslations (by different dubbers/subbers) - and simply by the virtue of some extraordinary authenticity that was radiating even through the idea's mediocre execution I was convinced that the author of the source material couldn't have been the root of the problem. I can't rant about why the show doesn't hold a candle to the ranobe because I never read the ranobe, but some reviews on here do bring evidence into the light, so I wouldn't need to anyway. The thing is, that nonetheless, the show was a breath of fresh air. I only started watching the show because I was wondering what kind of show MYTH&ROID's 'Shadowgraph' was an op theme to, but did get invested because something about it stood out from the mainstream inspite of the passable... uhm, everything. I mean, no, the music was really good, but the artsyle was definitely not Madhouse at it's finest, and the screenwriting was a whatever. And some of the editing... And even with all that, because of some je ne sais quoi, I can't not recommend the show. By the end of it, a lot of its universe will still seem completely unexplored. Unless you are a (masochist at heart) Kara no Kyoukai fan, the narrative's temporal chaos will not be a pleasant feature for you, or, at least, not one to find comfort in while the show keeps snowballing enigmas in your face. But the atmosphere is made something unique. (Regardless of whether or not that was the intention of the ranobe's author) the show's world was molded by the studio into one well-masked by a put-on tranquility, with its true complex, mysterious and controversial nature only surfacing through some coincedences that turn out to be rooted in people's feelings. Kind of like in the Bunny-Girl Senpai anime but for different reasons and with literally no other similarities. Even if you will end up noticing that almost none of the characters get unraveled enough for you to care, you probably will care. So yeah, like 8 or something. I feel like I might even give the ranobe a try.