Welcome back, it’s day 2 of 13 days of Otakutober! I couldn’t tell you how excited I, Star, was to see another summer horror. It was so refreshing to watch the year it came out because there weren’t a lot BLs either so being able to get two for the price of one was honestly incredible. So without further ado, let’s get into it!
The Plot
Earlier I mentioned there were two genres to the anime and that was a huge pull for me to watch. The story itself is a simple one, following two best friends who may have harbored some unrequited feelings for one another. Their relationship was tested throughout the entirety of season one even though one of them, Hikaru, had died. The best part was that something else had taken Hikaru’s place and it also liked the best friend.
The internal struggle to mourn someone so deeply and love someone so much that a person could and would let another do anything to them was so nerve-racking to witness. In a lot of ways it was horrifically romantic and you couldn’t stop watching. At a certain point, the best friend had admitted to himself that he should have acted on his feelings when Hikaru was still alive. Then constantly struggles to continuing to love this new thing in Hikaru’s skin while mourning the Hikaru that once was.
The Animation
It stayed true to the original artwork in the manga but was more vivid in color. It was a masterpiece to say the least, certain parts of the anime showcased the technique of rotoscoping to bring a sense of realism even though it felt more surreal than anything. The jaded conflicting feelings were shown as swirling contrasting colors. But the use of light and water were especially captivating.
The OST
The Live stage adaption
Popular literature/manga/anime often get adaptions in other live action forms, sometimes a movie and sometimes a stage play. The stage plays are usually shortened to fit in a 1-3 hour production so the season is usually condensed to an arc within the season or a summary of the most pivotal plot points or character development moments often focusing on the main characters. This series was popular enough to get a stage adaption!
So that’s the end of the review! I purposely kept it vague to avoid spoilers but I recommend watching this summer thriller and seeing this chilling masterpiece for yourself. But I do advise, there are mentions of suicidal thoughts and questionable motives.
AishiteLOVEru~
Star
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