Un-Go
Mystery and Supernatural, not a rare mix in anime. Most titles of these genres are detective stories set in different fictional worlds. But not all of them follow this cue, and to some this is but a mere guise. So it's important not to expect certain things of a series under these labels too quickly, as things are more than likely to twist and turn.
Un-Go is a peculiar Mystery and Supernatural TV anime series that spanned a total of 11 episodes from the 14th of October till the 23rd of December, as a Fall 2011 title. It was produced by Dentsu, Fuji TV, Toho, Sony Music Entertainment, and Fujipacific Music, licensors: Sentai Filmworks, and brought to life by Studio Bones.
The main staff behind the series include Mizushima Seiji as Director, Kanegae Tooru as Sound Director, Mima Masafumi as Sound Director, and Asai Yoshiyuki as Episode Director. The title is rated R - 17+ for its violence & profanity, suitable for mature audiences.
Un-Go is based on the Source Novel. It is adapted from the 3 volume Manga titled “Un-Go: Haisen Tantei Yuuki Shinjuurou,” which ran from September 2011 until May 2013 by Author and Artist Yamada J-ta.
A prequel was released for the series in the form of a movie titled “Un-Go: Inga-ron” (UN-GO: Chapter of Inga, UN-GO episode:0 Inga-ron) in November 2011, which told the tale of the encounter between protagonists Shinjuurou and Inga. Additionally, a 10 episode ONA series was released as Parody web specials titled “Inga Nikki” (UN-GO: Inga's Diary) from October to December 2011. The series is based on Japanese author Sakaguchi Ango's novel “Meiji Kaika Ango Torimonocho.”
The story is set in a dystopian and fictional future, where protagonist Shinjuurou Yuuki, known to some as simply the "Defeated Detective,” solves mysteries scattered throughout the city of Tokyo. He is closely aided by co-protagonist Inga, who is a somewhat odd associate of his. Despite his nickname, Shinjuurou's insight and ingenuity regarding cracking cases, especially homicides, lead to numerous resolved mysteries and cornered culprits.
On the other hand, his partner Inga seems to have certain other and much more sinister intentions for the criminals they catch. Even as their lives go on, the truth of this assistant's identity and hidden motivations remain to be shrouded in secrecy and darkness.
“Comforting lies or bitter truths” is an overall theme of Un-Go. It is portrayed in a detective series centered around the cynical Shinjuurou Yuuki and the quirky assistant Inga. They go about taking on various cases in Japan while the country is recovering from the aftermath of a devastating war.
By the time the series reaches its conclusion, it feels nothing like a typical mystery anime and swings more towards a Sci-Fi series. So do not take this as a pure detective story. While most cases revolve around familiar detective themes like blackmails and passion crimes, it rarely feels like the main duo is running an investigation. The two simply visit the crime scene, converse with the people involved, and have a brief speculative session as the finishing act Shinjuurou deduces the bigger picture, followed by Inga using some otherworldly power, forcing the criminals to confess.
Most of the cases last only one episode, making the series feel very rushed and would’ve been a total miss if not for the impression it leaves at the end. In the end, it’s the story of detectives solving mysteries, but it's not about the mysteries themselves.
While Japan is still recovering from the wounds of war, the government has restricted its people's freedoms and seized control over the flow of information as much as it could. In such a restricted society, Shinjuurou is a self-proclaimed “seeker of the truth” who is ever persistent about uncovering nefarious activity, which in turn channels the hatred of officials and regular folk to him.
In contrast, the supporting character Rinroku Kaishou is the chairman of the company that holds the monopoly over Tokyo's Communication Infrastructure, who sticks to all the policies. He is charismatic and intelligent, all the while using the messed-up system to his advantage.
These two vastly contrasting characters and the mysterious Inga make up the most impactful characters of Un-Go. The very contrast is a thematic driving point of the series and is one of the show’s greatest strengths. From the surface, it looks like the dynamic between a well-respected villain versus a misunderstood hero. In reality, it’s a series about how different people shape various events in whatever shapes and forms that suit them best.
The subjects of terrorism, blind patriotism, and greed are recurring themes in this anime. They consistently succeed in surprising viewers by co-relating these to the show’s truths-versus-lies dichotomy. Another noteworthy aspect is that the story is not biased to either side. While Shinjuurou’s desire to uncover the truth is portrayed admirably, his complete lack of tact and cynical nature are shown just as they are: not harmless quirks but defense mechanisms born out of sheer desperation and difficult circumstances.
The same can be said about Rinroku's shady works, shown just as they are, but the narrative does a great job showing that he views himself as the lesser evil rather than, the greater good.
Unfortunately, the other characters of Un-Go simply fall under common anime archetypes who are complete slaves to the plot and have nothing notable about them. The dynamic between the main duo could’ve been better; it just doesn't seem fleshed out enough.
The series had a lot to work on like the sinister undertones between them could have been elaborated more. Their relationship is a very interesting one with so much potential, so it is disappointing that it goes underdeveloped. On the other hand, this aspect does not hurt the main storyline as much.
The Art and Animation of Un-Go are good. While the animation is not anything special, the most important scenes are done stunningly, bringing with them ample weight. The Art itself is impressive, and the character designs are done well, too, for most if not all characters. The Directors had done a great job, bringing together several contrasting aspects into one compelling whole as an anime.
The OSTs go well with the series’s themes, serving to enhance the atmosphere of each scene, despite not being overall memorable. The Opening theme is "How to go" by school food punishment, which has a nice ring to it, and the Ending theme is "Fantasy" by LAMA, which is decent.
As for the voice-acting, it ranges from decent to good. Inga’s voice actress deserves credit for a fantastic performance, delivering a wide range of emotions, going back and forth between quirky and mysterious, and at times both.
Overall, UN-GO is a pretty good series, especially for fans of the genres. It nicely portrays the story of a man seeking the truth in an ocean of deceit, all under the guise of just another detective story.
Granted, it has a few flaws, like a bad start, poor character development, some plot holes, and pacing issues. But it concludes nicely, leaving a smooth and exciting series in its trails and makes the viewers wish for more. Any anime fan who finds this premise attractive and enjoys twists will find this series a thrill to watch. As a verdict, Un-Go is recommended!
