Mieruko-Chan
What is the allure of the Horror genre? It is because we want to experience the stimulation that comes with it. The same exposure and anticipation of terrifying moments stimulate the human brain mentally and physically.
What’s notable here are the opposing factors of negatively (as fear or anxiety) and positively (as excitement or joy) simultaneously. There are many titles out there to give us that unique experience. Mieruko-Chan is one of the latest additions…..
Mieruko-chan is a 12 episode TV Anime series that aired from the 3rd of October until the 19th of December in Fall 2021. It was produced by Magic Capsule and Kadokawa, licensed by Funimation and brought to life by Studio Passione.
The central staff behind it includes Ogawa Yuuki as Director, Ihara Kenta on Script and Series Composition, Gou Fumiyuki as Sound Director, and Amamiya Sora on Theme Song Performance. It features Comedy, Horror, and Supernatural genres alongside the School theme. It received a rating of PG-13 for teenagers 13 years or older.
The Anime is adapted from the source Manga of the same title (The Girl That Sees "Them," Girl That Can See It) that started publication on the 2nd of November 2018 and is still ongoing. It is the work of Author and Artist Izumi Tomoki, serialized in Web Comic Apanta. Additionally, it was published in English by Yen Press on the 17th of November 2020.
The story revolves around protagonist Miko Yotsuya, who seems to be an ordinary High School Student. But unknown to others, she hides a horrific secret. Her eyes water as she fixes her gaze on a single spot on her phone, all while ignoring yet another dreadful and horrible monster that is right in her face.
It utters the disturbing words: "Can you see me?".... Before the present time, she used to enjoy her unassuming and carefree school days while watching late-night horror shows only as a form of entertainment and nothing more. But one fateful day turned her life upside down, and now she is the only person aware of these invisible monsters which walk freely among humankind.
Gathering all her courage, she makes a bold decision: she will never, ever, under any condition, acknowledge the presence of these horrid specters. But however hard she tries to pretend they do not exist, she can still avidly see how they disturb the other people around her, especially in the case of her best friend, the energetic and lovely girl Hana Yurikawa.
Determined to protect them from the monsters' disruptions and annoyances, Miko does her utmost best to continue her “ordinary” school life while avoiding every troublesome crisis that may occur, even if they scare her to tears and beyond…..
Mieruko-Chan, on the surface, is about a group of girls going about their ordinary lives, draped in comedy, while horrifying monsters and apparitions randomly pop out like in some horror series.
Miko suffers from being able to see the supernatural, and it turns her life into a living nightmare. While it's not fun for Miko, it's pretty appealing to viewers who are fans of horror, as she deals with the unfortunate situations where the supernatural haunts her wherever she goes. Be it at school, the park, the subway, her house, or her bedroom, she cannot escape these phantasms.
Even while pretending those don't exist, viewers can see her blatant fear of the supernatural from the onset. Miko has erected a protective wall around herself and tries to ignore them until her personal life gets affected.
In their celestial forms, they cannot directly interfere with the real world, at least most of the time. In her struggle to protect the others, she and Hana get thrown into everyday adventures, while the latter has no idea. Goofy yet entertaining, viewers experience a strange mix of Slice-of-Life, Comedy, and Horror aspects.
The series also shows how the supernatural reacts to the world in their own style at varying locations, times, and situations. Viewers can experience a feeling of uneasiness whenever supernatural elements occur on-screen while also portraying how the characters enjoy everyday life. That’s all there is in the Story, as it boils down to what Miko’s unorthodox life is like.
The Characters of Mieruko-Chan are brought together by their circumstances. While Miko sees the supernatural, Hana lives a carefree appetite amidst her voracious appetite. The remaining cast affects the series as it progresses.
Yuria, another girl who can see ethereal auras, gets involved with Miko via various misunderstandings and are brought together with a peculiar tone of humor.
Yuria has trouble expressing her personality and even sees Miko as a rival. This Anime knows what it's doing from the getgo and builds itself along the way via the introduction of characters that connect to Miko's daily life.
While Miko struggles to balance herself, she tries to help the helpless as well, showing viewers that her ability is both a gift and a curse. She puts her ability to use when there's someone needing protection, and while the moderate comedic tone is always there, there are occasional profound moments evoking fear and anxiety. Overall, the characters manage to deliver humor and horror uniquely and entertainingly.
The Art and Animation of Mieruko-Chan reflect the characters' personalities. Miko looks calm and collected with her poker face while facing the supernatural. In stark contrast, Hana is a bubble of playfulness.
The duo is well presented in a myriad of everyday, awkward and supernatural situations to invoke viewer reactions. The Animation quality is excellent; it has colorful choreography, fitting character designs, and a visually appealing Opening theme. There is a lot of fan service in this series, be it Miko's legs or Hana’s chest, in specifically aimed camera angles.
The Sounds and Music of Mieruko-Chan are pretty well-made too. The Opening theme is "Mienaikara ne!?" by Miko Yotsuya (Sora Amamiya), a highly decorated and entertaining song.
The ending theme is "Mita na? Mitayo ne?? Miteruyo ne???" by Miko Yotsuya (Sora Amamiya), a highly decorated and entertaining song. The OSTs are nothing special, but they enhance the Audio experience.
The Sound effects are on queue and bring out the themes at the right places and times. Overall, nothing extraordinary, but pretty good, and no complaints.
There is something oddly enjoyable about this Horror Comedy that you won't find anywhere else. Don’t head into Mieruko-Chan expecting a ton of bone-chilling horror; remember that comedy is one of its genres. It has some decently executed horror moments, though.
Do not expect to find the intricacies behind how these monsters came to be either, and this is in no way a weakness. They don’t aim for in-depth explanations while also providing good entertainment.
We all have fears and problems like Miko and struggle to get through life, but in the end, we all have to accept our own brands of gifts and curses. So yes, if you’re interested in the genres and don't mind the absence of a deep, intricate, and engaging plot, give this Anime a go! If not, look elsewhere because this show is an odd cup of tea.
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