On September 27, the first season of the detective anime 'Undead Girl Murder Farce' came to an end. We tell you how the title, which mixes a rather unusual cocktail of characters, captivates with its story.
The series 'Undead Girl Murder Farce' is an adaptation of the light novel of the same name by Yugo Aosaki. Since 2015, the author has released only four volumes, and the work is not yet finished. However, it has already been adapted into manga and anime. Of course, in a season featuring 'Jujutsu Kaisen', 'Bleach', 'Rurouni Kenshin', and many others, 'Murder Farce' is far from the most obvious candidate to watch, but it shouldn't be written off either. While it may not be able to compete with the flagship titles, it can certainly capture the viewer's attention and hold it throughout the season.
Yesterday, the last episode of the first part of the second season of the anime 'Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation' was released. In this regard, we believe that now is the time
Open materialBefore we begin, we'd like to urge you to subscribe to our Telegram channel 'After the Credits' (here's the link). There we post posters, trailers, and various interesting and fun news from the world of cinema.
What's the Plot?
It's the alternative year 1897. The Meiji era is ongoing in Japan. People are tired of sharing the planet with monsters and evil spirits, so a (ahem) special operation to exterminate them was carried out, called the 'Great Purge' (de-demonification, so to speak). The remaining creatures scattered across the Earth, either hiding securely or trying to live with humans in a fragile peace.
A certain Tsugaru Shinuchi, nicknamed the Demon Slayer, works in some circus where he is forced to put on shows fighting various monsters. The guy doesn't have long to live, because in Tsugaru's veins, besides human blood, flows the blood of an oni, which is slowly killing him, turning him into a demon. The hero became this way due to an experiment by an unknown European old man. The Demon Slayer has accepted his fate and even devised a cunning and flashy plan to end his career, but unexpectedly, an immortal girl named Aya Rindo (or rather, just her head) appears in his life.
Born in the distant Heian era, Aya has lived on Earth for 947 years and cannot die. She was forever trapped in the body of a 14-year-old girl (until it was stolen), but now exists only as a head in a birdcage carried by her loyal maid Shizuku Hasei. The woman doesn't want to live without a body, so she decides to offer Tsugaru a deal: he kills her (oni are strong enough to kill even an immortal), and in return, the undead's DNA (i.e., saliva) prolongs the guy's life and delays his transformation into a demon.
The Demon Slayer is interested in the offer but refuses to kill the undead, as he realizes that the same old man who mixed him with the oni also stole Aya's body. So the trio decides to head to Europe to search for the old man and everything that should be below Miss Rindo's head. Over a year of wandering, the heroes gain a flattering reputation as detectives investigating cases involving evil spirits. Both humans and peacefully coexisting monsters like vampires can confidently turn to them for help. And each new case is more intricate and interesting than the last (what a farce).
Total Farce
'Undead Girl Murder Farce' successfully blends unusual ingredients. Here, the viewer can expect detective work, comedy, fantasy, adventure, and even action fights and gothic elements. Moreover, the series' universe perfectly accommodates all prominent literary (and not only) characters from the late 20th century, so don't be surprised to see Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson alongside Arsène Lupin and the Phantom of the Opera (and that's far from a complete list of big names).
Such a hodgepodge looks amusing and even quite logical for the show's lore. And all these celebrities are connected by an unusual trio of main characters with completely different personalities. The judicious and calm Aya, who, due to the lack of a body, is forced to move in a cage with someone else's help and work exclusively with her head (you use what you have), leveraging her centuries-old [undead] experience. The cold-blooded, gruff, and silent but inwardly gentle and feminine maid Shizuku, ready to do absolutely anything for her mistress. And the cherry on top is the cheerful and talkative Tsugaru, who never misses an opportunity to crack a joke about Aya's body. He can even mix a deadly fight with a story of his life in the form of a folk tale.
Over the season, excellent chemistry develops between these diverse characters, and the detectives themselves become a kind of bridge between the world of monsters and the world of humans. They are strangers everywhere (especially the Demon Slayer—half human, half monster), but through their work, the trio helps both sides maintain the scales of peace in a fragile but balanced state.
Monsters in 'Murder Farce' are often oppressed, and humanity does not hesitate to openly show racism, but our trio does not moralize anyone's behavior or take sides. Their job is to restore justice and solve mysteries, and subsequent actions, after the truth is revealed, are left to those who are directly or indirectly involved. It should be noted that humans are not always better and more humane than evil spirits, and sometimes you have to rack your brain (heh-heh) over who deserves the title of 'monster.'
Head to Think, Legs to Walk
'Undead Girl Murder Farce' was adapted by the relatively young studio Lapin Track, and this is probably their first big-budget show. Despite the budget, the visual part of the anime has certain shortcomings, such as unsuccessful camera angles, underdeveloped animation, or very noticeable 3D. At times, the picture is downright jarring. It's especially grating when you can clearly see that the characters are moving while the landscape behind them is frozen, creating the impression that the heroes are walking in place.
However, these flaws can be attributed to a lack of experience, and besides, the plot of the anime is so engaging that it smooths over the graphical glitches. Following the development of events is extremely interesting, and the cliffhangers that end most episodes fuel interest throughout the season. Moreover, there are no complaints about the characters either. Although, one might want to take issue with a certain 'Royce Consultation and Protection Agency' for its striking similarity to 'Baroque Works' from 'One Piece.' The same code names for agents, the same ranking system, and the same principle of splitting into gender-opposite pairs (except that 'Baroque Works' is less irritating than these upstarts from 'Murder Farce').
The musical accompaniment of the anime is also in order. The soundtrack mostly has calm motifs, in tune with the narrative, but during fights and action scenes, the musical mood shifts to epic. The opening 'Crack-Crack-Crackle' performed by the k-pop group Classy is very catchy, so it's no surprise if it gets stuck in your head after watching. The ending of 'Murder Farce' is not as upbeat, but it is very beautiful and lyrical.
What's the Verdict?
'Undead Girl Murder Farce' ended on a cliffhanger, but whether the title will be renewed for a second season is a big question. It was extremely difficult for the series to compete with the summer giants, so many viewers didn't even notice the show. It's a shame that this clearly worthwhile anime will most likely remain in the category of underrated and unfinished. Of course, one wants to believe that fans will get a continuation, and viewer interest will multiply over time, but for now, the prospects are extremely and extremely vague. Too bad, the series is really good.
P.S. In the second episode, there is a short post-credits scene, so don't rush to turn it off immediately.
Comments
0No comments yet.
Sign in to join the discussion.