Anime | Manga Boku dake ga Inai Machi/The Town Where Only I Am Missing

[AzureAce 544]

Oh dear god this anime. I think it's traumatized me, it covers so so many mature themes; abduction, murder, death, child abuse, depression.

 

What do you guys think about this anime?

[Emrys 3,192]

Are you talking about ERASED?

[AzureAce 544]

Are you talking about ERASED?

That's the unofficial English name but yes, Erased.

[Soul_Seeker 753]

Get a grip, you're 29 years old.

(It's a reference, not an insult, pls don't get mad)

[Emrys 3,192]

Get a grip, you're 29 years old.

(It's a reference, not an insult, pls don't get mad)

First time he said that i rofl. Such a serious moment until he realized hes 29

[AzureAce 544]

I'm only on episode 7 so no spoilers past that please.

[Emrys 3,192]

I'm only on episode 7 so no spoilers past that please.

Probably should have mentioned that at the beginning. Ive read the manga and everything. The series is over in the manga. I was about to lay down a major spoiler

[AzureAce 544]

Probably should have mentioned that at the beginning. Ive read the manga and everything. The series is over in the manga. I was about to lay down a major spoiler

Good thing I mentioned it when I did then lol.

 

I wanted to say, I think this would make an absolutely amazing pixel horror game. Much like Mad Father/Corpse Part/etc. However have a Visual Novel style to it, if you get me? Even then, this would make a brilliant game. 

[Emrys 3,192]

A visual novel aspect? ... It would be very easy to get dead ends in that. Concerning time travel you always have to careful making decisions because of the disastrous consequences. It would be like the Steins;gate visual novel in that sense. I do know they are making a live action film adaptation 

[AzureAce 544]

A visual novel aspect? ... It would be very easy to get dead ends in that. Concerning time travel you always have to careful making decisions because of the disastrous consequences. It would be like the Steins;gate visual novel in that sense. I do know they are making a live action film adaptation 

Also like Persona 4. You have to do things before a certain point or someone will die by the hands of the killer in the Midnight Channel.

[Emrys 3,192]

Also like Persona 4. You have to do things before a certain point or someone will die by the hands of the killer in the Midnight Channel.

I guess? I mean visual novels are a bit more complex then that. A simple decision made halfway through the game can kill you at the very end.

[Firaga 5,947]

*Posting this as I've watched up to Episode 11*

 

 

It's been a while since I've seen a psychological thriller like this, mostly because I like to stick to action. Still, ERASED has been a great ride so far. The mystery may not be all that mysterious (because even if I spoiled myself and found out Yashiro was the killer beforehand, I pretty much had it pegged anyway along with most people watching), but again, this is based on character study and drama so I wouldn't call it a mark against it. And no, I haven't started reading the manga yet, and although I've heard some people complain that the anime is leaving out details, I honestly can't say that the anime by itself feels like it's missing anything, so that doesn't really seem like a negative either.

 

[Kyouma-Blade 90]

It's one of the better anime this season. It's the only one I'm keeping up to date on. It's a good ride so far, probably my Anime of the Season. I've yet to catch up on a lot of other anime though, so I'll see if it can hold that spot. Also, a pretty funny video, but big spoilers for those not on Episode 11.

 

 

 

Edited March 24, 2016 by Kyouma-Blade

[Firaga 5,947]

Thoughts on finale and the anime in general:

 

 

Man, it's been an emotional ride. I haven't seen an anime that's made me tense up as much as this show has, and it's usually done it about two or three times every other episode. Still, the finale itself was satisfying. Everything works out in the end, and the main character's personal issues come to a close as he finally learns to put his trust in others and become a hero. 

 

I don't even care about what I'm supposedly missing from the manga. I'll probably still read it eventually, and I'll enjoy the details that the manga original included and maybe get a little miffed about not seeing them animated in the show, but I don't want that to take away from the quality that I feel the anime still managed to produced.

 

Edited March 26, 2016 by Firaga Sensei

[Kyouma-Blade 90]

I suppose it's time to talk about the inevitable backlash regarding this anime and its hype.

 

While it was airing, the scores varied around 9.12/10. Currently, Boku Dake ga Inai Machi rests on an average of 8.86/10 on MAL. Looking at the top reviews for it, this comes up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4, 4, 5, 8. Of course, MAL is awful in founding out the quality of an anime, but it does show the public opinion. Why the sudden drop off?

 

One could claim it was because of its ending. While the ending is not without its faults, that doesn't seem to be the reason for it. Looking at these reviews, they point out flaws that were present throughout the bulk of the show. It's quite strange how the issues were never really talked about before it ended, when these issues are so glaring.

 

Simply put, there seems to be a sort of stigma on calling out shows and their flaws while it's currently airing, but when it's over, it's free reign.

 

One might say that's because people waited until it ended before voicing their opinion, since they haven't gotten the full story yet. However, that's kind of bullshit. People have self proven that they already judge something without getting the full story, case in point, the existence of the ratings of Boku dake ga Inai Machi while it was airing. Even then, the nature of some of these flaws don't tie in with knowing the full story. The lack of focus in motivation of the main character, the strange thought processes of certain things like the killer's motive, Kayo's mother's reason, and the chocolate bar are all fully able to be called out on without seeing the end of the anime.

 

So, what's the real reason for this weird stigma? I don't know for sure, but I'll hazard a guess. People are afraid of speaking out against popular opinion when they think they are alone. Throughout the airing season, I never heard any negative things about this anime. Not one. It's actually really strange, considering the communities I usually am a part of. However, when the dust settled, and the majority of people saw how inadequate the ending was at explaining certain things, the hidden dissenters came out of the woodworks.

 

It's pretty interesting to me how this anime turned out in terms of being treated by the community. I've seen plenty of other anime getting the same treatment too, like with Attack on Titan, One Punch Man, and Charlotte, but I never really had a full grasp on why this is the way it is. I might be insanely wrong somewhere, which may happen because I keep writing this kind of shit out at 2 in the morning, but currently, I feel like this came out okay.

 

What was the point of this? I wanted to figure out why these kinds of backlashes keep happening, and I just wrote down my groggy thought process on it. Might as well post it. Enjoy, and don't be afraid to help me on the right track if you think I'm wrong somewhere.

[Firaga 5,947]

If I have to guess, it's because of how the anime diverged from the manga, and most of these complaints are coming from people who either read the manga first or got into the manga solely because of the anime.

 

Now, I've already shared that I was an anime-only viewer going into this series and even now that it's completed, I had a great experience watching it. No amount of supposed missing content from the original source material changed my opinion otherwise. The studio worked well with what it had.

 

This might make me sound like a hypocrite because I've ranted about anime based on manga that diverge from the original source before, and its true. Various anime I've seen such as Soul Eater, Blue Exorcist, Blood Blockade Battefront, and Gangsta. were all shows that I found disappointing because the powers that be decided to diverge from their source and in turn create a less-than-satisfying conclusion and I was able to pick up on it just based on the original material they provided alone.

 

But the difference with ERASED is that, again, I went into the show blind without any knowledge of the manga and I still enjoyed it. If an anime based on a manga is able to work with its material well enough to leave a satisfying conclusion by the final episode, I'll give it a pass like I did with ERASED. I may not have had that experience that often, but I do believe its possible.

[Kyouma-Blade 90]

If I have to guess, it's because of how the anime diverged from the manga, and most of these complaints are coming from people who either read the manga first or got into the manga solely because of the anime.

 

I don't think this is the case either, because they've pointed out major things they had problems with that, as far as I know, haven't deviated from the manga. Things like how weak the mystery was, how cookie cutter the murderer is, all of that hasn't been altered when they transferred it into the anime medium. Quickly skimming through the reviews I posted last time, they made no mention of the manga, focusing specifically on the anime itself.

 

Hell, I haven't even read the manga, nor do I plan to, but I can see the points they're making. Granted, I didn't see them the first time around, but retrospectively, you can see the flaws it has. The mystery took a backseat for the relationship and adventures of Satoru and Kayo, which is kind of bad, when it sells itself as a murder mystery. When the show gave you the murderer's reasoning, it was lame af, to put it bluntly. I was hoping they would go for "ends justify the means" kind of villain, who kills children who go through abuse. Instead, they gave insanity.

[Firaga 5,947]

I don't think this is the case either, because they've pointed out major things they had problems with that, as far as I know, haven't deviated from the manga. Things like how weak the mystery was, how cookie cutter the murderer is, all of that hasn't been altered when they transferred it into the anime medium. Quickly skimming through the reviews I posted last time, they made no mention of the manga, focusing specifically on the anime itself.

 

Hell, I haven't even read the manga, nor do I plan to, but I can see the points they're making. Granted, I didn't see them the first time around, but retrospectively, you can see the flaws it has. The mystery took a backseat for the relationship and adventures of Satoru and Kayo, which is kind of bad, when it sells itself as a murder mystery. When the show gave you the murderer's reasoning, it was lame af, to put it bluntly. I was hoping they would go for "ends justify the means" kind of villain, who kills children who go through abuse. Instead, they gave insanity.

 

All of I can say to that is ERASED is not a mystery show, it's a pyschological thriller. There's a mystery in it, but that's not the focus. The focus is the characters that are involved in the mystery and how main character Satoru evolves from who he is at the start to who he is by the end. It's the element that is constantly consistent throughout the show.

Edited April 1, 2016 by Firaga Sensei

[AzureAce 544]

All of I can say to that is ERASED is not a mystery show, it's a psychological thriller. There's a mystery in it, but that's not the focus. The focus is the characters that are involved in the mystery and how main character Satoru evolves from who he is at the start to who he is by the end. It's the element that is constantly consistent throughout the show.

And on that note, ERASED is up there with the best psychological thrillers. In my opinion. I can't count the numerous times where I actually felt a flurry of emotions; confusion, fear, sadness, anger, etc. The last anime that made me do this with good effect was Gakkou Gurashi/School Live, what I regarded as the most f*cked up anime I had ever had the both pleasure and displeasure to watch. But ERASED takes the cake. Plus, ERASED goes into so many dark themes that most anime either avoid entirely or lazily go into it and try to throw a comedic spin on it or not provide much detail. ERASED goes full length with its themes; depression, murder, child abuse, abduction, death, psychopathic behaviour, paedophilia, the list goes on, but you get my point. I was so shocked when we saw

Hinazuki's lifeless body after the snow melted, her bruises, her mother willingly beating her in front of Saturo, etc

.  I personally believe that the anime is honestly a 10/10, it isn't without its flaws, every anime has flaws, but most of the flaws only come from missing parts from the manga, which I assume most viewers hadn't read before watching the anime, as well as that somewhat meh ending, but they don't detract from the overall feel and outlook of the anime itself. But that's just my viewpoint on it.

Edited April 1, 2016 by AzureAce

[Kyouma-Blade 90]

All of I can say to that is ERASED is not a mystery show, it's a pyschological thriller. There's a mystery in it, but that's not the focus. The focus is the characters that are involved in the mystery and how main character Satoru evolves from who he is at the start to who he is by the end. It's the element that is constantly consistent throughout the show.

 

Actually, that's a good point that I hadn't thought of. But, I don't really know how much Satoru grows. I know that before these events, he was a struck out manga artist who works in a low pay pizza delivery job, and that he's introverted and can't convey his manga characters' emotions well. After the events, he seems to be a successful manga artist. However, I can't see anything else in him that changed. He doesn't seem to be close to anyone at the end, and didn't really go anywhere in terms of development. I'm a bit blurry on how he progressed, since I focused more on the mystery aspect while I was watching, so please help me out if I'm missing something.

 

Also, "constantly consistent."

 

 

And on that note, ERASED is up there with the best psychological thrillers. In my opinion. I can't count the numerous times where I actually felt a flurry of emotions; confusion, fear, sadness, anger, etc. The last anime that made me do this with good effect was Gakkou Gurashi/School Live, what I regarded as the most f*cked up anime I had ever had the both pleasure and displeasure to watch. But ERASED takes the cake. Plus, ERASED goes into so many dark themes that most anime either avoid entirely or lazily go into it and try to throw a comedic spin on it or not provide much detail. ERASED goes full length with its themes; depression, murder, child abuse, abduction, death, psychopathic behaviour, paedophilia, the list goes on, but you get my point. I was so shocked when we saw

Hinazuki's lifeless body after the snow melted, her bruises, her mother willingly beating her in front of Saturo, etc

.  I personally believe that the anime is honestly a 10/10, it isn't without its flaws, every anime has flaws, but most of the flaws only come from missing parts from the manga, which I assume most viewers hadn't read before watching the anime, as well as that somewhat meh ending, but they don't detract from the overall feel and outlook of the anime itself. But that's just my viewpoint on it.

 

I don't know about its dark themes. I feel like the child abuse and psychopathic behavior wasn't particularly handled well. I'm very lucky to have never experienced child abuse, so I don't know the realities of it. However, it feels like it was just a cheap shot at our emotions. I feel like it didn't delve into it much, and didn't feel like a necessary addition to Kayo's character as a result. She could've been a cold person with or without this backstory. I don't see the point of why the mother decided to do this in the first place, as the anime doesn't make it seem like she experienced this kind of lifestyle herself when she grew up. I don't actually see why she started taking it out on her daughter, since she's basically the only precious thing she has left.

 

I don't know who you meant specifically by the psychopathic behavior, but I'm going to assume you meant the murderer. I thought that was poorly explained, and wasn't as good as I was hoping it could've been. His whole motive was chalked up to a folk tale he heard. His psychopathic behavior with his disregard to animal life didn't add to his motives. One could easily say they value human life over animal life. I don't get it, and that may also be because I'm not a psychopath. Or at least, I don't think I am. As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, they could've done so much more with the murderer, but it feels so lackluster.

 

I ain't gonna tell you to fix your rating system, since everyone uses the 10 point scale differently. But, I don't get how you could call it a 10/10 when you said that there are flaws and that the ending wasn't that great.

 

Also, there's been talk about missing manga material, but I haven't heard of that before this discussion. Could someone enlighten me on some big points they missed in the anime?

[Firaga 5,947]

First off:

 

 

Also, "constantly consistent."

 

Shaaaaaaaaddup!

 

Second:

 

Actually, that's a good point that I hadn't thought of. But, I don't really know how much Satoru grows. I know that before these events, he was a struck out manga artist who works in a low pay pizza delivery job, and that he's introverted and can't convey his manga characters' emotions well. After the events, he seems to be a successful manga artist. However, I can't see anything else in him that changed. He doesn't seem to be close to anyone at the end, and didn't really go anywhere in terms of development. I'm a bit blurry on how he progressed, since I focused more on the mystery aspect while I was watching, so please help me out if I'm missing something.

 

It's very simple if you just pay attention. Satoru's problem at the start of the series is that he's very anti-social and thus has a problem connecting with other people, which in turn results in his unsuccessful manga ambitions because he's not good at conveying believable characters or messages. Through the escapades of the Revivals and solving the mystery of who killed his mother and also stopping said killer from killing his friends in the past, he is able to become more emotionally open and "become a hero" as he puts it.