Kagewani
Synopsis
A video blogger attempts to fake cryptid sightings to boost his views, but gets more than he bargained for when his crew is slaughtered by a real monster. Elsewhere, students find themselves preyed upon by a sandworm-like beast, initiating a desperate struggle for survival on their own school grounds. With more of these attacks from mysterious creatures occurring, researcher Sousuke Banba tasks himself with delving into the mystery. With nothing but the keyword "Kagewani" to lead him, he scours the sites of recent attacks in hopes of finding a lead to eradicating the creatures for good. However, Sousuke finds that these threats to humanity are even closer to home when the pharmaceutical company, Sarugaku, starts to encroach on his investigation. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Kagewani is a unique horror anime with a distinctive art style and interesting monster designs, though the animation and overarching plot are criticized. The short episode format and monster-of-the-week structure provide decent entertainment, but the series ends up feeling incomplete. Audience opinions are mixed, with some appreciating its novelty and others finding it flawed due to its production and rushed storytelling.
Strengths
- Unique art style akin to cardboard cutout paper-mache collages enhances the ominous vibe.
- Effective use of horror tropes and monster designs, blending European fairy tales and Japanese Kaiju.
- Well-mastered pacing within the short episode format, building tension effectively.
- Sound design and ambient noises create a suspenseful atmosphere.
Weaknesses
- Janky and awkward animation, with characters moving unnaturally.
- Incomplete overarching plot with unanswered questions and rushed ending.
- Lack of character development due to the episodic format.
- Limited or lacking background music, failing to fully enhance the creep factor.
- Story can be predictable