What They Say:
Yamishibai is a picture-story style of animation whose motif is surrounded and based off the rumors, and urban legends throughout the history of Japan.
The Review: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
This is one of those shorts that I’ve heard air between full episodes of anime to fill time. The studio and cast are really new, as they only have one other credit on ANN—the studio did CG animation for Gyrozetter back in 2012. Otherwise, Studio ILCA, director Tomoya Takashima, and script writer Hiromu Kumamoto have nothing under their belts.
Despite the relative inexperience on all parts, the show comes together quite nicely. The animation is done in a style like you’re reading a moving book rather than watching an anime and movements by characters are kept to a minimum.
The story itself was about a guy who moves into an apartment and is seemingly stalked by the woman across the road, who keeps staring into his place. She sneaks into his apartment and places talismans all over, maybe just to freak him out. It isn’t quite made clear, and the ending implies that maybe it’s the man who’s imagining things.
In Summary:
The show is likely going to be a mood piece throughout its run, just like Folktales from Japan is, which began airing back in 2012. Watching five minute horror stories is going to be fun week to week, but are probably only interesting to people insatiably curious about Japan and Japanese mythology and lore like I am. I was definitely edging away from the screen as I watched it in eager anticipation of what would happen next. It didn’t have a “scream out loud” moment yet, but it’ll come I’m sure.
Grade: C+
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
For the ending, I thought the talismans were keeping the ghosts at bay or something so when the lady saw someone move in and rip up a talisman she replaced it. But of course she looked a bit.. crazy.