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ローゼンメイデン 
Although this is slightly predictable, I can't say that I don't like the ending for this series. I think the main problem that I have with this episode and the series in general is that it spends too much time on the revenge-wisher of the week before the series turned its head on the main plot involving Ai. As a result, there are some mysteries which never got to be resolved here and it feels a bit unsatisfying. As it is now, Jigoku Shoujo is partly saved thanks to its last few episodes. However, looking back through the archive makes me wonder what could this series have become if it had spent more time building background story for Ai and her associates. Well, let me know what you think of the final episode of this series.
This is a fantastic episode that explains a lot about Ai and Sentarou's background. It's a rather tragic story which I think was inevitable due to the close relationship that Ai and Sentarou had with one another. The story in the episode unfolds in a similar manner to those Japanese horror movies like Ringu. The director had also done a great in framing the shots of the characters. As a result, some of the scenes featuring Ai in this episode look effectively creepy. It's unfortunate that the writers spent at least half of the series focusing on revenge of the week stories. I think instead of doing this, they could have fleshed out the background story of Ai's associatess. Oh well, maybe this will be addressed in the final episode which will be aired next week.
A very impressive episode although I have to admit that I'm slightly disappointed at the turn that the series takes. I also think that Hajime should be awarded 'Father of the Year' award just based on this episode and possibly next week's preview. I am always a sucker when it comes to good father figure sacrificing everything for the sake of their children. It's probably why I like Silent Hill series so much. I also think that the revelation in this episode is similar to Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly storyline. I kind of suspected this when the series keep zooming in on the twin butterfly ornament that Tsugumi owns. Well, with only 2 more episodes to go, I can't wait to see the resolution to this series.
This is a really good episode that reveals a bit more about the inner working of Jigoku Tsuushin as well as showing a bit of Ai's past. I recommend it even to those who already gave up on this series a long time ago. I was also amused to see Hajime looking as if he has a crush on a girl for once. It's probably just an act to aid his investigation but I think at one point he was kind of enjoying the girl's attention. I also has to praise the direction that this episode took. The director did a good job of setting up scenes and situations to the point that when the end is revealed, everything connects and makes a lot of sense. With 3 more episodes to go, I am glad to see the series taking some great initiative to tie up all of the loose ends, especially the one involving Ai's past. Anyway, as a side note, it appears that someone has gone a bit obsessed with Ai to the point that the person actually made a bento in the shape of Ai. Now, who's brave enough to eat that?
This is an okay episode I supposed. I am not thrilled with the revenge of the week case but the little revelation about Hajime's past is quite interesting to know. This episode basically points out that revenge can come in any type or form and even if Jigoku Tsuushin does not exist, human can still hurt other humans through other means. It's also nice to see another side of Hajime, one that explains his desire to prevent others from wishing revenge on the person that they hate. The most enjoyable part of the episode, however, is seeing Ai acting out of character and slightly childish at the start of the episode. Anyway, with only 4 episodes left, I hope the writers can wrap up the story in a satisfying manner. All I want is for the writers to reveal the identity behind Enma Ai and her connection to Hajime and Tsugumi. It'll be nice if we learn more about Grandma spider and Ai's associates but I am afraid the writers won't actually tell their story.
This is a rather interesting episode even if the resolution is not really satisfying and the animation quality takes a little nosedive. As the show gets closer towards the end, however, I am more concerned about the direction that the series is going to take. I think there are two obvious paths to take at the moment. The first one is the deliberation of Ai from her job as Jigoku Shoujo. The other one is the possibility of her exchanging position with Tsugumi at the end of the series. To be honest, I am not sure which one I prefer the most. I personally don't know if I am keen to see a tragic ending at the end of the series. Although judging from the way each episode ends thus far, I won't rule it out as a possibility.
February 22, 2006 | 
19 Comments
It looks like this series is on a winning streak lately. After several early duds, the series finally shows some good storyline from episode 13 and forward. The problem is, I suspect many viewers have already given up on this series a long time ago. This is really unfortunate and I suspect if the producer had cut down the episode numbers from 26 to 13, they could have had a much tighter and interesting series. Anyway, this episode is an example of some of the better works within the series. On a glance, the story admittedly sounds silly. However, on a closer inspection, this is actually a pivotal episode for the series. The series also employs several social commentary, most notably the tendency of the media, especially television, to sensationalise matters. The main scene in this episode actually reminds me of a rather similar scene from Takashi Miike's horror film, One Missed Call.
February 18, 2006 | 5 Comments
I was going to recap Karin 11-12 but since don't have the motivation to watch anything right now I decided to write something else instead. So here are some more spoilers and this time they are specifically for Jigoku Shoujo. I personally think there is nothing exceptionally revealing here. Having said that, a spoiler is still a spoiler so you'll risk spoiling yourself by reading further than this. The spoilers basically cover episode 20 to 22. As expected, since it's almost close to the end, the story starts to focus more on Tsugumi, and presumably Hajime. I probably should also mention that there are some minor spoiler on episode 23-25 listed under the cut. But again, I doubt it'll ruin your enjoyment of the episodes themselves.
February 14, 2006 | 11 Comments
Well, this episode seems to be tailor-made for those who like Rozen Maiden Traumend and Enju's antics. Having said that, it's still not as good as episode 17. Just like the episode that comes before it, this one suffers from an over-the-top villain. Or maybe I just refuse to believe that all doll makers are as insane as those who have been shown thus far in anime. This episode, however, shows that sending people to Hell most often than not, does not solve the problem at hand. In a way, this story is a mild variation of the stories that have been told in other episodes. The good thing about this episode is that the setting of the doll maker house is very well drawn. In fact, in general the animation looks quite good. There are, however, instances where few characters' face, most notably Hajime and Tsugumi are poorly drawn.
February 13, 2006 | 8 Comments
This episode is not as unique as the one that came before it. Having said that, it's still a lot more interesting in comparison to other episodes within this series. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the writers manage to create a despicable villain, even if that said villain is a bit over the top in her crime. It also helps that the on-going plot with Hajime and Tsugumi continues to develop. I have to say, however, that I don't like where this particular plot seems to be heading since I really care for these two characters. I think part of the reason why the series has improved as of late is because Hajime and Tsugumi give the viewers some kind of emotional attachment that previously did not exist. Well, I do feel sorry for Ai from time to time but since she rarely talk and her facial expressions don't change that often, it's hard to tell what she really thinks or feels.
February 10, 2006 | 8 Comments
This is one hell of an impressive episode. A couple of minutes after the story starts, it is easy to see that this one can be a stand-alone horror story without the Jigoku Shoujo association. The series would probably have attracted more viewers if most of its stories are as strong and powerful as this one. The interesting part about this episode is that there is actually no scene involving Hell, a consistent element of the series which actually is not that frightening most of the time. This episode relies purely on the horror of the unknown, of things that can not be seen. As a result, when the truth is revealed and the horror starts to take shape in the form of a monster, the story remains as strong and arresting as it was when viewers have to guess about the direction of the storyline. The addition of a little twist towards the end of the story is also a welcome change for the series.
I think it was a good idea to watch these episodes back to back even though the theme from each episode are different. This is because both episodes show how Ai increasingly attempts to give hints to Hajime and Tsugumi while leaving her associates in the dark about this. As a result, in both episodes, we get to see Ichimoku Ren and Hone-Onna constantly trying to foil Hajime's attempt to help the victim. If only they know that Ai is the one who's been giving hints and visions to Tsugumi. In a way it makes sense that Hajime and Tsugumi are not introduced until episode 8 because prior to that episode, Ai probably didn't have any desire to help those who used the website using other, more normal approach. This also explains why Hajime and Tsugumi's role have intensified ever since the incident because Ai seems to believe that there are other ways to resolve dispute, anger, and sadness.
First of all, I have to mention that the animation seems to be okay although it's not as impressive as last week's episode. I think we're basically back to 'tight on budget mode' as the animators try to ensure that they save up for upcoming showcase episodes. Story-wise, however, this episode depresses me a lot. The story actually works in a similar manner to other episodes. However, the complexity of the case makes it a little bit more interesting. In daily life, people often choose not to tell the truth to protect someone else. This episode basically shows that sometimes such act hurts another person. The episode also seems to be some kind of a reflection on Ai, Tsugumi, and Hajime and their attitude towards the people that they encounter thus far. I have to add that I really like Hajime and Tsugumi as characters now and I think I will be sad if something bad happens to either of them.
December 28, 2005 | 11 Comments
This turns out to be another excellent installment for the series. If the series had been this good right from the start, I think this would have easily been one of my favourite series of the season. As it is now though, I am a bit ambivalent about it. I think the series has the potential to be really interesting. However, in order for this to happen, the writers need to stop featuring too many vengeance-wisher of the week because I notice that the writing seems to be stronger when the storyline veers away from this typical scenario. I also have to say that I'm surprised to see the high quality animation in this episode. It really feels as if I'm watching a different series from the one that I usually see. There are a lot of artistic shots, clever use of red colors, and the sceneries are much better directed and animated in comparison to the other episodes.
December 21, 2005 | 12 Comments
I never thought I'll say something like this about Jigoku Shoujo but I think this is the best episode that has been aired so far. The animation is actually not as good in comparison to last week's episode but the storyline is interesting, unusual, and is actually quite easy to relate to in that twisted kind of sense. This episode also suggests that there is more to the way Enma operates than what has appeared thus far. Because of this, what happens in this episode is quite shocking but also quite sad at the same time since for the first time, neither the victim nor the revenge wisher actually deserve to go to hell. On top of this, the preview for next week's episode suggests that the series will start to unravel the connection between Hajime and Enma Ai so here's hoping that this will be the start of an exciting arc for the series.
December 14, 2005 | 5 Comments
I'm sorry that this comes rather late but I've been kind of busy with work this week. Thursday will be especially bad since there will be end of the year office party. So, some reviews are going to come late this week. Anyway, this episode is a good news for those who want to see more appearance from Hajime and Tsugumi. In fact, the main focus of this episode is actually Hajime and his background/motivation. I think this is part of the reason why I enjoy the episode a bit more than usual. It's a shame that the grudge-wisher of the week is a bit lame though. The same thing can be said about the punishment that is given to the villain of the week. Oh well, as long as the writers keep advancing the main plot involving Hajime and Tsugumi, I think this series will remain interesting and better.
December 7, 2005 | 13 Comments
First of all, our sponsor Jigoku Inc. wants us to say a few words about their new product: Ai's Jigoku Beach Ball. It's exactly what you need to accompany your lonely existence in hell. Because let's face it, who needs friends when you have Ai's Jigoku Beach Ball? You can blow, throw around, and even squeeze the ball. Tell me which friend will allow you to do those using their body? They'd probably think that you're crazy and put a restraining order against you. Speaking of which, hell is kind of quiet these days so if you have ungrateful friends you want to send there, always remember that Jigoku Tsuushin is your true best friend! And oh, every time you send someone to hell, Ai gets frequent flyer point. You want to make Ai happy, don't you? So what are you waiting for? Start sending those ingrates to hell!!
November 29, 2005 | 4 Comments
The storyline of the week seems to be inspired from Yakitate!! Japan in the sense that it deals with competitive bakery industry. It's probably not far from the truth considering in Japan, bakery is one serious business. There are many good bakeries all around the country and they do compete fiercely with each other. This episode also continues the plot threads from the previous episode. In other words, Tsugumi and Hajime are back in the episode. Their role seems kind of similar to the role of the mother and son characters in Ringu. What I mean by this is that they are the ones who get to see and investigate things that happen to other characters. It remains to be seen if they'll get any deeper into the mystery just like those two characters in Ringu.
November 23, 2005 | 3 Comments
Lately I've been thinking how I actually don't find one-off episode format itself to be a problem because I obviously like Mushishi a lot. However, Jigoku Shoujo's way of telling a story is quite limited and therefore, without some kind of an arc, each episode feels a bit repetitive. This episode also made me realised that the animators are trying their best to work with whatever small budget I suspect they've been given. When I saw the stock animation of Enma Ai doing her Ippen Shinde Miru routine being turned upside down, I knew the animators are scrapping the bottom of the budget barrell. I think this is exactly why the storyline needs to be better because when you don't have enough money to show 'the fireworks', so to speak, you have nothing else to rely on but the quality of the script itself. So I'm glad that at the very least the story is quite interesting this time around.
November 16, 2005 | 9 Comments
Well, this turns out to be the most entertaining episode so far. The animation is also a bit better with only a few stock animation being used in this episode. I did, however, noticed that an umbrella seems to be the new stylish weapon of choice for girls to use these days. I have to admit that the item is a brilliant choice because it serves dual function to protect you from rain and from uninvited guest. Speaking of item, our sponsor, Jigoku Inc., would like to use the opportunity to announce their new stylish accessory lineup: The Jigoku Baseball Cap™. It is available in several colour choice including light creme (just like the face of your fake personality), black (similar to the color of your skin when it gets burned in hell), and red (the way you'll bleed for us in hell). Please buy some or Ai will personally visit you and take you on a never ending boat ride to hell.
This will unfortunately have to be a rather quick entry since I'm still quite sick and not in the mood for a long-winded summary. Overall this is a rather interesting story that deals with infidelity and violence. I have to say that I'm surprised to find the amount of stories that deal with the pressure of being in a community housing owned by a company in anime and manga. If you're interested, Hot Gimmick is another manga that deals with this kind of stories, albeit in a much lighter manner. Animation-wise this is much better than last week's effort with several shades of red colour being used to represent the infidelity theme of the episode. It reminds me of The Red Shoe Diaries .... err, not that I've seen it or anything like it. :P
November 2, 2005 | 11 Comments
I sympathise with Enma Ai, I really do. I personally think spamming someone else's computer/email/blog by repeatedly asking for the same thing, or by advertising things without their consent is rude. Unfortunately, or maybe, fortunately, there is no such thing as Jigoku Tsuushin in reality. Otherwise I'll repeatedly send spammers to hell and I'll be going to hell in no time as well. But I think this is why the fifth episode works so well because it finally shows that there's more to the inner working of Jigoku Tsuushin than meets the eye. You can't just put anything into the website and not attracting the wrath of Ai and her associates. Before we go further though, there are images in this entry that some people may consider disturbing. With that in mind, do not proceed if you're afraid of blood-splattered images.
I supposed this is a bit better than the last one. The animation quality seems to be slightly higher this time around with less dark scenes to hide things that are not animated. The nightmare scene is also much creepier, mostly because it involves accident and hospital, two things that some humans including myself are afraid of. It actually reminds me a little bit of Jacob's Ladder as well. A great film if you're looking for some good scare. Unfortunately, the ending bit where the evil person receives a punishment is still as lame as hell. Maybe I'm just twisted but I was hoping for something far more gorier than what the character finally receives. Oh well, at least this is an improvement over last week's episode although I guess that does not mean much since last week's episode was quite bad.
October 19, 2005 | 15 Comments
Warning: Please be aware that this is a horror series. As such, this entry may contain some disturbing images.
If Jigoku Shoujo continues like this, I will probably drop this title instead of Aria. At least the animation on that other series is good. The thing is, it's really hard to know how a series will turn out in the future. But I certainly am not impressed with the story and the character design in this episode. I am also bored with the various stock animations that are used throughout the episode. Having said that, I do realise that there are little hints of information about Ai that are revealed within each episode. The problem is, the informations given in each episode about this part of the story are too few to be substantially satisfying.
October 12, 2005 | 26 Comments
Opening Theme: 「逆さまの蝶」 - Sakasama no Chou by SNoW (10.9MB, for PSP/Quicktime) - updated 16 Oct 2005
I've decided to include this series as a part of my Autumn lineup for now. Don't know how long my enthusiasm will last though. The truth is, I'm still not impressed with the animation style but the storyline appeals to me in that twisted kind of way. And I figure a series that can illicit some kind of emotion out of me can't possibly be that bad. Even if that emotion is just an anger at the injustice that happens to the character. Anyway, I'll try to keep things brief for this series since I have other commitments at the moments. Plus, the series' episodic nature doesn't require that much of an explanation. As a sidenote, this episode introduces the OP theme by SNoW, Sakasama no Chou. I have to say that this is one of the nicest Autumn anime songs that I've heard thus far.
Ending Theme: 「かりぬい」 - Karinui by Noto Mamiko (13.2MB, for PSP/Quicktime)
I was actually kind of reluctant to blog this after watching the first episode. I guess I am a bit disappointed with the digital look of the series. I was hoping that the series will be a bit more stylish than what it is at the moment. What really brings me back to it, however, is the storyline, which so far does a good job of keeping my attention. As a side note, there's a manga version of the story which runs in Nakayoshi monthly magazine at the same time as the anime. The story is different from the anime but retains its episodic nature. Anyway, I think I'm going to approach this series on episode per episode basis before I can be sure that I want to follow this continuously.
