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ファイト／ステイナイト 
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.
The series begin with a creepy stalker type making a phone call to a girl called Takamura Ryouko. The creep has obviously terrorised Ryouko for quite a while because she looks stressed out and immediately begins to look for the Jigoku Tsuushin site when her cell phone begins to ring. Much to her relief, she manages to find the site and put in a request to get rid of her stalker. Meanwhile in Enma Ai's house, her Classic Macintosh computer lights up, indicating that there is a revenge request coming. Next to her computer a set of blue, red, and black voodoo dolls are lining up one next to another. Ai, who seems to be in a garden, hears her grandma telling her that there is a request coming. Back to Ryouko, because she refuses to answer her phone, the call ends up being transferred to the answering machine at her house.
Despite this, the stalker doesn't give up and instead decides to sing along Maigo no Koneko-chan whilst the answering machine records the message. Her father eventually manages to chase away the stalker, who apparently has been hiding inside a car. But unfortunately, the damage is done. Ryouko is now completely terrorised by the creep. Because of this, Ryouko's father demands the police to do something about it the next day. The lead detective, Kisanagi, tells Ryouko's father that he actually suspects a young Detective called Akimoto as the perpetrator. He, however, asks Ryouko's father to pretend as if he doesn't know about this for a while. But as Ryouko and her father returns home in their car, Ryouko receives a text message from the creep claiming that he loves her. Of course, Ryouko ends up being freaked out again.
Once Ryouko arrives at the school, she is approached by a mysterious woman who eventually leads her to a door to the Sunset world. Inside the world, Ryouko gets to meet Enma Ai and her associates so she begins to tell her story. Apparently the creep who's been stalking her started out with love letters. After this, he begins to send her some weird presents like a doll without its head. The situation then escalates when the creep began to contact her using a cellphone. He even managed to get inside her room to leave dresses for her from time to time. Upon hearing this, Ai calls upon the old man, Wanyuudou, causing him to change into the black voodoo doll that Ai usually gives to the victim. After explaining the part about pulling the red string and giving a brief demonstration of its consequence, Ai transports Ryouko back to the outside of her classroom.
Meanwhile Ryouko's father spots Detective Akimoto standing underneath a tree outside the school so he decides to confront the guy. When he gets closer, however, he realises that the young detective is already dead. Before he can do anything else, however, Detective Kisanagi appears behind him and knocks him out cold with a shovel. When Ryouko comes to her father's car, she's surprised to see Detective Kisaragi picking her up. But her realisation quickly turns into terror when she sees the same cell phone strap in Kisaragi's pocket. Creepy detective then proceeds to take Ryouko to an abandoned house and tries to profess his love for her. When Ryouko rejects him, however, he snaps and tries to kill her with the shovel. In her desperation, Ryouko pulls the red string on her doll. Immediately, a police arrives and scares Kisanagi away.
Once Kisanagi flees, however, the policeman reveals himself to be one of Enma Ai's associates. He points out that now Ryouko has been marked to go to hell but hey, at least she'll be free from the creep! Cut to a scene of Enma Ai looking as if she's half-submerged inside the water. When her grandma informs her about the request, she goes out in her carriage as usual. That night, Detective Kisanagi, comes to the hospital where Ryouko's father is hospitalised. The surprise, however, is on him because he ends up being terrorised by Enma Ai and her associates. Enma Ai then places a judgment on him and sends him to hell with her usual "Ippen, shinde miru?" line. When Kisanagi awakes, he finds himself on a boat with Hone-Onna who latches onto him then sinks her claws into his heart. As Kisanagi screams in pain, Hone-Onna sings along to the tune of Maigo no Koneko-chan.
Impression:
I was quite unhappy after watching this episode. I really think that this time around, the victim of the week gets a raw deal from Enma Ai and her associates. I don't really mind that they marked Mayumi to go to hell during last week's episode because I feel that Mayumi had choices. She didn't have to go through what she went through if she just had a bit more backbone. However, Ryouko doesn't have the same choice in this episode. To begin with, the person that she thought can protect her ended up being the very person who wants to harm her. Then, her father is injured in his attempt to protect her. The last straw was, of course, her almost being killed by the creep because she doesn't respond to his twisted version of 'love'. In the end, she has no choice but to pull the red string.
I don't see what else she can possibly have done when her life was in danger like that. Getting killed is not an option here since it's human's nature to fight for one's survival. People in her position will try to protect themselves any way they possibly can even if it means killing the other person. I understand that the story probably want to show the harshness of the deal that Enma Ai and her associate offers to the victim but I can't help but feeling that the whole incident was unfair. Anyway, I think I finally understand why the series is not that scary. In a way, the director positions the viewers as the judge, jury, and executioner along with Enma Ai and her associates. When they punish a person, I feel that the viewers are 'encouraged' to side with them and enjoy the sight as they torture the guilty person.
At the same time, I think this is the part of the show that appeals to me. It shows how ugly and vengeful human's heart can be. Another part of the series that interest me is Enma Ai and her associates themselves. I like how the series slowly reveals little bit information about them such as how the old man is actually the one who becomes the voodoo dolls with red string. It ties in nicely with the red scarf he always wears. I really do hope that as the series progress, more information about the group will be revealed. For example, I want to know why Enma Ai looks as if she was submerged in water at one part in this episode. What is her background and who is the grandmother who lives with her? As a final note, I am quite amused to hear the Maigo no Koneko-chan song that is used this episode. I always think that children's songs are some of the creepiest song I've heard.
Yeah, I agree that Ryouko didn't deserve to go to hell :(. It was really all that creep's fault. But well, I guess this shows the unforgiving side of Enma Ai and her little 'business'.
And, yes, children's songs area really very creepy, given the right twist and mood.
Well, I'd agree with you on Ryokos drama, but this episode was rather disappointing to me.
I was impressed with the first episode from the technical side (except for Enma's v/a whose voice doesnt suit this kind of role at all), this episode however had a lot of reused animation sequences (Enma parts again), reused final attack music(thankfully other bgms were extended to parts we havent heard in ep1), same straight forward story 'composition'. and the attack is once again not dementia-ish enough to my liking.
They have to throw some twists to the episodes, even if only in a single episodes story presentation, so you are confused at least a little. They just cant think a viewer will be interested if more episodes are presented in the exact same way.
I'm waiting for someone innocent to die (as someone elses prank for example), a suicide (actually I thought this episode would be a good one for a suicide), I dont know... BE INVENTIVE CREATORS.
Anyways, nice entry. ;)
Does anyone know the meaning of the butterflies that appear in the opening, ending and the official website? Do they have any cultural or religious significance?
Is anyone subbing this show?
I think that in asian cultures, butterflies are often associated with death. Some examples:
There is this old Chinese story kinda similar to Romeo and Juliet. In this story, the lovers turned into butterflies after they died.
In Bleach (popular manga/anime), the shinigamis (gods of death) use butterflies to send messages.
In Touhou Suimusou (popular doujin fighting game), the princess of the dead uses butterflies in many of her attacks.
I'm not sure how this came about. My guess is that the metamorphosis of the butterflies is kinda an analogy of death in the following way:
1a. Larva stops moving, dries up, and turns into a cocoon.
1b. People die.
2a. Butterfly emerges from the cocoon.
2b. People's spirit/ghost leaves the body.
The little picture of skeleton gave me a start, well, to be more honest, I was browsing your wonderful blog in the middle of the night, and my eyes were soon greeted by that terrible sight, it was very VERY scary.
Just an advice or a little request, could you please refrain from posting pictures which might trigger heart attacks? I would very much appreciate it.
Ai, are you serious or just kidding around? I mean your screen name is similar to the name of the main character and all...
The thing is, this is a horror series and not a very scary one at that. I think it's pointless to review a horror series without showing some gruesome pictures. Sorry, a big horror fan here. ^^
Oh well, I promise to post a warning that this series is a horror series and may contain some disturbing pictures next time. But unfortunately, I can't do what you ask me to do because then other people will complain about the reverse.
this is indeed an interesting horror series. however, what the hell is the manga version doing in nakayoshi? i always had a faint impression that nakayoshi ran comics for young female teenagers; jigoku shoujo is more for adults. is the storyline for the manga very different?
Very interesting information cclragnarok. Now it makes sense. Thanks a lot.
Yeah, I get the impression that Nakayoshi is for teenage girls. Enma Ai's character design is quite strange in that magazine.
The storyline is only different in the sense that I haven't seen the anime story in the manga and vice versa. However, it does follow the same pattern as the anime. Someone has a grudge, that someone goes to the website, Ai and her associates punish the person, etc.
very good analysis, cclragnarok! as for myself being an asian, i never really thought about buffterfly symbolizing death. (i guess it is something so natural that we don't think about it) but after reading your post, i realized that we (asian) do associate butterflies with death. for korean, white butterflies means death in the family. don't ask me why. i don't really know except white is the color of mourning. it is the tradition for korean females to use white (kinda butterfly shape) pin on your hair to indicate family member's death.
"Just an advice or a little request, could you please refrain from posting pictures which might trigger heart attacks? I would very much appreciate it."
Wimp.
Did anyone get the feeling after watching the first episode want to see if there was a website like the Jigoku Tsuushin to ask for revenge? Or was it just me? Hahahah...I guess I don't really see that big thick line that seperates reality from anime...-_-
I love how they made Ai's eyes. Very haunting and beautiful, and overall her character reminds me of Yuuko from xxxHOLiC, in which incidentally butterflies play a big part.
I think butterflies represent the same concept in Jigoku Shoujo: that people will metamorphose and become anew.
Thanks for the review. I'm definitely looking forward to the anime showing at the local club. I should say that *often* in Japanese horror, the victim is *screwed*, not that i like those sort of endings, either. Great site!
thanks for the sypnosis of this series. do you mind uploading the song again ?
In this episode, my husband showed me that when the police detective walked by the outside of Ryouko's dad's hospital room; You didn't see his reflection. You only saw a walking skeleton. It made me think of dead man walking. It was like he didn't know he was already dead . . . or soon going to be. Emma AI, outside in the garden, in the water, in white; reminds me of all the mikos, monks, priests, etc. doing a purification ritual.
Could someone upload the song again? Thanks
Do you mind uploading the song again? I've been trying to search the net for the song but there's none available. Thanks! : )
I just got episode 2 and had simliar thoughts. There's no doubt the girl was a victim, and doesn't deserve to go to Hell.
But that is what makes this so good in terms of creepy horror...these folks who are promising revenge are preying upon legitimate greivances, vs. the one in episode 1.
where is your preferred source for this series, if I may ask?
schadelmann, my preferred source for this series is Winny, which is a Japanese P2P program. The reason is because they usually provides the fastest release (a couple of hours after they were broadcasted in Japan). But if you want the subtitled version, I have to say I'm not sure because I haven't actually tried to download the subtitled version. I did notice from Animesuki (www.animesuki.com) that Ayu is subtitling the series. But it seems there are only the first 2 episodes are available.
That darn creep! Now Ryoko has to go to hell!
Don't you think Ichimoku is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute?
and i hate that creep!!!
I AGREE THAT RYOKO DOSN'T HAVE TO GO TO HELL!!!! she was just trying to protect herself !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! POOR RYOKO..now she has to go to hell!!
enma is soooooooooooooooooooo cute!!!!
she perfectly beatiful!!! I looveee sheeee!
buna! enma as dori sati spun niste intrebari si sa ma razbun pe cineva dar am pierdut saitul acela.......... viziteazama la noapte......................................................................................................sunt o fana ................................... Ai Eenma am mintit partea cu razbunarea vrea sa te intreb cva...............
serves the stalker right but that poor girl has to go to hell now i feel bad
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