The appeal and reviews of "Kamisama Dolls": A must-see anime guide

Kamisama Dolls - Kamisama Dolls - Reviews and Recommendations

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

July 5, 2011 - September 27, 2011

■Broadcasting station

TV Tokyo, AT-X, TV Aichi, TV Osaka, ShowTime, Niconico Channel

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

Yamamura Hajime

■ Director

Seiji Kishi

■ Production

Animation Production: Brain's Base Production: Kakashi Preservation Association (Media Factory, Shogakukan, TV Tokyo, AT-X, Flying Dog, Sony Music Communications)

■ Story

Our everyday lives are filled with God. But God also invites us into the extraordinary.
A mysterious doll called "Scarecrow" is worshipped as the "empty shell of God" and a young girl.
Girl meets God unfolds!
Leaving his hometown behind, Kyohei lives a peaceful college life in Tokyo and is about to confess his feelings to Hibino, the girl he has feelings for. However, one day, when he is alone with her, he finds a brutally murdered body. On his way home, Kyohei is attacked by an unknown object, and then his sister Shio, who controls a strange doll called a scarecrow from his hometown, comes to visit him...

■Cast

・Kouhei Kuga/Nobuhiko Okamoto/Shio Kuga/Misato Fukuen/Hibino Shiba/Ai Kayano/Aki Kuga/Ryohei Kimura/Kojiro Hinata/Katsuteru Murase/Kiryu/Yumiko Kobayashi/Kuwana Sorahari/Miyuki Sawashiro/Ayako Somagi/Ayahi Takagaki/Yurako Somagi/Rie Yamaguchi/Mahiru Hinata/Kana Hanazawa

■ Main staff

・Original Story: Yamamura Hajime, serialized in Shogakukan's "Monthly Sunday GX" ・Director: Kishi Seiji ・Assistant Director: Sugawara Shizuka ・Series Composition and Script: Uezu Makoto ・Character Design: Morita Kazuaki ・Chief Animation Director: Motohashi Hideyuki ・Prop Design: Ogawa Hiroshi ・Art Director: Miyake Masakazu, Miyakoshi Ayumu ・Color Design: Ito Sakiko ・Director of Photography: Okuma Yoshiaki ・Sound Director: Kishi Seiji, Takadera Takeshi ・Sound Production: HALF H・P ​​STUDIO
Music: Masala Nishida, Chiaki Ishikawa Music Production: Flying Dog Animation Production: Brain's Base Production: Scarecrow Preservation Association

■ Main Characters

A university student who came to Tokyo after becoming disgusted with life in Soramori Village. He is traumatized by an incident that occurred in the village, so he does not want to get too involved with others and has not yet adapted to life in Tokyo.
Seki, who controls the scarecrow "Kukuri". He followed Aki to Tokyo, but stayed at Hibino's house to be with his brother, Kyohei. He is quick to get angry and clumsy.
A university student who attends the same university as Kyohei. Due to a certain incident, she ends up living with Kyohei and Shio. She has a strong maternal instinct and is not easily intimidated.
A scarecrow wielding the Kuramitsuha. He caused a crime in the past and was held captive in Soramori Village, but he came to Tokyo to chase after his childhood friend, Kyohei.
・Kojiro Hyuga A man who controls the scarecrow "Uwazutsu". He comes to Tokyo with Kiryu at the request of the Hyuga family to capture Aki. He is so skilled that he is said to be the next head of the Hyuga family.
・The man who controls the Kiryu scarecrow "Takemikazuchi". A boy who looks just like Shio. He has a belligerent and hot-headed personality.
A friend of Hibino's who attends the same university. She is in the ridiculous science club, and is fed up with the boring world we live in, looking for something more interesting and out of the ordinary.
Daughter of a potter who has been repairing and adjusting scarecrows for generations. She is childhood friends with Kyohei and Aki and has a tomboyish personality. She speaks for her grandfather, who is also a potter, but she also speaks vulgar words out loud.
Hinata Mahiru A scarecrow who controls the Magatsuhi. She has a self-centered and free-spirited personality, and follows Kyohei, whom she loves so much that she calls him "sama", and comes to Tokyo.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: God Comes ・Episode 2: God's Special Training ・Episode 3: The Attack Comes...
・Episode 4/Helma ・Episode 5/Back Home...
Episode 6 / Soramori Village Episode 7 / Portrait of Remembrance Episode 8 / The Role of God Episode 9 / The Vortex of Fate Episode 10 / Beautiful Princess, Prosperity Episode 11 / Captive Days Episode 12 / Rampage Episode 13 / Seki / Kyohei Kuga

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・"Incomplete combustion"
Lyrics: Chiaki Ishikawa Composition: Chiaki Ishikawa Arrangement: Masala Nishida Song: Chiaki Ishikawa ED1
・"When the switch is turned on"
Lyrics: Ishikawa Chiaki Composition: Ishikawa Chiaki Arrangement: Nishida Masala Singer: Ishikawa Chiaki

Kamisama Dolls - Kamisama Dolls - Review

"Kamisama Dolls" is a TV anime series that aired in 2011 and is based on the manga of the same name by Yamamura Hajime. This work depicts the story of mysterious dolls called "scarecrows" that are called gods, and the girls who control them. It is a fascinating work with a world view where the ordinary and the extraordinary intersect, and the human drama of the characters.

The story begins with the protagonist, Kyohei Kuga, a university student in Tokyo, trying to escape the trauma of an incident that occurred in his hometown, Soramori Village. However, one day, his sister Shio suddenly appears with a scarecrow, and Kyohei's peaceful life changes completely. Together with Shio, Kyohei becomes involved with the scarecrow and gradually gets closer to its secret.

The greatest attraction of this work is the existence of scarecrows. Scarecrows are also called "the shell of God" and have great powers, and their mysteries are solved as the story progresses. The girls who control the scarecrows, commonly known as "Seki", are also unique characters that cannot be overlooked. Shio, Aki, Mahiru, and others each have their own background and purpose, and are depicted growing up together with Kyohei.

Director Seiji Kishi's skill also shines. He carefully portrays the emotions of the characters, succeeding in eliciting deep empathy from the viewer. In particular, the psychological portrayal of Kyohei's trauma and Shio's inner conflict is extremely realistic, adding depth to the story. The battle scenes are also powerful and visually appealing.

The music also adds to the appeal of this work. The opening theme "Fukankenbin" and the ending theme "Switch ga Irattara" are impressive, with the powerful singing voice of Ishikawa Chiaki and the sophisticated arrangement by Nishida Masala, enhancing the atmosphere of the story. The background music is also used appropriately for each scene, playing a role in bringing out the emotions of the viewer.

However, this work also has some issues. First, it is difficult to fully depict a complex storyline in a short 13-episode series, and the latter half of the series can feel a bit rushed. Also, there is no room to delve deeper into the characters' backgrounds and relationships, which may leave some viewers feeling unsatisfied.

Nevertheless, "Kamisama Dolls" is a work that stands out for its unique worldview, attractive characters, and detailed storytelling. In particular, the depiction of the relationship between gods and humans and the difficulty of facing trauma will surely deeply move viewers. This is a work that can be recommended not only to anime fans, but also to those who are interested in human dramas.

Recommendation

Here are some recommended points to help you enjoy Kamisama Dolls.

1. Read the original manga

The anime is based on the original manga, but the original contains many episodes and character backgrounds that are not depicted in the anime. Reading the original manga after watching the anime will give you a deeper understanding of the story and make it even more enjoyable. The detailed illustrations and story by Yamamura Hajime are worth reading.

2. Other works by director Seiji Kishi

Seiji Kishi, the director of "Kamisama Dolls," has worked on many other masterpieces. In particular, the method of carefully depicting the emotions of characters in the "Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition" series and the "Love Live!" series is common to "Kamisama Dolls." By watching these works as well, you will be able to gain a deeper understanding of Kishi's style.

3. Deeper exploration of music

I also recommend listening to other songs by Ishikawa Chiaki, who was in charge of the OP and ED, and other arrangements by Nishida Masala. Ishikawa's powerful singing voice in particular makes you feel the worldview of "Kamisama Dolls" even more deeply. Nishida's sophisticated arrangements also show his talent in other works.

4. Watching Similar Works

It would also be a good idea to watch works that have themes of gods and dolls, just like "Kamisama Dolls". For example, "Rozen Maiden" and "Noragami" are recommended as works that depict the relationship between gods and dolls. By watching these works, you will be able to understand the appeal of "Kamisama Dolls" more deeply.

5. Joining the Fan Community

It's also a good idea to join the Kamisama Dolls fan community and exchange information with other fans. In particular, many viewers' impressions and thoughts are posted on social media and forums, which will help you understand the story better. You can also get information about events and merchandise, which will make your viewing experience even more enjoyable.

Above is a summary of the reviews and recommendations for "Kamisama Dolls." This work is characterized by its unique worldview, attractive characters, and detailed storytelling. It is a work that can be recommended not only to anime fans, but also to those who are interested in human drama. Please give it a watch.