The appeal and reviews of "Karada Sagashi": A deep story and exploration of characters

"Body Search": A fusion of horror and emotion, a new possibility for vertical animation

1. Overview of the Work

"Karada Sagashi" is a vertical anime based on the original novel by Welzard and Katsutoshi Murase. A total of 10 episodes were distributed on the vertical anime app from July 31st to August 31st, 2017. Each episode is short, about 3 minutes long, but it succeeds in portraying deep horror and emotion. The animation was produced by STUDIO KHRONOS and the director was Kazuyoshi Fusegi.

2. Story

The story of "Body Search" begins with a group of friends gathering one summer night for a test of courage. In the ruins they visit for the test of courage, the group hears a ghost story called "Body Search." It is a terrifying tale about a girl searching for parts of her own body. The story depicts how the group becomes embroiled in this ghost story.

The story unfolds in a thrilling way, drawing the viewer in as the mysterious events that occur one after the other. In particular, the scene in which the girl searches for a part of her body leaves a strong visual and psychological impact. There are also many scenes depicting friendship and bonds, making this a work that is not only scary but also moving.

3. Characters

The characters in "Body Search" are unique and charming. The main character, Takahashi Akira, is a brave boy who cares for his friends. His actions and decisions greatly affect the story. His friend, Yamamoto Takeru, has a calm and rational personality and serves as Akira's good partner. Furthermore, Yuki, a girl who tells ghost stories, has a mysterious aura and holds an important key to the story.

These characters are portrayed as valuing friendship and supporting one another even in the midst of fear, which makes it easy for viewers to empathize with them and experience both joy and sorrow as the story unfolds.

4. Animation and Production

The animation of "Body Search" is a work that highlights the technical capabilities of STUDIO KHRONOS. In particular, in the scenes depicting strange phenomena, mysterious lights that emerge from the darkness and distorted shadows are used effectively to enhance the visual horror. In addition, the characters' expressions and movements are drawn in detail, and emotional changes are conveyed realistically.

In terms of directing, the method of moving the story forward effectively in the short three-minute time frame has been praised. In particular, cuts to heighten tension and sound effects to heighten fear are used skillfully. This allows the viewer to concentrate on each episode, drawing them into the world of the story.

5. Music and Sound

The music and sound in "Body Search" are also important elements in enhancing the sense of horror in the film. The background music has an eerie melody that plays in scenes where strange phenomena occur, heightening the tension in the viewer. In addition, gentle melodies play in scenes depicting friendship and bonds, enhancing the emotion. Furthermore, the sound effects are realistic, stimulating the viewer's five senses.

In particular, the sound effects in the scene where the girl searches for her body parts create a strong sense of fear in the viewer. Even the smallest sounds, such as footsteps and breathing, are reproduced so realistically that the viewer feels as if they are there in the scene.

6. Evaluation and Impressions

"Body Search" is a work distributed in a new format called vertical animation, and has been praised for its story that combines horror and emotion, as well as its highly skilled animation, music and sound. In particular, the method of effectively progressing the story in a short time of three minutes has attracted attention as showing new possibilities for vertical animation.

The viewers' reactions to the series have been very positive, with comments such as the perfect balance between horror and emotion. The series has also been praised for the charm of the characters and the scenes that depict friendship and bonds, with many viewers commenting that they were moved by the show. Furthermore, the vertical animation format is fresh and popular, as it can be easily viewed during commutes to work or school.

7. Recommendations and Related Works

For those who enjoyed "Karada Sagashi," we recommend "Another" and "Higurashi When They Cry," which are similarly terrifying and moving works. These works also have appealing stories about supernatural phenomena and friendship, and have the power to draw viewers in. In addition, as works in the vertical anime format, we also recommend "Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World" and "Overlord." These works are also praised for the way they effectively move the story forward in a short amount of time.

8. Summary

"Body Search" is a vertical anime work that has been praised for its story that combines fear and emotion, its highly skilled animation, music and sound. The method of effectively progressing the story in a short time of 3 minutes has attracted attention as a new possibility of vertical anime. The viewers' impressions have been very positive, and it has been praised for its exquisite balance of fear and emotion. The charm of the characters and the scenes that depict friendship and bonds have also been praised, and many viewers have commented that they were moved. The vertical anime format is fresh, and it is also well-received for being easy to watch during commuting or school time. For those who enjoyed "Body Search", we recommend "Another" and "Higurashi When They Cry", which are similarly scary and moving works. In addition, "Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World" and "Overlord" are also recommended as vertical anime works. These works have also been praised for their method of effectively progressing the story in a short time. "Body Search" will continue to attract attention as a work that shows new possibilities of vertical anime.