AnimeNfo

[Avalanche (#92065)]

 Is Higurashi too violent?

[Rosepetals (#42525)]

My answer to that full statement: Geneon hasn't lost their marbles.

I think it's safe to say that Higurashi is a series that's targeted toward an older and limited audience (fans of mystery and horror). I highly doubt that Geneon would try to market this series at younger than say 15 years of age, if not older. Granted, that's one of the criticisms that may arise, but I don't think it would reach that broad of a scale.

[nauXolo (#69311)]

Yes, too violent. Not for the American market. Kids will look at it thinking it's a cartoon. Parents will be shocked. They won't believe how violent something like Higurashi will be pre-turnof events, they'll ignore the Mature+ ratings, and when they see it with their kids, they'll be shocked, horrified, and mummified. They'll never buy another anime DVD again and there goes the industry

[Avalanche (#92065)]

Hey naux - you serious about this, or are you being sarcastic? *sorry! Can't figure out the tone just from text!*

I really cannot believe the entire argument - because there is stuff in the market which is as violent and more disturbing than Higurashi. And many many series have cruelty shown which IMO is so much more gruesome than as shown in Higurashi. Take NTHT for example. And what about GTA? Which would you consider more violent among the two - Higurashi or GTA?

And as an afterthought - do such works really create this much controversy in the US? Or are these just cases which are blown way out of proprotion?

[nauXolo (#69311)]

I was being serious.
Higurashi is TWISTED violent. GTA is more accepted violent. Beating people with sticks and blowing things up seem to be normal human nature. Sure, people try to hide it and deny it, but on the whole it is pretty accepted as a common way of violence.

But little kids with knives slamming doors on hands and stabbing like crazy with blood flowing all over the place. Slamming your head against a knife as you laugh maniacally.... HMMMM... Not only is it mentally sick, it also is deceiving, since the characters look so 'innocent' and 'cute'.

[Rosepetals (#42525)]

[Avalanche (#92065)]

Hmmm. I had completely forgotten about the Nail-ripping incident. And remembering it, I can see some parenst have second thoughts showing it to their children. But then it is supposed to be horror, supposed to make you frightened and cringe - Higurashi does that mighty fine. And many horror movies use effects such as people being killed and all - Exorcist, Sixth Sense etc all use shick horror. But, yeah Higurashi is one step ahead normal horror in terms of gore and shock.

But can it be something which will be detrimental to children - I really don't have an opinion on this. But I think I can show it to my cousin (who is now 14 and a half years old). It is a different issue that she only watches soap operas.

So what does this make the series? PG-13? or Older Teens?

[Rosepetals (#42525)]

[AO (#120184)]

I am in complete agreement with nauXolo. Sadly, in America anime is still being equated to cartoons. Yes, undoubtedly some progress has been made, but not nearly enough. The status quo is that anime=cartoons=kids here in America. Yes there are violent things being licensed here in America but nothing like this.

Even if they do market this to an older group, I feel this anime is a more hit or miss type of anime. You either love it or hate it and there are few in between. Marketing this anime in America would make little economic sense because you’re limiting the anime in two fronts. You take away the kids (major consumer of anime in US) and the anime itself is hit or miss further limiting it.

LOL parents would have a field day with this anime. I guess it’s possible, but unlikely. I could see this being imported to Europe much easier then US.

[Avalanche (#92065)]

That argument is kinda odd. Very odd - because going by this argument almost everything which has related to do kids can be controversial.

Take comics for example. Sin City, Sandman, V for Vendetta are all examples of comics which have adult content with a lot of violence and brutality. But there is not much controversy for these titles (if there is I'm unaware of it). I guess this is because the titles are exclusively marketed towards a mature audience (16+, right?). Why can't this be done for anime titles like Higurashi? Comics and graphic novels often go beyond kiddy stuff and people accept that. Given proper marketing and time, I belive this can be done for anime (cartoons for the layman) as well. Or is this hypothesis of mine wrong?

[AO (#120184)]

[Avalanche (#92065)]

[Alphanumeric (#119537)]

It is too violent. And that's a good thing.

One of the reasons a lot of people like anime in western cultures is because it's very different. You'll find a lot of stuff that wouldn't typically be suitable for television over here. This show is an example of that. Most people in western cultures who don't watch anime think it's childish. They think it's just a cartoon. Their opinions would be changed if they could see Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. And that would be a good thing. If somebody made fun of you for watching anime, all you would have to do is show them one of the torture scenes, and it's unlikely they will ever fuck with you again. Unless they're into that sort of thing.

[Nuhsshun Takamoto (#69832)]

Alpha, someone did that to me highschool a couple years back, showed them Elfen Lied

[Cataphract (#94516)]

Though I'm not one to dredge up old threads, the fact that there's been a lot of Higurashi discussion lately and I'm in the midst of watching it has inspired me to join the discussions, as it's really quite the fascinating series.

While Higurashi is indeed violent, it's not pointless violence, and that's a distinguishment that I think needs to me made. Rena doesn't just run around hacking people up with her cleaver for fun. The whole point of the series' brutality is outlining the absolutely insane extremes the human mind can go to in the state of incredible paranoia/terror. Given the context of the series, it's obviously not meant to be viewed by a younger audience whatsoever, and the main reason it's so children-oriented is mandated by the way the story itself is designed.

Keep in mind, too, that the American movie companies can put out utter filth like the Saw movies and still make money. I refuse to go anywhere near them myself, but I had a co-worker a few months back who enjoyed such sorts of movies, and he told me about them a few times and it nearly made me throw up; much worse stuff than in Higurashi. (For instance, I remember one scene he described where a guy had to saw off an arm to extend his reach far enough to push a switch. He had 30 minutes to do so or his head would be cut off. Sick shit like that.) Those are movies made exclusively to show torture, dismemberment, and sadism at its worst in totally unrealistic but apalling fashion, but Higurashi doesn't fall it that same category. The violence is a product of the storyline, not vice versa, so I think it's acceptable in that sense.

[Bourbonpl0x (#142345)]

Higurashi

[cici (#114316)]

hecks naw it is far from violent i mean its just a show thats all it is not violent at all i mean hellsings violent as well other anime's are violent as well not just this anime heck i could care less if an anime was violent as long as if it was good i'd watch regardless if violent. as long as it has a good story i'm fine with it.

[Vulcan I (#116218)]

[sakura-san (#308887)]