Anime: *Shinreigari: Ghost Hound
*Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Horror
Episodes: *22 x 25mins
*Originally Aired: October 2007 - April 2008
*Plot synopsis: *
Ghost Hound is set in the modest town of Suiten, located in a desolate region in the island of Kyūshū. The story follows the experiences of three boys who have had traumatic experiences in childhood from which they have learned to transfer their souls to a parallel world known as the "Unseen World". The Unseen World is however undergoing a change, with its ghosts starting to appear in the real world, altering it in unpredictable ways.
From ANN
Characters: It is extremely easy to care about the main character, Tarō. He is just a sweet kid who has gone through and is still going some real shit. It'll probably take longer to warm to the other two boys, Makoto and Masayuki, but over the course of the series they develop in some interesting ways. The town is full of mysterious folk with their own secrets like every small Japanese town should be.
Animation: In some ways, 8 years is a long time in the anime world. Some of the character designs aren't the most detailed you've ever seen and you might be used to more fluid movements, however, I regard the animation as a net positive. For one thing, the backgrounds are consistently beautiful. And most importantly the director and the animators come up with many creative ways to present the various dreams, hallucinations and, err, supernatural occurrences.
*Sound Design: *I can't quite believe I'm about to spend a whole paragraph gushing about sound design, but let me tell you, it is incredible. The single greatest thing about Ghost Hound is the unsettling atmosphere that pervades every scene, and we have those responsible for the sound design to thank for it. Whether it be the sudden harshness of radio interference, the slow build of a distorted electric guitar, the relentless tick-tock of a clock or the mystical feel of gentle woodwind sounds, it all comes together to create an unmistakably ominous atmosphere that should keep you on the edge of your seat.
"Why might I not enjoy this anime?"
*Ghost Hound takes its time and makes no apology for it. I personally found it compelling from start to finish, and was usually disbelieving that 25 minutes had already passed when the ED rolled each time, but I'm well aware that not everyone is a fan of slow-paced anime.
*It may say Horror in the genre list, but it's worth noting that this is definitely more creepy than scary.
*Things get weird. After watching the first 3 episodes you might be forgiven for thinking that this is a simple crime mystery grounded in reality. Then episode 4 happens. Ghost Hound is an interesting mix of supernatural and scientific, with long scenes dedicated to discussing the possible neurological explanation behind out-of-body experiences and the like, but the supernatural aspect of the story will be impossible to ignore if that's not your thing.
*The OP really doesn't fit the tone of the series. That may seem like such a minor quibble but it's a real shame because it disrupts the atmosphere that I praised above, especially considering that the recap segments at the beginning of each episode are always so fantastically creepy.
*Conclusion: *If you are looking for an atmospheric ghost story that isn't afraid to give it's many mysteries time to breathe, you will love Ghost Hound.
This series is ranked #1093 on MAL! Jesus christ, if there were 1092 anime better than this I would never leave the house (I do leave the house, I promise).