| Higurashi When They Cry | |
The cover of the MangaGamer release of Higurashi When They Cry. Pictured, left to right: Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Houjou, Rena Ryugu, Rika Furude, Jirou Tomitake and Kuraudo Ooishi. |
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| ひぐらしのなく頃に (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological thriller |
| Game | |
| Developer | 07th Expansion |
| Publisher | 07th Expansion (PC) Alchemist (PS2, DS) MangaGamer (PC) Saffran Prod (PC) Seams (iOS) |
| Genre | Dōjin soft, Visual novel |
| Rating |
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| Platform | PC, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, iOS |
| Released | Onikakushi - August 10, 2002 Watanagashi - December 29, 2002 Tatarigoroshi - August 15, 2003 Himatsubushi - August 13, 2004 Meakashi - December 30, 2004 Tsumihoroboshi - August 14, 2005 Minagoroshi - December 30, 2005 Matsuribayashi - August 13, 2006 Rei - December 31, 2006 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Ryukishi07 |
| Illustrated by | Karin Suzuragi, Yutori Hōjō, Jirō Suzuki, Yoshiki Tonogai, Hanase Momoyama, En Kitō, Mimori, Yuna Kagesaki |
| Published by | Square Enix Kadokawa Shoten |
| English publisher | Yen Press |
| Demographic | Shōnen, Seinen |
| Magazine | Gangan Powered, Gangan Wing, GFantasy, Monthly Shōnen Gangan, Monthly Gangan Joker (Square Enix) Comp Ace (Kadokawa Shoten) |
| English magazine | Yen Plus |
| Original run | March 24, 2005 – November 22, 2011 |
| Volumes | 38 |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Ryukishi07 |
| Illustrated by | Yutori Hōjō, Mimori, Jirō Suzuki, Karin Suzuragi, Yoshiki Tonogai |
| Published by | Square Enix |
| Original run | 2006 – 2007 |
| Volumes | 4 |
| TV anime | |
| When They Cry | |
| Directed by | Chiaki Kon |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Licensed by | Geneon (expired) Siren Visual |
| Network | Chiba TV, Kansai TV, Tokai TV |
| Original run | April 4, 2006 – September 26, 2006 |
| Episodes | 26 |
| TV anime | |
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai | |
| Directed by | Chiaki Kon |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Licensed by | Siren Visual |
| Network | Chiba TV, Kansai TV, Tokai TV |
| Original run | July 6, 2007 – December 17, 2007 |
| Episodes | 24 |
| Novel | |
| Written by | Ryukishi07 |
| Published by | Kodansha Box |
| Original run | August 2007 – March 2009 |
| Volumes | 17 |
| Live-action film | |
| Directed by | Ataru Oikawa |
| Released | May 10, 2008 |
| Original video animation | |
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei | |
| Directed by | Toshifumi Kawase |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Released | February 25, 2009 – August 2009 |
| Episodes | 5 |
| Live-action film | |
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Chikai | |
| Directed by | Ataru Oikawa |
| Released | April 18, 2009 |
| Original video animation | |
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kira | |
| Directed by | Hideki Tachibana |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Released | July 21, 2011 – January 25, 2012 |
| Episodes | 4 |
Higurashi When They Cry (ひぐらしのなく頃に Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, lit. When the Cicadas Cry), known simply as When They Cry for the North American release of the anime adaptation, is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft sound novel series produced by 07th Expansion. The games are built on the NScripter game engine and are playable on Microsoft Windows PCs. The first game in the series, Onikakushi-hen, was released on August 10, 2002, and the eighth and final game in the original PC series, Matsuribayashi-hen, was released on August 13, 2006. While the first four games carried the overall title Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, the next four games were produced under the title Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai. A bonus fan disc called Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei was released on December 31, 2006. In addition to the original series, new story arcs were created in manga form and in video games for the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS in order to expand upon the story. The original eight PC releases were released in English by MangaGamer with the first four games on December 15, 2009, followed by the last four being released monthly starting with Meakashi-hen on February 28, 2010. The series is focused on a group of young friends and the strange events that occur in the rural village Hinamizawa where they reside.
Two sets of drama CDs were produced, one by Wayuta and the other by Frontier Works. Novelizations of the game series were released by Kodansha Box between August 2007 and March 2009. A manga series adapted from the games began with eight different manga artists working separately on one to three of the multiple story arcs, and is published by Square Enix and Kadokawa Shoten. The manga was licensed for release in English in North America by Yen Press under the title Higurashi When They Cry and the first volume was released in November 2008. Following the manga's release in Japan, two TV anime series were produced by Studio Deen in 2006 and 2007; a third anime adaptation was released as an original video animation series in 2009. The first anime series was licensed by Geneon Entertainment in English, but the licensed expired in 2011. A live action film adaptation of the series, directed by Ataru Oikawa, premiered in Japanese theaters in May 2008, with a sequel released in May 2009.
Contents |
Higurashi is a murder mystery game described as a "sound novel" by 07th Expansion. A sound novel is similar to a visual novel in that the gameplay requires relatively little player interaction as most of the game is composed of text dialogues. The original release contained no voice acting for the characters. While a visual novel's basis would be the visual aspect, as the name suggests, a sound novel's basis takes more care in producing an atmosphere via the music, sound effects, and the story itself.
The game utilizes intermissions where the player can obtain several Tips. These Tips allow the player to read various supplementary information that may or may not be useful in solving the mystery. For example, one of the Tips can be as simple as "this is a small village; children who go to this school are combined into one classroom regardless of what grade or year they are in." On the other hand, they can provide valuable hints, such as being able to read the excerpts of the newspaper articles regarding the murders that occurred in Hinamizawa. At the beginning of each of the story arcs, a cryptic poem by someone known as Frederica Bernkastel is read; these reveal some of what is going to happen in the following arc.
The PlayStation 2 port Matsuri differs from the original game series in that it includes full voice acting, redrawn CGs, and integration of the question arcs starring Keiichi into a single branching storyline. Matsuri includes the first seven PC arcs (Matsuribayashi-hen is excluded) and three original final arcs—Taraimawashi-hen, Tsukiotoshi-hen and Miotsukushi-hen. After the original seven arcs are cleared, the first two final arcs become available. Furthermore, when these two final arcs are cleared, the epilogue, Miotsukushi-hen, is unlocked.
In Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, there are seven main characters who appear in almost every scenario. The main protagonist is Keiichi Maebara, a young boy who has recently moved to Hinamizawa with his family, and begun to adapt to life in the countryside. Keiichi has a natural charisma which allows him to make friends easily. Since Hinamizawa is a small town of about two thousand people, with only a single school, there are not many children around his own age; he easily meets the others his age and becomes friends with them.
One of these good friends is a girl named Rena Ryugu. She, like Keiichi, is new in Hinamizawa, having only returned from Ibaraki a year before the story begins. She has an obsession with things she considers to be cute—generally, others do not agree—and will often scavenge for such things at the local dump and bring them back home. Before she met Keiichi, Rena became friends with a girl one year older named Mion Sonozaki, who is looked at as the leader of the group and is the president of their club. Mion has a tomboyish personality, a facade for a girlish side she keeps hidden from the others. Mion has a twin sister, Shion, who lives in the nearby town of Okinomiya. Although their personalities are quite different, she and Mion have switched places in the past, and the change is nearly indistinguishable.
There are other girls in the club younger than Keiichi, Rena and Mion. One is Satoko Houjou, a clever girl who is quite skilled at setting traps when playing games with her friends. She usually has an energetic and mischievous personality, but this hides a past full of trauma. Satoko also had an older brother named Satoshi. Her friend, Rika Furude, is revered by the villagers as the heir of the local shrine and plays the role of a miko in the annual Watanagashi Festival. Despite her young age, she sometimes expresses a type of wisdom which would normally be beyond her years, and is quite fond of sake. Rika is also the girl who becomes the central figure, so that Hinamizawa can avoid a tragic end. Helping her is Hanyū who appears late in the story but in fact has been with Rika for a very long time, though only Rika could see her.
Of the remaining cast, there are those such as Kuraudo Ooishi, a veteran police officer who is dead set on solving the mystery of the yearly murders that occur in Hinamizawa before his retirement. A freelance photographer named Jirou Tomitake comes to Hinamizawa occasionally; he seems to be friends with Miyo Takano, a female nurse at the local village clinic who has a keen interest in Hinamizawa's past and culture. She works with Kyousuke Irie, the head doctor of the clinic and "coach" to the village children. Irie feels a strong connection to Satoko and cares for her deeply. During the Tatarigoroshi-hen arc, Irie expresses the desire to either adopt her, or to wait until she is of age and marry her.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni takes place during June 1983, at a fictional rural village called Hinamizawa (雛見沢) (based on the village of Shirakawa, Gifu, a World Heritage Site),[1][2] which has a population of approximately 2,000. The main character, Keiichi Maebara, moves to Hinamizawa and befriends his new classmates Rena Ryugu, Mion Sonozaki, Rika Furude, and Satoko Houjou. Keiichi joins their after-school club activities, which consist mostly of card and board games (and punishment games for the loser, usually him.) Hinamizawa appears to be a normal, peaceful, rural village to Keiichi. However, the tranquility abruptly ends after the annual Watanagashi Festival, a celebration to commemorate and give thanks to the local god, Oyashiro. Keiichi learns that every year for the past four years, one person has been murdered and another has gone missing on the day of the Watanagashi Festival. Keiichi himself soon becomes drawn into the strange events surrounding the Watanagashi Festival and Oyashiro. In each story arc, he or one of his friends become paranoid, and a crime is committed. Usually, the crime involves the murder of one of their own friends. While it seems impossible to tell their delusions apart from the mystery of Hinamizawa, slowly the truth is revealed.
In the Higurashi games, there are several story arcs, the original eight of which are referred to as either question arcs or answer arcs. The answer arcs generally recapitulate the events of the corresponding question arc, but from a different perspective, using the change of protagonist to solve various mysteries and come to a different conclusion. Each of the eight original games for the PC represented separate arcs of the overall storyline. Apart from the main question/answer relationship, the stories of the arcs are not directly connected, although a multitude of parallels exist which allow the observant reader to gain extra insight into the mystery.
The Higurashi When They Cry (ひぐらしのなく頃に Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) games form what are referred to as the question arcs. These first four games of the series were meant to give the player a sense of the world where the story takes place and introduce the mysterious circumstances surrounding the village of Hinamizawa. Since there are no concrete answers given to the questions that the story presents in these arcs, the question arcs allow the player to form his or her own opinions about the events taking place in Hinamizawa. Each question arc game contains all of the previous question arcs.
The Higurashi When They Cry Kai (ひぐらしのなく頃に解 Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai, "When Cicadas Cry Solutions") games form what are known as the answer arcs. The last four games released in the series, were, in contrast to the question arcs, meant to answer all of the questions presented in the first half of the series. These arcs can be considered the "solutions" of the previous arcs. Each answer arc game contains all of the previous answer arcs.
Three extra chapters were included in a fan disc named Higurashi When They Cry Rei (ひぐらしのなく頃に礼 Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei, When Cicadas Cry Gratitudes), two of which were newly created. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei was released on December 31, 2006.
Three original chapters were created for the PlayStation 2 version Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri (ひぐらしのなく頃に祭 When Cicadas Cry Festival), by Alchemist.
Four original chapters were created for the Nintendo DS version Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kizuna (ひぐらしのなく頃に絆 When Cicadas Cry Bonds), by Alchemist.
These side stories are original chapters serialized in manga form which supplement the games and partially continue the story.
The Higurashi no Naku Koro ni series is the first visual novel series produced by 07th Expansion. The game director and scenario writer for the series is Ryukishi07, who also drew all of the character illustrations. Background images were taken from photographs taken by Ryukishi07, his younger brother Yatazakura, and Kameya Mannendō. Programming was worked on by Yatazakura who worked on the main structure, 4U who worked on the intermission and Tips, and BT who worked on the mini games. The games were designed using the game engine NScripter. The music of Higurashi was provided by various music artists including both professionals and dōjin artists, including Dai, the composer of most of the music found in the answer arcs.
Ryukishi07 wrote in 2004 how he was influenced by Key's works during the planning of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni.[5] Ryukishi07 played Key's games as a reference, among other visual novels, and analyzed them to figure out the reason why they were found to be so popular. He figured that the secret was due to how the stories would start with ordinary, enjoyable days, but then a sudden occurrence would happen leading the player to cry due to the shock value. He used a similar model for the basis of Higurashi but instead of leading the player to cry, Ryukishi07 wanted to scare the player with the addition of horror elements. In this way, Ryukishi07 wished to be in some way associated with Key who he described as a "masterpiece maker".[5]
In an interview in the December 2008 issue of Yen Press's Yen Plus manga anthology, Ryukishi07 stated that Higurashi had its origins from an unpublished theater script called Hinamizawa Teiryūjo (雛見沢停留所, lit. Hinamizawa Bus Stop) he had written a few years before the first Higurashi game was released.[6] When he decided to rewrite the script and release it, he wanted to build upon "the contrast between a fun, ordinary life, and something terrifying and out of the ordinary." Ryukishi07 was greatly influenced by the worlds of Seishi Yokomizo when developing the universe of Higurashi. Ryukishi07 had decided "early on to design the story so that the truth comes to light by looking at several overlapping stories," though he originally planned to release it as a single game due to initially believing he could finish the story in a single year.[6]
The word higurashi is the name of a kind of cicada.[7] Naku means "to make sound" (鳴く), specifically referring to those sounds made by non-human organisms. According to the original creator, Ryukishi07, the red Na (な) in the logo is an official part of the title.[8]
The first game of the Higurashi visual novel series, entitled Onikakushi-hen, was first released on August 10, 2002. This was the first chapter of the question arcs, which went under the title Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. The fifth game, and first chapter of the answer arcs, Meakashi-hen, was released on December 30, 2004. The games in the answer arcs used the title Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai. The series is divided into eight main chapters—four question arcs followed by four answer arcs—and one more chapter, created as part of a fandisc, known as Rei. Each chapter keeps the same cast of main characters and general premise, but unfolds in a different manner. Each of the chapters give valuable answers, hints, and clues as to the mysteries of the previous installment, while at the same time bringing forth even more mysteries.
The eight original PC games are being released in English by MangaGamer under the title Higurashi When They Cry starting with the first four games released in December 2009 and the last four released in monthly intervals starting in February 2010.[9] The eight original PC games are also being released in French by Saffran Prod under the title Le sanglot des cigales, starting with the first two games released together in November 2009.[10] The Japanese company Seams has done releases for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad in Japanese and English. The Japanese version includes all eight games.[11] The English version is based on the translation by MangaGamer and as of October 2010 includes the first four games.[12][13]
A dōjin game named Higurashi Daybreak, based on the Higurashi series and featuring an original scenario by Ryukishi07, was developed by Twilight Frontier, the creators of Immaterial and Missing Power and Eternal Fighter Zero. The gameplay is that of a versus third-person shooter, in which most of the characters of the main Higurashi series are playable. Higurashi Daybreak was first released on August 13, 2006, and an expansion pack followed on April 22, 2007.
A video game console port for the PlayStation 2 was released as Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri (ひぐらしのなく頃に祭 When Cicadas Cry Festival) by Alchemist on February 22, 2007.[14] Higurashi is the third dōjin game to be ported to a video game console; the first was Hanakisō by HaccaWorks*,[15] and the second was Melty Blood by French-Bread and Ecole.[16] Although Higurashi was the first to have a video game console port announced, its longer development time made it the third to be released. Due to the popularity of Matsuri, a second enhanced PlayStation 2 port, known as Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri: Kakera Asobi (ひぐらしのなく頃に祭カケラ遊び When Cicadas Cry Festival: Playing with the Pieces), was released on December 20, 2007. It was sold as an append disc to the original Matsuri and as a standalone game. It contains all of Matsuri's content, in addition to Matsuribayashi-hen from the original games and other bonus content.[17]
A series of four games for the Nintendo DS under the collective title Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kizuna (ひぐらしのなく頃に絆 When Cicadas Cry Bond) with new story arcs are being developed by Alchemist.[18] The first, with the added title Tatari (祟 Curse), was released on June 26, 2008 containing the first three chapters from the question arcs, and a new chapter entitled Someutsushi-hen, with its story based on the Onisarashi-hen manga series. The second, with the added title Sō (想 Idea), was released in November 2008.[19] The third game in the series, with the added title Rasen (螺 Spiral), was released in March 2009. The final game, subtitled Kizuna (絆 Bond), was released in February 2010.
There were two official sets of drama CDs released, one by Wayuta,[20] and the other by Frontier Works. Wayuta has released seven CDs since May 27, 2005 starting with Onikakushi-ken and going through the main story arcs from the visual novel series to Tsumihoroboshi-hen on February 22, 2008.[21][22] Two more drama CDs will be released by Wayuta to cover Minagoroshi-hen and Matsuribayashi-hen. Wayuta has already released two bonus drama CDs named Append Disc 01 released on December 29, 2005 at Comiket 69, and Append Disc 02 released on October 26, 2007.[23][24] Wayuta also released two drama CDs covering a new arc named Kataribanashi-hen (語咄し編), the first on April 25, 2007, and the second on May 9, 2008.[25][26] Frontier Works released two CDs, starting with an anthology piece called Anthology Drama CD 1 on December 22, 2005, followed by a sequel entitled Anthology Drama CD 2 on March 24, 2006. There have also been numerous drama CDs released during special events such as at Comiket or through magazine subscription.
There are eight main titles in the Higurashi manga series, spanning the four question arcs and the four answer arcs. Each question arc manga are compiled into two bound volumes. The first two answer arc manga are compiled into four volumes, and the last two answer arcs are still ongoing. The manga uses multiple artists between the various arcs. Karin Suzuragi draws Onikakushi-hen, Tsumihoroboshi-hen, and Matsuribayashi-hen, Yutori Hōjō draws Watanagashi-hen and Meakashi-hen, Jirō Suzuki draws Tatarigoroshi-hen, Yoshiki Tonogai draws Himatsubushi-hen, and Hanase Momoyama draws Minagoroshi-hen. Another manga entitled Kokoroiyashi-hen (心癒し編 Heart Healing Chapter) is drawn by Yuna Kagesaki and began in Kadokawa Shoten's Comp Ace on August 26, 2008.[27] The manga series was licensed by Yen Press for English distribution in North America under the title Higurashi When They Cry. The manga was initially serialized in Yen Press' Yen Plus anthology magazine, the first issue of which went on sale on July 29, 2008. The first English volume of the manga was originally planned to be sold in early 2009,[28] but was released in November 2008.[29]
There are three side stories related to the main Higurashi story, but with new characters. The first, named Onisarashi-hen (鬼曝し編 Demon Exposing Chapter), is drawn by En Kitō and was serialized between March 2005 and July 2006 in Comp Ace. The next, entitled Yoigoshi-hen (宵越し編 Overnight Chapter), is drawn by Mimori and was serialized between in GFantasy between 2006 and 2007. The last side story known as Utsutsukowashi-hen (現壊し編 Reality Breaking Chapter) is also drawn by En Kitō and was serialized between in Comp Ace between 2006 and 2007.
A manga adaptation of Higurashi's precursor Hinamizawa Teiryūjo began serialization in the debut issue of Square Enix's Big Gangan magazine, sold on October 25, 2011.[30]
There are four light novels which contain additional illustrations by five different artists, and seventeen novelizations of the separate visual novel arcs. Each novel is written by Ryukishi07. The light novels were all released as limited editions not sold in stores. The first one, Nekogoroshi-hen, was illustrated by Karin Suzuragi, Yutori Hōjō, and Jirō Suzuki, and was sent out to those who bought the first volume of the manga versions of Onikakushi-hen, Watanagashi-hen, and Tatarigoroshi-hen. One needed to send the cut out stamps in all three of these manga by the deadline in order to receive this special short story. The second light novel, Kuradashi-hen, was illustrated by Yoshiki Tonogai, Karin Suzuki, Yutori Hōjō, and Mimori. This novel was sent out to those who bought the second volume of the manga version of Himatsubushi-hen, and the first volumes of the manga Tsumihoroboshi-hen, Meakashi-hen, and Yoigoshi-hen. One needed to send the cut out stamps in all four of these manga by a certain deadline in order to receive this special short story. The third light novel, Hajisarashi-hen, contained illustrations by Rato, and was included with the limited edition of the PlayStation 2 game Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri. The light novels were published by Square Enix and released between 2006 and 2007. The fourth novel, Kuradashi-hen Zoku is a sequel to Kuradashi-hen and was sent out to those who bought the second volumes of the manga Tsumihoroboshi-hen, Meakashi-hen, and Yoigoshi-hen. One needed to send the cut out stamps in all four of these manga by a certain deadline in order to receive this special short story.
Kodansha Box released seventeen novelizations of the visual novel arcs between August 2007 and March 2009, starting with Onikakushi-hen and ending with Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei. Most of the story arcs are divided into two volumes, except for Himatsubushi-hen and Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei which are compiled into one volume each, and Matsuribayashi-hen which is compiled into three volumes. Rei included illustrations by Tomohi.
The first anime series, produced by Studio Deen and directed by Chiaki Kon, covers the four question arcs as well as the first two answer arcs. The original Higurashi no Naku Koro ni anime adaptation aired in Japan between April 4 and September 26, 2006, comprising twenty-six episodes. In Japan, most of the characters were voiced by the same voice actors that voiced their respective characters in the drama CD series. The series is available on DVD in Japan, France, and North America (following Geneon Entertainment's licensing of the series).[31] However, in September 2007, Geneon's U.S. division announced that it would discontinue all ongoing anime projects, including Higurashi, effective November 6, 2007.[32] Only three of a planned six DVDs of Higurashi were released, under the title When They Cry: Higurashi. On July 3, 2008, Geneon and Funimation Entertainment announced an agreement to distribute select titles in North America. While Geneon still retains the license, Funimation assumes exclusive rights to the manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution of select titles. Higurashi was one of several titles involved in the deal.[33] Funimation released a complete box set of the series in August 2009. However, as of August 2011, the rights to the series expired due to low sales.[34]
People in Japan who had bought all nine of the DVDs of the first season had the chance to receive a special anime DVD entitled Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Gaiden Nekogoroshi-hen, based on the short story that was given to those who had bought the manga.[35] Despite being a bonus for the first season (and having the first season's opening and closing sequences), Nekogoroshi-hen featured the updated animation style as seen in the second season.
A continuation of the series, based on one new story arc and the final two original answer arcs of the franchise, entitled Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai, aired in Japan between July 6 and December 17, 2007, containing twenty-four episodes. The second season featured different character designs than the first season.[36] As the result of a murder case in September 2007 in Japan involving the murder of a police chief by his sixteen-year-old daughter with a hatchet, as well as the Japanese media relating the case to anime such as Higurashi, the latest episode screenings of both Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai and another anime, School Days, were canceled by a number of Japanese TV stations; however, AT-X, TV Saitama and Sun TV announced that they would be airing the episodes as planned. Later, TV Saitama announced that they had ceased broadcasting of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai from episode thirteen onwards.[37] Additionally, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai had its opening altered when it re-aired. Originally, a bloody bill hook cleaver (as used by Rena) was shown halfway through (at timestamp 0:55) the opening; it was replaced with an image of a van from the series' fictional junk yard.
A three-arc, five-episode original video animation series, entitled Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei, began to be released on February 25, 2009,[38] and is directed by Toshifumi Kawase.[39][40][41][42] The OVA series also started a limited broadcasting in Bandai Channel prior to DVD release.[43] The OVA contains three story arcs, Hajisarashi-hen, Saikoroshi-hen, and Hirukowashi-hen, with Saikoroshi-hen concluding in three episodes, and the other two arcs concluding in one episode each. Hajisarashi-hen was originally a light novel included with the limited edition of the PlayStation 2 game Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri, and took the place of Batsukoishi-hen from the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei fandisc. Frontier Works announced another original video anime series, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kira, in March 2011, which marks the tenth anniversary of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni.[44]
A live action film adaptation of the series entitled Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (ひぐらしのなく頃に, also known as Shrill Cries of Summer internationally), directed by Ataru Oikawa, premiered in Japanese theaters on May 10, 2008.[45][46] The film is an adaptation of the first story arc, Onikakushi-hen.[47] Gōki Maeda plays Keiichi, Airi Matsuyama plays Rena, Rin Asuka plays Mion, Aika plays Rika, and Erena Ono plays Satoko.[48] A sequel, also live action,[49] was released in Japanese theaters on April 18, 2009 and is entitled Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Chikai (ひぐらしのなく頃に誓, also known as Shrill Cries: Reshuffle internationally). The sequel is based on the Tsumihoroboshi-hen arc.
Unlike visual novels created by established companies, 07th Expansion did not create the music found in the Higurashi games. The music for the question arcs consists of license free songs found on the Internet, while the music for the answer arcs was provided by dōjin music artists that were fans of Higurashi. Later, a CD album called Thanks/you was released by the dōjin music artist, Dai; many of his tracks were used in the answer arcs. Fans initially referred to this album as the official soundtrack, however the actual official soundtrack has since been released for the series, featuring a majority of the songs featured in the answer arcs. This two-disc set is, to date, the most complete collection of songs from the games.
The first season anime's opening theme is "Higurashi no Naku Koro ni" sung by Eiko Shimamiya; it went on sale in Japan on May 24, 2006. The ending theme is "Why, or Why Not" sung by Rekka Katakiri; it was released on June 28, 2006. There have been two original soundtracks released for the anime adaptation. The main composer for the tracks was Japanese composer Kenji Kawai and the albums were produced by Frontier Works. Volume 1 was released on July 21, 2006 and volume 2 was released on October 6, 2006 in Japan. Three character song CDs were also released, sung by voice actors from the anime adaptation, between March 28 and July 25, 2007.[50][51] The second season anime's opening theme is "Naraku no Hana" also sung by Eiko Shimamiya. The first season's opening theme, when played backwards, includes the words Nigerarenainda (逃げられないんだ [You] can't escape). This 'backwards' portion of the song is also included in the second season's opening theme.[52] The ending theme is "Taishō a" performed by anNina. The OVA season's opening theme is "Super scription of data" by Eiko Shimamiya, and the ending theme is "Manazashi" (まなざし) by anNina.[53]
For the first live-action film, a short version of the film's theme song was released on December 22, 2007, in Japan. Once again, Eiko Shimamiya sang the song, entitled "Wheel of Fortune" (運命の輪 Unmei no Wa). Shimamiya also performed the ending theme entitled "Diorama" (ディオラマ).
Over 100,000 copies of the original games were sold in Japan,[54] a feat not attained by a dōjin game since Type-Moon released Tsukihime. Many fans attribute the game's success to the suspense and horror the novel portrays, with no definite answer provided. Fan-based community boards emerged where fans began discussing their own theories. The popularity of the games grew exponentially as many took interest in their well-outlined script and story, which eventually led the game to be showcased in large gaming magazines with positive reviews. With the announcement of the live-action film adaptation of Onikakushi-hen came the news that over 500,000 copies of the games have been sold.[45]
The enhanced PlayStation 2 port, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri, has sold over 140,000 copies to date,[55] and has received a total review score of 31/40 (out of the four individual review scores of 9, 8, 8, and 6) from the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu.[56]
A review of Higurashi When they Cry by The Escapist gave the anime a highly positive review. The reviewer, James Henley, praised the story, saying that each arc is interesting in its own way, but said that watching Kai was necessary to fully understand the story. He also praised the cast of characters, and how, despite having only one main male character, it never falls into harem stereotypes, and how each one has a unique back story, revealed in different arcs. He criticized the dub as poor quality, but recommended the anime, mainly subbed, if one "can stomach the brutality."[57] The Anime Almanac similarly praised the story, as a unique method of storytelling and the art of the characters, but went to add that the "moe" design on the girls made the scary scenes less threatening. He ultimately recommended the series.[58] Another review, from T.H.E.M Anime, was less positive, giving it 3 out of 5 stars, praising the story, but panning the sorrow of the characters and the violence, saying "Higurashi is a hard show to watch; while it's interesting, each chapter is progressively soul-sucking and depressing, as the characters struggle desperately to avoid grisly fates, often to no avail, multiple times." He finished the review by saying "...Higurashi is interesting and visceral enough to be worth viewing by the more adventurous."[59] The Ross Man criticized the fact that all the elements from an arc are reset, so, even though the viewers are aware, they explain things like what the Oyashiro curse is. He commented, "There's only so many times I can take 'Where did Satoko's older brother disappear to?!' or 'Wait, what's this about Oyashiro-sama's curse?'". He said that he was hooked, but that Groundhog Day had a similar premise and did it better. He ultimately gave it a C+.[60]
In Japan, the third volume of the manga adaptation ranked as the 19th weekly best-selling book on January 16, 2008.[61] The first volume ranked as the 18th weekly bestseller on June 10, 2008.[62] The fourth volume ranked as the 19th bestseller on January 14, 2009.[63] In the United States, the first volume was ranked 253rd in the top 300 graphic novels sold in November 2008 and ranked as 25th in the top 25 Manga sold in the first quarter of 2009 release of ICv2 Retailers Guide to Anime/Manga.[64][65]
Debi Aoki of About.com stated that reading the chapters in succession as they were presented in its serialization in Yen Plus made the story "easier to follow" and built the suspense better.[66] However, Justin Colussy-Estes of Comic Village disagreed feeling that this structure "backfire[d]".[67] Justin Colussy-Estes of Comic Village praised the setting for hinting at something "much darker". He also praised the structure stating that the "mystery develops slowly" to immerse the reader in the characters and then later force the reader to "confront the possibility that one or more of them may be [the] murderer"; a decision he described as "clever".[67] Critics criticized the manga for using "cliché" characterizations typical of the harem genre.[66][67][68] However, Phil Guie of Popcultureshock expressed disappointment that this characterization "is brushed aside" for the horror as it gave the friendship between characters "real depth" adding to the surprise of the plot twists.[69] Anime News Network's Casey Brienza praised the manga for being an "effective" horror story as it follows an ordinary situation, a harem manga plot, which "becomes terrifying" producing an effect that is "trashy horror at its absolute greatest".[68] However, she expressed being frustrated by the end of the second volume as the central question remains "infuriatingly unanswered" though still felt the manga is "wholly enjoyable and satisfying" nonetheless.[70] Brienza stated that although the artwork is "average", the illustrator "seems to know exactly how to transition between the adorable and the abominable—and does so with dramatic, nightmarish effect."[68] Aoki described the artwork as although "pander[ing] to otaku fetishes" containing "generic" and "awkward" character designs, providing "overbearing cutesiness [that] makes the secrets that the girls are hiding behind their smiles just that much creepier."[66]
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