“Occultic;Nine” is a fascinating, dark series written by Chiyomaru Shikura that takes your typical investigative anime series but adding a bit of mysticism, humor and suspense all in one! Recommended!
Image courtesy of © Aniplex. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: Occultic;Nine vol. 1
DURATION: Episodes 1-6 (144 Minutes)
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, English and Japanese Linear PCM Stereo, Subtitles: Japanese and English
COMPANY: Aniplex of America Inc.
RATED: 13 and Up
Release Date: September 26, 2017
Originally Created by Chiyomaru Shikura
Original Character Design by pako
Director: Kyohei Ishiguro
Series Composition: Junpei Morita
Music by Masaru Yokoyama
Character Design: Tomoaki Takase
Art Director: Hisayo Usui
Anime Production: A-1 Pictures
Featuring the following voice talent:
Ayane Sakura/Faye Mata as Ryoka Narusawa
Yuuki Kaji/Erik Scott Kimerer as YÅ«ta Gamon
Hitomi Yoshida/Kayli Mills as Miyū Aikawa
Houchu Ohtsuka as Takasu
Kaito Ishikawa/Robbie Draymond as Sarai Hashigami
Kenjiro Tsuda/Ben Diskin as KÅhei Izumi
KishŠTaniyama as Kiryū Kusakabe
Mamiko Noto/Michelle Ruff as Ririka Nishizono
Maria Naganawa/Xanthe Huynh as Chizu Kawabata
Miyuki Sawashiro as Aria Kurenaino
Satomi Akesaka as Asuna Kizaki
Shizuka Itou as TÅko Sumikaze
Tetsuya Kakihara as Shun Moritsuka
From the creator of “Steins;Gate”, a new adventure surrounding the occult is about to begin!
Yuta Gamon is a 2nd year in high school. He runs “Kiri Kiri Basara,” an affiliate blog that rounds up occult forum posts, for a shot at quick money, and challenges himself to the occult night and day to “hack and slash away!” the many supernatural phenomena existing in the world from a scientific standpoint.
However, with that blog of his as a catalyst, a group of downright maniacal and insane comrades have gathered about.
Back in 2014, Chiyomaru Shikura (best known for creating “Steins;Gate”) created a new Japanese light novel series titled “Occultic;Nine”.
A 12-episode anime adaptation produced by A-1 Pictures aired in October-December 2016 and now, the anime series will be released in North America courtesy of Aniplex of America Inc.
The anime series is directed by Kyohei Ishiguro (“Kujira no Kora wa Sajo ni Utau”, “Lance N’ Masques”, “Psycho-Pass”), series composition by Junpei Morita, music by Masaru Yokoyama (“Arakawa Under the Bridge”, “Love and Lies”, “Fate/Apocrypha”), character design by Tomoaki Takase and background art by Hisayo Usui (“AKB0048”, “Angel Beats!”, “Fairy Tail”).
The series begins with Yuta sitting in a cafe while trying to find out how to increase visits to his website, which posts news and stories about the occult in Japan.
Yuta and his friend Ryoka Narusawa watch fortune-teller and classmate Miyu Aikawa on a TV commercial and decide that if they interview her for the website, it may boost traffic for the website.  Miyu decides to join the two and interestingly, things start to go awry in the area as an occult magazine received a manuscript from Professor Hashigami and an older woman, which can’t be his mother, because she is dead. Meanwhile, a woman named Aria Kurenaino helps a customer curse someone to death and next thing you know, she discovers a bloody scalp in her mailbox.
Meanwhile, as Yuta goes to visit Professor Hashigami for an interview, he discovers Hashigami’s corpse. And he leaves the word “CODE” with his own blood before dying? What can that mean?
In another situation, Miyu receives calls from a person trying to prove that she is a fake fortune-teller. When she receives a call from a person named Sarai, she sees visions of him standing over his dead father’s body and she begs him to visit her father.
Also, a tragic mass suicide has taken place at Inokashira Park on the news. What could have led to all these people to kill themselves? Hypnotism? Or something more sinister?
VIDEO:
“Occultic;Nine” is presented in 1080p High Definition. A-1 Productions is one of the most well-known anime production studios that are known for creating quality anime series. And for “Occultic;Nine”, the backgrounds are highly detailed and look realistic. Character designs are magnificent and for the most part, the detailed, painted backgrounds compliment the colorful animation.
It’s important to note that this is a TV series, so there is a slight hint of softness.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
The lossless soundtrack for “Occultic;Nine” is presented in Japanese and English Linear PCM. The lossless audio features crystal clear dialogue and both soundtracks are well-acted.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Occultic;Nine” comes with clean opening and ending themes.
EXTRAS:
“Occultic;Nine” comes with a slipcase illustrated by character designer Tomoaki Takase, a 20-page deluxe booklet and six illustration pin-up cards.
When it comes Chiyomaru Shikura, one can look at his work with 5pb. Inc. and Mages. Inc. He is known for the concepts and overseeing the creations of “Steins;Gate”, “Chaos;Head”, “Robotics;Notes” and “Anonymous;Code” but “Occultic;Nine” was specifically written by Chiyomura Shikura.
The series has an interesting concept. You have a teenage NEET named Yuta Gamon who runs the blog “Kiri Kiri Basara” which features news and discussion about the occult and he is wanting to drive up traffic to his website.
His good friend, the cheerful (and enormously well-endowed Ryoka Narusawa) is known for carrying a stun-gun (that looks like a toy ray gun) is always wanting to support Yuta and together, they decide to bring in popular fortune teller Miyu Aikawa to join the blog.
And as Yuta wants to keep the traffic up on his site, he (moreso, his female friends) wants to bring in other people for interviews that may drive up even more traffic to the website and his first choice is to interview Professor Hashigami.
Unfortunately, when he goes to visit the professor, Yuta finds his dead body and there are signs of foul play and a mysterious word, “CODE” written in blood by the professor.
Meanwhile, deal with Ria Minase (a delusional girl who lived with her brother and was not aware that he has been dead and she was living with his corpse), a person named Aria Kurenaino who helped put a curse on someone for that person’s death and who is this mystery caller named Sarai, that keeps calling Miyu and trying to disprove her as a fortune-teller?
So far, the first six episodes are entertaining, dark and humorous. While some may find the enormously large breasts of Ryoka Narusawa to be overkill, this is no doubt to keep the otaku and fan service lovers who can’t get enough of Ryoka.
But as these first six episodes are more character introducing episodes, the second half will no doubt become even more interesting as Yuta and friends continue their investigation. What will they discover?
As for the Blu-ray release, A-1 Pictures did a phenomenal job with the animation and background art. There are no major special features but the set does come with a 20-page booklet and six illustration cards. As well as a slipcase.
Overall, “Occultic;Nine” is a fascinating, dark series written by Chiyomaru Shikura that takes your typical investigative anime series but adding a bit of mysticism, humor and suspense all in one! Recommended!
