Horror anime fans can often have a difficult time finding something unique to add to their watch lists, but Crunchyroll’s Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories is an oasis that many enthusiasts seem to overlook. The streaming website hosts all 11 seasons of the anthology series, meaning that viewers are spoiled for choice in terms of what sort of urban terror they want. For those anxiously waiting for Halloween, this is the perfect anime to binge as the seasons change.
ILCA has been releasing episodes of Yamishibai since 2013, so it’s no hyperbole to say there are over one hundred episodes available. Despite that, the anime doesn’t seem to enter into conversation much, which is a shame – its unique art style and anthological structure provide grisly visuals that manage to stay fresh even with its strong focus on urban ghost stories.
Yamishibai’s Strength Is Its No-Frills Urban Horror
Yamishibai‘s most interesting characteristic is how it utilizes its unique art style to deliver its scares. Drawing on kamishibai paper theater, the anime presents its episodes as stories told by a traveling puppeteer. This is what enables the anime’s anthological structure. True to its inspiration, ILCA draws each episode with thick colors and employs limited animation and filters to make the stories look like pulp magazines or puppet shows come to life. The shorter episodes, lasting roughly five minutes each, also lends itself to the show’s framing, providing its audience with quick thrills.
This allows for a succinct horror series that never overstays its welcome. Most horror anime rely on mystery to complement its dread, leading to elaborate mythos that can distract viewers who are eager to see the darker twists. However, Yamishibai goes back to the basics by making us dread the familiar, turning everyday things like public transit and moving into a new apartment something terrifying.
The anime isn’t without criticism, as some feel that ILCA hasn’t been able to capture the spark that the first two seasons back when the show first started. However, the same can be said for any horror series whose mascots have been trotted out too many times in prequels and sequels. While it is easy to bore of Yamishibai when trying to binge its many little thrills, it also means one can leave it alone for a while and return ready for more. With Crunchyroll ensuring no episode is out of reach, Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories is perfect for every anime fan’s watch list.
