Why should you watch Kokkoku?
The story is Outstanding (10). Kokkoku is one of those stories that you didn’t know until it was adapted to anime form and even if it was it is usually got overshadowed by mainstream or fan service anime. You can put this anime side by side with the likes of Kiseiju (Parasyte) and Elfen Lied mainly because of the story. The premise of another world or dimension existing alongside our reality is something really interesting especially for me to dive into. The moment you watch the first episode, you will immediately get sucked into the stasis until the last episode. Believe me when I say you will feel autophobic when you watch this, so if you want to enjoy this anime I would advise you to binge-watch this alone in an isolated room.
Art is Very Good (8). I could give it a 9 but it would be already biased on my side if I did. The art has a grungy feel in a good way that sets the so phobic mood of the story. The direction they chose for the art of the opening and ending theme is superb and it contrasts the vibe of the series with sharp vivid colors which I adore.
Sound is Outstanding (10). One of the greatest things about this anime aside from its story is the soundtrack. Kokkoku has one of the best opening themes that I have heard in my entire anime life (Flashback” by MIYAVI vs. KenKen). The mixture of electronic/disco music with the art I mentioned a while ago is a perfect marriage of two great things. The Ending theme is also something not to be overlooked as it eases you through the ending of the episode with its melancholic tunes. Everything in between balances the overall presentation of the anime.
Characters are Great (9). Of course, you can’t have a great story with dull characters. The main character Juri, and her family are well-made and easily distinguishable from each other. I did not feel there were support characters in the story as everyone is given a chance to have their moment. If there is one complaint that I had while watching Kokkoku, it is that the main antagonist of the story (Junji Sagawa) lacked in the villainy department which affected my viewing of the story. He could have been more fleshed out and his character seemed a bit rushed in the anime. *I need to read the manga if they fail to adapt his character correctly in the anime.
Overall, Kokkoku is an experience you should try. If you are not into the mature psychological or supernatural genre I would greatly recommend you to watch it as a mild introduction to the genre. And if you are a hardcore fan of this genre I am dead sure that you would enjoy it!
9.4 Jellyfish out of 10.
