Another is a Japanese anime horror adapted from a novel of the same name by Yukito Ayatsuji. Released in 2012, the anime is set in 1998 and follows the story of Koichi Sakakibara, a transfer student to Yomiyama, who discovers that his new school class has been cursed. The anime is a thrilling horror with a unique twist and an excellent storyline that keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats.
Premise
Another is based on a captivating premise where a curse threatens the lives of an entire classroom. The anime starts with Misaki, a student in class 9-3 in Yomiyama North Middle School in 1972. She was a near-perfect student and was admired by everyone. Unfortunately, Misaki dies suddenly in an accident, leaving the school’s occupants devastated. One of the students in the classroom points to Misaki’s desk and claims that Misaki was still alive and attending school with them. From that day on, everyone pretended that Misaki was still alive, and even during graduation, a special seat was reserved for her.
The story then shifts to the present day, 1998, and follows Koichi Sakakibara, a transfer student from Tokyo who now lives in Yomiyama with his grandparents and aunt, Reiko Mikami. Before starting school, Sakakibara spends time in the hospital with pneumothorax, where he meets a mysterious girl named Mei Misaki. Mei is a classmate of Sakakibara at Yomiyama North Middle School. Everything seems normal until Sakakibara asks about Misaki to other classmates, who claim they don’t know anyone with that name. Soon, Sakakibara discovers that his classroom, 9-3, is cursed.
The Curse
It turns out that the curse began when Misaki died many years ago, and everyone pretended she was still alive. The curse disrupts everyone’s memory, making them forget about the dead student. Furthermore, the curse causes a “ghost” student to join the class, and the other students unknowingly interact with the ghost, thinking it’s a normal student. The curse then causes numerous student deaths, making it challenging to escape, and Sakakibara must find a way to stop the curse while also saving himself and his classmates.
As the curse escalates, the class members come together to find a solution to stop it. Through an alumna, they learn that they need to kill the additional student, who is the ghost with a blurred memory, to end the curse. After a trip to a villa, where the information gets out to everyone else, Sakakibara discovers that the ghost student is Reiko Mikami, his aunt. Misaki then reveals some facts that prove Reiko is the ghost student. The remaining survivors then hunt Mikami Reiko down and kill her, ending the curse.
Conclusion
Another (2012) is a horror anime that stands out due to its unique premise and execution. The story is captivating, and the suspense builds up as the curse escalates, keeping the viewers on their toes. The anime’s horror elements, like the bloody scenes, Misaki’s mysterious character, and Mei Misaki’s death-seeing ability, add to the story’s depth, creating a complete horror experience for the viewers. If you are looking for a suspenseful and thrilling horror story, Another is the perfect watch for you.
