At first glance, Mieruko-Chan seems like the usual school-girl anime, but it’s best not to blink because the moment one opens their eyes, they will be surprised by the monstrous creatures on the screen. Mieruko-Chan is a horror-comedy anime that follows the titular character, Miko Yotsuya, as she struggles with her ability to see ghosts and other vicious spirits while also navigating through her daily school life.
Based on Tomoki Izumi’s manga The Girl Who Can See Them, Mieruko-Chan first premiered in the Fall of 2021. The 12-episode anime was created by Studio Passione, which has quite the portfolio of horror and comedy anime including Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and High School DxD. Upon its first promotional trailer, fans were already hyped and anticipated it to be one of the most popular anime of the season. In fact, it’s a great anime for first-time watchers.
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An Unexpected Storyline
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What makes Mieruko-Chan unique is the fact that unlike most other anime, where the main character with psychic abilities tries to hone their abilities to use them for various reasons (saving lives or for their own benefit), Miko tries to go about her normal life. Even when she sees the most horrifying ghosts, she pretends that she can’t see them. In addition, while Miko can see these spirits, she possesses no power to prevent them from doing whatever horrible things they’re doing. Things get difficult for Miko when the monsters start bothering her energetic best friend, Hana Yurikawa. As there isn’t much that Miko can do to protect her best friend, she visits an old shrine to pray for help and protection from the ghosts and monsters that she sees.
Miko gets what she wishes for as two twin shrine spirits appear to protect Miko and Hana, whenever the two’s lives are threatened by a supernatural being. However, it seems that the protection comes at a price as indicated in the final episode of the series. It seems that the twin deities at the shrine aren’t exactly good spirits. They only agree to protect the girls three times, and that too comes at the cost of Miko’s life, as indicated in the final episode when the deity tries to devour Miko. The moment is broken when Miko wakes up from a dream, but the show hints that maybe Miko’s dream could become a reality.
Another great thing about Mieruko-Chan is that it doesn’t really spell everything out for its audience. It’s a great example of “Show. Don’t Tell”. It leaves hints for the audience as the show progresses. While the initial few episodes may be confusing for most, as the show does little to explain the weird things happening around them, it’s all worth it when the pieces all fall into place. In fact, the small hints in the initial episodes make the final episodes even more thrilling.
Bone-Chilling Horror
Studio Passione has had some experience when it comes to producing horror anime, which is why it’s not too surprising that Mieruko-Chan does a great job at delivering bone-chilling horror. It has quite a few moments that are quite grim with a sinister and foreboding atmosphere.
The portrayal of Miko’s unease is done brilliantly. The way she clutches her book tighter, to the way her body stiffens as a brief look of terror flashes through her eyes, is enough to make the audience feel the same unease and horror as her. One can easily imagine themselves in Miko’s place as the horror in front of her leads to her eyes filling up fearful tears. Also, the voice actress, Sora Amamiya, does a great job, especially during Miko’s inner monologue, where her voice is often a bit shaky and dripping with fear.
The Mysterious Shrine Spirits
The supernatural beings that Miko faces on a day-to-day basis are terrifying enough, now she has to face the shrine spirits, who are almost as powerful as a deity. In fact, Miko even misinterprets them as a god and his two servants. As the show progresses, it becomes more and more apparent that something is not quite right with the deities and some form of impending doom awaits Miko. It’s also interesting how the anime sets apart the shrine deities from the other monsters with their golden aura, yet does little to make them seem less scary. The final moments of the anime seem to further emphasize this when not only does Miko dream of the deities trying to devour her, but they’re also seen following the girls.
Characterization and Relationships
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Miko was quick to become a favorite amongst fans of the show. Despite constantly being surrounded by grim, horrifying spirits, Miko isn’t always a ball of gloom. She can be quite cute at times, especially when it comes to helping out her best friend, Hana. One endearing moment is when she willingly goes into a haunted house just to help Hana score some free donuts. In fact, the relationship between the two girls is actually quite endearing. It’s obvious that Miko values her friendship quite a lot and just wants to get rid of the ghosts that are swarming around her friend. Plus, just like Miko tries to help Hana by praying to the shrine spirits, Hana also unknowingly saves Miko from the monsters that she sees.
Contrasting Atmosphere and Animation
The animation of the show is on point. The first few minutes of the anime fool viewers into thinking that it’s an average school anime. The bright, vibrant colors of the animation make it seem as if nothing is out of place. It is only when the monsters appear that the audience sees the contrasting atmosphere that Miko sees. It brings an eerie atmosphere as the vibrant colors of mundane life are merged with the dark, dire aura of supernatural spirits. The anime does justice to the manga’s art, especially when it comes to the portrayal of the supernatural. The way the animation is skillfully drawn, fans don’t even need the dialogue to know what’s going on. Mieruko-chan has the whole, “Show, don’t tell”, theme going quite well.
Thrilling Soundtrack
Perhaps, the credit for the gloomy, terrifying atmosphere is partial because of the soundtrack. The eerie shrill sounds set in a terrifying and disorienting atmosphere, making one feel goosebumps on their arms. In addition, the opening, “Mienai kara ne!?”, and ending theme, “Mita na? Mita yo ne?? Miteru yo ne???”, are both quite catchy and pop. It’s interesting how both themes are quite cheery but blend in a few screams and shrills to add an eerie vibe to the songs. Honestly, given the anime and its narrative, the music is rather fitting. One can’t help it but hum along to the opening and ending as it appears on the screen. The opening and ending music is just as, if not more, addicting as the show itself.
Mieruko-Chan ticks most of the boxes when it comes to horror anime. It has the atmosphere, the animation, and a fitting soundtrack that are all crucial when it comes to setting up a bone-chilling narrative. Plus, with the open ending of the first season, a second one seems like a possibility for the future. The anime is definitely worth a watch, especially for anime fans who want to watch something a little different from the usual.
