Review: ERASED

The Lowdown:

Show: ERASED

Studio/years aired: A-1 Pictures, 2016

AniB’s thoughts: Once again, a recommendation was made to pick up a show, and so, laden with high expectations of a promising watch, this critic is happy to report that it was indeed an excellent watch. ERASED, or Boku dake ga Inai Machi as it is known in Japan, is a thriller of a ride, with an unusual time-travel/butterfly effect mechanic and a murder mystery that is 15 years in the making at the time the story begins.

ERASED has a character driven narrative that is matched by a superbly paced story that keeps flowing at an appreciable rate with the constantly shifting turn of events in the show. You don’t sense that a moment is wasted, something that is further reflected in Satoru- the main protagonist- as he seeks to unravel the mystery of a horrific string of murders from his childhood and discover the true killer behind them. The desperation in this case, adds to the narrative tension in a very positive way that keeps the viewer engaged in the story that unfolds.

The most unique mechanic about this show, and Satoru though, is something called “Revival,” where he is able to somehow jump back in time, but under only very specific conditions to prevent a fatal incident. According to the character, these normally had been short incidences between 1-5 minutes back, but for the main story of ERASED, Satoru is sent all the way back to 1988 as a 10 year old, which sounds conceptually crazy (and it is), but is just works. This show is probably the second or third time that any sort of time travel plot worked for me in animation, the first being Steins;Gate (which I have a review of here). What’s most curious is that upon being reverted to being a kid again, Satoru retains all of his memories and knowledge from his lived life up to the point of his Revival leap, meaning that he actually has the mind of a late 20 year old man when he makes said jump, which make for both some funny and insightful banter, plus a sleuthing mind that no normal 10 year old could hope to have.

Saying more on this mechanic or the reasons for Satoru’s large Revival jump would be tantamount to spoilers, but both his adult and kid versions play major roles in this tale. This fact is reflected in the OP’s visuals, where it opens in on a movie theater, which both the adult Satoru and his kid self enter. This theater in turn turns out to be the “film reel” of his life- and so, memories are held inside his mind like a constantly flowing movie, which is also represented visually in the show as well. In this way, he is also able to tell what changed from the original timeline or event if something shifted as a result of his actions…

The level of detail in this show is very good, as you’d hope from a solid mystery. Both real and false leads are planted for the viewer to decide on, and even if the answer for certain questions may come quickly, there is often a nagging doubt about whether one’s suspicions are right in this show up until the moment of truth for so many ideas and theories. Accompanying the intriguing setups is the cast to match, which is delved into below in the grading section, and a lot of key lines that often have mirrors in the narrative if you pay attention closely enough.

Overall, ERASED was simply flat-out enjoyable in the way a great story should be, with excellent execution, interesting characters and a story that lives up to the hype and the best of its genre. It’s a bit of a crazy ride, but this is a good crazy, and I suspect plenty of people, not just the murder mystery crowd, will love it if they haven’t seen it already. As far as I see it, this is a great representation of what modern anime can be capable of, and by extension, an adaptation.

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Animation Quality: Modern 2-D animation, computer-shaded, with slight bits of 3-D thrown in. ERASED is a story that understands its medium well, and uses it in its storytelling to great effect.  4.75/5 points.

Characterization: As talked about, Satoru Fujinuma is the main protagonist of this tale. A struggling mangaka, or manga artist, his uneventful existence in the present (which is 2006 in this show) is interrupted by a series of unexpected and tragic events that reopen the wounds of a brutal crime spree that erupted around him 15 years ago. As a result, the Revival Satoru experiences is in response to try and fix those events long ago, and so alter the course of history.

Within that path for Satoru, there are several important characters between the past and present that have implications within ERASED’s storyline.

Kayo Hinazuki is one of the victims of a mysterious serial killer on the loose in 1988. Shown as a loner and an introvert, Kayo’s off-putting demeanor is actually in part the product of an abusive mother and by extension, an unstable home life. (SPOILER): She is the character young Satoru attempts to change the fate of when Revival sends him back to 1988, and in the process, attempts to give a young girl hope for a future and happiness. (She’s also the girl in the picture for this review.)

In the present, Airi Katagiri is Satoru’s co-worker at a part time job he holds at a pizza place. Bright, curious and inquisitive, she takes an interest to the introverted protagonist and ultimately proves to be a reliable friend, even believing in Satoru when no one else would as events unfolded. A high school girl with long brown hair and a slim figure, Satoru’s mom “believes he has a chance with her” though her son isn’t buying it.

Speaking of which, Sachiko Fujinuma was an ace reporter and also an ace mother for her only son. Sharp on her feet with a quick wit but also an unwavering dedication to help her son in life, she proves to be a smart, unflappable woman with big hopes for Satoru no matter what. Her ability to find the truth is something that was passed onto her son, and so for her, she notices all the little details around her, good or bad.

Also of note in the past is Kenya, Satoru’s best friend from childhood (who in the dub at least shares the same VA that did dubbed Gon Freecss and Ryuko Matoi, Erica Hernandez). He’s a smart kid who’s quick on the uptake and mature beyond his years in many aspects, though noticeably flustered if he perceives anyone to be ahead of him at something complex.

There is also the main villain of this show, but those who have seen Erased know what a spoiler that is, and those who haven’t seen it ought to discover the big bad. This individual is definitely a solid antagonist no doubt- a hitman who leaves no trace of their misdeeds if it can be helped.

Finally, there is a solid supporting cast around these characters as the show unfolds, both past and present. Everyone fits in nicely, and the character development is superb, and right at the center of the narrative. Strong characters always lend themselves to a great production, and this is very much the case in this show. 5/5 points.

Story: A strong character base lends itself to the actual narrative of ERASED, which is a thrilling case of murder mystery meets corrective time travel. Indeed, this anime blends two genre aspects together seamlessly and in doing so, creates a thoroughly engaging experience from start to finish that leaves you guessing the details at each turn and always intrigued as to what the next move and eventually the endgame shapes up to be. Truly superb. 5/5 points.

Themes: There’s a lot to unpack here, but the central theme of ERASED in a word, is “relationships.” There’s a lot placed into the worth of good family and friends, and always having someone who will be there at your side, even when the chips are down. There’s also a powerful message about having the courage and confidence of doing what is right even in the fact of fear and the uncertainty of damning failure if things go awry, and the persistence to dig into one’s own self to go beyond what they thought possible in a pressure-filled situation. 4.25/5 points.

Don’t Insult the Viewer: A show that knows how to maximize its shocking impacts when they happen. This isn’t a show that has “excesses” when it comes to its use of any sort of violence, which in turn maximizes the effect on the viewer. A lot of credit as well to a well conceived opening and ending themes and the graphics to match. 5/5 points.

Total: 23.5/25 (94%): A gripping tale that combines high drama, compelling characters, a well paced and interesting narrative, along with a good application of a difficult concept in time travel makes for an amazing show in this case. A high recommendation from this writer!

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Like what you see? Are you a fan of ERASED or totally new to this series? Leave a comment!