(For more love-remembering et al. in the 12 Days project, see: otou-san, schneider, doctordazza, Gargron, Scamp, zaon47, kevo, rabbitpoets, drmchsr0, Pontifus, ghostlightning, 53RG10, Vii, Seinime, _ETERNAL, FuyuMaiden, Eater-of-All, Shinmaru, calaggie, yumeka, Nazarielle, Cuchlann, Jinx, Janette, stringedsonata, animewriter, prototype27, and probably more in the days to come~)

Action?
Mystery?

Life?
Death?

Love?
Hate?

Logic?
Irrationality?

Witches?
Humans?

Chess?
Roulette?

Red?
Blue?

Umineko.

12 Memories of Anime 2009 #1
(This post contains no ‘hard’ spoilers, but does name-drop a few characters that don’t show up until later in the third and fourth arcs. No events are explicitly spoiled in Umineko, although I could consider there to be Higurashi spoilers.)

Oh, those two weeks in November, were simply incredible. If it wasn’t for the fear that another bender would completely trash my academic life, I’d totally be lost in the world of visual novels again. Sometimes I just think I got lucky, that the one day I decide to read through 75% of Arc 4 in one sitting (it took about 9 hours), I had no homework due the next day.

But more and more, I wonder how much of my anime career is defined by visual novels. It’s getting to the point where I wonder if comparing visual novels and anime is really apples to oranges at times, since pretty much every VN I’ve read has completely blown me away.

Of course, the subset of full-length VNs I’ve read is small. Tsukihime, the work that got kickstarted my passion for anime again, and its sequel, Kagetsu Tohya. And Umineko, which broke me beyond belief, leaving me to an endless repetition of veiled references, colored text, and psuedo-logical arguments. (As long as I keep shouting “Devil’s Proof”, it’ll be OK, right…?)

There are other ones which have been less incredibly affecting, emotionally, but equally entertaining or important from some other perspective, such as Narcissu, or … uh … me-senpai wa 17sai. Yeah.

But looking down the barrel of what I have left on my list, such critically- and fan-acclaimed works as Ever17, Clannad, Kanon, ef (when it’s released), and F/SN, all I can imagine is a wide swath of destruction heading my way. And if I pace myself, it’ll provide an incredible supply of awesomeness.

And if I don’t, I’ll probably be reduced to a smoldering, moe, teary wreck one spring or winter break.

But, moving back on topic, Umineko! Somehow, I don’t feel bad saying that the VN pretty much it devastates nearly every other series from the last 11 Days. And let me prove it now!

The thrilling action and intrigue, the mystical atmosphere, of a Kara no Kyoukai? One look down the barrel of Kyrie’s gun in arc 3 should be enough to prove it. The fight back by the Ushiromiyas – whether the very, very serious one in arc 3, or the very, very silly one in arc 4 – should leave no blood cell empty of adrenaline. And don’t begin to believe for one moment, that Umineko isn’t a thinker. Since you can’t even take this action lying down, without beginning to wonder what’s -really- happening.

The adorability of a Hatsukoi Limited or a Toradora? George x Shannon was so disgustingly adorable, so disgustingly right, so beautifully perfect, that it made me drop Haruka’s Secret as it seemed absolutely pitiful in comparison. This is the OTP dreams are made of – two characters that are high-class on their own, fusing to form something god-tier.

The referential comedy of a Hayate the Combat Butler? From tsurupettan to ni-pah~ to the aformentioned Loser Flag Wanking War, Umineko knows when to throw in a few choice comedy moments between all the stabbing and the Phoenix Wrighting.

The incredible intricacy, the beautiful unfolding of events as in Zero Requiem or Onani Master Kurosawa? Umineko plays it with style, mixing up truth and fiction in a sea of red and blue text, only occasionally cutting through it to show that, yes, there is some logical following to the events, and you -can- figure at least some of it out. But first, you must start by determining what is reality and what is delusion. But I have no doubt that there is an order to this madness, deep below … !

Plus, I have to say, bitchin’ monocle butler Ronove absolutely trounces an unshaven Hei in the looks department.

(Yes, I haven’t refuted Eden of the East, which is just an impressive all-rounder. So consider it refuted by parts, in all of the above.)

And, you think Endless Eight was trolling? Those of you who have gotten far enough in either the visual novel or the anime know EXACTLY why Endless Eight is weaksauce. Not just because Endless Nine is one higher, but because of what resulted shortly after that …

Whether I am trolling or not, I don’t know, but there’s something for sure about Umineko the visual novel that, whether it can be compared to anime or not, makes it not just an incredible evolution of Higurashi, but a stunning work in its own right.

Probably, what intrigues me the most about it, is how, unlike Higurashi, it actively challenges you to solve the mysteries behind Rokkenjima. While in Higurashi, you see the time loop over and over, trying to figure out the consistencies between them all by yourself, in Umineko, Beato herself will come down and bait Battler, and by extension, you, into figuring out what is going on.

Certain murders, certain actions, will be brought to light. Theories will be actively refuted, with the closest thing to ‘absolute truth’ in Umineko. And all the while, you will be searching for this ‘absolute truth’, wondering whether it really exists, whether this case is as clean cut as ‘witches’ or ‘humans’.

You choose what you want to believe. Who you want to trust. Maybe Umineko, in that regard, reflects a bit on the reader. Are you a Battler, believing in people even if they were once – or still are – your enemies? Or are you an Ange, always trusting yourself above anyone else and never putting faith in anyone else?

Certainly, something like this will influence your view of Umineko as a whole, and makes debates about the ‘truth’ (although, as Umineko states, such a word is an oxymoron) that much more intriguing. Can you believe that there was any ‘truth’ to the magical events – the danmaku battles, the gunfights with the stakes, the powerlevel wars – or is that all a delusion? Can you believe that Beatrice can be a ‘friend’? Do you believe in witches – their feelings, their hearts, or their existence?

Or is Battler the only one you can trust?

Perhaps it is my experience from Higurashi tainting me, but I would be very expectant of the series to take a slightly different twist in the four arcs to come. In Higurashi, there was no such thing as ‘absolute evil’. So of course, when you have something ‘absolute evil’ in Umineko, you have to wonder whether you can believe in it, right?

Maybe I’m a fool for leaving some of my heart with Beato, for still believing that witches have at least some place – but it’s the same in Higurashi, is it not? Oyashiro-sama “exists”, but Oyashiro-sama doesn’t exist. She is a god, but not a vengeful one. Similarly, couldn’t witches be the same here … ?

Beatrice is a witch, therefore Beatrice cannot be trusted.

Such a statement, I couldn’t believe in it…

(Not even to mention, those of you who would contest the first part of that statement…)

I couldn’t believe in it, to the point where, I wonder what is the true goal of Umineko? Of course, what we are all led to believe is that, it is the solving of the epitaph, or the solving of the murder mystery, that will bring light upon Rokkenjima once again, but somehow, I think … it should be something more? It’s not just about who is ‘right’ and who is ‘wrong’ and about ’solving’ things … but maybe, about emotions more human. More about people, than about events … since there may not be such a thing as ‘truth’ on Rokkenjima… and even if there is, is there not, something more important …?

Although I can only argue on this front, because at least two of the other three witches currently known of (not mentioning the alternate Beatrices) have completely lost me as to their intentions and purposes. If they even have such a thing …? So I can only sit and wait for their move.

And I will wait patiently for the next game board as well, as I think I can play this one for all eternity. Certainly.

So for now, sleep peacefully, my most beloved visual novel, Umineko… and sweet dreams to you as well, the reader. Thanks for participating in the 12 Days gathering, whether as a reader or a writer. It’s been a great time on both sides for me, and I hope it’s been for you as well.

CCY