Anime 54790 Undead Girl Murder Farce Reviews

Undead Murder Farce screams exuberance and stylistic achievement from its very first moments, with no qualms about being absurd or perhaps even corny, and as mysteries go, that is the uniqueness that is to be desired. There’s so much media revolving around mystery, from your Agatha Christie novels, to your Conan Doyle stories, to the plentiful mystery anime and tv shows, so it’s difficult to create something memorable out of the vast sea of mystery media choice, and I’m happy to say that Undead Murder Farce stood out nicely, so come one, come all, into the pseudo-Meiji era, and enjoy the fun!

The anime title surely ... tells you nothing, but believe me, this is one of the most unique takes on mysteries I’ve seen a while, combining a wide range of mysteries with compelling action and witty humour, and also adding some major figures in mystery media, like Sherlock Holmes, Arsène Lupin, and many more. It kind of felt like the “Mystery Avengers” in a way, but with less action than your typical superhero flick, but much more focused on dialogue. To give a gist of the premise, it’s set in an alternate Meiji era, where an unlikely duo, an Oni Slayer, and a head in a cage suffered the similar fate of their humanity being stolen by the same person, and thus, they chase after this villain, encountering mysteries along the way, making a name for themselves.

Dialogue-heavy shows can be a slog, but this anime certainly manages to capture your attention without being boring, to the extent of each episode flying by in a matter of what you think were just a few minutes. The characters command each scene very well, and the voice actors are certainly to be praised, especially the two main characters in Tsugaru Shinuchi, and Aya Rindou, voiced by Taku Yashiro and Tomoyo Kurosawa, respectively. Tsugaru kept my attention because of his cheeky personality, often making fun of his partner Aya, as well as not taking things too seriously. His humour is witty, perhaps corny, but he definitely made me laugh quite a few times. Aya commanded each scene so well despite only being a head in a cage. Who needs a body after all? Her voice actor, Tomoyo Kurosawa, really nailed the role, as she had such a presence in each scene she was in, with her deduction skills and her tone of voice that captured every bit of my attention. The duo’s dynamic is in my opinion, the best part of the anime, as it brings forth such contagious eccentricity and energy that sucks you into the world around them.

Another main positive about this show was definitely the directing prowess of Shinichi Omata, who previously directed Kaguya-sama: Love is War, and Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, coming into play once again. The whole show feels like a stage play, with the characters feeling like actors, the dialogue bouncing off each character with such ease, the general flow of the story just so fantastic. The art and animation itself isn’t particularly pretty, and I suspect the budget for this show wasn’t huge at all, but Omata’s directing really elevated the show’s quality to greater heights, as there’s just a distinct uniqueness about how the show looks. The camera work and the storyboarding really embodied a style that felt “extravagant”, suiting the show’s setting very well. Furthermore, it has a sense of rakugo in it, and you can tell that Omata’s previous directing endeavours helped shape the way this show was directed as well.

From the compelling mystery, humour, and incredible directing, this has been one of the hidden gems, and potentially the best of the Summer 2023 anime season, and one of the more unique anime of this year. Was I surprised at how good this anime turned out to be? To be honest, not really, and that’s a testament to how much faith I had in the director. Man, this show really flew by, didn’t it?

Although it might seem as if this season is weaker compared to the last few due to the number of big name sequels hogging the spotlight initially, there is reason yet to believe that might not be the case entirely. To be more precise, Undead Girl Murder Farce, along with a whole host of new shows are fast creeping up on the more established sequels with an eye to overreach them.

It also helps that actual novels are getting Anime adaptations. If you were unaware, Undead Girl Murder Farce is a novel, a real novel, not the light variety, just like Watashi no Shiawase na ... Kekkon (My Happy Marriage).

Plot: The plot heavily relies on the element of shock to play itself out from the very beginning, almost anything revealed about the plot may tend towards spoiler territory. As such it is better to experience for yourselves. It seems to be akin to a detective show, though it has elements that can only be explained with the aid of the fantastic. Thus, it might not be a stretch to characterize this as a curious blend of Gosick, Moriarty, Magus Bride and Golden Kamuy, with a tinge of Black Butler and D.Gray-man garnished over it.

Characters: There is enough reason to believe it contrary to a good idea to reveal who or what the characters are. Appropriately thus, I must confine myself merely to how they are and their charming chemistry. Their eccentricity is almost contagious, as the interactions resonate a sense of character by itself. The way they talk, move, act almost instantly makes an appeal to you, as if they merrily bounce off each other.

Dialogue: Usually this is not a metric of my reviews, but in this case it seems to be a disservice to the dialogue if it fails to get a separate mention by itself. Especially the back and forth between the main characters is an absolute charm to observe. The way they banter and clash, and yet work seamlessly well with each other is something that is rarely done this tastefully.

Animation: For the kind of Anime it is, anything less than good is going to be painfully obvious. Lapin Track really deserve all the praise they get. The smooth flow of the scenes is a treat to savour. Also there is a miracle of sorts here. Probably first-time in a long, long time it felt the Opening credit was poor in animation quality and ideas compared to the actual Anime itself. The only other complain one can have is probably that of the background CGI, which seems rather out of place at times, though that hardly takes anything away from the consistently good animation.

Music: The music has a personality to it, which isn't a common thing these days. The use of the music to enhance the mood, or to create it, or to make it seem as if it is not what it is, deserves praise. At the same time whatever that was which the Anime tried to pass off as an opening felt stale and lifeless, like a bargain bin K-Pop track. The ED felt great to be honest.

Enjoyment: Mystery shows are always entertaining as long as there is a half decent mystery to solve to begin with. As such this is one to watch out for in that regard. Though when the shock factor wears off, as it surely will, it should be interesting to see where it goes from there. However, considering the star studded character list, it'd have to be a miracle for it to lose its way and not be a standout hit of the season.

Undead (Girl) Murder Farce: the most underrated Summer show of the season that we, the audience, DON'T deserve. for a series where every episode feels like 5 minutes, that it is the literate definition of a binge-worthy show from start to finish.

Clearly the definitive Dark Horse of the Summer season, novelist Yuugo Aosaki's Undead Girl Murder Farce may be a dramatic historical fantasy work for the ages, that if you bring to the typical anime director who is just content with the bare minimum, this show would not have worked out the way that it has been these past 3 months. But it really seems ... that with one sole person (which I'll get to later in the review), all the cards were clicking towards the right path, and soon, the light shines in the darkness, ever so subtly to deliver a work that has become one of my low-key favourite shows of the season that the anime community have gravely missed out on.

“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.” ― Arthur Conan Doyle; Corrections and Editor Edgar W. Smith; Illustrators, The Hound of the Baskervilles

Historical shows exist for a reason, where the greatest minds of the past lies in fame and honour of their work and contributions for the masses. And if literacy has anything to do with it, fiction can bring about the best of friction and development for the future. It's with this exact same thinking that Yuugo Aosaki opted for the ever-so-cliché alternate timeline, where humans and supernatural beings (such as vampires and Oni) co-exist alongside each other. And one such figure is Tsugaru Shinuchi: an experimental half-human, half-demon young man who hails from Japan. True to his name, which means a light haven/port hitter, his demonic characteristics enable him to be highly skilled in combat, which is why people call him the "Oni Slayer" participating in caged circus acts fighting other demons. One day, he comes across an unassuming maid holding a bird cage, which holds the head of a girl who calls herself the immortal detective Aya Rindo with her loyal servant Shizuku Hasei. Coincidentally, Aya's story about herself, who has already been in this beheaded state from someone dismembering her body and leaving her head as is, and Tsugaru's story about being injected with oni blood which gives him his signature combat skills, both came from the same man who had done these services to them. So, together with the girl akin to a night/evening crow doing a ring/loop around a hall and her maid who clearly exhibits a quiet expression but is well-endowed to serve a well/pit's worth of a feast, and also carrying her signature Spenser 1865 Carbine-inspired bayoneted rifle she calls "Tachikage", the trio acts as a detective group to take on Europe's supernatural mysteries, with Tsugaru being given yet another persona moniker: The Cage User.

“Every mystery novel I ever read, the great detective was such an arrogant fuck you could replace 70% of his dialogue with 'Are you stupid?' and the conversation would still make sense.”
― NisiOisiN, Zaregoto, Book 1: The Kubikiri Cycle

The undead (or undying, rather) favour of the man who always gets ridiculed by the maid who treats him with disdain, his spiteful yet arrogant, cunning personality — that's what I love about Tsugaru's character. Despite calling Aya his master and always engaging in lighthearted conversation with the beheaded girl, what sets Tsugaru apart is his, get this, jibe for all things Rakugo. Basically, in every scenario that opens up to his offences, he's able to concoct a fictional story thanks to what Aya has already set up for him, and being the unapologetic prick that Tsugaru is, he gets his job done efficiently and effectively. Other than the fact that he always has to French kiss with Aya to swallow her "immortal" saliva to stop his demonic growth, the Oni Slayer himself is both interesting and entertaining to watch from a spectator's POV. And despite all of the classic European stories featured like the detective mysteries of Sherlock Holmes and his greatest rival of James "M" Moriarty, to the supernatural werewolves, the girl in the bird cage, Aya, easily holds a candle over the rest as the unknown player in a dogfight showdown of good and evil, as well as Shizuku with her trusty Tachikage bayonet rifle that displays both skill and finesse for someone who always shows facial expressionlessness. There is simply no character cast here (save for the usual evildoers and "Justice League" wannabes) that feels wasted, and as William Shakespeare's poem goes: "All the world’s a stage; the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances."

“There are, fortunately, very few people who can say that they have actually attended a murder.”
― Margery Allingham, Death of a Ghost

The only saving grace that Undead Girl Murder Farce very much needed was a director who is skilled at his/her craft, someone who can manage the staff team well and create a well-rounded and cohesive work that leaves you wanting for more. And I have to say that they really got the man for the job: director Shinichi Omata or going by his famous penname of Mamoru Hatakeyama. The director who brought us works like Winter 2012's Sankarea (which serves as his directorial debut under studio Shaft), Winter 2016's Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju, Winter 2018's Grancrest Senki a.k.a. Record of Grancrest War, and the more recent Kaguya-sama: Love is War series, so you know that he has quality riding on his back and demands nothing but the best. And you know what? Calling Undead Girl Murder Farce one of the best shows of the season that's sadly underrated, no 20/20 hindsight is needed to call this a near masterpiece work that Mamoru Hatakeyama has ever done. The way that he adapts and directs anime series is simply unparalleled, and you need to just look at either Rakugo Shinju or Kaguya-sama to know that he's got the talent backing his incredible reputation, along with his staff team serving so fervently under the small studio that is Lapin Track.

That said, this is the studio's first full-fledged, independent, full/complete TV series production in almost a decade, if you don't count the god-awful 2-minute short of Winter 2022's Atasha Kawashiri Kodama da yo a.k.a I'm Kodama Kawashiri. Apart from producing shows that were co-animated alongside more prominent studios (e.g. Spring 2019's Sarazanmai and the Tama and Friends series' spin-off of Winter 2022's Uchi Tama?! Uchi no Tama Shirimasen ka? a.k.a Uchitama?! Have you seen my Tama?, both shows with MAPPA), Lapin Track most likely raked in experience from the production collaborations, then used that experience to showcase one of the best Sakuga-worthy productions of this season with dark art styles, and sleek animation to boot. I can't help but be floored by the visuals, which flow with seamless audacity at the chock full of crisp animation that's a delight to watch and never took my eyes off the action, not even once.

“There's only one truth” ― Gosho Aoyama, Detective Conan

And that one truth, lies in the music, which all for intents and purposes, suit the anime to a T, it's perfection across the board. With that said, I'd now like to coin the term: "K-Pop strikes again on J-Pop!" If you do not know or have been living under a rock, K-Pop boy/girl groups have been slowly integrating themselves into the world of AniManga, and not just adaptations of Webtoons in general for years now (I still remember the first time hearing a K-Pop "Japanese-ified" Anisong through Black Clover with Tomorrow X Together back in 2020). The OP sung by girl group CLASS:y (suggested through a Korean reality show, and inspired by its members' "classy" charms that references "class" and "highest grade"), I've gotta say that I have never vibed THIS much with a K-Pop Anisong to indefinitely confirm that "Crack-Crack-Crackle" is a catchy, upbeat, banger song of (literally) class and the highest of grades, that I can listen to over and over again.  In my opinion, it's undoubtedly my OP song of the season. Anna's "reversal" for the ED is also a cool song with some great storyboarding with its muted, dark tones and scaling that works seamlessly and linear to its themes. Overall, I really can't find any faults on the music aspect.

“Only once in a generation does anything as fresh as a vomiting detective come along.”
― Dean Koontz, Odd Thomas

And the quote is true: only once (in a blue moon) that there're works that does anything as fresh as a beheaded girl conducting detective stuff with a monster of a human who is flawless with his stints, only in Yuugo Aosaki's Undead Girl Murder Farce will you have an experience that can only be felt as if you're watching either Rakugo Shinju or Kaguya-sama all over again.

To the undead girl using murder as a farce, you're NOT a farce. You're a force to be reckoned with, because you're worth more than the attention we give to you, and more people SHOULD watch your show because you're absolutely worth the time. Major, massive props to director Shinichi Omata and his staff team for achieving the near impossible with Undead Murder Farce, it's an addictive cynical, yet entertaining show where the murder mysteries of questions and answers keep you glued to the small screen for what's to come, even when you least expected it.

Bravo, excellente. Wow, wow, WOW. My unexpected Dark Horse of the season turned AOTS.

Undead Girl Murder Farce is an anime that plunges its viewers into a world of mystery, and supernatural suspense. This series, while not for the faint of heart, offers a captivating experience.

The first episode, directed by Mamoru Hatakeyama, delivers a visually striking experience with its dark and mysterious art style. Hatakeyama's deliberate pacing and clever shot composition build tension effectively, seamlessly blending the mundane with supernatural elements. I really loved the cinematic way he approached some scenes and made unusual decisions in how to frame them, it reminded me of the Monogatari Series. The dialogue is concise yet engaging, revealing key plot points without sacrificing ... mystery. The sound design enhances the foreboding atmosphere, making the episode a promising start to an intriguing and chilling series. It is safe to say that the first episode is one of the best first episodes in all of Anime. Alas, you'd notice the difference in some episodes where the storyboard was not done by Mamaoru, EPs 3,4, 8,9 and 10. Nevertheless, these episodes were still very enjoyable.

Undead Girl Murder Farce two leads have a very good chemistry, and that’s every part thanks to the dialogues and voice acting, Besides, The show introduces a captivating array of characters, featuring unexpected encounters with legendary figures such as Sherlock Holmes, Arsène Lupin, (voiced by Miyano which is a blast), and Moriarty. These iconic characters from literature inject a thrilling dimension into the series, seamlessly blending the supernatural with classic detective elements.

The soundtrack deserves special mention, as it effectively enhances the suspense and tension throughout the series. The haunting melodies and atmospheric soundscapes contribute to the immersive nature of the anime, effectively pulling the audience deeper into the mysterious world it creates.

Although I do not watch this type of shows for the action, and it is my first time watching a Lapin Track's work so I did not know what to expect, however, the animation sequences during intense action scenes are fluid and well-executed, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

Overall, it is a must see, especially if you are in to this type of anime, because sadly, we rarely get these nowadays, let alone a good one.

Undead Girl Murder Farce honestly feels like you're watching a live action version of Cluedo at times, All the while having inner mysterys within itself, that make for a compelling watch.

Story and characters: 8
What really hits the mark here, is the chemistry. Having unique and creative characters really brings more out of a story, and enjoyment of the show in general. Not to mention of how the main characters naturally react with one another. It's like more wild Shrelock Holmes, while being surprisingly tame at the same time. With Aya giving off Kotoko vibes when it comes to how good she is in her deductive ... skills, along with how calm in that sense she can be, despite her situation,and what she wants. While her partner in this set up,in Tsugaru, seems more wild, even if he keeps in line. But it's a pairing that'll carry such a show.

It's why I love shows like these. Having a sense of mystery and wonder about them, all the while having a compelling plot that'll drive it forward. Shows like Black Butler, Gosick, Moriarty. Now soon, with how this show is going, you can add this to the list of shows of that nature, that you'll most certainly enjoy to it's fullest.

Art and sound: 8
Tis anime does so well, in capturing such gritty looking scenes. As if each and every detail is taken with absolute care and love. From how the characters are dressed, to how the backgrounds look. It's a style that is pleasing on the eyes, and great to see. They also do a good job when it comes to capturing day scenes, but when it really shines of course, is the more night scenes, with it's polish and presentation. It's just that damn good. While the overall sound and quality of music, really adds to the tension of the whole show in general. Great stuff all round.

Undead Girl is quite the mystery, and a welcomed mystery at that, a watch for sure.

I've always enjoyed mystery shows, as long as the mystery isn't too obvious or incredibly boring-- the right mix of suspense, wonder, and overall interest with a hint of "cool" is what I would say needs to make up the base of any good mystery story. So when I saw that Undead Girl Murder Farce was basically that perfect mix, I was quite happy. And so far, I have not been disappointed.

Animation: To start off I'll just say this show is very well animated. The scenes flow well and are smooth with their transitions, the dark-toned colors are meshed well with the environment, ... making the settings seem sinister yet not outright scary, and the short-yet-sweet action-type scenes are well animated with the movements of the characters. All put together, the animation is quite pretty.

Plot: I won't discuss it too much, since they show seems to rely heavily on a shock factor when revealing anything. However it does reveal enough in its setup to give the viewer a strong basis of understanding of a situation that it doesn't make one feel lost or confused while watching. If you enjoy detective stories and/or mystery stories, you'll most likely enjoy this show.

Characters: As far as character design goes, I genuinely love it. Tsugaru's design meets my internal need for an interesting anime boy, and his design fits his personality quite well, while Aya's does the same (even as only a head). The detail put into the characters gives them more visual complexity, making them more interesting characters themselves. The chemistry between the characters is also well done, with their eccentric personalities drawing you in. You can't help but have your eyes glued to the screen just due to their witty, interesting interactions and movements. The dialogue alone is a masterpiece, with the back-and-forth banter between Aya and Tsugaru giving their characters EVEN MORE interest, and being entertaining to witness.

Music: Is it the best I've heard? No. The opening is catchy but nothing jaw-dropping or hundreds of YouTubers reaction-worthy, but it works well enough. The use of background music is well-placed, often creating or changing the mood and feel of a scene. The music can build or break the suspense of many shows, and I believe that for Undead Girl Murder Farce, it definitely helps build it.

Overall: Like I said, I've always enjoyed mystery shows, and so to have another good one to watch after work or class, I'm happy. The mystery itself is well setup, with good execution so far, and I would recommend this to anyone who's looking for something interesting to watch. I have high hopes for the story, due to its unique nature, and I hope that even if/when the shock factor fades, the mystery story itself can continue to be that mix of suspense, wonder, and interest with a hint of "cool". Definitely a show I'll be watching on its weekly release days.

"Undead Girl ANIME Farce"

POSITIVES:
- Character-filled
- Art Quality
- Voice acting
- Bop OP, good ED
- MCs chemistry

NEGATIVES:
... - Clickbaits
- Unnecessarily stretching out cases for too many episodes.
- Rushed climax/finale
- Threading two rivers at the same time while clearly favoring the other.

I'm not even gonna talk about its story-- it's interesting to me, personally. Instead, I'd rather judge how it performed as a show, and how it ruined the story-telling of this Anime. And just like the finale of the show, I'm gonna rush through my rant as well.

The first episode had a Dark Fantasy-Action vibe which had the then yet to be acquianted MCs battling each other in a somewhat testing of strength, which concluded in a partnership to achieve opposite goals relating to a common enemy.
It then immediately took a sudden 45-degree turn and became a full-on dialogue-heavy Detective/Mystery the very next episode. It would have been just fine as it acted as the introduction to the protags' now-established investigative team... except it took 3 episodes to conclude and felt like an unnecessarily stretched-out filler arc.
It was then followed up by an arc filled with new characters (I'd refrain from describing them to avoid spoilers) who were the ones that took the center stage in dealing with the case at hand as the MCs get relegated to the sidelines, showing up once in a while on-screen, with smug reactions on their faces implying they are picking the case apart one by one while they were off-screen.
What came next was the climactic first interaction with the villains of the story. This set the tone for what's to come as the show nears the finale... except it didn't come.
What followed is another helluva stretched-out dialogue-heavy case where they teased the presence of the villains just being around, and the presumed chaos that might ensue at any moment...
... which was paid off by a less than 5-minute still image battle slide show, followed by a barrage of words to close the final case and end the series, which took about 15 minutes... but felt like forever.

ART? Good. Sound? Good. VAs? Good. Characters? Fun...
... "Crack-Crack-Crackle" OP by CLASS:y?..... GOOOOOOOOD xD

OVERALL:
I feel so betrayed by this Anime. Even after watching its clickbait-y 1st episode, and reading the complaints of people towards it, I still stuck by it as I found the execution of the Detective/Mystery path it took quite entertaining and fun anyway-- and I did enjoy it. But it's a shame that it had to lie once again, for the finale no less. Not to mention, having to rush that said finale after over-extending most of its chapters. All I could've asked for from this Anime was for it to just be a clear Detective/Mystery Anime instead of trying to be a pretentious Dark Fantasy/Action. It did have a quite interesting arc which had an abundant amount of characters involved. But that was the middle part and barely involved the MCs. What should've been prioritized were the most important parts of a story-- the beginning and the conclusion.
And for that, I can't recommend this to anyone who's looking for an Anime with a good story. Not to say it didn't have one-- it does. It just failed to tell that "good story" properly.
Watch it for aesthetics? Yeah. Sure. Do you. Want me to give at least one good reason to watch this Anime? I can give you one. Here it is...

JIRI-JIRI TOOOOOOO!!! MOTO-MERU GIMME MOOOOOOORE!!! xD xD xD

Undead Girl Murder Farce was probably the talk of the season in many circles. From Reddit to various YouTubers, this anime showed a lot of promise to a lot of people, but unfortunately, it never delivered on its promise.

At the end of the day, I feel like it was still kind of entertaining. The fights were somewhat cool, the character cast was interesting, and the mystery parts in the show were also pretty interesting.

But unfortunately all of it fell apart when there was no proper "glue" to stick them together into a coherent, interesting storyline and there are a few key problems in the ... anime.

Firstly, the main plot and the premise of the show almost never actually progresses. The place we started in episode 2 is almost the same as we were at the end of episode 13. The anime consists of 3 arcs, but at the end of the day none of them contributed much, if at all, to the grand plot. Which leads me to my second point.

Another main problem is that the anime arcs were too different from each other and did not really know what they wanted to do. The anime tried to mix a detective mystery with an action show, which led to a tonal whiplash and in the end it just was not very good. The first arc for example was almost exclusively a mystery-detective style with no action, but then the second one did not have much of a mystery and was full of fights, and the third arc mixes both.

The character cast was colorful and we had a lot of interesting different characters which was nice, but at the same time most of them were not really that memorable as they did not have enough screen time or story rather than just being tagged from the "villain group" or any other group. Many were also chained to their respective arc and did not play a bigger role in the anime as a whole.

Finally, I do want to commend some parts of the OST and the cool OP song, and commend a few cool fighting scenes we had.

In short, it was an entertaining watch for its mystery aspect and some fights separately, but when combined together it all fell apart and led to a very mediocre product.

6/10

Although it seems that this season is quite weaker than the previous seasons, it only seems that way because of big name sequels like Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, Ruroni Kenshin Season 2 and others and the only other New anime getting the spotlight is Zom: 100 but this is an Anime and with how it's shaping up to be, I would consider this for Anime of The Season.

This Anime is a mystery show and some kind of Dark Fanatsy, you basically have a demon trying to find the body of an immortal who is her master, she only has a head, after 3 episode's, it ... has peaked my interest and this is an anime I am looking forward for how it unfolds.
Undead Girl Murder Farce is surely going to be a name I remember because I have a love for Mystery Anime. This is an Anime you should pick up because this is such an interesting show.

It has a pretty solid plot with some great animation. All in All, this show is definitely this season's dark horse just like with Tengoku Daimkyo last season, another Mystery Anime, Tengoku Daimakyo being Sci-Fi and this one is a fantasy

Are you tired of watching the same Isekai trash with the same plot progression and themes, well look no further.
Undead Girl Murder Face is a breath of fresh air regarding story telling, characters and unique fighting scenes with lots of creativity. If you are looking for an detective show or just love well made shows with funny characters than I highly recommend this anime.
8/10 is my objective scoring of this anime you can see my reasons why underneath.

Summary (episode 1 spoilers): Undead Girl Murder Face is a anime where we follow Tsugaru Shunichi a Half Oni traveling together with Aya Rindo and her devoted ... attendant Shizuku Hasei. This trio travels around as detectives hoping to find clues about Aya Rindo's missing body. Aya Rindo is a immortal being and is being carried as a head in a cage, thus they got the name Cage User. Aya Rindo and Tsugaru Shunichi both have the mysterious "M" character as their goal, as he got Aya Rindos body and was the one making Tsugaru Shunichi an half oni. They meet various monsters and characters in cases they have to solve in pursuit of getting closer to their goal of getting Aya Rindos body. The rest you will have to watch yourself.

Characters 9/10: The characters are one of the main selling points of this anime, the banter between Tsugaru Shunichi and Aya Rindo is so entertaining that minutes go by without you noticing. Side characters are made with a take on the western fantasy classics, though they still feel unique and interesting. Overall are the characters designs cool and unique looking, and the conversation between main and side characters are quite enjoyable to watch. This is not an anime with hundreds of backstory's and complicated motives, so its not like the actual characters are that deep, but they are interesting and unique.

Animation & graphics (7/10): The anime is on the darker side overall and you could argue that the color palate used is a bit too dark. The graphics are pleasant to look at, all though it is not at the highest level. Animation is again also on the lower side of animes, but they do gear it up a notch in fighting scenes. Creativity is a huge benefactor which helps in this category, and Undead Girl Murder Farce are great at changing styles and being creative visually. Although they don't have the greatest animation technically won't you get bored of the fight scenes. The fight scenes are way more creative both in choreography and visuals, so they are fresh and entertaining to watch. There is not the classic spam one button move or stalemates of blurred punches, which is a huge plus.

Sound (6/10): I am no sound expert, but as a viewer it was alright. Nothing to really boast about or take huge note off, but nothing completely bad as well. If you were looking for crazy music or sound work then this is not what you are looking for, but it does have its charms at certain points.

Plot(8.5/10):This is the reason you would want to watch this over some Isekai trash. The plot is very fun and different than your usual animes. It does not go completely linear in terms of "power progression", but does have a progression that goes like --> Find case, try to solve case, interruption in the case, solve the case --> next case. They do this while trying to get closer to the overall "case/goal" of finding Aya Rindos body. The cases are well thought out and unless you are super critically of how an detective case should go, feels natural and enjoyable to watch. The plot although has a lot of talking is interesting enough that it flies by fast.

Overall am i scoring this anime objectively at 8/10.
10/10 is my personal enjoyment of the show while watching ;)

Tldr: Very Good mystery crime solving anime, with good suspense, character, and plot overall

The aspect of supernatural world also play well in this anime, making the mystery and crimes even more fascinating and fun to follow thant a normal mystery anime. The dynamic of the main characters are also not to be underestimated, it got on of the most interesting and well written character i've seen, even the side character feel real and good.

The big selling point is that this anime DOES happen in a western world, in real western society depictions (though fantasy a bit). It got the perfect fusion of anime ... in old western world I've seen, and is very enjoyable to finally see how these characters would interact around the world. The art style also, though while might not be top tier, is very innovative and creative. They use changing art style to tell the story in each aspect very outstandingly too.

The pacing is very good for a mystery anime. Most mystery anime big hurdle is pacing, where a lot of mystery & crime shows and anime and the line between a good and bad show is drawn. This anime pass the test, and the pacing is very good, just enough of suspension but not too much it get boring.

The production quality is above average for an anime, and pretty good for a mystery anime. There's no real downside for this anime. I think this anime will be the dark horse of this season, because it's a really good mystery anime, and even a good anime in general. However since mystery & crime genre isn't for everyone, this won't get that popular as it could've if it was let say a shounen.

In conclusion, it's on top of the line for a mystery anime as of right now, so if you enjoy mystery, crime, and suspense anime, this is the one for you. ;)

If you like rakugo and detective series, you'll love this show.

The banter between protagonists Aya Rindo and Tsugaru Shinuchi made me laugh out loud with every punchline, and all the characters interact wonderfully. It's great to see classic roles like Arsene Lupin and the Phantom of the Opera in fun and new situations while still retaining some of the original qualities shared with their namesakes. I can't speak to the quality of adaptation from the novel, but the pacing and reveals are very smooth and make it easy to stay engaged.

The animation is rendered lovingly and with lots of panache; I find myself going ... back and rewatching scenes because they're so striking or fluid. The character design is thoughtful and brings the most important points of each role's purpose in the story to light. It's clear that the crew are having a lot of fun creating this show and that makes it even more enjoyable to watch.

In terms of the opening and ending, the animation is gorgeous and very well-directed with great colour design. Be warned, though, that if you have vertigo it would be best to skip the ending theme as the camera constantly rotates. The songs aren't showstoppers but do have some great sections.

I love a good murder mystery, particularly those with a twist, and this one has a good one: the world is one tainted by the persecution of monsters, and how they respond to it helps shape both the larger narrative and the individual mysteries.

In that sense, this is a blast to watch. I found myself engrossed, particularly in the first of the mysteries that takes place in a vampire household shaped by compromise with the human world that spurned them.

Things get more complicated beyond that and so does the messaging, making it more difficult to fully appreciate subsequent arcs. The following one, in particular, ... isn’t so much a mystery as a gathering of both all-time great detectives and criminals as well as a who’s who of monstrous villains and antiheroes. It’s a nice idea in concept, and I know it’s important to the central plot, but I found it overwhelmed elements of the plot that I previously enjoyed. We get a lot of great character moments and some solid fights, but with all the various parties involved (I count 5 different groups - the owners of the diamond, Aya’s group, Sherlock and Holmes, The Banquet and the group in white), it rarely feels like it allows moments to breathe. Doesn’t help that most of the antagonists are either cryptic or one-note. That’s likely to change in the future, but it hasn’t happened yet.

For that matter, with so many big names in the mix, it makes it feel like the series has to lean on them instead of its central cast. I don’t think we needed Sherlock this early, and I groaned when it became obvious Moriarty was behind basically everything. I wanted this show to have its own identity, but maybe that was expecting too much.

The final arc is a combination of the good ideas from the first and the overcomplication of the second, though I still thought it was well done, bringing back more of the deduction that I enjoyed.

The fights are well choreographed and interesting, even if they still largely feel one-sided or overly chaotic. I like how the characters are meshing as well. Groups don’t feel like full antagonists or allies throughout, there’s a lot of movement where it suits them. The note it leaves us on will likely yield a fast-moving start to the next season, and if it can narrow its focus a bit and rely more on its MCs, I think that will suit me just fine. I’ll like it regardless, though, I’m sure, but I think there’s room to improve.

Funny enough, I initially wanted to watch this because of a cool edit I saw on Instagram, the actual anime's a whole different story though. The animation was well done for the most part but could get questionable at times. —The fights were like this too, the choreography was just inconsistent, and characters felt like they were brake-dancing half the time.

I did enjoy seeing Aya solve mysteries tho. But after deep inspection, I found that her skills were only as amazing as the plot wanted them to be. This is evident in how she brings up stuff that we "the audience" weren't shown. Nonetheless, ... it was fun to watch. I don't know if I'll tune in for season 2 though. 6/10

The initial mystery was very good. Although detective story connoisseurs will see the solution coming from a mile away, the step by step logical deduction with no leaps in logic make for a very interesting watch. The banter between the two main leads is also very enjoyable. However, by the 5th episode the show starts introducing too many unnecessary plot points involving various fictional and real characters from European history, and making them important to the plot. This detracts from the main drive of the show, which is simply watching a fully sentient girl's head in a birdcage solve interesting mysteries. The introduction of these ... flamboyant characters with unnecessary gimmicks seems more like cameos that were given way too much weight. The final mystery is again interesting, if a little too easy, but it is ruined by the introduction of yet more unnecessary gimmicky characters who contribute nothing to the mystery at hand, and instead make everything too chaotic and difficult to follow.

In short, this show has a really interesting premise and a great way of setting up and presenting the mysteries, but is ruined by its attempt to include cameo after cameo in its short runtime. A stronger focus at the mystery at hand would've brought this show to new heights.

Undead Girl Murder Farce is a great comedy mystery mix. Its core is solving various monster related mysteries, and it does that very well. The mysteries are intriguing, and presented in a way that the viewer can guess along and actually reach the right conclusion.

But its true strength are its characters and its humor. Especially the main cast is so weird and aloof that just watching them banter while traveling is truly entertaining. Tsuguru is really not what you'd expect of a main character, watching him fool around in very serious situations and play dumb, while his quiet intelligence continues to shine through, is very ... refreshing. Aya is as dignified as you could expect from a head in a cage, but has a happy disposition that seems absolutely displaced in some situations, which makes it super funny. Shizuku mostly shines through her relationship with Tsuguru, which might be your typical "I don't like you but we work for the same person" dynamic, but isn't less entertaining for that.

The vast array of weird and interesting side characters, who usually react with subtle "what the heck" attitudes towards the main trio, keeps everything fresh and enjoyable too.

The art is super pretty, although the animation isn't outstanding, and the music is fitting and supports the show without being great.

Tl;dr: Entertaining characters that are enjoyable to follow.

Murder mysteries and detective fiction are notoriously among the most difficult stories to write. It requires walking a tightrope, giving enough detail that a sufficiently clever audience member could solve the mystery, but not so much that the answers are obvious to all. Undead Murder Farce walks this tightrope expertly, parceling out little bits of information, never quite showing its hand about what details will ultimately be important to solving the cases. Each one is complex and convoluted, with 4 episodes devoted to each case (the leftover episode in the count is episode 1, which introduces our main detective trio), but all 3 can be ... solved before the final reveal by a person that is paying close attention and making a few deductive leaps.

This all might imply a series that is very stuffy or literary, but nothing could be further from the truth. Quite the opposite in fact. Like it's name, Undead Murder Farce is pulpy and bombastic. Action scenes are wildly over the top and surprisingly gruesome. The large cast of historical figures and public domain fiction characters lends itself to some truly insane moments, like Arsene Lupin teaming up with the Phantom of the Opera to steal a diamond while Sherlock Holmes tries to stop them, only for all of them to be attacked by Frankenstein and Jack the Ripper. And yes, I swear that last sentence is not made up.

However, the truly show-stealing part of this series is its main duo - Aya Rindo, an immortal disembodied head that solves crimes and her bodyman Tsugaru, an "onigoroshi" (roughly, "ogre killer") that Aya finds at the circus, battling other monsters and freaks for cheering crowds. The rapport between the two is the secret sauce that elevates this series from good to great. Aya is highly formal but also playful, peppering her speech with puns and playful jabs, while Tsugaru is a complete ham, never serious and always highly theatrical in everything he does. Their banter is delightful and Tomoyo Kurosawa's voice work playing Aya is tremendous.

One more piece that helps to elevate this series is the unique visual identity it has, courtesy of director Mamoru Hatakeyama, best known as the director of Kaguya-sama: Love is War. While it can sometimes border on excessive (the paneling used in the last 2 episodes is probably the least necessary of his many flourishes), the creative presentation gives it so much personality, and serves a dual purpose of effectively hiding the economical storyboarding, giving it the feel of a show that has a much larger budget than it actually does.

There are a few minor quibbles you can make with the series. The Royce agents that periodically show up are truthfully a little bit unnecessary, and the action-heavy final arc combined with an exhausted and overworked animation team leads to some intrusively janky animation in the last few episodes that is thankfully the exception rather than the rule. Even acknowledging those flaws, I still highly recommend this series whether you're a fan of mysteries or just silly, violent excess. There's something for everyone here.

With the new year almost here, I gotta share my thoughts on this anime, "Undead Girl Murder Farce." It's hands down my favorite for the year. The animation is on point, giving off those awesome GoSick vibes. And can we talk about the opening theme? It's a total banger.

Now, our main character? Selfish as heck, doesn't give a damn about anything. But, here's the twist—he's goofy and loves talking to himself, even when things get serious. Plus, he's got this thing for doing his own Rakugo. It's a wild combo, but it works.

Seriously, I'd recommend checking this one out!

Extravagance is the driving force of this story, as is plain to see from the title.

The show serves the audience all the successful parts of a murder mystery, decorated with mythological and supernatural elements within the historical locales where the crimes take place. It is clear that the creatives behind this project have an appreciation for classic mysteries based on the way the characters carry themselves and how the mystery unravels.

Nevertheless, there is a unique beauty to the show's presentation that takes it to another level. It may be argued that the added flair is a gimmick, but it makes up for that ... with its wit. The dialogue could come across as wordy to some, but the cheeky humor keeps it engaging, and the action scenes thus far are grounded with plenty of impact.

It has yet to be seen where the story goes, but it will certainly retain those with an inquisitive mind.

Undead Girl Murder Farce is like Gosick if Gosick wasn't so boring, featured a boring JP male protagonist, shitty romance, and episodic mysteries that weren't ever that thrilling. It's always quite cringe to see a gothic lolita hanging around an adolescent high school JP boy who randomly catches her fancy, solving random crimes like it isn't the more bizarre and BS thing in the world, so Undead Girl Murder Farce gives the theme a go and makeover was a good surprise.

Of course, instead of a gothic lolita, you have a severed head. There's actually a reason for her bitter personality. It happens when you spend ... millennia alive and you're stuck as a severed head and wisened up after witnessing so much. So Aya's personality is less of a weird fetishizing of a loli, but more of a realistic setting.

Instead of a boring JP protagonist, you have a guy who's flippant, facetious and takes life lightly as much as his morals. He's quite humorous and makes a good detective duo with Aya. Aya reins Tsugaru in and gives him purpose, while Tsugaru helps Aya find life a bit more interesting, acting as a detective for his sake as well as hers. Shizuku's kind of there as a tsukommi almost, and just a balancing third agent.

And of course, to top everything off, you have a supernatural plot and setting: the world revolves around the mythical. Vampires, werewolves, Oni, and other fantasy creatures roam the world and it definitely suits the setting of a random detective duo of a random guy and a severed head solving mysteries.

Finally, you have the actual story. This show is not episodic at all despite revolving around different mysteries. In fact, each case links up to the next plot point, and there are always interactions with characters and organizations that end up impacting the next case or plot point. The fact that there's an underlying --and quite obvious--plot of trying to recover Aya's body and the interactions with people involved in doing so is rewarding. It makes each case much more fulfilling as you know that you're getting closer to the final destination as you discover more characters.

This is also the story's downfall. I'll give the show some slack since this show covers like what, 5-6 volumes in one season? That's just impossible. Covering 4 volumes in a single season is stretching it tight, so 5 to 6 means a lot of compression is involved. I'm sure the anime cut a lot out to slap in so much content. However, this does mean that the experience is much less enjoyable. The insurance company just makes me cringe. The naming, like Fatima Double Darts and Alice Rapidshot definitely reeks of a random Japanese author thinking of the most Westernized name ever and slapping it on a Western character. Plus, the fact that Alice Rapidshot is quick to anger, polemic, wears cowboy hats, is blond, uses guns, and is aggressive, but probably not that bad of a person shows how tropey these insurance company characters are. The same goes for "The Banquet." Holy shit, talk about a cringe name for a western sounding "evil organization."

The compression of 5 or 6 volumes definitely does not do these organizations justice, and even beneath their shitty naming conventions aside, I think there's a lot of merit that comes along with these characters. While Aya and her detective group are technically at odds with both organizations, it's also not entirely true. Alliances form, dialogue happens, and overall, there ends up being a lot of interaction on every side, and not necessarily an entirely spiteful "us vs them" sort of story where it's just the good side vs bad side. In that way, the show is better than most shounen battle shows. In another way, it feels a bit shallow since there's a lack of characterization and worldbuilding. Still, that being said, the anime cuts so much dialogue and interaction between these characters that some of the show remains fragmented, such as how Carmilla and Shizuku's second meeting ended was just straight-up strange.

Still, just the fact that our detective isn't merely full of goodness and on the side of justice, the insurance company and "the banquet" are not full of "the bad guys," and a good mystery case for each arc makes me enjoy the show. The last arc, especially, brings each character's morality to question, and it definitely fleshes them out as good characters. I will be reading the novel.