How to watch Higurashi anime? Watch order explained

Modified Jun 12, 2024 18:32 GMT

How to watch Higurashi anime? Watch order explained (Image via Studio Deen)

Higurashi: When They Cry is an anime series released in April 2006. The anime series continued till 2009 with its second season and an OVA series. Fortunately, the series returned in October 2022 with a sequel and continued for two seasons.

However, there seems to be confusion in the fandom regarding its watch order, with some fans wanting to know if the 2020 adaptation was a remake or sequel. This concept will be resolved in this article by providing details about every season of this season and by giving a proper watch order.

The series is based on a visual novel the group 7th Expansion produced. The visual novel is divided into eight manga series, each adapting one of the arcs of the visual novel. The old anime adaptation was done by Studio Deen, and the latest one by Studio Passione.

The watch order of Higurashi: When They Cry

Shion as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Deen)

The anime series has released 5 seasons to this day, with 3 seasons adapted by Studio Deen and the last two ones adapted by Studio Passione. This series has a special episode, the Nekogoroshi-hen episode, which is crucial to linking the first two seasons.

However, the new adaptations, Gou and SOTSU, are not based on the visual novel. Still, the original creator of the visual novel, Ryukishi07 from 7th Expansion, was directly involved in the storyboard for the anime.

Rena as seen in the anime (Image via Passione)

Moreover, the old animations could be skipped only to watch the new ones, even though the new ones are the sequel. This is because the new adaptations cover new stories of the same cast with no link to the previous ones. The new adaptations also explore new animation styles for people who don't prefer old animation, so the new ones could also be termed remakes.

Anyways, the watch order for the series in chronological order is as follows:

Higurashi: When They Cry - 2006 (26 episodes)
Higurashi: When They Cry Special: Nekogoroshi-hen - 2007 (1 episode)
Higurashi: When They Cry: Kai - 2007 (24 episodes)
Higurashi: When They Cry: Rei - 2009 (5 episodes)
Higurashi: When They Cry: Gou - 2020-2021 (24 episodes)
Higurashi: When They Cry: SOTSU - 2021 (15 episodes)

Higurashi: When They Cry synopsis

The main cast as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Deen)

The anime is a horror-mystery series centered around the male protagonist, Maebara Keiichi. In July 1983, due to his father's transfer, the protagonist had to shift houses to a small village in the mountains. This village is titled the Hinamizawa village.

As soon as the protagonist transfers, he becomes best buds with five girls who study with him in the same school. These five girls include the Shinozaki daughters, Shion and Mion, the kind Rika, the playful Satoko, and the dutiful Rena. Together, every day is filled with enjoyment and playing games.

Mion (left) and Keiichi (right) as seen in the anime (Image via Passione)

One day, Keiichi hears about the local deity of Hinamizawa village, Lord Oyashiro, and everything changes. Every year, there are several murders and disappearances, and they are related to the Lord Oyashiro. But whenever Keiichi asks his friends about it, an awkward silence develops.

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This silence slowly develops into Keiichiro growing scared of his friends and relying on Detective Kuraudo. But with everyone acting suspiciously, no one can be trusted. In such a dilemma, how will our protagonist survive in the Hinamizawa village?

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Edited by Toshali Kritika