Director: Kou Matsuo,
Starring: Akira Tomisaka, Melissa Davis, Ayumi Tsuji, Brittney Karbowski, Misato Fukuen, Taylor Hannah, Miyuki Sawashiro, Kara Greenberg, Ryoko Shintani, Maggie Flecknote
Running Time: 600 minutes
Certificate: 15
Joining the subgenre of teenagers with supernatural powers RED GARDEN could have easily been a forgettable and generic show. Thank goodness it far surpasses many of its contemporaries by inserting a number of different quirks, as well as clever artistic choices that really separate it from the pack. In RED GARDEN, we find a group of girls inexplicably drawn together. Their backgrounds are all different and their only connection is that they attend the same school. They soon find themselves in battles with monstrous humans, as well as developing powers of their own. It may be an age old tale, but the creators have made sure to inject enough thought into almost every element of the series.
The opening to RED GARDEN has an unbearable sense of impending dread. The plot takes its time to unravel, and at first we’re unsure if there even is a plot. The four girls are introduced gradually with each of their backstories seemingly unconnected. It gives us a chance to get to know these girls while the police investigate the apparent suicides of other young girls. The fun comes from knowing these elements will soon tie together, but not being sure how the writers will go about it. The animation is dark and gritty with a grainy quality to it. It seems to have purposefully adopted a 1980s VHS aesthetic, again lending itself to the eerie pacing. The music is kept to a bare minimum in the opening episodes thus leaving the audience not manipulated. With the music on the down low, it’s the sounds of the dark streets that are prevalent throughout, as well as the (comparatively) naturalistic dialogue.
When the music does come into play, it’s a thoughtful use of haunting stringed instruments which go a long way to enhancing the ghostly feel. There are even times when the characters share a depressing but beautiful song despite being distances apart. The voices aren’t perfect when in song, and nor should they be. Instead, the vocal performances focus on getting across the emotions. When not admiring the voice work, viewers can look at the brilliant artwork which defies normal anime protocol. The facial features do not follow strict patterns or designs, which allows for characters to be defined by more than their hair colour, which seems to be the case in so many anime.
RED GARDEN is a masterfully dark thriller that only loses some of its impact due to the unravelling of the mystery. Fortunately, it provides a compelling narrative throughout in a show that should be celebrated for its realism. The girls aren’t immediately fight savvy and the violence towards them can be very crude and brutal. Even after gaining some experience there is an amateurish quality which keeps the viewer invested. You’ll find no cuddly mascots or misogynistic boob jokes here, and that very same seriousness may turn off some viewers whom require a respite every now and again. However, if you like grim thrillers with a mix of the supernatural, then RED GARDEN is for you.
RED GARDEN is released on DVD on 16th September via MVM.
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