"Keiichi just moved to the quiet little village and quickly makes friends. However, darkness lurks underneath the seemingly idyllic life involving annual murders and disappearances that all seem to be connected to the approaching festival. Madness and paranoia take root as Keiichi stumbles through the mysteries."
Higurashi: When they Cry (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) is a mystery, dementia, horror, psychological, supernatural, and thriller anime. It was originally released in April 2006 by Studio Deen with 26 episodes lasting 24 minutes each. The anime has three additional seasons and a fourth one coming soon, as well as one special and one ova.
General Rating: 7.9/10
My Rating: 8.7/10
Keiichi Maebara has just moved to the quiet little village of Hinamizawa in the summer of 1983, and quickly becomes inseparable friends with schoolmates Rena Ryuuguu, Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Houjou, and Rika Furude. However, darkness lurks underneath the seemingly idyllic life they lead.
As the village prepares for its annual festival, Keiichi learns about the local legends surrounding it. To his horror, he discovers that there have been several murders and disappearances in the village in the recent years, and that they all seem to be connected to the festival and the village's patron god, Oyashiro. Keiichi tries to ask his new friends about these incidents, but they are suspiciously silent and refuse to give him the answers he needs. As more and more bizarre events occur, he wonders just what else his friends might be keeping from him, and if he can even trust them at all.
When madness and paranoia begin taking root in Keiichi's heart, he will stumble straight into the mysteries at work in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, a story that is told across multiple arcs.
Fans of animes like Promised Neverland, Psycho Pass, Erased, Parasyte, Re:Zero, Terror in Resonance, Another, Guilty Crown, Mirai Nikki, Saikano: She, the Ultimate Weapon, Wolf's Rain, Children Who Chase Lost Voices, Kings Game, Kino's Journey, 7 Seeds, or Princess Mononoke will definitely love this anime and should give it a watch!