A New Blend of Crime and Supernatural
In the summer of 2023, anime fans have a lot to look forward to. In addition to highly anticipated adaptations like Jujutsu Kaisen and Mushoku Tensei, as well as the return of beloved series like Bleach, Naruto, and Kenshin, there are also some new shows vying for a spot on Japanese television. One such show is Zom 100, which has received enthusiastic praise in its first reviews. Another is Sand Land, an adaptation of the manga by the creator of Dragon Ball. And then there’s Undead Girl Murder Farce. That’s what we’ll be talking about in this article.
Unlike the often favored fantastical or contemporary settings in manga, Undead Girl Murder Farce takes place in the late 19th century, straddling the line between the two. The animated television series, produced by Lapin Track Studio (which has only been around since 2019), is set in the year 1898, during the 30th year of the Meiji era in Japan. However, it presents a slightly different context than the known historical one. In this fictional version of Japan, the country’s borders are also open, but there’s a purification of all oni: a Japanese term that can be translated as devil or ogre in the West.
It is in this environment that Undead Girl Murder Farce follows Tsugaru Shinuchi, an oni slayer. He forms an alliance with Aya Rindou, an oni known as the Immortal, who seeks revenge against a specific individual who failed to kill her. Conveniently, the memories of our oni slayer also mention the presence of this mysterious character who doesn’t seem to have had our protagonist’s best interests in mind. Quite the opposite.
Is Undead Girl Murder Farce Worth Watching?
Shinuchi and Rindou then become detectives, taking on cases that allow them to travel the world and question their clients for any traces of their target. There is never a shortage of investigations, with an ever-present tense atmosphere between monsters and humans, even though some monsters occasionally become allies of humans. For example, the first four episodes introduce vampires located in Europe who have sought the assistance of the two main characters due to their notoriety, in order to identify the murderer of the landlord’s wife.
Over the course of four episodes, our oni slayer and his mistress conduct their investigation. It’s a lengthy case in which it’s difficult to feel invested due to the lack of attachment to the characters involved. Even the final revelation throws a wrench into the mix in that regard.
