Erased (僕だけがいない街) is a 12 episode supernatural mystery based on the manga Boku Dake ga Inai Machi by Sanbei Kei. The series aired in Japan in the winter of 2016.
In 2006 Fujinuma Satoru is struggling to be a manga artists. He delivers pizza to cover his bills and sometimes finds himself repeating the last few minutes of time. The 'revival' as he calls it, act as a trigger to help him stop accidents. While on a delivery he experiences a revival that allows him to stop a runaway delivery truck from killing a child. In the process Satoru is hit by a car and put in a coma for a few days. His mother comes to Tokyo from her home in northern Japan to look after her injured son. Satoru resents his mother and tries to get her to leave.
While she stays with him she talks about a series of kidnappings and murders that happened when he was in 5th grade. Satoru had all but pushed the incident from his memory since two of the victims were classmates. He and his mother begin to look into the murders again, believing that the man convicted of them is innocent. Satoru's mother strikes a chord with her research and the real killer kills her to protect his secrets. Satoru comes home to find her body just as the police arrive. Targeted as suspect number one Satoru flees the police only to have another revival, finding himself 18 years in the past living in his 10 year old self's world. He see's this as an opportunity to stop the murders from then as a way to also save his mother back in the present. But what will he be able to do as a 10 year old to the rest of the world?
This is one of those rare shows that grabs you from the start and doesn't let go until it's over with. You go into the first episode expecting it to be about a guy who stops tragic accidents in his spare time while he struggles to live his dreams, dreams he has failed to achieve as an adult. Instead you dive head first into a who-dun-it mystery that plays on every ones anxiety about the choices they made in their past. The story actual story isn't the best part, its the process of Satoru reliving his life as a 10 year old but trying to use his 29 years of experience to help his friends from being murdered. He struggles with having a child's body and not being able to have any one understand that he's mentally traveled back in time. The first time he see's his mother after he held her dead body is powerful and the show doesn't hold back through its course.
A lot has been said about the artwork and directing of this series. It was done by, Ito Tomohiko, who cut his teeth working for Hosoda Mamoru. The background animation is very detailed while the character designs reflect the original designs of the manga and are a bit strange at times. The real strength though are the camera shots and the way the scenery is used to help tell the story, adding subtle material to the dialogue and character interactions. The only real complaint I have with the resolution of the climax. Everything leading up to it, essentially the entire series, was so well done. Just one thing with the final confrontation seemed a little cheap and a little over the top. But its nothing to destroy the series and it in no way or shape lessens the impact of this show. It's just something that annoyed me and seemed slightly lazy, stunt like if you will.
The series will more than likely see a disc release in North America, while you wait it can be viewed on Crunchyroll and Hulu streaming in Japanese with English subs. I also expect the manga, which wrapped up to coincide with the end of the anime, to be available in the near future in English as well. The series was amazing and shows what good writing and directing can do.
In 2006 Fujinuma Satoru is struggling to be a manga artists. He delivers pizza to cover his bills and sometimes finds himself repeating the last few minutes of time. The 'revival' as he calls it, act as a trigger to help him stop accidents. While on a delivery he experiences a revival that allows him to stop a runaway delivery truck from killing a child. In the process Satoru is hit by a car and put in a coma for a few days. His mother comes to Tokyo from her home in northern Japan to look after her injured son. Satoru resents his mother and tries to get her to leave.
While she stays with him she talks about a series of kidnappings and murders that happened when he was in 5th grade. Satoru had all but pushed the incident from his memory since two of the victims were classmates. He and his mother begin to look into the murders again, believing that the man convicted of them is innocent. Satoru's mother strikes a chord with her research and the real killer kills her to protect his secrets. Satoru comes home to find her body just as the police arrive. Targeted as suspect number one Satoru flees the police only to have another revival, finding himself 18 years in the past living in his 10 year old self's world. He see's this as an opportunity to stop the murders from then as a way to also save his mother back in the present. But what will he be able to do as a 10 year old to the rest of the world?
This is one of those rare shows that grabs you from the start and doesn't let go until it's over with. You go into the first episode expecting it to be about a guy who stops tragic accidents in his spare time while he struggles to live his dreams, dreams he has failed to achieve as an adult. Instead you dive head first into a who-dun-it mystery that plays on every ones anxiety about the choices they made in their past. The story actual story isn't the best part, its the process of Satoru reliving his life as a 10 year old but trying to use his 29 years of experience to help his friends from being murdered. He struggles with having a child's body and not being able to have any one understand that he's mentally traveled back in time. The first time he see's his mother after he held her dead body is powerful and the show doesn't hold back through its course.
A lot has been said about the artwork and directing of this series. It was done by, Ito Tomohiko, who cut his teeth working for Hosoda Mamoru. The background animation is very detailed while the character designs reflect the original designs of the manga and are a bit strange at times. The real strength though are the camera shots and the way the scenery is used to help tell the story, adding subtle material to the dialogue and character interactions. The only real complaint I have with the resolution of the climax. Everything leading up to it, essentially the entire series, was so well done. Just one thing with the final confrontation seemed a little cheap and a little over the top. But its nothing to destroy the series and it in no way or shape lessens the impact of this show. It's just something that annoyed me and seemed slightly lazy, stunt like if you will.
The series will more than likely see a disc release in North America, while you wait it can be viewed on Crunchyroll and Hulu streaming in Japanese with English subs. I also expect the manga, which wrapped up to coincide with the end of the anime, to be available in the near future in English as well. The series was amazing and shows what good writing and directing can do.
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