Undead Girl Murder Farce is more than just a chilling, yet quirky title, it’s a compelling new anime series that breathes new life into the whodunit genre. With a protagonist whose deductive prowess rivals that of the infamous Sherlock Holmes, and a narrative teeming with twists and dark appeal, it draws a parallel to the stories of the world’s most infamous detective, and does what BBC’s Sherlock did in regard to telling stories and weaving in characters from different lore into the same world in an innovative way.
A curious blend of intellect and intrigue connects the protagonists of this tale Tsugaru Shinuchi, an Oni – a half-human, half-demon ‘Demon Killer’, and Aya Rind, an immortal being who has been beheaded by a mysterious man who is also in possession of her body. Undead Girl Murder Farce sees both protagonists journeying together across continents and solving cases and crossing paths with legendary characters and monsters: vampires, werewolves, Arsene Lupin, and even the Phantom of the Opera. They do this while on the hunt for the man who took Aya Rind’s body. This hybrid form of serialized storytelling is exactly what makes the series a must-see for fans of the BBC’s Sherlock.
Tsugaru Shinuchi and Aya Rind Defy Traditional Pairings
Tsugaru Shinuchi and Aya Rind, the dynamic duo at the heart of Undead Girl Murder Farce, stand apart from conventional anime pairings. Though their contract to work together starts off with a kiss, ultimately that is as far as that goes. Their collaboration to solve cryptic cases without resorting to flirtatious banter or stereotypical lechery shows their relationship thrives on mutual respect, though Tsugaru’s dorky and at time reckless behavior does result in Aya reigning him in every once in a while. They work together symbiotically with Aya using her brain and Tsugaru the brawn, complementing one another in their relentless pursuit of truth.
Aya Rind defies traditional expectations, emerging as a symbol of strength through her vast intellect. Her ability to solve puzzles and mysteries, isn’t just a footnote; it’s the core of the story, and drives the overarching plot forward. Rind is able to connect seemingly unrelated clues and her fearlessness in challenging a prime suspect, even when that suspect seems unlikely, showcases her analytical power. Aya is able to pinpoint an old man’s crumbling relationship with his wife by simply looking at his unwashed clothes, loose buttons, and his fingers. In a medium where female characters might often be reduced to objectification, Rind’s visual representation, a bodiless head, sets her apart. As if the anime alone wasn’t enough to entice Sherlock fans, Undead Girl Murder Farce introduces Sherlock into the series along with his sidekick Watson, and even Sherlock’s brother Mycroft. Sherlock comments on Aya’s intellect and the two face off in a battle of wit during the anime’s fifth and sixth episodes.
Undead Girl Murder Farce Lives Up to Its Name
Undead Girl Murder Farce doesn’t just intrigue with its title; it delivers on its promise, plunging the viewer into a world filled with murder, mystery, and the macabre. From Tsugaru and Aya’s first case that deals with the murder of a vampire’s wife, the whodunit anime sets a dark tone that is witty and humorous. This balancing of grim themes with a narrative that’s as entertaining as it is engaging is what makes the series perfect for fans of BBC’s Sherlock, a series that had a similar type of balance in regard to its tone. Undead Girl Murder Farce is very self-aware and doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s what makes it so great.
What sets Undead Girl Murder Farce apart from other anime series of similar genre is its ability to weave witty humor into a narrative that deals with a talking severed head, murder, and mystery. Yet, the title says it all – it is ultimately a farce, an intentional deliberate narrative choice that is very aware of how wild the situation within the story is. Undead Girl Murder Farce doesn’t shy away from having an entire anime episode be dialogue-heavy without any major action sequences. In fact, it is that witty banter and power of deduction that showcases the anime’s strengths in breaking out of the box. An episode long monologue by Aya Rind doesn’t dilute the suspense but rather amplifies it and creates a unique and captivating viewing experience.
Several Plot-lines Weave Undead Girl Murder Farce Together
Undead Girl Murder Farce is a hybrid of serialized and episodic storytelling format. Every few episodes follow a case that Aya and Tsugaru must unravel. The first four episodes, for example, dealt with the murder of the vampire’s wife, and then the narrative moved on to the next case which will, in turn, span another few episodes. This dual structure ensures the narrative remains fresh and captivating, pulling viewers into both the immediate intrigue and the larger, unfolding mystery.
The quest to find Aya’s body is still at the center of the overarching narrative. The ongoing pursuit to find the old man with the golden ‘M’ on his cane, who also happens to be the man that stole Aya’s body, provides that continuous thread that connects all the individual cases together. With every episode and every solved case Aya and Tsugaru inch their way closer to crossing paths with that old man. Not only that, but each episode also enriches the world of the story, expands on the characters, like Arsene Lupin, the Phantom of the Opera, and even James Moriarty, that will ultimately all clash together, and reveals new facets of Tsugaru and Aya’s relationship and shared determination.
The intrigue, intellect, and innovative storytelling of Undead Girl Murder Farce make it a perfect match for those who have eagerly wandered the streets of London with Sherlock Holmes. It shares a kinship with BBC’s Sherlock not just in its focus on deduction and case-solving, but in the way it continually challenges and surprises its audience. Just as Sherlock unravels the complexities of human nature and crime, so do Tsugaru and Aya Rind, navigating the world where mystery, witty banter, and profound relationships intertwine.
The affinity between Undead Girl Murder Farce and BBC’s Sherlock is rooted in the deep respect for the craft of storytelling and witty, intellectual characters that break tropes. Whether it’s the unexpected twists, the blend of humor with darkness, or the quest-driven narrative that balances between episodic and serialized storytelling, Undead Girl Murder Farce is a must-see for those who are not only fans of Sherlock Holmes, but of all sleuth centric tales of murder and mystery.