ERASED (2016) Review

A time-travel mystery driven by emotion, suspense, and consequence.

Erased is a mystery-thriller cartoon based on the manga by Kei Sanbe. The original name of the show was Boku dake ga Inai Machi, which means "The Town Where Only I Am Missing." A-1 Pictures made the show. This studio is known for big hits like Sword Art Online and Your Lie in April, which helped build its reputation for telling emotional stories and ensuring high production quality.

The cartoon was directed by Tomohiko Itō, who also worked on Sword Art Online. Taku Kishimoto composed the series' music. Erased had a strong base even before it came out, thanks to its skilled staff. Yuki Kajiura wrote the music for it. 

Kajiura is known for creating moody, emotional music for many anime projects. While he's not having any luck with his creative job, he works as a pizza delivery driver. On the other hand, Satoru has a strange power called "Revival" that sends him back in time a few minutes whenever something dangerous is about to happen. 

At first, this ability seems like a small way to fix things—it lets him avoid accidents that he mentally knows about but can't fully process.

This changes a lot when his mother is killed, and Satoru is wrongly blamed for the crime, even though he was at the scene of the crime. As he runs away from the police, his Revival power goes off in a strange and extreme way: instead of sending him back minutes, it sends him 18 years into the past, to 1988, when he was a kid.

Now that Satoru is in his younger self, he understands that the murder of his mother is linked to a string of kidnappings and deaths that happened in his original timeline. Kayo Hinazuki, a friend who is reserved and has been subjected to a great deal of abuse, is one of the primary victims. As a result of his desire to alter the course of events, Satoru becomes deeply involved in her life, forming friendships with her, shielding her from any harm, and working to prevent the terrible chain of events from unfolding.

As the story unfolds, it becomes both a murder mystery and a psychological survival story. Satoru isn't like most heroes because he can't know everything about the future; he has to rely on what he sees, his gut feelings, and his relationships with others. This makes things tense because everything he does could change things in a way that no one saw coming.

One of the novel's very best aspects is the way it connects different eras. The events that will take place in the future, as well as Satoru's childhood and adult life, are intertwined. The individuals who are important to him, such as Kayo, Kenya, his mother, and, subsequently, Airi, provide him with emotional support and help him develop.

The story, on the other hand, moves at an uneven pace. The first few shows are well-written and keep you guessing, but later parts rely too much on convenient plot twists and obvious plot coincidences. Early on, it's easy to guess what some reveals will be, especially about the bad guy. This makes the mystery less interesting.

Even so, the story still has a lot of emotional weight. Trauma, neglect, friendship, and the need to protect others, even when the outcome is unknown, are themes that recur throughout the show. Satoru's journey is less about solving a mystery than about trying to make the future better, even though the odds are against him.

There are two main plot lines in Erased: the mystery in the present day and the study into what happened in childhood.

In the present, Satoru's life is boring and full of failure until his mother is killed, and he has to go into survival mode. As a starting point, this part moves him into the past, which is where most of the story takes place. Over time, the narrative evolves into an investigation that gradually deepens while maintaining the appearance of a slice-of-life school story.

Gradually, Satoru becomes acquainted with his classmates, particularly Kayo, and he begins to develop feelings for her. While this is going on, he is investigating patterns that might be linked to future catastrophic events. Because speed is measured, emotional connections can form naturally. What makes the development successful is Satoru's evolution.

Although he has a mature mind that helps him formulate solutions, his childlike body makes it difficult for him to handle situations. In light of this, intelligence is not sufficient on its own; he must also rely on confidence, empathy, and timing. Kenya turns out to be one of his most important friends. She is both a moral compass and a sneaky observer who can tell that Satoru is different.

Airi, who appears later in the current timeline, maintains the plot's continuity in a separate timeline by sharing a similar perspective on the unfolding events. Nevertheless, the development begins to weaken as it progresses through its final stages. There are parts of the story that feel too convenient, especially when bad guys act worse or end too fast.

Some character choices seem to be made more for the sake of the story than because they are naturally driven to do so. Even so, one of the best things about the series is still the emotional benefit of saving Kayo and changing her life. The concept of the butterfly effect is constantly being promoted, which states that even seemingly insignificant decisions made in the past can have a significant impact on the future.

To a much greater extent than its fast animation, Erased's stunning appearance is due to its gloomy design. In 1988, Hokkaido is blanketed in snow, creating a chilly, solitary atmosphere that aligns with the story's emotional tone. The backgrounds are stable and full of detail, making them more realistic than stylized.

One interesting method is how the visual framing changes from one timeline to the next.

The timeline for adults is shown in full widescreen, while the timeline for children is often presented in a more constrained, cinematic way, making it feel like a memory or observation. This small change makes the story better without taking attention away from it. The character drawings are simple but convey a lot.

People often use their faces, particularly their eyes, to show how they're feeling, like when they're scared, shocked, guilty, or suspicious. This is very important in scenes with a lot of tension. Symbolic choices in the visuals, such as using red to signal danger or an evil purpose, can feel over-the-top at times, but they also add to the story's psychological tension.

The sound design in Erased is simple but effective. In most cases, the background music does not take over situations; rather, it contributes to scenes that are both emotional and frightening. There is a strong tendency toward melancholy and tension throughout the soundtrack, which contributes to the overall feeling of mystery. 

Although Yuki Kajiura's influence is evident in the music's emotional depth, the series does not place significant emphasis on instrumental themes that stand out. Rather than that, it works to maintain a consistent mood in you.

"Re:Re:" is the opening theme for Asian Kung-Fu Generation, and it has a bright, nostalgic vibe that doesn't mesh with the rest of the show. On the other hand, the ending theme of Sayuri's "Sore wa Chiisana Hikari no Youna" has a more introspective, emotional sound, which is a good fit for the show's themes of optimism and perseverance.

A good way to enhance tension is through sound effects, particularly in moments of great suspense. It is also possible to use silence as a tactical tool, particularly when someone is experiencing an epiphany or an emotional encounter.

The most meaningful aspects of Erased are the stories it tells and the relationships it establishes between its characters.

This is especially true when it comes to illustrating Satoru's development and his ties to Kayo and other characters. The concept of time travel is not actually utilized as a plot device in science fiction; rather, it is utilized to tell a story about disappointment, obligation, and redemption in a manner that is emotionally engaging. Nevertheless, there are a few issues with the series. 

Because of the predictable plot twists, the slowdowns in later episodes, and the excessive number of convenient stories, it cannot be classified as a mystery thriller. Although it has some shortcomings, it makes up for them with its virtues in setting, writing that makes you feel, and character development.