"Welcome back, everyone." With that
phrase, Kadokawa confirmed during the live-streamed special
for the 20th anniversary of Higurashi: When They Cry that
a new anime in the franchise is in production. There's no studio, no cast, no
release date yet, but the tagline already says enough about the intent of the
announcement: this is a comeback.
The announcement came as part of the
celebration of two decades since the debut of the original television
adaptation, making the event the perfect setting to revive the franchise. For
now, details such as the animation studio, creative staff, voice cast or a
release date have not been revealed. That information is expected in the coming
months as production progresses.
What is clear is that Higurashi still has a
dedicated fan base more than twenty years after its debut, and the announcement
during the anniversary event generated immediate excitement among those who
have followed the series through its various adaptations over the decades.
About Higurashi: When They Cry
Higurashi: When They Cry (Higurashi no Naku
Koro ni) was
born as a visual novel developed by 07th Expansion, with its first
chapter presented at Comiket in 2002. The story takes place in a quiet rural
village and follows a group of friends who become embroiled in a series of
mysterious murders related to an annual festival. The franchise is known for
its psychological horror and multi-arc structure that explore different
possibilities and outcomes for the same events. The first anime adaptation
aired in 2006 with 26 episodes, followed by the sequel When They Cry
II: Solutions in 2007. Most recently, the franchise returned
with Higurashi: When They Cry – Gou in 2020 and its
sequel Sotsu in 2021.
