Is Erased (Boku dake ga Inai Machi) A Good Anime?
In a pinch, Erased (2016) is a 12 episode anime that falls inches short of perfection. So yes, it is more than just a “good anime to watch.” In fact I would go as far to say that this anime is a must watch. As anime is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, Erased is definitely one that should be drawing more attention. It is not underrated by any means, and this anime falls into a much more prestigious category than your typical seasonal anime.
Erased is about a 29 year old aspiring mangaka—Satoru—and his abilities known as “Revival.” This ability allows for Satoru to have a premonition that something bad is going to happen around him, and it is his duty to find out what it is before it happens. His unique ability usually sends him back a few minutes in time to asses his surroundings, and fix whatever could be wrong.
Now that I have explained the basics, allow me to delve deeper into why this series should be considered one of the best.
The easiest place to start off is the opening episode. It is not uncommon (especially for seasonal anime) to kick things off with an over-the-top episode that doesn’t reflect the true intentions of certain characters. It is also very common to see an anime that doesn’t quite have “legs” underneath its plot until episode five or six. However this is not the case for “Erased.”
Erased is gripping from the very beginning. As mentioned before, the series opens up with a display of what our main character is already capable of. He’s just a regular guy with a unique ability, and we know this because he is does “hero work” while on the job as a pizza delivery guy. The plot gets moving very quickly as the opening episode climaxes with a shocking reveal: Satoru’s abilities got someone he loves killed, and now he must go back in time to fix it. In order to right the wrong, Revival sent him back 18 years into the past.
He was sent back to 1988, and in this year, three kids around his age were kidnapped and murdered. Much of the story revolves itself around a young girl named Kayo. Satoru remembers that Kayo is the first girl to be kidnapped in the series of kidnappings. Condensing it down, Satoru believes that if he can catch the kidnapper, he can prevent the bad future from happening. The plot then unravels all of its twists, turns, and obstacles as Satoru does everything he can to protect Kayo.
At its core, Erased is a detective “whodunnit” type of ordeal. Not only does Satoru need to solve this case for his future self, but he must save Kayo from her abusive household. Kayo comes from a home where she is beaten by her mother, and her mother’s boyfriend. This gives the series an even darker edge then what is already at hand. It’s this that motivates the relationship Satoru and Kayo have. He knows that if he can isolate Kayo from her mother, she will not be kidnapped and murdered.
This also allows for major character development. Viewers get to see Kayo realize that there are people who are willing to protect her. One moment in the show that exemplifies this is when Kayo eats breakfast at Satoru’s house. As she gazes upon the food, she breaks down in tears because she had never had a proper breakfast up until this point. “Erased” gives Satoru and Kayo a lot of room to build their relationship, and while it never goes full on “young love story,” that element is very much present, and it’s something that the series does not shy away from.
While some may find it strange when they hear this series features a 10 year old girl having a “relationship” with a 29 year old man in his 10 year old body, “Erased” does an amazing job at handling this situation. After all, Satoru’s true intentions are to save Kayo; not to fall in love with her.
At episode nine, the “Kayo arc” ends, and now Satoru focuses his efforts on protecting the two other victims, and finding the kidnapper. It is in this show’s final episodes when things get a little rocky. The kidnapper and his motives are revealed. It might not come as much of a surprise to viewers, but the way it is plated in the show makes the kidnapper seem incredibly disturbing.
The ending to this series is good, but it is not as good as should have been. “Erased” was able to tell the story it did in a matter of 12 episodes. As great as the show is, it is my opinion that that the shortness of the show starts wearing down the plot in the end.
The series closes out on a very high note, however, I do feel like there was a lot more that should have been done. We spend a lot of time in this anime watching the growth of Satoru and Kayo, and in the final episodes, Kayo’s role (while still important) is not as important as it should have been.
I am fully aware that “Erased” is based off a manga with the same name. I also know that the ending of the manga dives into other character arcs. Even though the anime has a great ending, I was hoping to see Kayo’s character taken in a different direction.
She plays such a major role in the first nine episodes, but once her arc is over, she literally gets erased from the plot. I know that Kayo plays a part in Satoru’s future, but I can’t help but feel like there was some wasted potential with her character. I mean, she is featured alongside Satoru in the anime’s cover photo, and I just wished to see further progression of their relationship in the future.
Other than this plot element, I still believe that “Erased” is a great series. It deals with such serious subjects, but it packages them in a way that doesn’t make it frightening to watch. You are left on the edge of your seat with every episode—it’d be hard to watch this series and have no reaction. I spent much of this series with my jaw to the floor, pointing at the screen when something crazy was happening.
This show is a prime example that anime can transcend any border of limitation people put on animation. It’s a triumphant feat for anime as a medium, and for all the people who contributed to the anime’s production. Is this series the greatest time-travel anime there is? It is definitely near the top of my list, and it probably is the same for many others who saw it.
Although I wanted to see Kayo’s character taken in another direction, I feel like the ending to this anime is well done in the time it had. It’s better than “great,” but it falls just short of being “incredible.”
ERASED (Boku dake ga Inai Machi)
9/10
