Anime Review Shigofumi: Letters from the Departed

So who remembers an anime by the name of Shinigami No Ballad? I'm sure most of you don't, but those who do remember it could probably recognize the similarities between it and Shigofumi.

Shigofumi, with animation produced by J.C. Staff, made its debut in January of 2008. The series started out almost like a collection of mini-stories, and eventually those help along the main storyline.

A Shigofumi is a letter from someone that has passed away, often to give them loving words or get revenge for something that happened in their lifetime. Fumika, and her talking staff by the name of Kanaka deliver the letters to whomever the deceased wished to write to.

I find this anime interesting for the fact that it takes a philosophical look on death, it makes you wonder what you would say in a letter to the living if you had suddenly died. In one of the episodes a girls father dies, and the father sends a letter to the girls lover to warn him that she is the one that murdered him.

In another episode a teenager wonders what it's like to just jump off of a building, and how it feels, so he jumps and then writes a letter back to his friend explaining what it was like. Mini-stories continue on for a bit but as they go you learn more about Fumika and her own unique situation.

Unlike the other mail carriers, Fumika actually ages, which brings up the question to whether or not shes really dead. Friends of hers from school recognize her and do their best to track her down, however, they had thought she had passed away.

Fumika, shot her own father, who happens to be an arrogant yet famous writer. He survived and continues to write, Fumika happens to bump into him one day and discovers that he still only thinks about himself.

Towards the end Fumika's friends find out that she never died, but she is actually in a coma at the nearby hospital. If Fumika is in a coma then, why is someone that looks just like her delivering letters to the dead?

You'll find yourself asking yourself the same thing while watching Shiofumi, with every twist you'll learn something new, and by the end you'll wish the show would get another season. For those of you wondering, the opening ("Kotodama" by Ali Project) is a bit strange, but it grows on you. The closing theme ("Chain" by Snow) is pretty much the same way, but they fit the show perfectly.

Recently Bandai Visual USA has licensed Shigofumi for distribution so we'll see it over in the states pretty soon. If you happen to check out Shigofumi and you like it, try out Shinigami No Ballad as well, it's filled with mini-stories about a shinigami that has does her best to grant the last wishes of the dead.

I recommend Shigofumi to anyone that wants to see some potentially touching dramatic scenes, or for those who want to be brought along for a thrill ride from beyond the grave. It will keep you guessing through its twelve episode run, and leave you wanting me.

Two thumbs up!