September, 1998: In the city where Shiki lives, something triggers a spate of mysterious schoolgirl
suicides. The connection between the girls who've leapt to their deaths is unclear, although all of
them have jumped from the Fujou Building, a skyscraper scheduled to be demolished.
(Source: Aniplex USA)
_The Garden of Sinners Chapter 1_ (KNK 1 from here on out) is a film that very much feels like what it in practical terms is, a setup for later adventures in its universe, effectively the first "episode" of a "series" consisting of these films. KNK 1 is not terribly concerned with getting you up to speed regarding its characters or its narrative, our protagonist is Shiki, a sort of hitman of supernatural beings (though again the film does not go out of its way to really make this clear) who works on behalf of a pair of paranormal investigators named Kokutou (who spends most of the film unconscious) and Aozaki, the latter of whom is also a magus although again here the film more or less glosses over this point. Of these three only Shiki herself gets any real focus, and the film is short enough that that's not a major problem. The plot--such as it is--concerns a rash of suicides, all perpetuated by young women who jump off the roof of the same building, an abandoned skyscraper called The Fujou Building. Kokutou goes to investigate and, after falling unconscious not long after returning, Shiki does as well. There she--and I am glossing over a lot here--meets a group of ghosts (one of whom is technically an astral projection), stabs herself in the (artificial) hand while fighting said ghost because the ghost possesses it, gets a replacement hand, returns to the tower, meets the ghosts again and succeeds at laying them to rest and returning the astral projection to her body. There's a bit more to the plot but that is the gist of it. What's not conveyed here is that it's paced *extremely* quickly, and the end result is an odd narrative knot of a film that doesn't really seem to care whether or not you understand what's happening on a literal level. While this all probably *sounds* very negative what it really means is that KNK 1 is a project that gets by on strengths of tone, atmosphere, and direction. Let's discuss the visuals. They're simply gorgeous, and anyone familiar with ufotable's other Nasuverse adaptions knows what to expect here. Characters are rendered with just the right amount of detail and each has a distinctive, memorable design (which is not easy given the character designs skew realistic in style), everyone has beautiful, glassy eyes, and the backdrops range from "pretty" to "jaw-dropping". In particular, the shots we get of the moon are simply gorgeous, and the abandoned Fujou Building is drawn with such care that it'd be harder to believe it *weren't* based on a real location. The fight choreography warrants a mention too. Even though there are just two major physical conflicts in the film (both involving Shiki and the tower phantoms), both are handled with an airy weightlessness that, given who is fighting, makes perfect sense. When Shiki draws her knife and her eyes begin to glow, even if we in the audience don't necessarily have the *context* for these weapons, it's immediately apparent how powerful they are, and how strong she is. The music, composed by Yuki Kajiura (_.hack//Sign_, _Fate/Zero_, cult classic-in-the-making _Princess Principal_, countless others) is similarly ethereal. Crescendoing to strange, unearthly peaks at opportune times, such as during Shiki's second encounter with the phantoms. So what you're left with at the end of the day with KNK1 is a film that is paced bizarrely--it is clearly *not* meant for neophytes to the franchise, simply given how little is explained--but has a lot of appeal simply for how atmospheric and mysterious it is. It could certainly benefit from being longer, and more care could've been given to point the audience in the right direction in terms of the plot and worldbuilding, but by the time I was finished watching KNK1 had so impressed me off its visual and aural strengths that I simply didn't care, and was fully willing to consider more entries in the series.
the Garden of sinners Chapter 1: Thanatos (Overlooking View), or Kara no Kyoukai: Fukan Fuukei, is a slow start to the series overall. I don't know much about the series, only that I do believe it is part of the larger Fate world with magicians and magic abound. And I don't think it is a very good introduction to the world really if you are looking for answers or explanations as to what is occurring. Many aspects get introduced without any explanations as to how they fit into the world, and what is going on. This movie did do a good job of presenting philosophical ideas and giving you time to understand what they are talking about though. It will present an idea and then just do some nice slow pans of the characters moving or of the city in general to let you digest them before moving on. # ~~~Story~~~ Overall the story in this first movie was bare bones. It was decent, you understand where is goes and how it gets there certainly. But I don't feel like it was outstanding, merely a way to introduce the characters to you and show you some of the world. And I don't really get the idea that this movie will have any lasting effects on the other movies or the characters. # ~~~Characters~~~ The introduction to these characters made me definitely interested in learning more about them. Who are they, what are their histories, how did they all come together, and what are their goals are all questions I will love to see unfold in the upcoming movies. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like they got explored much this movie being more a way to set up the characters to be explored later. And help you place them in the world that will help build on them more in the future. # ~~~Visuals~~~ Being a ufotable production means you really know what you are getting already from the beginning. Really stunning action scenes that you have to expect from ufotable, and some amazing looking shots of the characters filled with detail. Gorgeous slow pans just filled with detail and color that make so many shots background worthy. Small details pack many backgrounds giving them lots of depth and make them stand out. Overall everything combines to help assist in the amazing atmosphere of the movie. # ~~~Sound~~~ Man did I love the music and sounds throughout this movie. It was really strong and powerful, and helped add to the atmosphere of the show. It always felt like it fit the scenes right and added so much to the movie. Helping to just keep you interesting even when nothing was going on with the story or the characters.
For my first review on AniList, I will be reviewing the first _Kara no Kyoukai_ (_The Garden of Sinners_, also known as _Rakkyo_ in Japan) film. _Kara no Kyoukai_ is a movie series based on the webnovels by Nasu Kinoko of _Fate/stay night_ (and all of its innumerable spinoffs and AU stories) and _Tsukihime_ fame. After five chapters were published on the dōjin-based website owned by him and long-time collaborative partner Takashi Takeuchi, _Takebōki_ , the final two were ultimately sold at Comiket 56 in August 1999. Although this would not be the last time that the novels were published as dōjinshi (the duo would do so again by featuring a portion of the novel on the _TSUKIHIME FAN-DISC_ and at Comiket 61 in December 2001), it wasn't until August 2004 that Kodansha picked up the novels for commercial publication. KnK is widely considered by TypeMoon fans to be Nasu and Takeuchi's earliest published work despite it having mostly being written prior to TypeMoon establishing itself as a corporation around the time _Fate/stay night_ was released in January 2004. It is officially the first series to be considered part of the fan-coined "Nasuverse" meta-franchise, which includes all of the works penned and commissioned by Nasu such as _Fate_ and _Tsukihime_ (although he has stated that _Kara no Kyoukai_ takes place in an alternate universe but that's neither here nor there). After the success of the novels, in 2007 Ufotable began releasing the film adaptations with this film, _Overlooking View_. The structure of the narrative intertwining these films is in anachronical order, which is polarizing to even the most seasoned anime fans, as well as those for TypeMoon and movies in general. I very much enjoy the films for this that I have seen and don't have an issue with the structure myself, so I ultimately decided to rewatch the first two before writing this review (and also because I was in the mood given the return of the collaboration event in _Fate/Grand Order_ going on now). _Overlooking View_ is an odd film. Clocking in at only 50 minutes, it wastes no time in throwing the viewer into the world of protagonist Ryougi Shiki who fights ghosts and other supernatural entities while investigating the paranormal for a mysterious detective agency led by Aozaki Touko (all while struggling with an identity crisis involving her split personality disorder, though she doesn't seem to do much of that in this film). Since _Overlooking View_ takes place before the events of the fifth film, _Paradox Paradigm_, many things about it will not make sense (including the nature of her abilities and condition) until the viewer has seen several more of the films. It took a few viewings for this film to ultimately click with me, but there's a lot to like about this movie. It's a very tense piece heavily reflecting the Lost Decade when Nasu initially wrote the webnovel that can't only be watched once, and has stellar direction by Aoki Ei who is excellent at building an atmosphere when it ultimately counts. Ufotable's composite and art direction is simple and favors orange and green-blue palettes. But its all very effective at conveying the desolate vibe and the decaying architecture of city Shiki lives and works in, and the solitude she faces when her partner Kokutou Mikiya is not present due to being in a comatose state. Kajiura Yuki's score completes the set ofc, striking the perfect mood. Were it not for all of the obtuse philosophical musing and the events in this timeline being out of sequence, this would be a somewhat easygoing yet no less engrossing film to watch. The ultimate adversary of this film, suspected to be the cause of the schoolgirl suicides Shiki is investigating, is Kirie Fujō. As a terminally ill bed-ridden patient with the powers of astral projection and possession (heavily resembling the Ikiryo, a Japanese "living ghost), she expresses extreme loneliness which prompts her to possess the schoolgirls who died and put Mikiya in a coma due to her infatuation with him. After Shiki fights and ultimately kills their ghosts and Kirie's astral projection while confessing her crimes to Touko, Kirie commits suicide by falling from the building she haunted. When I initially watched this film the first two times, I kind of felt like her case wasn't ultimately solved in spite of her explanation and her passing on. Now on my third viewing, I see that it actually was, although I still have questions regarding her backstory (keep in mind that I have only seen the first five films). All in all, despite its inextricable connections to continuity and an occasionally verbose screenplay by Hiramatsu Masaki that for the most part only bogs down the pacing in a few moments, Overlooking View is a solid first film for this series. However, don't expect to have context for much of what is shown here before having seen the other films. I still believe that the mysteries Nasu provides us with are engaging and well thought out enough for people to stick with the series to in order to get more answers, but that may not be the case for everyone. Still, hopefully the tone and atmosphere of this film is enough to satisfy viewers, as the following films do not let up on what made this one work in the slightest. However, I do find the next film, Murder Speculation Part 1, to be a far stronger film overall. It also serves as a better introduction to the series based on it taking place 3 years before _Overlooking View_, although some mysteries around Shiki's condition still yet remain. I will be reviewing that one later though, so if you liked this review, look forward to my next one!
[Kara no Kyoukai](https://anilist.co/anime/2593/Kara-no-Kyoukai-Fukan-Fuukei/) (EN The Garden Of Sinners)[: Fukan Fuukei](https://anilist.co/anime/2593/Kara-no-Kyoukai-Fukan-Fuukei/) é uma introdução ao universo da obra. A princípio esta história foi criada no formato de light novel em 1998 por [Kinoko Nasu](https://anilist.co/staff/98250/Kinoko-Nasu) da empresa [Type-Moon,](https://anilist.co/staff/97582/TypeMoon) ambos de mesmo nome, Kara no Kyoukai. ~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/ZCTJh6f.jpg)~~~ #####~~~__Capa do primeiro volume da Light Novel__~~~ Esta empresa também foi responsável pelas adaptações das VNs de Fate, Tsukihime, Mahoutsukai no Yoru entre outros. O estúdio [ufotable](https://anilist.co/studio/43/ufotable) foi encarregado de fazer a adaptação do anime, no qual alocou [Ei Aoki](https://anilist.co/staff/107163/Ei-Aoki) para diretor, cujo principal trabalho de direção foi no anime Fate/Zero. #__Sinopse:__ Em um mistério mórbido, que instigava a mídia local a fazer constantes matérias, era retratado uma sequência incomum de suicídios contínuos do mesmo edifício, no qual as vítimas não possuíam quaisquer ligações. Mas por quê? E qual o motivo de sempre ocorrer neste mesmo edifício, todo dia, que deveria ser demolido a tanto tempo? --- A estrutura da análise consistirá em: __- Personagens__ __- História__ __- Questões técnicas__ __- Crítica__ __- Conclusão__ --- #__Personagens:__ __Shiki Ryougi__ é uma personagem feminina apática, desanimada e despreocupada, mesmo sendo uma boneca artificial, foi acomodado uma alma neste corpo, mas ainda sim, é como se ainda faltasse algo para estar de fato viva. ~~~img220(https://s4.anilist.co/file/anilistcdn/character/large/b3105-lI0m8vJ3JQK1.png)~~~ Aparenta ter algo semelhante a [Síndrome de Cotard](https://revistardp.org.br/revista/article/view/160#:~:text=A%20s%C3%ADndrome%20de%20Cotard%20%C3%A9,corpo%20e%20del%C3%ADrios%20de%20imortalidade.), principalmente devido aos _"delírios de não existência relativos ao próprio corpo"_ como pode ser comprovado em: ~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/7jqHxCu.png)~~~ #####~~~_"Não conheço a sensação de estar viva nem a dor dos vivos"_~~~ ~!Mesmo assim, possui sentimentos pelo Mikiya Kokutou.!~ __Mikiya Kokutou__ é um garoto animado e que faz parte da dupla de Shiki. ~~~img220(https://s4.anilist.co/file/anilistcdn/character/large/b5267-aBSt3ADW1fvW.png)~~~ --- #__História:__ Perante a combinação de mistério, sobrenatural e ação, temos a protagonista da história sendo Shiki Ryougi (uma garota capaz de ver _“linhas da morte”_ em seres vivos ou coisas não-vivas, acompanhada de Mikiya Kokutou (um garoto que estava interessado no caso dos suicídios) envolvoltos para resolver este caso com a mentoria de Touko Aozaki. Mikiya acabou se envolvendo sem cuidado no caso, mesmo sendo instruído, e acaba perdendo sua “alma” temporariamente, ficando na maior parte do tempo inconsciente, obrigando Shiki a resolver o caso sozinha. Para isso ela se desloca ao edifício a fim de investigar. Descobrindo a pessoa responsável pelos suicídios, uma "fantasma". Derrotando-as em seu segundo encontro, acaba libertando a alma de todas as garotas que cometeram suicídio porém a causadora não era exclusivamente uma fantasma. Durante seu conflito nos é revelado que as assombrações conseguem influenciar no nosso modo de pensar, que é conhecido como “sugestão”; por possuirmos desejos, por sermos vivos, assim é submetido qualquer um à morte. Posteriormente irei explicar o porquê isso não afeta Shiki, e em relação a alguns dos seus poderes, não foi explicado neste primeiro filme. É apresentado posteriormente a menina responsável pelo suicídio das outras garotas, Kirie Fujyou, e um pouco do funcionamento de fantasmas neste mundo, como uma alma pode ser dividida em dois corpos. Neste caso, por uma frustrada tentativa de suicídio. E mesmo agora podendo viver fora do hospital que estava internada a tanto tempo por meio deste outro corpo, queria amigas, que foram obtidas por meio do uso da “sugestão”, mas as mesmas por estarem mortas, não são como uma pessoa normal, não possuem consciência igual ela. No fim ela se arrepende de seus pecados, mas não consegue pensar num futuro a si mesma e decide terminar o caminho que não conseguiu realizar no passado. Finalmente Mikiya é libertado após uma conversa entre Kirie Fujyou e Touko Aozaki (a mentora da dupla), mostrando como ela o conheceu e qual foi sua influência na vida dela. --- #__Questões técnicas:__ Mesmo em 2007 é um visual bem incomum, apelado para um realista, mesmo aparentado como _“simples”_, possui traços que iriam moldar como seguiria o visual de fate posteriormente, uma marca do estúdio ufotable. Com uma fluidez constante, palhetas de cores chamativas, movimentação de câmera contínua e uma direção ativa, resulta em constantes cenas de contemplação, seja em ação, ou movimentos mais calmos. ~~~youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rfegRjLj0I)~~~ #####~~~_Clímax da ação_~~~ Acompanhados de trilhas sonoras majestosas, encantando muito das cenas, é tudo um grande e belo vislumbre visual. --- #__Crítica:__ Há uma discussão constante em toda a história envolvendo os suicídios, por que as pessoas fazem, o que reflete sobre sua atitude, o modo de pensar. O clímax de toda essa constante discussão se dá na reflexão sobre a diferença entre _“flutuar”_ ou “voar”. Porque nossos pecados não devem influenciar no caminho que tomamos,_ “flutuar”_ ou _“voar”_, são ações que ditam nosso futuro e não o passado. Mas a grandiosidade que o futuro apresenta, seu vislumbre, não parece pertencer a você, a penumbra de uma melancolia, cega, tudo que você sabe ou sente não parece mais fazer tanto sentido, e nessa hora, pode ser, que o futuro nem sequer venha e foi isso que ocorreu com Kirie Fujyou. Um texto prematuro mas ainda sim interessante, conceitos que no mínimo chamam atenção pela seriedade e postura sobre o assunto. Em contraponto temos uma ordem descronólogica dos filmes, com nulo desenvolvimento de personagem. Mas por ser uma introdução, tais decisões fazem sentido e podem ter sido espertas? Para mim, sim, a escolha do foco sendo o suicídio e todo resto sendo a retração sobre o assunto foi astuta, a flexibilidade das escolhas, principalmente de diálogos com o conto foram muito bem utilizadas, evitando a expositividade mas transmitindo a mensagem de uma forma compreensível a seu público. --- #__Conclusão:__ Kara No Kyoukai mostrou-se como uma surpresa pelos temas retratados, e a forma como foram abordados, acredito ser a primeira história do autor com tal dinâmica. Caso de fato seja o principal foco da narrativa (mesmo podendo ser abordado de diferentes formas) e tudo seja entrelaçado para um clímax, dificilmente, não vou gostar dos próximos. ___“Pode ser extremista, mas acho que a morte é uma fuga Há momento que você quer fugir Não posso negá-los nem refutá-los Pois Também sou uma pessoa fraca”___ ___- Kokutou, Mikiya___