This Monster Wants to Eat Me promises melancholy, voracious longing, and supernatural brutality — and so far, it’s done little to satiate my appetite. Having had this story on my radar for quite some time, I approached the anime adaptation with high hopes, believing the relatively lackluster teasers were concealing the magic that would unfold. Perhaps due to my expectation of greater tension, the first episode felt rather bland, and the second veered in a direction that only complicates the viewing experience further.
I’d anticipated the first episode would elaborate on the synopsis, but no additional information is provided within these 20 minutes. Everything unfolds as sparsely as the synopsis states: Hinako gets attacked by a monster; Shiori saves her; Shiori vows to eat her. There’s no extra detail, aside from the minor mystery of why Shiori didn’t just eat Hinako in that moment (though the answer was already hinted at in one of the trailers). Had the animation executed this inciting incident with more grandeur, the lack of additional plot might’ve been overlooked, but even with the scenes of the iso-onna attacking Hinako before getting ripped to shreds, the assault feels underwhelming.
©2024 Sai Naekawa/KADOKAWA/Project WatatabeThe other production elements unfortunately contribute to this mediocrity. I didn’t realize how crucial silence in sound composition is until I witnessed Hinako quietly waking up in her room, with only the sound of birds outside and the ping of her phone. This silence should have felt heavy, uneasy, and numb, given Hinako’s despondency after her family’s death. Instead, it just feels slightly awkward. The silence is rather flat without any eerie white noise, and the chirps and text tone that break the stillness convey an air of peacefulness rather than the intended gloom. The poor sound design continues throughout episode 1; the very literal portrayal of Hinako being underwater as a metaphor for her depression (which I tired of after its second use) is weakly supplemented by the muffled soundscape. Furthermore, the iso-onna attempting to consume Hinako emits a distorted shrill reminiscent of a Persona 5 shadow — which is to say, it’s not particularly frightening.
©2024 Sai Naekawa/KADOKAWA/Project WatatabeI’m uncertain whether this story should be categorized under the horror genre or if its supernatural elements possess some horror qualities, which could shed light on some of these restrained animation choices. Nonetheless, the overall serious tone does not convey itself effectively, particularly when the show begins to incorporate more playful animation in episode 2. Compared to episode 1, the amount of SFX asides and chibi-style sequences escalates significantly, with bright neon screentones and loud teasing from Hinako’s friend Miko clashing with the otherwise subdued atmosphere. I found it at least tolerable when these contrasting styles were depicted in separate frames, but became annoyed when they began to overlap. Why is the sinister, foreboding soundtrack playing while chibi Shiori cheerfully explains herself to Hinako?
- Used Book in Good Condition
- George Trombley (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 376 Pages - 08/22/2014 (Publication Date) - Learn From Zero (Publisher)
- Ken Fukuyama, Yuki Fukuyama (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 246 Pages - 10/11/2022 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
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- Sumiko Uo (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 6 Pages - 01/01/2005 (Publication Date) - BarCharts Publishing Inc. (Publisher)
As someone who hasn’t read the manga, I’m inclined to think that this blend of styles aims to create a faithful adaptation, or else I struggle to understand the reasoning behind this decision. Even if that’s the case, I have to believe there’s a more effective way to create a faithful adaptation without making everything a direct copy. While it’s not impossible to combine grim elements with playful ones, as successful examples like Senpai wa Otokonoko demonstrate, This Monster Wants to Eat Me has yet to achieve that balance, and the oversaturation of the playful style in episode 2 leaves it exceedingly unclear what tonal direction the show intends to pursue.
©2024 Sai Naekawa/KADOKAWA/Project WatatabeWhat keeps me engaged, as I suspected, is the show’s tragic yuri premise. I appreciate the angle that Shiori aims to nurture Hinako into the ideal morsel, which involves not only maintaining her physical health but also her mental well-being. It’s fostering a sadistic anticipation of the conclusion of this fate, where they find joy in one another’s company to the extent that the notion of consumption loses its appeal. While the romantic storyline has been teased in fragments so far, the gentle brush of Shiori’s finger against Hinako’s lips, along with Miko’s simmering jealousy over their closeness, has at least provided some nourishment amidst my disappointment with the rest of the production. Let’s get that yuri love triangle started!
So, will I continue watching the show? Most likely yes, though this is less due to my faith in the production improving and more because I don’t want to abandon a yuri anime this early. The overarching story still appears promising, so I can only hope the remainder of the season will do it justice.
