The official website of the 2020 Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (Higurashi When They Cry) anime project has announced the first details of the home media release. The release has revealed that the series will run for a total of 24 episodes, over 2 cours.
There will be a total of 5 Blu-ray/DVD volumes, with each volume containing anywhere from 3 to 6 episodes. The Blu-ray volumes will retail for ¥13,000 (~ USD$123.00) whilst the DVD volumes will retail for ¥11,000 (~ USD$104.20), without tax. Every volume will contain the episodes, a specially designed cover, some storyboards, a special booklet, trinkets, and a code for the mobile game Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Mei. The first volume has a limited edition release, that comes with a Rika figure.
The release dates for the volumes are as follows:
- Volume 1, February 24, 2020 – Episodes 1 – 4
- Volume 2, March 24, 2020 – Episodes 5 – 8
- Volume 3, April 28, 2020 – Episodes 9 – 13
- Volume 4, May 26, 2020 – Episodes 14 – 17
- Volume 5, June 30, 2020 – Episodes 18 – 24
The website has also revealed the series’ official name, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Gou (Higurashi When They Cry New). The title was also unveiled following the conclusion of the anime’s second episode, revealing that the series is not simply just an updated adaptation of the original sound novel. An updated visual was revealed via North American publisher Funimation:
A new promotional video was released commemorating the new title:
The main cast of the previous anime series returns to reprise their roles in the 2020 anime:
- Soichiro Hoshi (Tomoki Sakurai in Sora no Otoshimono) as Keiichi Maebara
- Mai Nakahara (Nagisa Furukawa from Clannad) voices Rena Ryuugu
- Satsuki Yukino (Kagome Higurashi in InuYasha) as Mion Sonozaki
- Satsuki Yukino also voices Shion Sonozaki
- Mika Kanai (Kaguya Sumeragi in Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch) returns to voice Satoko Houjou
- Yukari Tamura (Suzuha Suzuha from Steins;Gate) as Rika Furude
- Tooru Ookawa (Roy Mustang in Fullmetal Alchemist) voicing as Jirou Tomitake
- Toshihiko Seki (Senketsu in Kill la Kill) as Kyousuke Irie
- Chafurin (Juzo Megure from Detective Conan) voicing Kuraudo Ooishi
- Miki Itou (Taiga Fujimura in Fate/stay night) as Miyo Takano
- Yui Horie (Tsubasa Hanekawa from Bakemonogatari) as Hanyuu
The anime’s production staff includes:
- Director: Keiichiro Kawaguchi (Sket Dance, Minami-ke Tadaima)
- Series Composer: Naoki Hayashi (A3! Season Spring & Summer, Citrus)
- Anime Character Designer: Akio Watanabe (Bakemonogatari, The World God Only Knows)
- Music Composer: Kenji Kawai (Higashi no Eden, Ghost in the Shell)
- Animation Studio: Passione (Rokka no Yuusha, Citrus)
Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (Higurashi When They Cry) is a mystery, horror sound novel series developed by 07th Expansion, a small doujin circle of developers. The first game in the series released in 2002 at Comiket for the PC with each subsequent game releasing in the following years till 2006. Each game featured a different scenario in an overarching plot. The game was eventually ported to the PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS and even on Android and IOS devices. The series gained a large following and sold over 500,000 copies, with a manga and light novel adaptation in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Also in 2006 was an anime adaptation produced by Studio Deen (Fate/Stay night, Rurouni Kenshin) and directed by Chiaki Kon (Golden Time, Junjou Romantica). The anime was then followed up with a sequel season and numerous OVAs, with a new adaptation in 2020. Additionally, two live-action films were released in 2008 and 2009. A sequel sound novel was released in 2014.
Here is a synopsis of the series from MAL:
After moving into the quiet town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi spends his days blissfully in school often playing games with his local friends. However, appearances can be deceiving. One fateful day, Keiichi stumbles upon news of a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa. From this point on, horrific events unfold in front of Keiichi, as he soon learns his close friends may not be all that they seem. Based on the amateur mystery game by 07th Expansion, the story is told in a series of different scenarios.
The 2020 Higurashi no Naku Koro ni anime, titled Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Gou, will run for a total of 24 episodes, airing every Thursday on Tokyo MX and BS11 at 11:30pm JST.
Visit the anime’s website here: https://higurashianime.com/
And follow the Twitter: @higu_anime
Source Image - @FUNimation