Yami Shibai 1st and 2nd Seasons

Cover for the first season of Yami Shibai

Cover for the second season of Yami Shibai

This picture drama masterpiece of Japanese urban legends mimics the technique used in storytelling called kamishibai. This technique uses figures made of paper to tell stories. Each of the thirteen short features begin with a man in a yellow mask beckoning the children to listen to the stories.

Each episode lasts for not more than 4 minutes. The theme songs from both seasons (by Hatsune Miku) are creepy like the stories. The narrator has the same opening lines every time.

Some stories are predictable, some just funny, but others like Zanbai in season one stand out to me. Season one has more frightening stories than the second season. The latter had more blood and featured strange creatures while the former excelled in psychological horror.

Initially I thought the animation wouldn't be effective but it worked well for me. The only complaint I have is that there are too few episodes. It was over too soon. So if you'd like to see something fresh in the horror genre, Yami Shibai is a gem.

Rating (for first season): 9.5 out of 10

Rating (for second season): 9 out of 10

From the fourth episode of season one "Kami" (hair) features a teacher who stayed late in the faculty room. She wasn't alone.

From the episode "Kakun" (the family rule) in the first season, a young boy and his parents move to the countryside. The family is performing a ritual the boy doesn't know about.

From the episode "Kabe Onna" (wall woman)  in season two, a young man looks out the window and noticed something strange about the beautiful woman across the street.