Night Head Genesis wins the funny engrish name anime award this season, closely edging out Coyote Ragtime Show. So what the heck is this anime about? Brothers. Psychic brothers.
That’s right, Night Head Genesis is the male counterpart to Binbou Shimai Monogatari. Just take the sisters, turn them into brothers, make them espers who are less poor, and you’ve got Night Head Genesis.
Naoya and Naota are psychic brothers. Naota is the elder brother who has the ability to break stuff with his mind. Naoya can read people’s minds by touching them. They’re both abandoned by their parents and taken to some psychic institution. It’s probably not as cool as Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, though. They can’t escape because of some weird tree rope barrier.
Fast forward 15 years. Another psychic girl predicts that Naoya and Naota will escape from the facility. Something to do with the squirrel guru leaving on a mission. Sure enough, the brothers are able to hop through the previously impenetrable force field. They hotwire a car and make their way to Mexico! Their plans are dashed when they get a flat tire and enter the most inhospitable bar ever…
I’m thinking this anime will revolve around the brothers fleeing from the institute and that one psychic girl. They said something about releasing “minus energy,” which is presumably bad. For now, the psychic element of the anime is cool enough to keep me watching. I guess I should also note that Naoya and Naota seem kinda close for brothers. Like yaoi close?
The character designs lean towards the more realistic look. There’s no cute characters at all! They feel somewhat generic, with the squirrel guy being the most original. This anime is actually based on a live action drama called “Night Head,” so they probably want to keep that kind of realistic feel to the anime.
The animation is really good. I like the effect that happens when Naota decides to use his telekinesis attack. There was a really badly done CG car, though. Wouldn’t it have been less work to just draw it?
As far as I know, there’s no OP to this anime; just an ED. The ED is okay… I don’t really like the singer, though.
Download the ED: “Kotoba” by Under Graph
I’d say that Night Head Genesis is worth a look. If you’re more into dramas or psychological thrillers, this seems to be the anime for you. I’ll check out the next few episodes and see if it’s worth adding to the roster. In the next episode of the anime, they beat up the entire bar! Tanoshimini!
7 replies on “Night Head Genesis – Anime First Impressions”
“Something to do with the squirrel guru leaving on a mission.”
I think she meant the guy died.
“As far as I know, there’s no OP to this anime;”
Strange, the Subs from Shinsen did feature an OP. I assume you watched the raws?
In any case, this anime turned out to be a surprise for me. Despite the low-budgetty-feel of it, I really loved the two brothers. Let’s hope it can keep up. 🙂
The raws had an opening, too, although I’m hoping it’s not the actual one. BTW you thought animation was really good? I thought it was mediocre.
Yeah as psgels mentioned, the “squirrel” guy, whose name is Misaki Roujin (roujin as in elder), died. His power was the barriers.
I actually liked the children’s designs much better, as Jason would say, “facial contortions”. Super powers are always great to add in a show anyway.
And as far as engrish goes, I have to say I like the title! Coyote ragtime show isn’t a bad title too. Surprisingly, I don’t really remember any bad engrlish titles. Most of them do sound “cool”.
When I first saw the title, I thought it was some kind of Eva hentai…but anyway, my impression of the first episode was “male Kurau, with added Galerians and The Island”. I want it to be good, but I’m not convinced just yet- could turn out to be extremely predictable.
I don’t think I’ll be watching this (horror Jisu=help) but it does look interesting. Still, that name… “Night Head Genesis” sounds like the advent of mold creatures in your shower.
Well…I actually like this anime. For me it is different, anyways. And I like the fact that they’re not making kawaii people all over the place. I can stand pretty boys b/c pretty boys do exist, but the realistic feel this anime has (combined w/ it’s psycho psychic element) and the plotline makes me want to watch it.
Still, I don’t like how we’re told that 70 percent of the brain is unused, and that percent is what gives these guys the ability to read people and do telekinesis. I mean, I can stretch to the reading of the mind b/c that requires touching the person, but in order to do telekinesis, your body would have to have the ability as well, not just the brain.
Alright, now I’m getting touchy. But I’ll still watch!
I really like this anime. The animation varies, though usually mediocre, however I love the low-budget feel of it, and there are certain scenes when the animation is very good, usually when based around a psychic attack. However, the animation is nice and isn’t distracting in either way, allowing you to focus on the story more.
Also, about the telekinesis part, and thinking the whole body would have to do it. I think its more believable than telepathy really, because its physical. How I imagine it is sort of with molecules, the ability to control molecules, and from your brain you emanate a ripple effect (How? I have no idea 😛 But sort of muscles,neurons and stuff we don’t know thats hidden in the 70%) which then moves the next molecule, and the next creating a chain effect which is what causes the things to be broken or moved. And Naoto can innately control it. Whereas with Naoya, it’d be more that the neurons would absorb the thoughts of others, but for that to be happening… they’d have to be having their thoughts going through their body. It’d make more sense if he could just pick up on them, as if the thoughts of people are radiated through the air.
Meh, none of that really makes sense, so I guess its just easier to relax and not pay attention to that when watching lol
Still, love this series! I’m on ep 7 now, it rocks!