Mysterious Disappearances Anime Builds a Fascinating Foundation

The anime adaptation for the popular manga Kaii to Otome to Kamikakushi, which is going by Mysterious Disappearances officially in English, finally debuted. The 2019 manga series offers the right mix of humor, light horror elements, and the supernatural. Fortunately, the anime version delivers the same satisfying blend.

I checked out the recent first episode of Mysterious Disappearances on Crunchyroll and walked away surprised. Though I have heard of the manga, I never checked it out and was intrigued by the premise. It involves the two leads named Sumireko and Adashino, who work in a book store, as they investigate strange occurrences.

But what I appreciate about the first episode is it feels almost like a standalone, 24-minute experience. The premiere introduces the two main characters, what they do at their jobs at a bookstore, and their connections to one another. This eventually leads to an odd book that brings about the episode’s core mystery.

In the process, it lightly explores the inner workings of Sumireko’s mind and her deepest fears. But instead of being super serious or all spooky, this series is fantastic at setting up hilarious sequences. It almost feels like the classic Goosebumps TV series, but even funnier.

There is a mystery in this episode, of course, and presumably future ones. However, they take a backseat to the actual characters. This allows for a lighter tone to the series, which the Mysterious Disappearances anime benefits from. I will admit it gets a bit too light at times in the initial episode, especially due to what I felt were a couple of short, but unnecessary, fan service moments. Still, its humor and characters keep the premiere going.

Given how the mystery brings the two leads together, I will say I am curious to see how the future episodes shape up. After all, this episode benefits so much from focusing on Sumireko as a person and her backstory. Presumably, the later episodes won’t do that as much. I wonder if that could also affect the pacing and atmosphere.

Thankfully, there are some neat hints at what the future holds. The promise of what’s next did sink its hooks into me. For one, there is the fascinating situation with the other lead, Adashino. He looks like a younger kid, perhaps someone only in junior high, but he behaves strangely. Not to mention, his spiral yellow eyes can’t just be for show.

I hope the Mysterious Disappearances anime series dives deeper into Adashino’s story in the near future, especially since he seems to know a lot more about the occult than he first leads on. For now, though, I am hopeful and optimistic about the possibly episodic nature of the series. If it continues with each episode focusing on a different mysterious object or situation, that brisk pace nature will keep my attention for the spring 2024 anime season.

Mysterious Disappearances is available right now to stream on Crunchyroll.