Fall 2021 Anime: Mieruko-chan

Synopsis

This was the daily life of Miko Yotsuya, an ordinary high school girl. She went to school, went home, and watched a scary TV show with her brother. A shadow came sneaking up on her, without any warning, it suddenly appeared before Miko’s eyes. At first, she thought it was all just her imagination. She thought she was just hallucinating. She tried to think she might be just tired, but she was certain is seeing “it”. (Source: Muse Asia)

Comments

Dany Muhammad – The Indonesian Anime Times

If you’re not from this region, this would probably will surprise you, but many Indonesians do still believe in supernatural things. Don’t be surprised that “rain shaman” is a job that actually exists in Indonesia because it’s just so deeply ingrained in our culture. Back in my school days, I used to be taught by my teacher in the religion subject that believing in the existence of supernatural beings is a part of our faith as Muslims. We believe they exist, but because they are a part of our life, there is no need to be afraid. I already accepted that. But the problem is, when we finally see them with our own eyes, especially when the media always portray them as scary, ugly creatures, how can we not be afraid?

It is that experience that makes me think Mieruko-chan is relatable. The idea that you have to peacefully coexist with something that you are terrified about is scary. Miko can see ghosts, and she is scared. But as it turns out, the most effective means to deal with them is neither some talisman nor salt, but to simply just ignore them. The end result is hilarious, juxtaposing what makes for a well-executed horror moment with deadpan comedy. It’s funny, but still convincing for me, because if they are really a part of our life, what are you going to do? Just treating them as something normal is probably the best way.

So far, Mieruko-chan is a weird but effective genre mix that I will recommend simply because the end result is quite unique. There’s another layer of interpretation though. Maybe the anime is an allegory that ugly things are around us and we shouldn’t take our eyes off them. In Mieruko-chan, the ghosts do not mean any harm, they are just curious. What if they are actually looking for help but never receive one because we refuse to see the uglier side of our world? I’m interested in what Mieruko-chan will bring. At least, if I really meet ghosts in the future (hopefully not!), Mieruko-chan already provides an optional defense mechanism other than Ayat Al-Kursi.

Facts and Figures

Screenshots and Trailer

The Indonesian Anime Times