Opinion: Why “Mieruko-Chan” Could Be Scary and Funny (And Wholesome) At the Same Time

Conclusion: Why Mieruko-chan is Also Wholesome

By blending horror and comedy element, Mieruko-chan already feels very different compared to other anime. But when we talk to fans about what makes Mieruko-chan good, sometimes they’ll mention something unrelated to the horror or comedy. For them, Mieruko-chan is also a wholesome anime. It’s understandable. There’s just something in this anime that touch their audiences’ heart in an unexpected way.

There are some things we can learn from this. First of all, Mieruko-chan is great at subverting the audience’s expectations. After a while, the audience will create a certain expectation in every ghost encounter. They’re trained that something unexpected will happen. Yet, that unexpectedness turns out to be a wholesome moment. It hits hard because the audience doesn’t expect that to happen. Mieruko-chan suddenly turns the usual scary/funny encounter into something meaningful.

Moreover, Mieruko-chan also understands what kind of story it represents. It’s not just a story about a girl who can see the ghost. It’s also a story about our relationship with death. This theme could be relatable to some people, as it’s something that we encounter in our daily life. It could tell a story about grief, regret, or even our insecurity. The ghosts may be scary, but maybe even the dead have something to tell. What’s their past? How about their story? In Mieruko-chan, ghost encounters are not only treated just as scary or funny. It’s also a chance to think and appreciate life.

Mieruko-chan is certainly unique. It combines two seemingly different genres that are actually similar in terms of structure. Moreover, Mieruko-chan is also a story that understands its audience and theme. Hopefully by learning about Mieruko-chan‘s narrative structure, we could gain a new perspective about genre and its writing technique.

Facts and Figures

The Indonesian Anime Times | Written by Dany Muhammad | This opinion is the personal views of the author and does not represent the views and editorial policy of The Indonesian Times or KAORI Nusantara