Watch Kowabon

Kowabon is a Japanese found footage horror anime that explores the concept of urban legends and the supernatural. The show is presented through the perspective of different audio and visual sources that are all captured through various electronic devices. The main character of the show is a young woman named Miku Ichinose, who lives in Tokyo with her husband. Miku is a housewife who is interested in the paranormal and is fascinated by stories of hauntings and ghosts. She starts to experience strange visions and unexplained occurrences in her own home, which leads her to investigate further.

Each episode of the show is presented as a separate story, with a different character and location. The stories are linked together by the mysterious and unsettling urban legends that they explore. Most of the stories are set in Tokyo, but some take place in other cities across Japan.

One of the most distinctive features of Kowabon is its use of found footage. The show is presented as if it were made up entirely of footage captured on smartphones, security cameras, and other types of electronic devices. The use of this format adds to the realism and immediacy of the horror, and gives the show a unique and immersive feel.

Despite its found footage style, Kowabon is an animated show. However, the animation is deliberately low-quality and rough, to make it look more like real footage. The character designs are simple and stylized, but expressive and emotive. The use of animation allows the show to create supernatural spectacles and visual effects that would be impossible in live-action.

Kowabon is not a show for those who are easily scared. The horror in the show is visceral and unsettling, and often involves disturbing imagery and sounds. However, it is not just cheap jump scares and gore. The show deals with psychological horror and suspense, and often leaves its audience feeling deeply unsettled and anxious.

The show also explores deeper themes and ideas beyond just horror. Many episodes deal with issues such as isolation, loneliness, and the breakdown of communication. The supernatural elements of the show are often used as metaphors for these issues, and highlight the ways in which modern technology and social media can exacerbate them.

The voice acting in Kowabon is excellent, with each character sounding natural and believable. The dialogue is often unscripted, with the voice actors improvising their lines based on the situation. This adds to the realism of the found footage format, and makes the characters feel more like real people.

Overall, Kowabon is a unique and effective horror anime that explores the unsettling side of modern technology and urban legends. It is not for everyone, but for those who enjoy horror and are looking for a fresh and innovative take on the genre, it is well worth a watch.

Kowabon is a series that ran for 1 seasons (13 episodes) between September 1, 2015 and on AsianCrush