You already know the deal. Kamishibai puppets. Old man stories. Japanese legends. Animated horrors. Let’s get onto the episode-by-episode review. This is Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai, Season 6!
Thunderous Visitor
A highschooler worries about the thunder when he gets a call from his estranged mother. A spooky premise, I had a feeling of what would happen in the end. It feels like a nostalgic story that we can all relate to in some way, being afraid of thunderstorms and what can lurk within them.
Tomonashi Cave
High school girls play a prank on another girl during a school trip to a cave. For whatever reason, Japan has a lot of cave stories! Of course, this one has some kind of monster inside that lures the bullies in. On one hand I’m glad they get their comeuppance, but on the other, I’m mad the bullied girl dies too. Nothing too special here though.
The Wind’s Warning
A salaryman’s apartment window won’t close, and he gets a call from a ghost. As with Tomonashi Cave, Japan also has a lot of sad-leaning ghost stories. This man’s wife died and she comes back to remind him to leave the window open for their cat. It’s more sweet than scary.
Swamp Offering
A newlywed wife has trouble fitting in with her new family, especially when the mother-in-law gets rid of her most-prized possession in a cruel ritual. If you want a revenge story, this is the one! I wish we could’ve learned more about this village’s swamp ritual, but it’s cool because we get some petty revenge at the end. Very satisfying!
The Dripping
A man learns why you should never steal someone’s umbrella. You could honestly replace this with any other ghost story. A man takes someone’s umbrella that is cursed with a dripping-wet ghost, whom he then tries to pawn off on someone else.
Sakura
A man admitted to a hospital talks through the adjoining wall with some kids, but finds out what really lies beyond the wall. A bit unlikely if you ask me, but the realization about the cherry tree at the end was cool.
Frog Eggs
A boy scared of eyeballs finds a group of frog eggs and becomes oddly attached to it. What a weird kid this is! This story gives more body horror/Twilight Zone vibes than it is actually scary. Not a problem, just an FYI.
Sea Fortunes
A woman unwittingly becomes part of a seaside town’s deadly sacrifice ritual. I love any story dealing with shrines and good luck charms. It’s not very scary, but the thought of this crazy ritual is pretty cool. I want to know the town’s backstory!
Mud Games
A woman is late picking up her daughter from school. Another sad story, along with a “they were dead the whole time” twist. Before becoming a mom, this would have been rather boring. Now that I am one, it’s just sad.
Tree of Innocence
Twins climb a tree, but with deadly consequences. I don’t know if this is considered a ghost story or demon or what, but it’s kind of cool. We’ve seen this kind of thing before though with the spirit taking over someone’s body. I just wonder what the purpose actually was — living again, or more chaos.
Frozen memories
A man climbing a mountain gets caught in a blizzard, warned not to open the shelter door by another man. I’m not sure about this one. I knew how it would end, so no surprise there.
Waterfall Drop
A group of friends on a hike dares one to climb to the top of a haunted waterfall. I liked this because I was expecting something totally different. There’s a rumor about suicides at the location. There are scary kids. There’s a warning from friends that comes a second too late. Great episode!
Echoes
Friends climbing a mountain grow more and more nervous over the sound of their echoing voices. Fun concept that we don’t see too often.
I’m so glad that Yamishibai has so many seasons (all that you can watch in an hour). Sometimes five minutes isn’t enough, but other times it’s the perfect amount — kind of like watching a bunch of short films. As always I love the paper/watercolor animation, and the storylines are vibrant, eerie, crazy, emotional, suspenseful… just all-around fun. Plenty of variety for Japanese nationals as well as those not accustomed to their culture.
What did you think of Season 6 of Yamishibai? Let us know in the comments!
Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll. Make sure to read my reviews on Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, and Season 5!
