Call of the Night (2022)

[よふかしのうた]

Season 1

Director: Tetsuya Miyanishi, Tomoyuki Itamura
Studio: Liden Films
Starring: Gen Sato, Sora Amamiya, Yumiri Hanamori
Episodes: 13

Synopsis:
A disaffected middle schooler ditches school to explore the nightlife, only to encounter a vampire who is more than happy to share the joys the night has to offer.

Impressions:
As a big fan of the manga this is based on, I was greatly anticipating this adaptation and it didn't disappoint in the slightest. In fact, the already excellent experience is vastly enhanced by the additional elements the medium has to offer. Many others have praised this series for capturing the allure of nightlife, which is brought to life with a cast of quirky characters brought to you by the mind that gave us Dagashi Kashi. The production values are excellent and Sora Amamiya does a great job of bringing to life the eccentric Nazuna. Comparisons have been made between this series and FLCL and it's rather apt as both use extraordinary scenarios to deliver a coming-of-age story. I was a little concerned because a major pivot in the story happens very close to the end of the season, but they managed to plot it out so that it gives this pivot just enough room to breathe to give us a decent stopping place while setting things up for the continuation. This was one of my favorites of the season and I enthusiastically encourage you to add it to your collection.

Rating:
Own It