User reviews

Even the low rated reviews say the show is dark - so it means something! ;) Great montage, use of music and filters makes this show very unique and stand out. Presented story is layered with great respect to audience - you have clues but not obvious explanation. Some threads are unexplained at all and for me it's great in building mystery. People have problem with narrative - I think it's because of not definitive hero and not linear plot (time jumps - of course there is text explaining it each time) which is again a great way of show mystery and unsettling situations from different perspectives. Boogiepop have this "2000-anime" loss of quality in terms of animation but not very drastic - that's not action movie but philosophical take on human weaknesses, so come on. For me - show has only one downside - it has not a narrative loop that could close a series. I think people are little disappointed at the end because show does not add the meaning of every character to the main story/ situation, it should be all more connected than it is.

Why is it that anime always sounds so much worse than it really is? You may think you've seen it a hundred times before: a group of teenagers being stalked by a murderous supernatural entity. But believe me, you haven't.

'Boogiepop Phantom' tells the story of the most ordinary group of high-school students whose lives are all changed by a series of grisly murders (the suspect is Boogiepop, a modern Angel of Death) and a mysterious light appearing in the sky. That is all I can say without giving away too much. The plot twists and turns fiendishly, constantly challenging the viewer's brain. Perhaps that is the series' downfall: it is at times very confusing, and the non-linear narrative takes some getting used to. I have heard of a live-action prequel, but I am not the only one who cannot even dream of finding something like that in their country. However, those who do not mind giving what they're seeing some thought won't have too much trouble.

However, where 'Boogiepop Phantom' truly excels is in its handling of its predominant themes, the first being death. Virtually all the main characters have in some way been touched by it, and Boogiepop herself is a personification of it. Yet she is far from evil: at one point, a seemingly happy girl muses something along the lines of, "I hear it comes for special children. I wish it would come for me too." This may sound a touch overly pessimistic, but such is these children's desire to be 'special'; as well as to simply escape reality.

Which brings me onto the second theme: that of growing up in an entirely adult-orientated world. The way this series depicts the pains and joys of adolescence is simply a wonder to behold. All the issues modern teenagers have to contend with (from sex and drugs to schoolwork, from friendship and love to continuous pressure to excel) are shown as vivid, sometimes heartbreaking metaphors: a girl who can grant wishes becomes enslaved to her brother's destructive impulses; a girl who fails a piano exam is magically given innocence and happiness, only to commit suicide on seeing her piano. The world of 'Boogiepop Phantom' is a dark and cruel world: a world where the only true escape may be death.

But in the midst of it all, love and innocence still survive. Such gems as the previously mentioned boy carving a charm for his sister, nearly moved me to tears. Or, in one of the final episodes, three of the characters who played a key role in the unfolding of the events settle down to write their final exams. Without any bells and whistles, this bittersweet episode strikes just the right chord: we all have to grow up, but how much of our childish hearts we retain is up to us.

Add to that some philosophical questions such as 'What is consciousness?', 'What is reality?', and 'Why are we alive?', and you get a truly magnificent narrative.

Lastly, there is the style. Some reviewers have criticised the dark palette, but in my opinion it suits the dark, creepy atmosphere perfectly. Please note, however, that 'Boogiepop Phantom' is not horror per se. There are several bursts of truly shocking violence, but these only serve to emphasise the internal anguish of the characters.

In conclusion, I recommend this series to anyone with an open mind and a willingness to think. The series is more geared towards adults, but who knows, perhaps teenagers would understand it even better. This is, after all, a far better reflection of their lives than High School Musical.

The only thing I liked about this anime a bit is the fact it does have that sorta scare vibe but at the same time, not enough. I know this was early 2000s but seriously, the animation was pretty crap and worst of all the storyline was all over the place. It made me confused af to what's going on and like when I don't know what's going on regardless of the genre in the anime, I get easily bored. That's why I decided to quit watching this anime after its 3rd episode. Tbh that's long enougn for me to realise this anime wasnt for me.

However I am so glad to hear that they rebooted this anime and that its coming out next year so im kinda looking forward to that tbh, because it's original didn't seem clearer enough for me to get excited over, I'm afraid......

I must admit I giggled when I heard the name "Boogiepop Phantom" at first. It had the sound of a cheap 60s cartoon that combined Scooby Doo's ghosts and Archie's bad music. Nothing could be further from the truth.

BPP is an anime, but much more than that. It is a show that is rather difficult to describe, but I'll try. "Boogiepop" is something of an urban legend, like the Boogieman, a being that takes people at the end of their life, or something like an angel of death. However, people living now claim to have seen Boogiepop. In addition, there was an unexplained column of light that appeared, people missing, a serial murderer that suddenly stopped years ago, and an abandoned Amusement Park that is suddenly coming to life. That just scratches the surface.

What is impressive about BPP is the way the story is told. The 4th episode happens before the first three. We are introduced to major characters in the first episode who do not appear again for a few episodes. Things happen on screen out of time with the rest of what's going on. Overall, the show should be one that fans of X-Files, The 6th Sense, or the Twilight Zone should enjoy. That's a challenging show that will make you use your rewind button more than once.

If you liked «Lain», you will LOVE «Boogiepop phantom» which is, in my view, much more interesting. Every episode has its own story, and can be watch by itself. As the story progresses though, it all fits together to form a larger plot. One last thing; the music is excellent and very well used to create intensity.