Daitaihin

I was first a bit concerned as a manga reader about the show since it was done by Cygames. But when i saw the staff, my concers were already blown away. Such professional in horror and darker topics experienced staff plus people who worked on ghibli movies was amazing to think about. And they did deliver: A masterful episode that would deserve at least a 9/10 for me as a mean score here. The creepy sounddesign and shocking flashes, the emotional voiceacting and the beautiful summer-feeling this anime brought to me was unlike any other show i've watched in a while. It was a full ride of emotions, carried by a really high animation level and the fitting setting. It was like watching a movie. I'm deeply grateful for the work they've put into this anime. Definitely a must-watch!!!

I am extremely happy with this adaptation so far!

The characters have great fluidity in the way they are animated and are very expressive. The backgrounds are beautifully drawn and detailed. They mix 2D and 3D very well, even doing some very cinematic camera movements to shift the perspective. The sound design is AMAZING and really captures the eerie summertime atmosphere that the story is set in. The horror elements were done really well this episode too.

Most importantly - Yoshiki and Hikaru. I love the VAs that were chosen for them. They really capture the spirit of each of the characters. Their relationship is very nuanced and complex, and the anime is doing a really good job at expressing that.

The only issue I had with the first episode, though minor, was how they shoehorned quite a few plot points and characters into the episode that are supposed to get introduced later in the story. I understand the intention, but it caused the pacing to be slightly hurt in the process, since the episode holistically felt rushed, like we were going from plot point to plot point rather than really being in the moment.

Overall, at least as of Episode 1 - this is a really good adaptation that's worth watching. If you're a reader of the manga, I think this is a really high quality adaptation you'll enjoy. If you've never read the story, it's incredibly beautiful and is definitely worth your time.