Hey there readers, Kyolux here, after almost two weeks without posting, back into writing action with a review of Chaos: Head’s first episode.

What does Chaos: Head, a Visual Novel game adaptation, has in store for us? I'm looking forward to know!

This series came out of nowhere for me. I’ve only seen one episode so far, but boy am I sucked in this one. For those that loved either Higurashi no naku koro ni (When they Cry in English) or Welcome to the NHK, well, you’re in for a somewhat mix of both of these, or so it seems from this first episode.

The main character, Takumi Nishijou, while not an hikikomori (someone who avoid social contacts and only steps outside to grab food at the convenience store) nor a NEET (Someone who’s not in school, nor in any job and isn’t looking for one either), but it could be as if, since he makes sure he can get through school with the minimum effort needed. And that’s pretty much where his social activities stop. Oh, did I mention all he does is play an mmorpg?

Now if it were only this, I wouldn’t have drawn the comparison. But the guy lives on top of a building, inside a god damn waste container. Mind you, this container has Internet, cable and everything running through it.

My ideal residence this is not.

Takumi is a total mess in is lifestyle. He’s delusional to a point where it’s almost not funny anymore, and I’m sure that’s what they’re aiming for, given the tone of the series. While what he’ll hear or see might be funny in itself, you just get the feeling that he doesn’t have much grasp on reality; though he may very well know it himself.

A top view inside Takumi's.. hmm.. thing.. I can't bring myself to call it anything..

Surprisingly enough, this series fits in the Harem genre. Meaning the main character is, as unlikely as it would be in real life, surrounded by girls. First and foremost, he has his favourite Anime character as a companion in his poor excuse for a living area (sorry I can’t bring myself to call it an apartment, or anything else) Sena, of course, watch out biggest spoilers ever here: She isn’t real. But she is seemingly real enough to him to wake him up in the morning, in a quite indecent way.

This is all a figment of your imagination!

Next up is the imoutou type of character. That’s little sister for those with question marks appearing in their eyes. She’s Nanami Nishijou, the caring sister that wants to spend time with his brother while not understanding why he’s such a mess. In the first episode, she’s trying to get Takumi to buy a cell phone so he can be in contact with the rest of his family. Of course, being the type of character he is, Takumi basically kicks his sister out without a second thought, even though weird things have been happening in the neighbourhood lately.

You should be nicer to your sister Takumi! Bad boy you!

Takumi, during this episode, encountered one of those weird events, which are wicked murders. I don’t want to spoil how and why all this came to be, for what we know so far, but over there, he sees a red haired girl slaughtering one poor guy. Our hero (just kidding, he is no hero, at least so far) runs away, with one of the weapons used by the girl.

This is not ketchup, nor strawberry jam.

After seeing what he saw, poor Takumi got traumatized, and paranoid, very paranoid. This is where the Anime starts to get the Higurashi no naku koro ni feel. Where you don’t really know what’s going on in the main character’s head as he feels threatened by everything, yet you never know when he himself will start being violent on things he might see as threatening, yet poses no threat at all.

This brings me to how he came to meet some of the other characters, the next morning, Yua Kusunoki. One year class ahead of Takumi, she’s a hot four-eye blonde. She was tailing Takumi, for what, we don’t really know for sure yet, but feeling threatened by her… He first runs away, but eventually injured himself while escaping the girl that he fears might be after his life. But after all this, she ends up helping him get back up and bring him “home”, and she steps in with him, where she reveals that she also loves anime and manga, and is also somewhat a fan of Sena-chan. Stuff happens, then she ask Takumi to go with her to an Anime Shop sometime in the near future. He hesitates, but ends up agreeing.

Imagination is Takumi's 6th sense

Finally, the episode ends with quite a big twist. When Takumi goes back to school and sit down in class the following morning, his classmate and desk-neighbour, Rimi Sakihata, greets him happily. And what about it is a twist you ask? Well, you’ll have to watch the show to find out. Although saying there’s a twist might give it away.

What a sweet little girl.

Chaos: Head is apparently based on a Visual Novel game released in April of this year, and like a lot of them, I’d like to give it a try, to see the different storylines available in the game, but sadly, those are only available in Japanese. And my kanji reading skill is pretty limited to a few characters, and by few I mean 2 or 3. Heck, my kana reading skills aren’t much better. And even after that, I’d still have to interpret what I’m reading. Nonetheless, this series deliver something not seen enough, although this makes these series standout, which is probably a good thing, since too much of a good thing is never good.

While we’ve seen a bit of mystery surrounding this Anime, and a bit of gore, I’m sure the big chunk of it is still to come, and I’m looking forward to it, more then any other series airing right now, even more then Ga-rei Zero, another surprise this season which got my puzzled at first.

I definitely recommend you watch this series if:

- you’re an harem Anime junkie and/or;
- You like series running around mysteries, secrets and paranoia and/or;
- You’re a delusional hikikomori and/or;
- You liked Welcome to the NHK and/or;
- You liked Higurashi no naku koro ni and/or;
- You like gore;

David A. Anime