There are relatively few anime series that star adult characters, so when I find one I definitely take notice, even if the end product is somewhat uneven. Take Otherside Picnic, a series that stars two college-aged heroines who become friends (and more). At its best, the series is creepy and unsettling; at its worst, it’s merely enjoyable. But overall it’s a fun ride with some amusing characters who find themselves in some spooky situations.
As the series begins, Sorawo has found herself in a tight spot in a mysterious other dimension called the “Otherside.” The Otherside is a place with some similarities to our own world, but twisted in various ways and unsettlingly vacant and devoid of human life. Before succumbing to the elements (or whatever horror has been pursuing her) she’s saved by the bubbly Toriko, another Otherside explorer. The two discover that they have a shared interest in this place and decide to partner up as they explore the Otherside, for fun and perhaps also for profit.
The Otherside is accessed through several convoluted means – taking an elevator to certain floors in a certain order, then going through a door, for example – although there are times where individuals might find themselves having traversed the veil by accident. One of my favorite storylines in the series involves Sorawo and Toriko meeting up with members of the military who have managed to get stuck in the Otherside by accident and have been pursued by a terrifying train entity.
Something I find extremely scary is the thought of going about my life, and then turning a corner or opening a door and finding myself in a place that just feels “wrong.” I had a nightmare one time that I was staying in a hotel, and while swimming in the pool I turned to look out the window, and once turning back I realized the lights were off and the other people there had disappeared. I’m sure this comes from playing too much Silent Hill; the opening scenes of Silent Hill 3 take place in a shopping mall, and the main character escapes from a suspicious man by going into a restaurant bathroom and climbing out the window. When she reenters the mall, suddenly she finds herself face-to-face with dogs whose faces open sideways, and giant meat monsters. It’s not really the monsters that I find scary about the game; they’re mostly just kind of gross. The scary part for me is the thought of traversing dimensions by accident and potentially being unable to return.
I think this is what appeals to me about Otherside Picnic – many of its monsters are a little bit goofy and sometimes the sense of danger doesn’t really land. But the thought of entering an alternate, dangerous place on purpose, potentially never to return to reality, scares the crap out of me. The series rides high on that vibe and ends up being a lot of fun as a result.
The one major frustration I have with the series is that it doesn’t fully commit to the romantic relationship between Sorawo and Toriko. It sounds as if the original novels are a bit better in that regard, so if you share my complaint it might be worthwhile to seek them out.
You can watch Otherside Picnic on Crunchyroll.