Dark Gathering Season 1 Review – A ghost-hunting shonen with enjoyable spooks

Season 1

Episode Guide

It’s difficult to locate a true “horror” anime. Even some of the best in the genre, from Higurashi: When They Cry to Hellsing Ultimate, while terrifying at times, opt for unique spins to keep audiences hooked with their tales. Dark Gathering is a modern anime that falls within this category. Although it’s not a flawless series, it offers enough alluring qualities to entice horror fans and newcomers to watch it. Dark Gathering is a supernatural horror series penned and drawn by Kenichi Kondou.

The story centers around Keitaro, a boy with spirit-sensing capabilities, who also works as a school tutor. He’s tasked with tutoring Yayoi, a child prodigy and ghost hunter. Keitaro learns she has ties to his close friend Eiko. Realizing this, Keitaro vows to help Yayoi find the spirit who took her mother away in the past. However, he must embark on multiple ghost-hunting excursions to fulfill that promise, each feeling more dreadful and daunting than the last.

On the whole, Dark Gathering season one’s plot will leave fans satisfied, mixed, or disappointed with its content. The story offers viewers a tale brimming with carefree, horrifying, action-packed, and informative segments. It does so through its imagery, OST, characters, and various storytelling techniques. Dark Gathering also tackles mature subjects from suicide to child abuse in expressive ways. Additionally, our cast does a bit of exploring through their city, giving this series a compelling adventure vibe.

From spooky abandoned tunnels to mysterious shrines, folks will appreciate Kondou’s effort in forcing his characters to travel to memorable and horrifying locales. Furthermore, this story features multiple episodes that offer critical insight into our characters and their adversaries’s distinct qualities. From tragic backstories to engaging superpowers, you’ll appreciate the scope and creativity that went into crafting this show’s cast.

Coupled with engaging character interactions, thrilling twists, and interesting revelations, Dark Gathering’s plot will satisfy many audiences. Simultaneously, the series will disappoint some and leave others mixed with its offerings. Firstly, the lighthearted segments, while a delight to observe, sometimes interfered with several episodes’ tone and felt like unnecessary additions. This was apparent in early episodes since most jokes, gags, and one-liners tampered with the show’s attempts at spooking audiences.

While the series will find a way to balance it near its halfway mark, many will be disappointed OLM Studios didn’t provide this experience sooner. Furthermore, many episodes were tough to sit through because some were riddled with overwhelming amounts of explanatory-heavy dialogue. While it’s great to provide fans with information on characters and locations, some will find Dark Gathering’s pacing unlikable and exhausting at times. Therefore, many would’ve preferred if Kondo simplified things down a tad, making scenarios more digestible. Coupled with lackluster resolutions and climaxes, Dark Gathering’s tale can use some work.

Nonetheless, fans will adore Dark Gathering’s cast. The main players from Yayoi to Eiko were engaging and fun to follow weekly. They receive great characterization and stand-out moments, ensuring audiences that no one feels left out or unexplored. Yayoi, in particular, was a fascinating child lead in this series. Like Anya and Gakuto, two other child characters with anime that aired in 2023, she’s slightly unrealistic. However, it’s her mature demeanor and unique powers that help her feel memorable and endearing to follow.

Keitaro, this show’s male lead, carries mixed baggage. While he’s a kind-hearted individual who develops gradually and exceptionally throughout this season, many may find his lack of action in earlier episodes underwhelming and irritating. As for the supporting cast, they receive compelling personalities, backgrounds, and quirks to help them stand out. From Ai’s and her God Spirit’s relationship to the various ghosts our heroes encounter along the way, they all have defining traits.

Although some spirits and characters are explored more heavily than others, viewers will find most of Dark Gathering’s cast entertaining. Visually, OLM Studios delivers quality visuals and animation with Dark Gathering. Whether it be through the show’s spirit vs spirit battles or its introspective, heartwarming, or nightmarish scenarios, fans will relish in this anime’s sights. Despite early episodes lacking in the quality department, Dark Gathering ensures fans will be pleased with the visuals inserted in its later half.

The soundtrack remained consistent and enjoyable. It captures the series’s horror and charming vibes well and will enhance viewers’ experiences with this work. The voice acting especially was nicely done, with actors and actresses breathing life into the characters they were portraying. Coupled with its pleasing opening and ending theme songs, Dark Gathering’s entire soundtrack was great to listen to and will likely put anyone in the mood for its cast’s ghost-hunting expeditions.

Overall, Dark Gathering isn’t a marvelous horror anime. It has its issues that prevent it from being a masterfully written work of art. However, Dark Gathering’s delightful haunts, likable characters, and sincere elements will put anyone in a festive mood for horror content.

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Verdict - 7.5/10

7.5/10

7.5/10

Season 1

Episode Guide

Feel Free To Check Out More Of Our TV Show Reviews Here!

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