# Umineko: When They Cry (2009)

> A wealthy family gathers on a remote island for a yearly conference, only to be caught in a series of murders tied to a black magic ritual to revive a witch.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/23496

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 26
- Episode runtime: 23 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, mystery, horror, fantasy
- Network: Teletama, Sun TV, TV Aichi, KBS Kyoto
- Cast: Marina Inoue, Daisuke Ono, Emi Shinohara, Akihiko Ishizumi, Kenichi Suzumura, Ami Koshimizu, Yui Horie, Rie Kugimiya
- TMDB rating: 6.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1450620/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: labyrinthine
- Violence: graphic
- Tone: dread-filled, cold, analytical, gruesome, tense

## What critics say

Audience reception is mixed, with a low overall rating from a small pool of viewers.

## Synopsis

Umineko: When They Cry (2009) is a Japanese animated supernatural mystery series produced by Studio Deen and adapted from a visual novel. Set in 1986 on the remote Rokkenjima island, the story follows the Ushiromiya family, who gather for a yearly financial conference that quickly turns to the question of inheritance as the patriarch Kinzo (Mugihito) prepares a black magic ceremony to revive his beloved witch, Beatrice. Battler Ushiromiya (Daisuke Ono) is the central family member drawn into the escalating bloodshed, while Jessica Ushiromiya (Marina Inoue) and Natsuhi Ushiromiya (Emi Shinohara) anchor the family's rivalries and secrets. Each episode builds around a fresh murder, its gruesome staging, and a fierce, dialogue-heavy debate over whether human hands or supernatural forces are responsible. The single season of twenty-six episodes is one continuing puzzle, so viewing order matters. The tone is cold and analytical, with dread and gore sitting beside the logic of a whodunit. Fans of Higurashi: When They Cry and Lost will find resonance in its layered mysteries and gothic island atmosphere.

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