Migi & Dali (2023) User Reviews

Original, unique and absurd

[talking_about_movies · 8/10 · 28 December 2023]

I'm glad to have witnessed this anime while airing. This is original, unique, and clever writing. This story right here is proof that you don't always need loud action scenes or shiny animation to entertain your audience (Not that the studio didn't make this anime perfectly, and I'll get to that). Writing can be enough.

The author, Sano Nami, had all the basics covered for a bizarre, chaotic and entertaining story that gets weirder and more thrilling as it goes along. She unfortunately passed away before this anime started airing. I can only hope that she knows how well her story was adapted by the staff and received by the audience.

This is a brilliant blend of a dark comedy and a mystery. It's full of bizarre characters, be it the protagonists or the side characters. The dark and gutsy story makes this anime pretty unpredictable too. The mystery is surprisingly a proper one. It was very well written and made this show a whodunnit story as well. The more answers you got, the more messed up and darker this story became.

But this wasn't just an entertaining ride. I actually grew close to some of these characters, especially Migi and Dali. As weird as they are, they're both well written and there were some emotional moments incorporated with them.

Now let's get to the staff. This is brilliant work by studio Geek Toys. The animation is great. The direction is great. The soundtrack, by Sebu Hiroko, is absolutely amazing. It might be one of the best this year. I can't wait to see what more projects this studio will take now. The comedy scenes are well edited too. The voice acting is brilliant all around. They adapted this anime with all their heart and I'm very thankful for that.

If I had to nitpick some flaws I'd say that the conclusion (final 2 episodes) wasn't as powerful as this anime was building up to. Such a plotline would've been very difficult to conclude. And a few of the jokes didn't land for me I guess.

But that's it. Overall I was just elated after watching this anime. Please watch it if you're looking for a weirdly funny, bizarre mystery that's full of plot twists and absurdity.

Flawless

[Mysterygeneration · 7/10 · 14 January 2024]

In August, 36-year-old mangaka Nami Sano (Author of Migi and Dali) lost her battle with cancer. She was in the background of the pragmatist Sakamoto, a character beloved for his flawless, cool armor. The four-volume manga Sakamoto was serialized from 2011 to 2015, and in 2016 an anime adaptation was released. Sakamoto is still regarded as one of the most well-liked anime of that year and season despite her passing.

Migi & Dali, Nami Sano's last manga series, was postponed until the fall because of a mangaka's mental health problems. She was overcome by the sickness, and she died two months prior to the anime's premiere. For a skilled writer who had dreamed of becoming a mangaka since elementary school, this unexpected loss is devastating.

A child named Hitori is adopted by the villainous Sonoyama family in Origon Village in the 1980s. The family's dishonest behavior leads to a gripping mystery thriller. The Sonoyamas take great care of their adoptive kid, who they insist is beautiful and has a sweet soul. The son, however, is a masquerade with the intention of finding and solving the Unsolved Mysteries case; he is more than simply a façade.

The 13-year-old twin brothers Hitori, who share the same appearance but differ in blood-related characteristics, are the focus of the series. Dali is logical and cunning, but Migi is sensitive and kind. The absurd comedy by Nami Sano examines the Sonoyamas' pleasure in their adoptive kid without realizing that they look alike. Driven by their thirst for retribution, the two intelligence-driven brothers set out to explore Origon Village and track down the people responsible for an extraordinary tale.

The intriguing tale of Migi & Dali has ludicrous characters, such as the twin brothers Migi and Dali, as well as other well-known figures like the Ichijo family, Shunpei Akiyama, Maruta Tsutsumi, and Micchan. Character development is not squandered nor used as a cliché in this intricate and interwoven tale; in fact, the more characters there are in Origon Village, the more surprising the revelations become.

The self-contained manga by Nami Sano is painstakingly detailed and written; it has 44 chapters spread across 7 volumes. The anime, which spans the whole manga in 13 episodes and was directed by Mankyuu, is his largest project to date. The anime's overall execution is commended for its meticulous handling of story aspects and precise pacing. Koori Zokusei Danshi and Cool na Douryou Joshi are the show's directors.

The one criticism of the anime, meanwhile, is that it was made by Geek Toys and CompTown, a small animation production company. Although its main feature was meant to be gritty and dark, it doesn't look the prettiest. In this regard, the manga was superior to the anime, which attempted to look like a literal carbon copy of the original work while making very few changes to preserve the uncomfortable aspects of its surreal comedy. I'll give you that; it's a respectable effort.

One of the anime's greatest features is the music. Even while Utaite Soraru and Rib's OP song sounds amazing, its images emphasize how unsettling the twin brothers' unique personalities-which yet somehow make them one and the same-make them while portraying the titular Hitori. The use of manga-style panels in Nulbarich's ED song, which depicts the twin brothers growing up alone without a parental figure while hoping for a bright light of hope that will break them out of their rut, creates a constant riot of melancholy and hope. The deliberate execution of each song's graphics is evident in their entirety, and contributes to the anime's flawless quality.

Even though this is undoubtedly the last work of visual literature that Nami Sano will produce, let it be the one that elevates her profile and brings her the acknowledgment that she so richly deserves. Sakamoto desu ga? Could be equally famous, but Migi & Dali is the highly regarded product of some of the most insanely gripping and audaciously brave stories to be published in a very long time.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Director Mankyuu and his team for presenting the late Nami Sano's final vision on the small screen. And may the late mangaka be honored for her exceptional talent and work.

We appreciate you for your efforts to the AniManga business and wish you rest in peace, Nami Sano.

Migi & Dali

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 2 January 2024]

Yoko and Osamu Sonoyama are a childless couple who adopt a boy named Hitori... or so they believe. 'Hitori' is actually a pair of twins, the eponymous Migi & Dali. The two didn't think anybody would want both of them and they fear being separated. They play the role of Hitori with one of them in the open, the other nearby, and switching places when they aren't being observed. They are also on a mission; their mother had been murdered and they are determined to find out who did it; they are sure the killer lives in the village where they now reside.

I thought this was a good series; quite different to most series. The central conceit may be a little unlikely but it proves to be interesting. Rather than playing the idea for laughs we get drama that provides genuine tension, especially towards the end. The character designs are impressive; subtle differences make it possible for the viewer to differentiate between the twins. Overall I'd recommend this to anime fans looking for something different.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

Adorably awkward twins try to solve the mystery of their mother's death

[ToastWithTea · 9/10 · 24 December 2023]

Migi and Dali are 13 year old orphan twins who have lived a sheltered life and have an unusual way of interacting with the world as a result. The story follows them as they try to solve the mystery of who killed their mother when they were 5 years old. From this, they have a view of the world as hostile, and I find it adorable to see them try to understand other people with the presumption that others are hostile and malicious. And then, once they find that others can be trusted, they come up against those who are hostile as they get closer to undercovering who killed their mother and why.

The story is full of twists and turns making you eager to watch the next episode. There is great character development, both in the twins themselves as well as their ability to see other characters as being multifaceted. At times there is some weirdness and things that are contrived, but it is forgivable since it is fitting with a story that is being told by children who are on the cusp of becoming more than just children. I find the animation is beautiful and the voice actors doing a superb job of bringing life to the show (I watched it in the original Japanese).

Additionally, I really enjoy the music for the opening and ending credits; I watch them in their entirety for every episode. It's such a fun show that it makes me sad that there are only 13 episodes. Honestly, one of the best animes I've seen this year and perhaps reaching on my top ten list of best anime series. I highly recommend.