“Welcome back, everyone.” With that phrase, Kadokawa confirmed during the special livestream for the 20th anniversary of Higurashi: When They Cry that a new anime from the franchise is in production. No studio, cast, or release date has been announced yet, but the tagline already says enough about the announcement’s intent: this is a return.

The announcement came as part of the celebration of two decades since the debut of the original TV adaptation, making the event the perfect setting to revitalize the franchise. No details about the animation studio, creative staff, voice cast, or release date have been revealed yet. That information is expected in the coming months as production progresses.

What is clear is that Higurashi still has a dedicated fanbase more than twenty years after its debut, and the announcement during the anniversary event immediately generated excitement among those who have followed the series through its various adaptations over the decades.

About Higurashi: When They Cry

Higurashi: When They Cry (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) began as a visual novel developed by 07th Expansion, with its first chapter presented at Comiket in 2002. The story takes place in a quiet rural village and follows a group of friends who become involved in a series of mysterious murders related to an annual festival. The franchise is known for its psychological horror and its structure of multiple arcs that explore different possibilities and outcomes for the same events. The first anime adaptation aired in 2006 with 26 episodes, followed by the sequel When They Cry II: Solutions in 2007. More recently, the franchise returned with Higurashi: When They Cry – Gou in 2020 and its continuation Sotsu in 2021.

What do you expect most from this new anime: a direct continuation of the Gou and Sotsu story, or a return to the classic independent arc structure that defined the original series?