Another is a high school mystery series built on a simple twist: a new student arrives at the school, and everyone around her knows she is dead. The show follows Yukino Suwa, a girl who joins Class 3-3 of Yomiyama North Secondary School after transferring from a hospital. Her classmates treat her normally, but they also talk about her in ways that make no sense, asking questions like “Are you still alive?” and “What happened to you?”
The answer is revealed slowly, and it changes the entire premise of the show. Yukino is not a living student. She is a ghost, and she has been dead since she arrived at the school. The other students are her classmates from the year before, now dead themselves, trapped in the cycle of the school year. The show is a supernatural mystery dressed as a realistic high school drama, and it handles both registers with surprising confidence.
Trailer, via daniel burgos.
Yukino’s Perspective
The show is told almost entirely from Yukino’s point of view. She has no memory of her past life, and she can’t remember why she died. As she learns more about the other students, she pieces together fragments of their lives, deaths, and the strange rules that govern the school. The setup is a classic ghost story, but the execution leans heavily on character development and emotional weight over jump scares.
Yukino is a quiet, observant protagonist. She notices the small details that others miss, and her curiosity drives the plot forward. The show spends time with each classmate, giving them individual stories, fears, and desires. This approach pays off in the later episodes, when the full scope of the mystery becomes clear.
The Mystery Deepens
The central question of Another is simple: why are these students trapped in this loop? The show answers this gradually, layering clues across multiple episodes. The solution involves a tragic family history and a curse tied to the school itself. The reveal is satisfying, but it takes patience to get there.
The pacing is deliberate, and some viewers might find the middle stretch slow. But the payoff is worth waiting for. The final episodes pull everything together, tying the curse, the school’s history, and the individual fates of the characters into a cohesive whole.
Character Focus
The strength of Another lies in its cast. Each student gets a moment to shine, and their deaths are treated with dignity. The show doesn’t exploit its premise for cheap thrills. Instead, it builds genuine investment in these characters, making their eventual fates land harder.
The supporting cast includes several memorable figures. Some are kind, some are cruel, and all of them are human. The show’s willingness to let its characters fail, make mistakes, and carry guilt is what elevates it beyond standard horror fare.
Visual Style
The production design is solid. The school is a recognizable institution, with classrooms, hallways, and a courtyard that feel lived-in. The color palette shifts subtly as the show progresses, moving from bright, cheerful exteriors to darker, shadowy interiors. These visual cues reinforce the tone of the story without overwhelming it.
The animation is competent but not flashy. The focus is on storytelling, not spectacle. The character designs are distinct, and the show manages to keep its large ensemble cast easy to follow.
Final Verdict
Another is a strong supernatural mystery with a compelling core. Its slow burn may frustrate viewers looking for immediate thrills, but those willing to invest in the characters will find a rewarding payoff. The show is not perfect. Some plot threads feel rushed, and the middle section drags slightly. But the final episodes justify the wait.
The series is available for streaming, and it remains a popular entry in the horror genre. Its influence can be seen in subsequent shows that followed its model of a trapped, doomed world. It is a show that rewards attention, patience, and a willingness to sit with uncomfortable questions about fate, memory, and mortality.
Key Facts Box
- Title: Another
- Year: 2012
- Format: Television series
- Premise: A ghost girl discovers she is trapped in a cursed school with dead classmates
- Score: 8.3/10
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
