Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (Erased) Review

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (The Town Where Only I am Missing) Erased
Genre: mystery, drama, romance, thriller
Format: 12 episodes (22 min) based on a manga

Fujinuma Satoru is a struggling manga artist who works part-time as a pizza delivery man. He has the unique ability to go back a few minutes in time whenever a fatal incident is about to occur. When a terrible tragedy strikes him and he is accused of murder, he is once again sent back in  time - 18 years back.

Satoru believes that the murder must of been related to a series of child murders that occurred in 1988 when he was still in elementary school. He now finds himself back in school but realises that he can prevent these murders from happening and hopefully clear his name in the present day.

The ability to time travel (something Satoru calls "Revival") adds a twist to this murder mystery. It's not something gimmicky that can be activated at will but it does give him another chance to try and fix things.

The real strength of the show lies in its characters and the suspenseful plot. It's hard not to love some characters while despising the antagonists. The elementary school setting means we are exposed to some of the purest, childish emotions. Time-travelling Satarou retains his 29 year old intelligence and attitude which poses an interesting challenge. How can a child prevent a murder? The inevitable attachment the viewer develops for the characters makes the stakes even higher and the story even more suspenseful.

Fundamentally Erased is a human story. A story about the best and the worst in us and everything in-between. It's a story about how people are connected, how they are shaped and how they sacrifice for one another. Boku Dake ga Inai Machi is a magnificent show and a stand out for the decade thus far.

Also check out AnoHana which in some ways feels similar to this, despite them being different! I haven't mentioned any specific criticisms of BokuMachi even though there are a few minor gripes. None of these take away from what is easily of of the best anime shows in years.