Uraboku Episode 1 (Betrayal Knows My Name, Uragiri wa Boku no Namae o Shitteiru)

Plot Summary: Sakurai Yuki is a mysterious boy with a mysterious ability. He was found in the bushes as a baby and adopted by his current family. Because of this, Yuki strives for independence. The last thing he wants is to be a burden to anybody. Furthermore, when he touches others, he can feel their emotions. Unable to control his ability, he often made insensitive blunders in the past. With death threats and his abilities increasing, somebody appears claiming to be his brother.

Staff

  • Director: Katsushi Sakurabi (Storyboard/Episode Director: Alien Nine, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Shigofumi)
  • Series Composition: Natsuko Takahashi (07-Ghost, Antique Bakery, Bleach, Chrono Crusade, Fullmetal Alchemist, Gankutsuou, Jyu Oh Sei, LoGH Spiral Labyrinth, Marimite, Prince of Tennis, Remeo x Juliet, School Rumble, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0)
  • Original creator: Hotaru Odagiri
  • Art Director: Hirotsugu Kakoi (07-Ghost, Hatsukoi Limited, Inuyasha, Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)
  • Editing: Shigeru Nishiyama (Ai Yori Aoshi, Alien Nine, Aria, Azumanga, Excel Saga, Tokikake, Honey and Clover, Nodame Cantabile, Ouran, Princess Nine, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Shigofumi, Slam Dunk, Slayers, Soul Eater, Toradora, Summer Wars)

Cast

Uraboku Opening

Uraboku Ending

Excellent directing and editing. Every frame is very carefully designed, and we see a wide variety of angles, although the perspective changes too fast and too often at times.

Backgrounds are nice, but not very special.

Music is wonderful. I am not familiar with Kaida, but would like to check out the OST.

Pointed chins… It’s nice to follow style of manga, but no, just no.

The plot is suspect with all the archetypes and cliches, but I like the concept. I recall one short story by Ray Bradbury where he mentioned a device that would allow people to feel emotions of others. If people had true empathy, if they could really understand how others feel, the world would be a better place…

Published by Kitsune

20 thoughts on “Uraboku – Episode 1”

  2. Thanks for the quick 411! 🙂

    I’ll check it out mainly for the cast (Ono-D, Hiro-C, FukuJun, Hamada Kenji, Mamoru Miyano) Plot sounds emo, but I’m hoping it won’t be overly dramatic and it’d turn out well.

    Reply

    1. You are welcome 🙂

      Indeed, this anime has one of the best cast this season 🙂

      I also hope that the plot won’t be too bad. The writer for this anime has extensive experience.

      Reply

  3. “If people had true empathy, if they could really understand how others feel, the world would be a better place…”

    Watch Kino no Tabi, where people in a country in the first ep could read each others mind and how this ended up and we talk again…The world and humans are complex beings…

    Nice op and ed, got a goth feeling. Don’t think I’ll follow this. As for this boy’s charisma, if you know Charmed, Prue had this power at a time and Phoebe had premonitions upon touch.

    Perhaps it might feel nice to have such a magic power, yet its tragic at the same time. It must be really painful. Like foreseeing the future…you don’t want in the end…

    Reply

    1. Thank you for your suggestion – I watched Kino a while ago. Telepathy is not empathy.

      What I was alluding to is not some magical power that the protagonist wields and that indeed has a substantial negative side, rather it is simple human empathy and understanding. I am sorry that I was not very clear.

      On another note about foreseeing negative future, I would want to have such information. Let’s say there is a valid and reliable test that can determine your long-term health. Wouldn’t you be interested if you have some condition? Some people prefer not to know, but I would definitely choose to know this because it will reduce uncertainty and help me plan my life better.

      Reply

      1. Well. I think the point in not knowing your future is to live it fully either you’ll die the next day or in old age. Death is democratic, would Buscaglia say. Plus wouldn’t it be pointless to foresee , if we couldn’t change anything? But even if we could, it’d be spoilering the fun and perhaps distort the rue of history. And there’s the capital who is eager to earn from your misery or avoid loss like insuring companies. If they know ,you may have cancer in the future, they won’t allow you to get insured or insured with limits.

        Reply

        1. We have to define what “living fully” is then. You always live under some assumptions and plan your life accordingly. Most people are going to die of old age, so they have to make preparations to sustain themselves in the long-term. On the other hand, people should not live in the future – they have to live now, appreciating what they have and taking the time to participate in the activities they enjoy the most. That’s a delicate balance of living now and planning for the future because it is unclear. However, if you had a solid evidence that you are going to die on a certain date, then you could adjust your life accordingly.

          It wouldn’t be pointless because we can always change something about our lives, but I agree that it would be dangerous if everyone could foresee their demise.

          Yes, one of the main disadvantages of this information is that it can be used against you. However, steps can be taken to reduce such discrimination. For example, the recently passed health care bill will ban pre-existing condition exclusion.

          We’ve made much progress in cancer research and, although we are not there yet, new methods of early detection and novel individualized therapies will greatly reduce suffering and improve outcomes for patients with cancer.

          Reply

  4. Ah yesss…all my pretty bishounens in one place! Can’t have it better than this now do we, eh? Oh wait, there’s the other one with hot bishies and swords. 😛 Well, I think I’ve been more *bishie-fied* now (*-*) Anyway, I’m watching this partly because of the awesome seiyu cast. Takahiro Sakurai as Luka is so fittingly winsome and smexy! Yosh! But Yuki’s voice is (ò_ô) I’m not use to hearing Souichirou Hoshi in such a girly, soft tone. I mean he’s Yukimuraaa!!! Hahaha Still, I’m interested how this adaptation will pan out. Hope it won’t disappoint like 07-G, VK and ends like PH which started out strongly but ended with poor original material.

    Reply

    1. haha Yes, that one looks much better actually in terms of character design, but the girl is somewhat annoying 😛

      Indeed, the cast is awesome 🙂

      Yukimura! hahaha Yes, his voice is too timid, and you can blame his past life on his girly nature 😛

      We’ll see how it turns out! 🙂

      Reply

  6. Wow, looks kind of interesting and so many known seiyuus in this anime! Is it yaoi or just normal? Not that I’m hoping that it’s yaoi.

    Reply

    1. Yes, it does look interesting and features one of the best cast this season.

      The anime features subtle shounen ai, so I don’t think we’ll see anything explicit. Kuroshitsuji featured much more risqué scenes for instance 😛

      Reply

  7. Hello there^^
    juz wanna say, every pictures & editing is very good……I so love this anime ><
    thx very much to you, if not i wont have know this anime…

    Reply

  8. ooooooo, you are right about the music…i’ve just started on this and i’m scrambling to find the OST 🙂
    for someone who did the not-that-impressive S.A OST, this is a huge improvement

    Reply

      1. found it! tracks 1,3,11,16,17 managed to convey some kind of desperation and sadness throughout (the main melody of track 16 especially, I think i’m just going to put this on an endless loop).
        I’m just guessing the anime’s a little depressing (I haven’t really gone beyond half the 1st ep unfortunately).
        Now i’m scrambling to hunt down OST 2 🙂

        hope you get a chance to listen to it and what your impressions are 😛

        Reply

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