Description
"Midnight Occult Civil Servants" is a supernatural anime series set in modern-day Tokyo, where the boundaries between the human world and the Otherside—a realm inhabited by supernatural beings—are increasingly blurred. The story centers on Arata Miyako, a young man assigned to the Shinjuku Ward's Nocturnal Community Relations Division, a government office tasked with resolving disputes and maintaining harmony between humans and supernatural entities known as "Anothers." Arata, who initially lacks any special abilities, discovers he possesses the rare gift of understanding and communicating with Anothers, a skill that proves invaluable in his role.
The narrative unfolds through episodic cases, each involving interactions with various Anothers, ranging from mischievous spirits to powerful deities. Arata is joined by his colleagues, Theo Himezuka, a stoic and knowledgeable officer with a deep understanding of Anothers, and Kyouichi Sakaki, a pragmatic and experienced supervisor. Together, they navigate the complexities of mediating between humans and Anothers, often uncovering deeper mysteries tied to the Otherside and its connection to the human world.
Key plot points include Arata's growing understanding of his unique ability, which is revealed to be tied to a mysterious figure from his childhood. As the series progresses, the team encounters increasingly significant threats, including rogue Anothers and ancient entities with the potential to disrupt the balance between worlds. The stakes escalate when Arata learns of a prophecy involving the "Key to the Otherside," a powerful artifact that could either unite or destroy both realms. This discovery leads to a climactic confrontation that tests the team's resolve and challenges their understanding of coexistence.
The series explores themes of coexistence, cultural differences, and the importance of communication, using the interactions between humans and Anothers as a metaphor for broader societal issues. The characters' development is intertwined with their encounters with Anothers, as they learn to navigate their own biases and preconceptions. Arata's journey, in particular, highlights the importance of empathy and understanding in bridging divides, both literal and metaphorical. The anime balances episodic storytelling with an overarching narrative, creating a cohesive and engaging exploration of its supernatural premise.
The narrative unfolds through episodic cases, each involving interactions with various Anothers, ranging from mischievous spirits to powerful deities. Arata is joined by his colleagues, Theo Himezuka, a stoic and knowledgeable officer with a deep understanding of Anothers, and Kyouichi Sakaki, a pragmatic and experienced supervisor. Together, they navigate the complexities of mediating between humans and Anothers, often uncovering deeper mysteries tied to the Otherside and its connection to the human world.
Key plot points include Arata's growing understanding of his unique ability, which is revealed to be tied to a mysterious figure from his childhood. As the series progresses, the team encounters increasingly significant threats, including rogue Anothers and ancient entities with the potential to disrupt the balance between worlds. The stakes escalate when Arata learns of a prophecy involving the "Key to the Otherside," a powerful artifact that could either unite or destroy both realms. This discovery leads to a climactic confrontation that tests the team's resolve and challenges their understanding of coexistence.
The series explores themes of coexistence, cultural differences, and the importance of communication, using the interactions between humans and Anothers as a metaphor for broader societal issues. The characters' development is intertwined with their encounters with Anothers, as they learn to navigate their own biases and preconceptions. Arata's journey, in particular, highlights the importance of empathy and understanding in bridging divides, both literal and metaphorical. The anime balances episodic storytelling with an overarching narrative, creating a cohesive and engaging exploration of its supernatural premise.
Episodes
Staffel 1
1Angels and Tengu Above the Shinjuku Skyline
2The White Nekomata of Kagurazaka
3Trickster with Amber Eyes
4Fixed-Point Observation in Kabukicho
5The Parallel World Elevator of the City Hall Observation Deck
6Devil and Sense of Loss
7Sense of Loss and Proof of Despair
8Old Coyote and the Garden of Falling Stars
9The Dream Demon of the Haunted Apartment Block
10White Cocoons and Blue Flames
11The Ears of Sand and the Guts of a New Employee
12Shinjuku Ward Nocturnal Community Relations Division
Cast
- Theo Himezuka
Comment(s)
Staff
- DirectorTetsuya Watanabe
- Script
- Episode DirectorHirokazu HisayukiSō ToyamaYūichi ItōKaori IshiiYasuyuki ŌishiNorikazu IshigookaYūshi IbeSeiki TakunoWataru UnoMisato Takada
- Original creator
- Art DirectorNobuaki Mihara
- Animation DirectorHajime YoshidaAtsushi AonoTomoaki KadoKazuo TomizawaEtsushi MoriYōko IizukaNatsuki EgamiKatsuyuki ShimizuMasumi HoshinoKazuyuki IkaiKazuko NakayamaMiyako NishidaMiho AzumaMasayuki FujitaShino IkedaHiroyuki KamuraKanta SuzukiShunsuke MasudaYuka NagataSaki HisamatsuYūko IshizakiSayumi YokoyamaAya TanakaTakaki InoueMiki UrashimaEriko ItōOsamu KadoyaSakura SaganoOsami KakutaniHyen Kyoung KimKo Numata
- Sound DirectorYōta Tsuruoka
- Executive producerHiroaki MatsuuraSatoshi KobayashiDaiji HoriuchiFumihiko ShinozakiYōko KogawaShinichiro KitazawaHaruki Satomi
- Series CompositionTatsuto Higuchi
- StoryboardMichio FukudaTetsuya WatanabeSusumu NishizawaKunihiro MoriHirokazu HisayukiSō ToyamaYūichi ItōKazuo SakaiYasuyuki ŌishiMisato Takada
- MusicEvan Call
- Character DesignEriko Itō
- Chief Animation DirectorKenji MatsuokaMinami YoshidaAi YokoyamaEriko ItōSakura Sagano
- 3D DirectorSadanori KanedaKazuma Nakafuji
- Director of PhotographyHitoshi TamuraMegumi Himeno
- ProducerHiromi InoueKenichi TokumuraJun'ichirō TamuraYukiko KatōFumitaka KitazawaToyokazu NakahigashiSojiro ArimizuFumiko SatōYiyi Chen
Production
- Animation ProductionLIDEN FILMS
Relations
Anime overview
Manga overview


