Midnight Occult Civil Servants is a Japanese manga and anime series that revolves around a group of individuals who work in an organization called the "Midnight Occult Civil Servants." The primary duty of these individuals is to maintain the balance between the human world and the supernatural world that exists parallel to it. The story follows the protagonist, Arata Miyako, who discovers that he has the ability to understand and communicate with supernatural creatures, including spirits, yokai, and demons. Because of this unique talent, he is recruited by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "Nocturnal Community Relations Division" and becomes a civil servant. Arata joins a team of other civil servants, each with their own supernatural abilities and duties. Together, they handle various tasks related to the supernatural world, such as investigating supernatural incidents, mediating conflicts between supernatural beings and humans, and providing support to those in need.
This is especially noticeable in Volume 3's cover. There's no green-haired character yet the cover art and the opening sequence also features the characters with green hairs and an overall color of green (not sure what term this is called in art). This leads to me to conclude that the opening scene you see was probably trying to copy the volume's majority of one color in the art in the scenes it portrays.
There s no green-haired character yet the cover art and the opening sequence also features the characters with green hairs and an overall color of green not sure what term this is called in art. Why I suggested it Reading Thompson reminded me of this series as they are both urban fantasy, though this series is more about traditional folkloric creatures such as yokai, rather than urban legends.
Together, they handle various tasks related to the supernatural world, such as investigating supernatural incidents, mediating conflicts between supernatural beings and humans, and providing support to those in need. Throughout the series, Arata and his team encounter a wide range of supernatural beings, each with their own unique abilities and characteristics. This diversity allows for diverse and exciting storylines that explore different aspects of Japanese folklore and mythology.
Midnight Occult Civil Servants
Fledgling civil servant Miyako Arata is the newest employee at the Shinjuku Ward office of the Nocturnal Community Relations Division, a bureau that he knows nothing about before showing up for work his first night. He quickly learns that the NCRD deals with Anothers (the general name for supernatural entities), resolving problematic interactions between these otherworldly beings and humans. He also quickly discovers that he's the only one who can actually understand Anothers, and that he inherited this ability called Ears of Sand because he is a descendant of the famed onmyoji Abe no Seimei. Using this ability, Miyako unwittingly becomes a diplomat between Anothers and humans, which greatly helps resolve the bureau's cases and attracts the attention of a god who once regarded his ancestor as a close friend. However, not everyone he works with sees his ability as a positive or trusts his talents.
Fledgling civil servant Miyako Arata is the newest employee at the Shinjuku Ward office of the Nocturnal Community Relations Division, a bureau that he knows nothing about before showing up for work his first night. He quickly learns that the NCRD deals with Anothers (the general name for supernatural entities), resolving problematic interactions between these otherworldly beings and humans. He also quickly discovers that he's the only one who can actually understand Anothers, and that he inherited this ability called Ears of Sand because he is a descendant of the famed onmyoji Abe no Seimei. Using this ability, Miyako unwittingly becomes a diplomat between Anothers and humans, which greatly helps resolve the bureau's cases and attracts the attention of a god who once regarded his ancestor as a close friend. However, not everyone he works with sees his ability as a positive or trusts his talents.
Sometimes the polls that determine what titles will be covered for streaming reviews on ANN miss a title worthy of greater attention, and Midnight Occult Civil Servants is a good example. Though the series has its faults, it winds up being a surprisingly engrossing look at the importance of establishing communication in diplomatic relations.
The premise is deceptively simple: a newcomer upends a government bureaucracy by being able to understand what couldn't be understood before, unwittingly forcing a paradigm shift on how the division conducts its business. Before Miyako came along, the NCRD carried out cases with Anothers based only on educated guesses about what these unfathomable beings actually wanted. That still puts them ahead of the regular public, who cannot even perceive Anothers, much less communicate with them. Because of that, the NCRD naturally holds a distrust of Anothers, and that doesn't instantly go away once an actual translator joining their ranks. While some members of both Miyako's office and the NCRD in general see him as an invaluable resource, others are skeptical about whether or not communications with Anothers can be trusted, since they completely lack human priorities.
That skepticism is by no means a pervasive element of the story, but it's never entirely set aside, and it comes into play considerably during the penultimate case. Suggestions of racism are undeniably present in the dynamic between Anothers and humans, but at the same time, Anothers can undeniably cause harm to humans, intentionally or otherwise. Miyako also must learn the hard way that understanding the language of the Anothers does not always mean that he can understand their nature, and it actually makes him more vulnerable to their capacity to prey on his naivete.
The plot of MOCS involves a series of cases that typically take one or two episodes to resolve. There is some carryover between cases, especially in the way recurring characters join the cast, but the continuity is usually not tight. The entertainment quality of the individual stories does vary; the first is just a retread of a “Romeo and Juliet” scenario involving different types of supernatural creatures, but one of the best involves an immortal creature's Frankensteinian efforts to bring a deceased love back to life – whether she wants to be brought back in a different body or not – and how that is connected both to long-standing Missing Persons cases and the debilities they suffer when they reappear, sometimes decades later. Some of the content is also topical, with the stadium construction for the 2020 Olympics figuring prominently into the last story arc.
The source material's nature as a shojo manga is subtler than usual but still pervasive, giving the overall presentation a distinct flavor. All of the regular cast members are handsome (or in one case girlishly pretty) young men cut from bishonen molds; hardly any female characters get more than cameos outside of the case where they are featured. The most frequently-appearing Another, an Aztec god who befriended Miyako's ancestor and is now obsessed with him, stands out as a particularly attractive design. The way he acts toward Miyako just drips with BL implications, even though that all remains subtextual. Character design aesthetics follow typical shojo trends, but the anime is not so thoroughly-steeped in shojo flavor that those normally averse to the genre need avoid it.
The technical merits for the series are not the strongest overall, though some individual scenes offer exceptions. The visuals are at their best in various scenes of beautiful gardens and some creative Another designs, and the extensive detail work on the locales in Shinjuku and the Olympic stadium is impressive. On the downside, some facial expression work looks off, and the animation goes off-model fairly often. The series is more consistent in its solid but mostly unremarkable musical score, though opener “dis-communicate,” sung by Miyako's seiyuu Jun Fukuyama , is a stand-out number.
In the end, Midnight Occult Civil Servants follows through on its standard genre premise without many surprises. However, it executes its concept well enough with just enough depth and thought to make it worth a watch for those interested.
The series also delves into the personal lives and struggles of the civil servants, highlighting their dedication to their duty despite the challenges they face. It explores themes of acceptance, understanding, and coexistence between humans and supernatural beings, emphasizing the importance of maintaining balance and peace between the two worlds. Midnight Occult Civil Servants offers a blend of supernatural elements, action, humor, and character-driven storytelling. It combines supernatural mysteries and investigations with moments of lightheartedness and emotional depth, creating a compelling and enjoyable viewing experience. In conclusion, Midnight Occult Civil Servants is a fascinating manga and anime series that showcases a world where supernatural beings coexist with humans. Through its diverse characters and engaging storylines, it explores the challenges and adventures of civil servants tasked with maintaining balance between the human and supernatural realms..
Reviews for "The Pioneering Animation Style of "Midnight Occult Civil Servants"
- Sarah - 2/5 - I found "Midnight occult civic servants" to be quite boring and uninteresting. The plot seemed to lack depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. I struggled to connect with any of them and ultimately, I didn't care about what happened to them. The pacing was also quite slow, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I was disappointed with this series and would not recommend it.
- John - 1/5 - "Midnight occult civic servants" is one of the most unimpressive anime I have ever watched. The concept and execution felt weak, the animation quality was mediocre at best, and the story failed to captivate me in any way. The characters were forgettable and lacked any development. It felt like a wasted opportunity with potential that was never fully realized. I regret wasting my time on this series and would advise others to stay away from it.
- Emma - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Midnight occult civic servants", but it fell flat for me. The supernatural elements felt forced and the world-building was lacking. It became repetitive as each episode followed a similar formula without much variation. The anime failed to keep my interest and I struggled to finish it. It's a shame because it had potential, but it simply didn't deliver. I would recommend looking elsewhere for a more interesting supernatural thriller.