Welcome back to Anime Horrors!
Since its debut this past January, ID: INVADED has proven itself to be a fascinating trip into psychological science-fiction. With no knowledge of the show prior to starting it, I was drawn to its psychedelic visuals. As episode one played out before me, I was in awe of its surreal nature, compelling story, and intriguing protagonist. With that in mind, I wanted to put together some thoughts regarding the show and what makes it so awesome. As of right now, the 13 episode run has concluded, and you can watch ID: INVADED in its entirety via Hulu and Funimation.
For those of you who have seen the Steven Spielberg film Minority Report, you may notice some interesting parallels between it and ID. The anime takes place in a world where investigators attempt to locate and capture criminals by exploring their mind. Utilizing advanced technology and entering a mental plane known as the ID-Well, they are able to traverse the subconscious of their targets, exploring their thoughts and feelings to confirm motives, identity, and even location. Outside of ID-Wells, there is technology that allows investigators to track criminals down by sensing their intent to kill.
The criminals of ID range from a serial killer who buries people alive and broadcasts their suffering to a mass murderer, and even a killer who drills into people’s heads.
ID is nothing short of gruesome in its violent detail.
In order to collect all the data (or clues if you will) in an ID-Well, an individual is chosen to enter the mind of a criminal. H is where we meet our protagonist Akihito Narihisago/Sakaido, the brilliant detective. Sakaido is the alter-ego Narihisago takes on while exploring ID-Wells. Sakaido’s appearance is livelier compared to that of Narihisago’s physical form, the former sporting a coat and scarf, and rocking pink hair. While traveling through different minds, Sakaido narrates details, piecing together clues he comes across in order to see the overall picture.
In reality, however, Narihisago is a complicated person. I don’t want to give anything away, but it takes a specific kind of individual to enter ID-Wells, so you’ll have to discover for yourself just who Narihisago is. The supporting cast is fine, given that they really serve just to move the plot forward and provide exposition. One exception so far is that of Funetaro Momoki, who appears to have a friendship of sorts with Narihisago. There’s also Kaeru, who plays an essential role in the show, her being tied to Narihisago’s psyche and history. As we begin to learn more about Narihisago’s past, I’m sure additional depth will be provided to other characters.
In each ID-Well Narihisago enters, the viewer is brought along into an exciting and dangerous world. The psyches of these criminals make for a unique blend of madness; from people stuck on a tower being shot at, to a range of buildings on fire, the design behind each of these worlds is intriguing. As Sakaido explores each of these settings, the show delivers upon unnerving depth regarding the psyche of both the criminals and that of Narihisago.
I’ve always been intrigued by cerebral dramas like The Silence Of The Lambs, The Machinist, and Memento to name a few, and ID totally fits in with those types of narratives. From science-fiction to crime drama and psychological thriller, ID embraces the awesome qualities of these genres. In its first few episodes, ID: INVADED proves itself to be an exciting and surreal experience. For those craving some solid science-fiction, ID: INVADED has you covered. If you haven’t already checked out ID: INVADED, then I absolutely recommend you watch it.
