The re-animated version of Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh has also been met with great acclaim. It's an anthology format, so if you haven't seen it yet, you can still enjoy it now! This time, we'll be taking a unique look at one of the most mysterious entities in the Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh series: the "automatic being"! This article contains spoilers, so if you haven't seen it yet, please read on afterwards.
What is Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh?
Light Novel
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono/KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works/Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh was adapted into an anime once before in 2000. This time, it's being adapted into an anime with a new cast and a new story. You can really feel the passion in everything from the drawings and camerawork to the dialogue and character design, making this episode of Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh an anime that you definitely should watch! Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh is a light novel that has been made into a series. In fact, it has been serialized since 1998. It's a very popular light novel! Are you intrigued?!
Standards
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono/KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works/Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
This is the light novel cover, although the illustration is slightly different from the anime. It really shows its age, doesn't it? (lol) It's said that Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh was the first to introduce the idea of an abnormal world set within ordinary life, something that is now becoming commonplace. This work has become a benchmark for those who say, "This work predates Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh." It truly established the flow and conventions of light novels!
Debut Work
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono / KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works / Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
The author is Kohei Kadono. In fact, it was both his debut work and his breakthrough! 2019 marks the 21st anniversary of his debut, making him truly a genius. It has remained popular ever since, and has achieved the remarkable feat of being re-animated. It's rare to find a work that is loved to this extent. It's definitely worth watching. In fact, you have no choice but to watch it!
[Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh] What is automatic existence?
Automatically
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono/KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works/Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
The "automatic entity" we're considering here is an entity that automatically appears like an eerie bubble when it detects an enemy in the world. I know this might be a little confusing. You'll see this explanation everywhere online, but if you understand it, you've probably read the light novel or watched the anime (lol). Let's dig deeper.
Utsuwa
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono/KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works/Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
Boogiepop, the main character, is truly an automatic being. He senses enemies in the world and automatically appears from within Miyashita Touka. Miyashita Touka and Boogiepop are the same person, but inside they are completely different people. He has no recollection of his time as Boogiepop. To an outsider, he appears to have a "split personality." Incidentally, Boogiepop is a man. He uses "boku" as his first-person pronoun, and his voice gets a little lower when he becomes Boogiepop.
Three People
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono/KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works/Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
Currently, there are three "automatic beings" confirmed in light novels: Boogiepop, the King of Distortion, and a character named Poom Poom. Boogiepop and Poom-Poom share a common goal: to be "the enemy of the world's enemy," in other words, they are beings who could become allies of the world. However, this action is unknown to the public, and in Boogiepop's case, he is like a grim reaper who "kills people when they are at their most beautiful so they don't become any uglier." Many people seem to think of this as a rumor, a fantasy like an urban legend.
[Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh] Why Miyashita Touka?
Meeting
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono/KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works/Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
When she was in middle school, Miyashita Touka was seriously injured and near death. It is said that this was when she and Boogiepop first met. I don't know if it was just a coincidence or if it was intentional, but this encounter feels inevitable.
[Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh] The Enemy of the World's Enemy
Ally?
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono/KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works/Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
In the description, they are often described as the enemy of the world's enemies. However, they are not necessarily considered allies. The enemy of the world refers to "an entity that closes off the world's potential." In other words, it refers to a rebellious entity that hinders the world's evolution and progress. That enemy is Boogiepop! He's said to be the Grim Reaper, but depending on how you look at it, he's more of a hero. The killing method is brutal, though (lol).
World Crisis
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono/KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works/Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
I said that he's an eerie bubble-like entity that appears when the world senses a crisis, but that's not actually the case (lol). He often appears even when there's no crisis, so I think he's free to exist within Boogiepop's mind. It seems that this is not possible from Miyashita Touka, though. It's safe to say that Boogiepop is mostly using his body.
[Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh] Want to investigate?
Speaking
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono/KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works/Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
He uses his own judgment to determine whether someone is an enemy of the world, but sometimes he speaks with the person who could become one. Depending on the content of the conversation, he decides whether they are an enemy or not, and whether to kill them. After all, a Judge needs this level-headedness. I'm curious as to how long Boogiepop has been around, but I'm sure he's been around for a long time and has a lot of experience, so this is probably a decision he has to make. Looking at it like this, it's really cool.
Evolution
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono/KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works/Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
At first, Boogiepop, of course, possessed superhuman powers, but he would have others deliver the finishing blows, so he wasn't considered all that powerful. However, with each episode (and as the series progresses), his abilities have expanded. This is just a guess, but perhaps Boogiepop is evolving by defeating the world's enemies. If that's the case, he'll become even stronger!
[Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh] The Reason for His Future Existence
Source: Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh © Kohei Kadono/KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works/Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh Production Committee
What did you think? [Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh] A Thorough Analysis of Automatic Existence! We've introduced the characters above. We've mainly focused on Boogiepop, but his existence is otherworldly, fantastical, and mysterious. However, he is by no means evil. His facial expression never changes and he remains consistently calm, which makes him seem cold. Perhaps he could also be described as a mysterious, god-like being. He will play an important role in the upcoming Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh, so keep an eye out!
