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Night Head Genesis is a dark and atmospheric – and oddly overlooked – anime series based on Night Head, a 1992 Japanese live-action TV series.

Naoto and Naoya Kirihara are two brothers with incredible psychic abilities. Unfortunately for them, this results in their being taken from their parents as young children and imprisoned in a research center located in an isolated mountain wilderness for fifteen years.

The story begins when the energy barrier surrounding the research center suddenly dissolves, enabling the brothers to escape. Now young men, Naoto and Naoya reenter the world they’ve been protected from for years – or perhaps, the world that has been protected from them for years.

Naoto, the older brother, has psychokinesis, or the ability to move objects using his mind. He is protective of Naoya, quick to anger, and can hurt others through his psychic abilities when he loses his temper. Naoya is clairvoyant and telepathic, and frequently afflicted by traumatic visions when physically touched by other people. In contrast to the more confident Naoto, Naoya is sensitive and timid, usually hiding behind Naoto figuratively (and sometimes literally). As the brothers had only each other to rely on for so long, they have an extremely close bond.

Naoto and Naoya are soon confronted by mysterious events involving other psychically-gifted people, including a female serial killer, and an unusual girl named Shouko who appears to be connected to the spirit realm.

The brothers learn that a vision predicts they will cause mankind’s extinction in an event known as “the Upheaval.” The Ark Corporation, a shadowy organization alluded to early on, becomes central to the plot in the final third of the series. Naoto and Naoya close in on the secret behind the Ark Corporation, but the time of the Upheaval is rapidly approaching…

Veteran seiyuu Toshiyuki Morikawa and Akira Ishida portray the Kirihara brothers. The attractive character designs are by manga artist You Higuri. The overall mood of the series is somber and often creepy. Due to frequent adult themes, Night Head Genesis isn’t suitable for younger than pre-teenage children.

Night Head Genesis is a 24-episode series, licensed in the U.S. by AnimeWorks and Media Blasters.

Jan Suzukawa works in the manga industry as a freelance editor and English adaptation writer. Website: www.jansuzukawa.com. Blog: jansuzukawa.blogspot.com.