#252 : Laughing Target

Is this supposed to be an oxymoronic title? This anime is in no way a comedy, it’s a horror suspense thriller. Based on a shorter manga released as part of the Rumik World series, Rumiko Takahashi’s tale of obsession, Laughing Target, would release into the anime world as a singular OVA in 1987. Prepare your bows and take aim as we investigate a complex tale of teenage romance.

There is something at least for me about Takahashi’s Rumik World anime adaptations. Often times I may not feel interested in 100+ episode TV series, even if they are popular. These are a large commitment and perhaps one day I will watch the likes of Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha, but for now I enjoy the pocket sized Rumik World OVAs and short run TV series including: Maris the Chojo, Fire Tripper and Mermaid Forest (sadly Mermaid Forest falls outside my pre-1990 limit so it won’t ever get written up, but it’s FANTASTIC!). And then there’s Laughing Target, a horror suspense thriller about obsession, which we will dive into right now!

School archery ace Yuzuru Shiga seems to have it all; he is great with a bow, has a steady girlfriend (Satomi) and has a loyal fan club within the high school archery club he is a part of. Yet apparently he also has a fiancée by the name of Azusa. Wait a minute, just a minute… this kid is in high school and the setting is present day Japan… arranged marriages in the modern world (for the late 80s), especially being in that age bracket? Bizarre. This of course upsets and confuses Satomi (obviously!), but to make matters more complicated the girl betrothed to Yuzuru is his cousin! … Whoa whoa, second red flag! lol

OK so here is the story… apparently Yuzuru and Azusa were betrothed as very small children to protect a family curse from coming out in the open that young Azusa was beginning to experience and was well known to her mother, Yuzuru’s aunt. Incest? No, not at all despite what it looks like so far. Apparently Azusa is either demonic, or is possessed by a demonic power that has a need to kill. This is then followed up by rat-like bacteria looking things that eat up the remains of the victim. Gross! Azusa would thus grow up extremely sheltered with almost zero human contact to hide her powers. She has only one thing on her mind, marry Yuzuru at all costs! And if someone else in her way, you become a victim… a target… but not a laughing one. 

Upon the death of her mother, Azusa would move in with Yuzuru’s family and guess what happens? Satomi gets caught in the middle! Yuzuru’s stance on the arranged marriage was something he never took seriously, but that is not the case for the other party involved. Things are about to get messy and ugly as Yuzuru will have to take a stand to protect the one he truly loves! Laughing Target is perhaps one of the more complicated romantic triangles from 80s anime combining a forbidden subject matter with a dramatic suspense story. Dark and full of intrigue, this is my type of horror anime which concentrates more on the mood and characters instead of a gnarly bloodbath. And while this may not be my favorite of the Rumik World adaptations (that goes to Maris the Chojo and Mermaid Forest), Laughing Target is still a solid piece of work by one of manga and anime’s most beloved creators. My departing thought is this question, which is scarier… Azusa’s demonic power, or her obsession with her cousin?