Hiiro no Kakera, is a Japanese visual novel created by Idea Factory directed at the female market, known as an otome game. Released on July 6, 2006 for the PlayStation 2, the protagonist is a teenage girl who revisits a small village she remembers from her childhood and gets caught up in her family's history and supernatural dangers surrounding it. A thirteen episode anime adaptation by Studio Deen aired in Japan between April 1, 2012 and June 24, 2012 and was licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks. A second season, Hiiro no Kakera: Dai Ni Shō, aired between October 1, 2012 and December 23, 2012.
Gameplay
Plot
Tamaki Kasuga is a teenage girl who revisits a small village she remembers from her childhood and gets caught up in her family's history and the supernatural dangers surrounding it. While walking along the hillsides waiting for the person who her grandmother sent to fetch Tamaki to the village, Tamaki comes across a small, white round object which has sticks for limbs and can talk. It runs off soon after with Tamaki chasing after it. Soon Tamaki finds herself in a place where it does not feel like the world she came from. She gets attacked by three slime creatures, and a mysterious man comes charging in to save her tells her to be quiet. After the young man, recognized as Takuma Onizaki, saves her, he walks her to the village where her grandmother is staying. Soon after her arrival she meets with her grandmother. It is later explained that she has to continue the role of the ancestor Tamayori Princess to seal the sword Onikirimaru with the help of her five Guardians.
Hiiro no Kakera was developed by Idea Factory and released on July 6, 2006 for the PlayStation 2 as the first in the Hiiro no Kakera series. The next two games were released in 2007 and the PS2: Hiiro no Kakera: Ano Sora no Shita de on February 15 and Hisui no Shizuku: Hiiro no Kakera 2 on August 9. Shin Hisui no Shizuku: Hiiro no Kakera 2 followed on October 1, 2009 for the PS2, and was later ported to the PlayStation Portable on August 19, 2010 and the Nintendo DS on June 16, 2011. Soukoku no Kusabi: Hiiro no Kakera 3 was released on August 7, 2008 for the PS2, and was later ported to the PSP on April 15, 2010 and the NDS on August 25, 2011. Hiiro no Kakera: Shin Tamayori Hime Denshou was released for the PS2 on October 1, 2009 and was later ported to the PSP on September 30, 2010. Hiiro no Kakera Aizouban: Akane Iro no Tsuioku was the first game in the series released on the PlayStation 3 on May 26, 2011. Hiiro no Kakera: Shin Tamayori Hime Denshou - Piece of Future followed on the PSP on July 14, 2011. Sokoku no Kusabi: Hiiro no Kakera 3 - Ashita e no Tobira was released for the PSP on May 17, 2012. Shirahana no Ori: Hiiro no Kakera 4, set in the Heian period unlike the rest of the installments, was released also for the PSP in September 20, 2012. A fandisc for the 4th game has been announced.
Anime
A thirteen episode anime television series adaptation aired between April 1, 2012 and June 24, 2012. The series is directed by Bob Shirohata and produced by Studio Deen. The opening theme is "Nee" by Maiko Fujita, and the ending theme is "Kono Te de Idaki Tomeru kara" by Shuhei Kita. Both themes were released as singles by Lantis in 2012. A second season, Hiiro no Kakera: Dai Ni Shō, aired between October 1, 2012 and December 23, 2012. The opening theme is "Takanaru" by Maiko Fujita, and the ending theme is "Kimi Dake wo" by Shuhei Kita. Both seasons were streamed on Crunchyroll.
