Description
Otherside Picnic (裏世界ピクニック, Ura Sekai Picnic) is a series of entertaining science fiction novels by Iori Miyazawa. It is published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
The genre of the work is horror, science fiction and yuri.
It is inspired by the Strugatsky brothers' novel "Roadside Picnic" ('Stalker'), and is based around the concept of "searching for treasure in a different world that is beyond comprehension", depicting the adventures of a pair of college girls who explore a different space called the "Otherside", and the subtle sense of distance they feel between them.
In Otherside, urban legends that have been told on various bulletin board sites and websites, such as Kunekune, Kisaragi Station, Hasshaku-sama and Kotoribako, appear in a form that has been interpreted and reconstructed by the author. This work also has an aspect of a mystery story in which the characters must solve the situation by drawing on the logic and laws that are glimpsed in the overwhelming absurdity.
Book information
Hayakawa Publishing (Hayakawa Bunko JA), already published in seven volumes (as of 25 December 2021).
English translation published by J-Novel Club.
- Otherside Picnic: Their Strange Exploration Files (裏世界ピクニック ふたりの怪異探検ファイル)
- Otherside Picnic 2: Resort Night at the Beach of the End (裏世界ピクニック2 果ての浜辺のリゾートナイト)
- Otherside Picnic 3: Yamanoke Presence (裏世界ピクニック3 ヤマノケハイ)
- Otherside Picnic 4: Overnight on the Otherside (裏世界ピクニック4 裏世界夜行)
- Otherside Picnic 5: Hasshaku-sama Revival (裏世界ピクニック5 八尺様リバイバル)
- Otherside Picnic 6: T is for Templeborn (裏世界ピクニック6 Tは寺生まれのT)
- Otherside Picnic 7: Funeral of the Moon (裏世界ピクニック7 月の葬送)
※Episodes not collected in books
"Intersection: Ms. Yozakura's Late-Night Livestream" (Included in volume 1 of the manga edition)
"Intersection: Midnight Chicken and Gorilla" (Included in volume 2 of the manga edition)
"Intersection: The Night a Cornered Bird Comes" (Included in volume 3 of the manga edition)
"Intersection: Before the Night Comes Down" (Included in volume 4 of the manga edition)
"Intersection: Eventually, Night Will Fall" (Included in volume 5 of the manga edition)
"Intersection: Ms. Yozakura's Food Porn Livestream" (Included in volume 6 of the manga edition)
"Intersection: The Tanuki is the Keeper of the Night" (Included in volume 7 of the manga edition)
"Intersection: Friends at Night Work" (Included in volume 8 of the manga edition)
"Intersection: Guests in Broad Daylight" (Included in volume 9 of the manga edition)
Manga Adaptation
The manga adaptation has been comicalised and serialised since the February 2018 issue of Monthly Shonen Gangan.
Drawing by Eita Mizuno.
There are already nine volumes published (as of 12 September 2022).
A short novel written by the original author is included at the end of the book (see above).
There is also a paperback containing the newly written short story as a store-exclusive bonus.
Anime
An anime adaptation was announced on 5 March 2020.
The TV anime version was broadcast on AT-X, Sun TV, BS11 and TOKYOMX from January 2021.
Produced by Leiden Film & FelixFilm.
Official PV
Theme Songs
Opening Theme: "Minikui Ikimono" (醜い生き物)
Lyrics, composition and arrangement by HoneyWorks
Ending Theme: "You & Me"
Lyrics: Miki Sato, Misako Sakazume
Composed and arranged by maeshima soshi
Characters
Sorawo Kamikoshi (紙越空魚)
Voiced by: Miyuri Hanamori
Protagonist and narrator. She nearly dies while exploring the Otherside and is saved by Toriko Nishina. Since then, she has been exploring the Otherside with her.
Toriko Nishina (仁科鳥子)
Voiced by: Ai Kayano
Another protagonist. She is the one who saved Sorawo Kamikoshi from drowning due to the Kunekune. She is searching for Satsuki Uruma, who has gone missing in the Otherside.
Kozakura (小桜)
Voiced by: Rina Hidaka
Cognitive scientist. She continues to research the existence and phenomena of the Otherside to see if she can scientifically elucidate them.
Satsuki Uruma (閏間冴月)
A tall woman with long black hair and black-rimmed glasses, she is a researcher of the Otherside who was a visiting professor at the DS Lab, and her colleague Kozakura was her assistant. She disappeared three months before the start of the main story.
Youichirou Migiwa (汀 耀一郎)
A man who serves as the director-general of the DS Lab. He is not a researcher, but is skilled in firearms, knife handling, booby traps and torture techniques, and has personal contacts in private military companies. As such, he handles not only general office work but also deals with rough affairs.
Akari Seto (瀬戸茜理)
Voiced by: Miyu Tomita
A first-year student at the same university as Sorawo. She has won a karate competition in the prefecture, and Sorawo calls her 'karateka'.
She has a bright and curious personality and looks up to Sorawo as her senior, but Sorawo finds this somewhat annoying. After being attacked by the netlore "Cat Ninja" phenomenon, she asks for help from Sorowo and becomes involved with her.
Natsumi Ichikawa (市川夏妃)
Voiced by: Miyuri Shimabukuro
She is Akari's best friend and childhood friend. After graduating from high school, she works at her family's car repair shop. Through Akari, Sorawo and Toriko discovered that she was involved in the "Sannukikano" phenomenon, and they helped her out.
Runa Urumi (潤巳るな)
Related Articles
Hayakawa Bunko Urban legend Triangle relationship Yuri Creepypasta SF
External Links
Otherside Picnic - J-Novel Club (English)
Anime Official Website (Japanese)
