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{{italic title}}[[File:UmiLogo.png|thumb|<nomobile>The English logo for ''Umineko When They Cry''</nomobile>]]
<noinclude>{{italic title}}
{{nihongo|'''''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'''''|うみねこのなく頃に|Umineko no Naku Koro ni|lit. ''When the Seagulls Cry''}} is a Japanese [[w:media mix|media mix]] franchise created by [[07th Expansion]]. It is a part of 07th Expansion's wider [[When They Cry (franchise)|''When They Cry'' franchise]]. The story focuses on the [[Ushiromiya family]] and their servants, all of whom are on a secluded island for a period of two days while beset by mysterious murders. Incorporating elements of [[w:fantasy|fantasy]] and [[w:metafiction|metafiction]], the goal of the each story is to discern not only the identity of the murderer, but whether the culprit is even human at all.
{{Infobox novel
| title = ''Umineko: When They Cry''
| image = [[File:Umineko ep4 f.jpg|{{imgsize}}px]]
| caption = The cover of Alliance of the Golden Witch, the first complete release of an Umineko game, which consists of the four games of When They Cry 3.
| j_kanji = うみねこのなく頃に
| j_romaji = Umineko no Naku Koro ni


The franchise began with the release of the sound novel {{legend}} in 2007. The series continued for a total of eight sound novels, all of which were written by [[Ryukishi07]] and published by [[07th Expansion]]. Square Enix, Ichijinsha, Kadokawa Shoten, and ASCII Media Works all published various manga adaptations of the series, all written by Ryukishi07. Kodansha Box published a series of light novels also written by Ryukishi07. The series was also made into a [[Umineko no Naku Koro ni (anime)|26-episode anime]] by Studio Deen, which aired in Japan between July and December 2009. The game was re-released by [[Wikipedia:Alchemist (company)|Alchemist]] under the name ''[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni ~Rondo of the Witch and Reasoning~]]'' with updated graphics on December 16th, 2010. A [[Ōgon Musōkyoku|fighting game]] based on the franchise was released by 07th Expansion on December 31, 2010.
| author = [[Ryukishi07]]

| publisher =
The word ''umineko'' is the name of a type of seagull known as the black-tailed gull. ''Naku'' means ''to make sound'' (鳴く), specifically referring to the sounds made by non-human organisms. According to the original creator, [[Ryukishi07]], the red character Na (<span style="color:red;">な</span>) in the logo is an official part of the title.
{{plainlist |

*[[Wikipedia:07th Expansion|07th Expansion]] (PC)
== Story ==
*[[Wikipedia:Taito Corporation|Taito]] (mobile phone)
{{umineko story}}
*[[Wikipedia:Alchemist (company)|Alchemist]] (PS3,PSP)

}}
== List of sound novels ==
| genre = [[Wikipedia:Drama|Drama]], [[Wikipedia:Metafiction|Metafiction]], [[Wikipedia:Mystery fiction|Mystery]], [[Wikipedia:Psychological thriller|Psychological thriller]], [[Wikipedia:Supernatural fiction|Supernatural]]
<nomobile>{{Timeline of release years
| platform = [[Wikipedia:Personal computer|PC]], [[Wikipedia:Mobile phone|Mobile phone]], [[Wikipedia:PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]], [[Wikipedia:PlayStation Portable|PlayStation Portable]]
| title = Release timeline
| released = {{collapsible list|title={{vgrelease|JP|2007 – 2011}}{{vgrelease|WW|2016}}|titlestyle=font-weight:normal;background:transparent;text-align:left|<br \>{{unbulleted list|''Legend'' {{vgrelease|JP|August 17, 2007|WW|July 8, 2016}} ''Turn'' {{vgrelease|JP|December 31, 2007|WW|July 8, 2016}} ''Banquet'' {{vgrelease|JP|August 16, 2008|WW|July 8, 2016}} ''Alliance'' {{vgrelease|JP|December 29, 2008|WW|July 8, 2016}}}}}}

| arcs =
| range1 = 2007-2020
{{plainlist |
| range1_color = #DF4440 #DDAAAA
*{{legend}}

*{{turn}}
| 2007b = {{legend}}
*{{banquet}}
| 2007c = {{turn}}
*{{alliance}}
| 2008b = {{banquet}}
}}
| 2008d = {{alliance}}
| 2009a = {{end}}
| 2009c = {{dawn}}
| 2010b = {{requiem}}
| 2010c = {{twilight}}
| 2010d = {{tsubasa}}
| 2011 = {{hane}}
| 2019 = {{saku}}
}}
}}
</nomobile>
{{nihongo|'''''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'''''|うみねこのなく頃に|Umineko no Naku Koro ni|lit. ''When the Seagulls Cry''}} is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft visual novel series written by [[Ryukishi07]] and produced by [[07th Expansion]]. The story focuses on a group of eighteen people who are on a secluded island for a period of two days and the mysterious murders that befall them. The goal of the game is to discern not only the identity of the murderer, but whether the culprit is even human at all.
*''[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni (sound novel)|Umineko no Naku Koro ni]]''
**{{legend}}
**{{turn}}
**{{banquet}}
**{{alliance}}
*{{chiru}}
**{{end}}
**{{dawn}}
**{{requiem}}
**{{twilight}}
*{{tsubasa}}
*{{hane}}
*{{saku}} (compilation)


The sound novels were accompanied by a series of guidebooks published by [[w:Futabasha|Futabasha]], named ''[[Shinsou Kaimei Dokuhon]]''.
Square Enix, Ichijinsha, Kadokawa Shoten, and ASCII Media Works all published various manga adaptations of the series, all written by Ryukishi07. Kodansha Box published a series of light novels written by Ryukishi07. The series was also made into a 26-episode anime by Studio Deen, which aired in Japan between July and December 2009. The game was re-released by [[Wikipedia:Alchemist (company)|Alchemist]] under the name {{nihongo|''Umineko no Naku Koro ni ~Majo to Suiri no Rondo~''|うみねこのなく頃に ～魔女と推理の輪舞曲～|Umineko no Naku Koro ni ~Rondo of the Witch and Reasoning~}} with updated graphics on December 16th, 2010. A fighting game based on the franchise was released by 07th Expansion on December 31, 2010.


== In other media ==
The word ''umineko'' is the name of a type of seagull known as the black-tailed gull. ''Naku'' means ''to make sound'' (鳴く), specifically referring to the sounds made by non-human organisms. According to the original creator, Ryukishi07, the red character Na (<span style="color:red;">な</span>) in the logo is an official part of the title.
=== Anime series ===
</noinclude>
{{see also|Umineko no Naku Koro ni (anime)}}
== Gameplay ==
A [[Umineko no Naku Koro ni (anime)|26-episode anime]] adaptation based on the visual novel series aired in Japan between July 2 and December 24, 2009 on [[w:Chiba TV|Chiba TV]], and aired on additional stations at later times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://umineko.tv/web/main/news/index.html|title=''Umineko'' Anime News|publisher=[[w:Studio Deen|Studio Deen]]|accessdate=2009-04-23|language=Japanese}}</ref> The anime is produced by the animation studio [[w:Studio Deen|Studio Deen]], directed by [[w:Chiaki Kon|Chiaki Kon]],<ref name="umineko-anime">{{cite web|url=http://umineko.tv/web/main/staffcast/index.html|title=''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' staff and cast|publisher=[[w:Studio Deen|Studio Deen]]|accessdate=2009-06-20|language=Japanese}}</ref> and written by Toshifumi Kawase. The opening theme of the anime is {{Nihongo|"Katayoku no Tori"|片翼の鳥||lit. "One-Winged Bird"}} by [[w:Akiko Shikata|Akiko Shikata]], and the ending theme is {{Nihongo|"La Divina Tragedia: Makyoku"|la divina tragedia～魔曲～|| lit. "The Divine Tragedy: Diabolic Song"}} by Jimang from [[w:Sound Horizon|Sound Horizon]]. The singles for both songs were released on August 19 and September 16, 2009, respectively.<ref name="theme-songs">{{cite web|url=http://umineko.tv/web/main/collection/themesong.html|title=Theme songs section at the anime's official website|publisher=[[w:Studio Deen|Studio Deen]]|accessdate=2009-06-27|language= Japanese}}</ref> The anime is licensed by [[w:Nippon Ichi Software|NIS America]] for release in North America and was released in two Blu-ray Disc compilation volumes in December 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-07-28/nis-america-adds-umineko/when-they-cry-mystery-anime|title=NIS America Adds ''Umineko: When They Cry'' Mystery Anime|publisher=[[w:Anime News Network|Anime News Network]]|date=July 28, 2012|accessdate=July 28, 2012}}</ref>
''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' is a murder mystery game described as a "sound novel" by 07th Expansion. A sound novel is similar to a visual novel, though the gameplay requires no player interaction as the game is composed entirely of text dialogues. While a visual novel's basis would be the visual aspect, as the name suggests, a sound novel's basis takes more care in producing an atmosphere via the music, sound effects, and the story itself. As such, the original Umineko games have a simple-looking art style, which stays consistent over the course of the series' releases. The original releases contain no voice acting for the characters.


=== Manga ===
While during gameplay, the [[Umineko no Naku Koro ni TIPS|TIPS Mode]] can be viewed via the game's internal menu, which also includes save and load functions. These tips allow the player to read various supplementary information on the characters and story that may or may not be useful in solving the mystery. These are updated according to the progression of the story, so it is recommended to view the tips every once in a while. The ultimate goals of the gameplay involve reaching the truth behind the multi-cased mystery, determining where the gold is hidden, figuring out a solution in which ultimately everyone survives, and to solve the whole case by determining who the true murderer is in each chapter and whether it is due to supernatural events or human actions. An in-game feature from Turn of the Golden Witch onward known as "red truth" states something to be true in red text, offering clues to the reader to both create theories as well as to break them. In contrast is "blue truth" from Alliance of the Golden Witch onward, which is used to bring up theories on what is truly going on while abiding by the red truth, and has the possibility to become true if not countered by red truth. There is also "golden truth" introduced in End of the Golden Witch which can only be used by the Game Master and, depending on how it used, can be either inferior or superior to the red truth. Finally there is the "purple declaration" introduced in Twilight of the Golden Witch, which is used by the suspects of the mystery scenario and is equal in value to the red truth, except that only the culprit may use it to lie.
;Manga released in English
*''[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni (manga)|Umineko no Naku Koro ni]]''
**{{legend}} ([[Volume 1 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|1]], [[Volume 2 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|2]], [[Volume 3 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|3]], [[Volume 4 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|4]])
**{{turn}} ([[Volume 5 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|1]], [[Volume 6 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|2]], [[Volume 7 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|3]], [[Volume 8 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|4]], [[Volume 9 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|5]])
**{{banquet}} ([[Volume 10 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|1]], [[Volume 11 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|2]], [[Volume 12 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|3]], [[Volume 13 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|4]], [[Volume 14 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|5]])
**{{alliance}} ([[Volume 15 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|1]], [[Volume 16 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|2]], [[Volume 17 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|3]], [[Volume 18 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|4]], [[Volume 19 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|5]], [[Volume 20 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|6]])
**{{end}} ([[Volume 21 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|1]], [[Volume 22 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|2]], [[Volume 23 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|3]], [[Volume 24 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|4]], [[Volume 25 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|5]], [[Volume 26 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|6]])
**{{dawn}} ([[Volume 27 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|1]], [[Volume 28 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|2]], [[Volume 29 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|3]], [[Volume 30 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|4]], [[Volume 31 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|5]], [[Volume 32 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|6]])
**{{requiem}} ([[Volume 33 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|1]], [[Volume 34 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|2]], [[Volume 35 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|3]], [[Volume 36 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|4]], [[Volume 37 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|5]], [[Volume 38 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|6]], [[Volume 39 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|7]], [[Volume 40 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|8]], [[Volume 41 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|9]])
**{{twilight}} ([[Volume 42 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|1]], [[Volume 43 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|2]], [[Volume 44 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|3]], [[Volume 45 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|4]], [[Volume 46 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|5]], [[Volume 47 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|6]], [[Volume 48 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|7]], [[Volume 49 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|8]], [[Volume 50 (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)|9]])
;Manga not released in English
*''[[Umineko Biyori: Rokkenjima e Yōkoso!!]]''
*''[[Umineko Dōri no Peru-san]]''
*''[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni Episode X]]''
*''[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni Shi: Forgery of the Purple Logic]]''
*''[[Ōgon Musōkyoku (manga)|Ōgon Musōkyoku]]


=== Music ===
When an episode is completed for the first time, an additional short epilogue called "[[ Tea Party]]" becomes available to play, offering crucial plot points that advance the overall progression of the story. When that scenario is completed, a second epilogue called "[[????]]" also becomes available to advance the story. After all the scenarios in a given game copy have been completed, a Music Box section becomes available on the title menu, enabling the player to listen to any of the music used throughout the game.
{{see also|Umineko no Naku Koro ni Music}}
{{:Umineko no Naku Koro ni Music}}


== Story ==
===Drama CDs===
[[w:Frontier Works|Frontier Works]] began to produce a set of [[w:Radio drama in Japan|drama CDs]] for ''Umineko'' starting with the first volume {{Nihongo||黄金のカケラたち|Ōgon no Kakeratachi|lit. ''Golden Fragments''}} released on June 24, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0026L3FHQ/ |title=''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' drama CD volume 1 product listing|publisher=[[w:Amazon.com|Amazon.co.jp]]| accessdate=2009-06-20|language=Japanese}}</ref><ref name="dramaCDs">{{cite web|url=http://umineko.tv/web/main/collection/dramacd.html|title=Drama CDs section at the anime's official website|publisher=[[w:Studio Deen|Studio Deen]]|accessdate=2009-06-27|language= Japanese}}</ref> The second volume, {{Nihongo||黄金蝶の見る夢は|Ōgon Chō no Miru Yume wa|lit. ''The Dream Seen by the Golden Butterfly''}} followed on July 23, 2009.<ref name="dramaCDs"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0029Y8VY2/ |title='Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' drama CD volume 2 product listing|publisher=[[w:Amazon.com|Amazon.co.jp]]| accessdate=2009-06-20|language=Japanese}}</ref> The voice cast is the same as the anime.<ref name="dramaCDs"/>
''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' takes place primarily in the year 1986, during the time frame of October 4 and October 5 on a small, secluded island named {{nihongo|[[Rokkenjima]]|六軒島}} 10 km around owned and lived on by [[Kinzo Ushiromiya|Kinzo]], the head of the wealthy Ushiromiya family. Kinzo is near death, and eight of his family members arrive on the island for the annual family conference, where the adults plan to discuss how Kinzo's assets will be divided once he is dead. Also on the island are three family members who live there, five of Kinzo's servants, and his personal physician. After the eight family members arrive, a typhoon traps them on the island, and shortly after, strange things start to happen and people start dying.


=== Novels ===
The main character of the story is [[Battler Ushiromiya]], son of Kinzo's second son [[Rudolf Ushiromiya|Rudolf]]. Battler has not been to the annual Ushiromiya conference in six years due to living with his maternal grandparents ever since his mother [[Asumu Ushiromiya|Asumu]] died, and even took his mother's maiden name instead of Ushiromiya. When his grandparents died, he went back to living with his father, his second wife [[Kyrie Ushiromiya|Kyrie]], and their daughter [[Ange Ushiromiya|Ange]], his half-sister. Once on the island, Battler once again becomes acquainted with the legend of the golden witch [[Beatrice]] who supposedly lives in the naturally dense forest on Rokkenjima. A portrait of her lies in the entrance hall of the Ushiromiya family mansion, and a puzzling [[epitaph]] is written below the portrait. Rumor has it on the island that Beatrice gave [[Kinzo's gold|ten tons of gold]] to Kinzo in the past to restart the Ushiromiya family after being crippled in the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake. It is said that whoever solves the riddle of the witch's epitaph will receive the gold and be the next successor to the Ushiromiya family.
{{see also|Umineko no Naku Koro ni (novels)}}
[[w:Kodansha Box|Kodansha Box]] released novelizations of the visual novel arcs, written by [[w:Ryukishi07|Ryukishi07]] and illustrated by Tomohi, in two volume sets, beginning with ''Legend of the Golden Witch'' released on July 1, 2009 for volume one and August 4, 2009 for volume two. Fifteen volumes were released in total, with the last released on September 30, 2018, novelizing the last arc in one volume.

=== Video game ===
{{see also|Ōgon Musōkyoku}}
A [[w:Dōjin soft|dōjin]] [[w:Fighting game|2D fighting game]] produced by 07th Expansion titled {{nihongo|''[[Ōgon Musōkyoku]]''||Umineko: Golden Fantasia}} was released on December 31, 2010 at Comiket 79.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://07th-expansion.net/ogon/Main.htm|title=黄金夢想曲/07th Expansion|trans-title=Dance of Golden Dreams/07th Expansion|publisher=[[07th Expansion]]|accessdate=November 21, 2010|language=Japanese}}</ref> An append disc, titled ''Golden Fantasia Cross'', was released at Comiket 81 in December 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-03-06/umineko-no-naku-koro-ni-fighting-game-gets-sequel|title=''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' Fighting Game Gets Sequel|publisher=[[w:Anime News Network|Anime News Network]]|date=March 6, 2011|accessdate=July 28, 2011}}</ref> In addition, an [[w:Xbox 360|Xbox 360]] port of the original game developed by Alchemist was released on October 6, 2011 under the title ''Golden Fantasia X''.<ref name="Alchemist">{{cite web|url=http://www.umine.co/ogonx/|title=Xbox360で「うみねこのなく頃に」のタッグ式対戦格闘ゲームが遂に登場！ようこそ黄金夢想曲の世界へ!|publisher=[[Alchemist]]|language=Japanese|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326092538/http://www.umine.co/ogonx/|archive-date=26 March 2016|accessdate=19 October 2016}}</ref>

=== Internet radio show ===
An [[w:Internet radio|Internet radio]] show titled ''Umineko no Naku Koro ni Episode R: Radio of the Golden Witch'' aired ten episodes between August 26, 2009 and January 13, 2010. Produced by [[w:Animate (retailer)|Animate TV]], the show was hosted by [[w:Sayaka Ohara|Sayaka Ohara]] (the voice of Beatrice in the anime adaptation) and featured numerous guests who were also [[w:Seiyū|voice actors]] from the anime such as [[w:Daisuke Ono|Daisuke Ono]] ([[Battler Ushiromiya]]) and [[w:Marina Inoue|Marina Inoue]] ([[Jessica Ushiromiya]]). A special episode was later aired on April 28, 2010 featuring [[w:Rina Satō|Rina Satō]] ([[Ange Ushiromiya]]) and [[w:Ryukishi07|Ryukishi07]] as guests. Two CD compilation volumes containing two CDs each were released on December 23, 2009 and January 27, 2010 compiling the ten main episodes.


Once the typhoon hits, a ghastly game begins, starting with the murder of six people on the island. If the witch's epitaph cannot be solved, people will continue to die in mysterious deaths, following the outline given by the epitaph itself, until the witch Beatrice ultimately revives. From this point on, Battler and Beatrice are locked in a game of twisted logic where Battler must attempt to explain all of the mysterious events on Rokkenjima from the standpoint that they are caused by a human, and Beatrice attempts to explain everything with witches and magic. If Beatrice can get Battler to ultimately surrender and accept witches and magic, Beatrice wins.
<noinclude>
== Trivia ==
== Trivia ==
*''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' is sometimes referred to as "Seacats", a result of the fact that the Japanese words "umi" and "neko" separately mean "sea" and "cat".
*''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' is sometimes referred to as "Seacats", a result of the fact that the Japanese words "umi" and "neko" separately mean "sea" and "cat".

</noinclude>
== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni Characters|Characters]]
*[[List of characters in Umineko no Naku Koro ni|Characters]]
*[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni Locations|Locations]]
*[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni Locations|Locations]]
*[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni Glossary|Glossary]]
*[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni Glossary|Glossary]]
*[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni TIPS|TIPS]]
*[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni TIPS|TIPS]]

*[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni Music|Music]]
== References ==
*[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni (anime)|Anime]]
{{reflist}}
*[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni (manga)|Manga]]
*[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni (novels)|Novels]]


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umineko_When_They_Cry ''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' on Wikipedia]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umineko_When_They_Cry ''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' on Wikipedia]
*[http://umineko.wikia.com/wiki/Umineko_no_Naku_Koro_ni_Wiki ''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' on Wikia]
*[https://vndb.org/v24 ''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' on The Visual Novel Database]
*[https://vndb.org/v24 ''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' on The Visual Novel Database]
*[http://store.steampowered.com/app/406550/ ''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' on Steam]
*[http://store.steampowered.com/app/406550/ ''Umineko no Naku Koro ni'' on Steam]
*[http://www.seacats.net/ /seacats/]<noinclude>
*[http://www.seacats.net/ /seacats/]
*[https://www.rokkenjima.org/ R.I.P. Rokkenjima]


{{umineko no naku koro ni}}
{{umineko no naku koro ni}}
[[Category:Umineko no Naku Koro ni]]
[[Category:Umineko no Naku Koro ni]]
[[Category:Visual novels]]</noinclude>

Latest revision as of 22:40, 24 February 2021

The English logo for Umineko When They Cry

Umineko no Naku Koro ni (うみねこのなく頃に, Umineko no Naku Koro ni, lit. When the Seagulls Cry) is a Japanese media mix franchise created by 07th Expansion. It is a part of 07th Expansion's wider When They Cry franchise. The story focuses on the Ushiromiya family and their servants, all of whom are on a secluded island for a period of two days while beset by mysterious murders. Incorporating elements of fantasy and metafiction, the goal of the each story is to discern not only the identity of the murderer, but whether the culprit is even human at all.

The franchise began with the release of the sound novel Legend of the Golden Witch in 2007. The series continued for a total of eight sound novels, all of which were written by Ryukishi07 and published by 07th Expansion. Square Enix, Ichijinsha, Kadokawa Shoten, and ASCII Media Works all published various manga adaptations of the series, all written by Ryukishi07. Kodansha Box published a series of light novels also written by Ryukishi07. The series was also made into a 26-episode anime by Studio Deen, which aired in Japan between July and December 2009. The game was re-released by Alchemist under the name Umineko no Naku Koro ni ~Rondo of the Witch and Reasoning~ with updated graphics on December 16th, 2010. A fighting game based on the franchise was released by 07th Expansion on December 31, 2010.

The word umineko is the name of a type of seagull known as the black-tailed gull. Naku means to make sound (鳴く), specifically referring to the sounds made by non-human organisms. According to the original creator, Ryukishi07, the red character Na (な) in the logo is an official part of the title.

Story

Umineko no Naku Koro ni takes place primarily in the year 1986, during the time frame of October 4 and October 5 on a small, secluded island named Rokkenjima (六軒島) owned and lived on by Kinzo, the head of the wealthy Ushiromiya family. Kinzo is near death, and eight of his family members arrive on the island for the annual family conference, where the adults plan to discuss how Kinzo's assets will be divided once he is dead. Also on the island are three family members who live there, five of Kinzo's servants, and his personal physician. After the eight family members arrive, a typhoon traps them on the island, and shortly after, strange things start to happen and people start dying.

The main character of the story is Battler Ushiromiya, son of Kinzo's second son Rudolf. Battler has not been to the annual Ushiromiya conference in six years due to living with his maternal grandparents ever since his mother Asumu died, and even took his mother's maiden name instead of Ushiromiya. When his grandparents died, he went back to living with his father, his second wife Kyrie, and their daughter Ange, his half-sister. Once on the island, Battler once again becomes acquainted with the legend of the golden witch Beatrice who supposedly lives in the naturally dense forest on Rokkenjima. A portrait of her lies in the entrance hall of the Ushiromiya family mansion, and a puzzling epitaph is written below the portrait. Rumor has it on the island that Beatrice gave ten tons of gold to Kinzo in the past to restart the Ushiromiya family after being crippled in the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake. It is said that whoever solves the riddle of the witch's epitaph will receive the gold and be the next successor to the Ushiromiya family.

Once the typhoon hits, a ghastly game begins, starting with the murder of six people on the island. If the witch's epitaph cannot be solved, people will continue to die in mysterious deaths, following the outline given by the epitaph itself, until the witch Beatrice ultimately revives. From this point on, Battler and Beatrice are locked in a game of twisted logic where Battler must attempt to explain all of the mysterious events on Rokkenjima from the standpoint that they are caused by a human, and Beatrice attempts to explain everything with witches and magic. If Beatrice can get Battler to ultimately surrender and accept witches and magic, Beatrice wins.

List of sound novels

Release timeline
2007Legend of the Golden Witch
Turn of the Golden Witch
2008Banquet of the Golden Witch
Alliance of the Golden Witch
2009End of the Golden Witch
Dawn of the Golden Witch
2010Requiem of the Golden Witch
Twilight of the Golden Witch
Umineko no Naku Koro ni Tsubasa
2011Umineko no Naku Koro ni Hane
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku

The sound novels were accompanied by a series of guidebooks published by Futabasha, named Shinsou Kaimei Dokuhon.

In other media

Anime series

See also: Umineko no Naku Koro ni (anime)

A 26-episode anime adaptation based on the visual novel series aired in Japan between July 2 and December 24, 2009 on Chiba TV, and aired on additional stations at later times.[1] The anime is produced by the animation studio Studio Deen, directed by Chiaki Kon,[2] and written by Toshifumi Kawase. The opening theme of the anime is "Katayoku no Tori" (片翼の鳥, lit. "One-Winged Bird") by Akiko Shikata, and the ending theme is "La Divina Tragedia: Makyoku" (la divina tragedia～魔曲～, lit. "The Divine Tragedy: Diabolic Song") by Jimang from Sound Horizon. The singles for both songs were released on August 19 and September 16, 2009, respectively.[3] The anime is licensed by NIS America for release in North America and was released in two Blu-ray Disc compilation volumes in December 2012.[4]

Manga

Manga released in English
Manga not released in English

Music

See also: Umineko no Naku Koro ni Music
Release date Title Type
2007 December 31 M.Graveyard Special CD ~ Umaretekite Kurete Arigatou
2008 August 16 Umaretekite Kurete Arigatou
August 16 When they sing Vol.1
August 16 Gathered WiLL ~ Umineko no Naku Koro ni Special Tracks
August 29 Umineko no Naku Koro ni / Akiko Shikata
December 29 Sound of the golden witch
December 29 ACTIVE PAIN
December 29 Majo no Toki ~le moment de la SORCIERE~ Preview Ver.
2009
August 15 Umineko no Naku Koro ni musicbox Blue Soundtrack
Umineko no Naku Koro ni musicbox Red Soundtrack
Observer ~Witch who lives~ for Umineko no Naku Koro ni
When they sing vol.2
Golden Syndrome
PURECO WORKS Vol.1 ~Farewell gift~
August 19 Katayoku no Tori Single
August 26 Umineko no Naku Koro ni Episode.1 Original Soundtrack Essence Soundtrack
September 16 la divina tragedia ~Makyoku~ Single
September 23 Naku Naku Solo Guitar 2 Arrangement
November 26 Occultics no Majo Single
December 9 TV Animation "Umineko no Naku Koro ni" Original Soundtrack ~Rose Crimson~
December 23 Umineko no Naku Koro ni Image Album "ROKKENJIMA in LOVE"
December 30 Wonderful World
Majo no Toki ~le moment de la SORCIERE~
Fluff ~Orgel Arrange Mini Album~
2010 August 14 Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru musicbox -Kiri no Pithos- Soundtrack
Millenary for Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru
Re:Hymn
August 15 Lostwing - Umineko no Naku Koro ni image songs
When they sing vol.3
December 31 Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru musicbox Black (cancelled) Soundtrack
Umineko no Naku Koro ni xaki works "xwerk" Sountrack
Goldist -Konjiki no Chi ni Somaru Mae ni-
Noblesse Oblige
2011 January 26 Senkyou no Igreja Single
May 1 zts on classics Arrangement
May 5 RedSoul ~Image Soundtracks From Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru~ Soundtrack
June 8 Cocoon of White Dreams ~Ricordando il Passato~ Single
August 13 Dear Golden Witch Arrangement
Revelations Single
December 31 Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru musicbox Red Soundtrack
When they sing vol.4 Arrangement
Nekomaneki-kagekidan presents. Uminekononakukoroni Collection of character image songs. ROKKENJIMA YAKAI Image Song Collection
Golden Showtime! ~Ougon Musou Kyoku CROSS~ Soundtrack
2012 January 25 Inanna no Mita Yume Single
August 11 Higurashi no Naku Koro ni 10th Anniversary CD MelonBooks Bonus CD you & history -another history disc- Unused Soundtrack
Colors ~Futatsu no Naku Koro ni~
Umineko no Naku Koro ni Nekomaneki Arrange Album "Akoustika" Arrangement
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni 10th Anniversary CD -you&history- Arrangement
December 31 Umineko no Naku Koro ni Image Album "Shoujo≠M"
2013 May 6 Umineko no Naku Koro ni Arrange Album "Akoustika II" Arrangement
August 10 Higurashi no Naku Koro ni × Umineko no Naku Koro ni Piano Collections Arrangement
August 12 Umineko no Naku Koro ni Arrange Album "Akoustika III" Arrangement
December 31 Umineko no Naku Koro ni Arrange Album "Akoustika IV" Arrangement
Watashi-tachi ga 07th Sakuhin wo Tsukuru no wa dou Kangaete mo ￮￮ ga Warui! Arrangement
Umineko Gikyoku

Drama CDs

Frontier Works began to produce a set of drama CDs for Umineko starting with the first volume Ōgon no Kakeratachi (黄金のカケラたち, lit. Golden Fragments) released on June 24, 2009.[5][6] The second volume, Ōgon Chō no Miru Yume wa (黄金蝶の見る夢は, lit. The Dream Seen by the Golden Butterfly) followed on July 23, 2009.[6][7] The voice cast is the same as the anime.[6]

Novels

See also: Umineko no Naku Koro ni (novels)

Kodansha Box released novelizations of the visual novel arcs, written by Ryukishi07 and illustrated by Tomohi, in two volume sets, beginning with Legend of the Golden Witch released on July 1, 2009 for volume one and August 4, 2009 for volume two. Fifteen volumes were released in total, with the last released on September 30, 2018, novelizing the last arc in one volume.

Video game

See also: Ōgon Musōkyoku

A dōjin 2D fighting game produced by 07th Expansion titled Ōgon Musōkyoku (Umineko: Golden Fantasia) was released on December 31, 2010 at Comiket 79.[8] An append disc, titled Golden Fantasia Cross, was released at Comiket 81 in December 2011.[9] In addition, an Xbox 360 port of the original game developed by Alchemist was released on October 6, 2011 under the title Golden Fantasia X.[10]

Internet radio show

An Internet radio show titled Umineko no Naku Koro ni Episode R: Radio of the Golden Witch aired ten episodes between August 26, 2009 and January 13, 2010. Produced by Animate TV, the show was hosted by Sayaka Ohara (the voice of Beatrice in the anime adaptation) and featured numerous guests who were also voice actors from the anime such as Daisuke Ono (Battler Ushiromiya) and Marina Inoue (Jessica Ushiromiya). A special episode was later aired on April 28, 2010 featuring Rina Satō (Ange Ushiromiya) and Ryukishi07 as guests. Two CD compilation volumes containing two CDs each were released on December 23, 2009 and January 27, 2010 compiling the ten main episodes.

Trivia

  • Umineko no Naku Koro ni is sometimes referred to as "Seacats", a result of the fact that the Japanese words "umi" and "neko" separately mean "sea" and "cat".

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Umineko Anime News" (in Japanese). Studio Deen. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  2. ↑ "Umineko no Naku Koro ni staff and cast" (in Japanese). Studio Deen. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  3. ↑ "Theme songs section at the anime's official website" (in Japanese). Studio Deen. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  4. ↑ "NIS America Adds Umineko: When They Cry Mystery Anime". Anime News Network. July 28, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Umineko no Naku Koro ni drama CD volume 1 product listing" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Drama CDs section at the anime's official website" (in Japanese). Studio Deen. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  7. ↑ "'Umineko no Naku Koro ni drama CD volume 2 product listing" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  8. ↑ "黄金夢想曲/07th Expansion" [Dance of Golden Dreams/07th Expansion] (in Japanese). 07th Expansion. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Umineko no Naku Koro ni Fighting Game Gets Sequel". Anime News Network. March 6, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Xbox360で「うみねこのなく頃に」のタッグ式対戦格闘ゲームが遂に登場！ようこそ黄金夢想曲の世界へ!" (in Japanese). Alchemist. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.

External links

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