When They Cry (franchise)
When They Cry is the English term for the wide-ranging media mix franchise adapted from the works of Ryukishi07 and 07th Expansion. The franchise was created with the release of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, a murder mystery visual novel characterized by looping storylines, psychological horror, and an isolated village setting. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni has become its own subfranchise, spawning several manga adaptations and spin-offs as well as several anime adaptations. The wider When They Cry franchise has since grown to include 07th Expansion's subsequent titles Umineko no Naku Koro ni, a metafictional murder mystery set on a private island, and Ciconia no Naku Koro ni, a futuristic military thriller featuring human superweapons caught up in eschatological conspiracies. All members of the When They Cry franchise feature similar naming schemes, loosely connected continuities, and psychological story elements.
Visual novels
List of When They Cry visual novels
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Hou (compilation)
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni Tsubasa
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni Hane
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni Saku (compilation)
- Ciconia no Naku Koro ni
In other media
Anime series
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni | 26 | April 4, 2006 | September 26, 2006 | ||
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai | 24 | July 6, 2007 | December 17, 2007 | ||
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei | 5 | February 15, 2009 | August 21, 2009 | ||
| Umineko no Naku Koro ni | 26 | July 2, 2009 | December 24, 2009 | ||
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kira | 4 | July 21, 2011 | January 25, 2012 | ||
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kaku | 1 | August 15, 2013 | August 15, 2013 | ||
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Gou | 24 | October 1, 2020 | March 18, 2021 | ||
| Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Sotsu | 15 | July 1, 2021 | September 30, 2021 | ||
Manga
- Manga released in English
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
- Onikakushi-hen (1, 2)
- Watanagashi-hen (1, 2)
- Tatarigoroshi-hen (1, 2)
- Himatsubushi-hen (1, 2)
- Meakashi-hen (1, 2, 3, 4)
- Tsumihoroboshi-hen (1, 2, 3, 4)
- Minagoroshi-hen (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- Matsuribayashi-hen (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Yoigoshi-hen (1, 2)
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Onisarashi-hen (1, 2)
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni
- Legend of the Golden Witch (1, 2, 3, 4)
- Turn of the Golden Witch (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
- Banquet of the Golden Witch (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
- Alliance of the Golden Witch (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- End of the Golden Witch (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- Dawn of the Golden Witch (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- Requiem of the Golden Witch (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- Twilight of the Golden Witch (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- Manga not released in English
- Hinamizawa Teiryuujo
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Jan
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Jan: Tsubamegaeshi-hen
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kizuna
- 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
Other works by 07th Expansion
07th Expansion is also responsible for several works not explicitly part of the When They Cry franchise. These works often contain homages to the When They Cry franchise in some way or another.
- Works loosely related to the When They Cry franchise
- Haworthia
- Higanbana no Saku Yoru ni
- Hotarubi no Tomoru Koro ni
- Kaidan to Odorō, Soshite Anata wa Kaidan de Odoru
- Works unrelated to the When They Cry franchise