An animated adaptation of six classical Japanese literature pieces, including No Longer Human (Ningen Shikkaku) and Run, Melos (Hashire, Melos) by Osamu Dazai, Kokoro by Natsume Souseki, Hell Screen (Jigoku Hen) and The Spider's Thread (Kumo no Ito) by Ryunosuke Akutagawa and In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom (Sakura no Mori no Mankai no Shita) by Ango Sakaguchi.
Best Episodes of Aoi Bungaku Series
Run, Melos! - Chapter 2
S1 Ep10
7.8
5th Dec 2009
A playwright writes a play based on the story "Run, Melos", and deals with his own feelings of betrayal towards his childhood friend
No Longer Human - Chapter 3: Society
S1 Ep3
7.6
24th Oct 2009
A high school student becomes lost and alienated. Despondent and aimless, he falls into a cycle of self abuse, depression and drugs that taints his life for years.
No Longer Human - Chapter 4: New World
S1 Ep4
7.5
31st Oct 2009
A high school student becomes lost and alienated. Despondent and aimless, he falls into a cycle of self abuse, depression and drugs that taints his life for years.
Kokoro - Chapter 2
S1 Ep8
7.4
21st Nov 2009
A young man lives in Tokyo as a renter with a widow and her daughter. He invites his childhood friend, a monk, to come live with him, hoping to help him. When the monk falls in love with the widow's daughter, it drives a rift between them. The story is narrated from two points of view, the man's and the monk's.
Worst Episodes of Aoi Bungaku Series
The Spider's Thread
S1 Ep11
6.2
26th Dec 2009
Kandata, a cruel and evil bandit is executed and lands in hell. The one good thing he had done in his life was to not kill a spider he met in the city. The spider drops him a thread to climb up into heaven. His elation is short-lived, however, as he realizes that others have started climbing the thread behind him.
In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom - Chapter 2
S1 Ep6
6.3
14th Nov 2009
A forest bandit finds a beautiful maiden in the forest and takes her to be his wife, but she is more than she seems to be.
In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom - Chapter 1
S1 Ep5
6.3
7th Nov 2009
A forest bandit finds a beautiful maiden in the forest and takes her to be his wife, but she is more than she seems to be.
Hell Screen
S1 Ep12
6.4
26th Dec 2009
Yoshihide, the greatest painter in the country, is commissioned to draw his greatest work, an image of the king's country inside his mausoleum. In the despotic king's realm, Yoshihide can see nothing but the suffering of the commoners. He decides to make his last work a tribute to the country as it really is.
Aoi Bungaku Series Episode Guide
No Longer Human - Chapter 1: Double Suicide in Kamakura
S1 Ep1
6.9
10th Oct 2009
A high school student becomes lost and alienated. Despondent and aimless, he falls into a cycle of self abuse, depression and drugs that taints his life for years.
No Longer Human - Chapter 2: Ghost
S1 Ep2
7.2
17th Oct 2009
A high school student becomes lost and alienated. Despondent and aimless, he falls into a cycle of self abuse, depression and drugs that taints his life for years.
No Longer Human - Chapter 3: Society
S1 Ep3
7.6
24th Oct 2009
A high school student becomes lost and alienated. Despondent and aimless, he falls into a cycle of self abuse, depression and drugs that taints his life for years.
No Longer Human - Chapter 4: New World
S1 Ep4
7.5
31st Oct 2009
A high school student becomes lost and alienated. Despondent and aimless, he falls into a cycle of self abuse, depression and drugs that taints his life for years.
In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom - Chapter 1
S1 Ep5
6.3
7th Nov 2009
A forest bandit finds a beautiful maiden in the forest and takes her to be his wife, but she is more than she seems to be.
In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom - Chapter 2
S1 Ep6
6.3
14th Nov 2009
A forest bandit finds a beautiful maiden in the forest and takes her to be his wife, but she is more than she seems to be.
Kokoro - Chapter 1
S1 Ep7
7.3
21st Nov 2009
A young man lives in Tokyo as a renter with a widow and her daughter. He invites his childhood friend, a monk, to come live with him, hoping to help him. When the monk falls in love with the widow's daughter, it drives a rift between them. The story is narrated from two points of view, the man's and the monk's.
Kokoro - Chapter 2
S1 Ep8
7.4
21st Nov 2009
A young man lives in Tokyo as a renter with a widow and her daughter. He invites his childhood friend, a monk, to come live with him, hoping to help him. When the monk falls in love with the widow's daughter, it drives a rift between them. The story is narrated from two points of view, the man's and the monk's.
Run, Melos! - Chapter 1
S1 Ep9
6.9
28th Nov 2009
A playwright writes a play based on the story "Run, Melos", and deals with his own feelings of betrayal towards his childhood friend.
Run, Melos! - Chapter 2
S1 Ep10
7.8
5th Dec 2009
A playwright writes a play based on the story "Run, Melos", and deals with his own feelings of betrayal towards his childhood friend
The Spider's Thread
S1 Ep11
6.2
26th Dec 2009
Kandata, a cruel and evil bandit is executed and lands in hell. The one good thing he had done in his life was to not kill a spider he met in the city. The spider drops him a thread to climb up into heaven. His elation is short-lived, however, as he realizes that others have started climbing the thread behind him.
Hell Screen
S1 Ep12
6.4
26th Dec 2009
Yoshihide, the greatest painter in the country, is commissioned to draw his greatest work, an image of the king's country inside his mausoleum. In the despotic king's realm, Yoshihide can see nothing but the suffering of the commoners. He decides to make his last work a tribute to the country as it really is.
