Tell Us a Story! Yamishibai Season 2

Taro-Chan Not since Goosebumps did I think I’d have to deal with another ventriloquist horror story, but here we fucking are. Taro-Chan is just as unsettling as Slappy, if not more so. The story involves a rookie cop named Hatatanaka who goes to various places talking about traffic safety. He does it via a ventriloquist act, using Taro-Chan. As he talks about traffic safety, he has Taro-chan look to his right and his left when riding a bike. Except…one problem: Taro-chan doesn’t look left. Hatatanaka physically cannot get him to move, which is odd. Then something small falls out…what looks like a small talisman. The kids AND Hatatanaka are then treated to one hell of a sight, courtesy of a white-eyed Taro-Chan. Afterwards, Taro- Chan is fine and…he has more to say. And I don’t mean Hatatanaka.

Kitchen You…may not look at air conditioners the same way again. Don’t worry, I’m getting to why. This particular story talks about a Japanese college student named Mitsuko visiting her friend from high school, named Ayano. Mitsuko’s in luck, in that she had just arrived when her friend was cooking some spaghetti. As the cooking is nearly done, Mitsuko hears something coming from the Air Conditioner…a very…unnatural sound. Like the sound of a man moaning. After she sees something incredibly unnerving, she tries to forget she saw it…until it shows up again in the KITCHEN SINK! All the while Ayano’s serving her spaghetti, and noticing that she’s acting strangely. When pressed, Mitsuko denies it, but Ayano’s anger starts to grow, throwing out accusations of how her friend never likes her food. As this happens, the thing begins to grow and grow closer to Ayano…until it consumes her.

And that’s not the worst of it.

Inside Everyone’s fiddled with Matryoshka Dolls, yeah? Well this one is a HELL OF A LOT OF FUN (read: fuck no). The story is about a young boy named Masamichi, his family, and a doll that he picked up on the way back home. His mom finds it creepy, takes it and goes to throw it away. She hasn’t come home for the rest of the day, not until the dad gets back and notices her come back in. She’s still carrying the doll. She says that she’s going to bed, but late one night, Masamichi hears crying coming from her. When he goes to check, she says she’s fine. Also to not touch the doll. When she takes a bath, Masamichi opens up the nesting doll that she’s got placed on the table. Treated to a range of emotions, he is…and something more. Later on that night, both the mom and Masamichi say they’re fine. And that nesting doll is still there.

If that doesn’t chill ya, then I’ve got a question: Why don’t you see the mom’s face with the doll?

Let these stories be a lesson to you, kids: Some people say it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And sometimes, something dangerous can be inside.

Also, Jesus, that ending.