Youkai Ningen Bem: Part II

Released in 1992, the Youkai Ningen Bem Part II original video animation was produced by studio Topcraft as a modern revival of the classic 1968 dark fantasy anime series. This iteration sought to capture the melancholic tone and moral ambiguity of the original story, which centers on three supernatural beings—Bem, Bero, and Bera—who fight for justice in hopes of one day becoming human. The production reflects the transition in Japanese animation during the early nineties toward more mature, atmospheric storytelling suited for the OVA home video market.

The visual direction for this project leaned into the gothic aesthetic established by the original source material, emphasizing the protagonists' tragic isolation and their harrowing experiences with humanity. Topcraft utilized a design approach that honored the eerie character motifs of the 1960s while incorporating the sharper, more detailed animation sensibilities of the 1990s. While it remains a niche entry in the franchise, it is regarded by fans of the series as a faithful expansion of the original concept, maintaining the somber social commentary that defined the human-monster dynamic of the Bem universe.