English Dub Review: Kaya-chan Isn’t Scary “Kaya-chan Isn’t Scary?”

Overview

Based on the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuri Tarō, the story follows Kaya Sato, a kindergartner at Hanamugi Kindergarten who possesses a powerful sixth sense that allows her to psychically see and physically fight ghosts tormenting those around her. Though she secretly protects her friends and family by beating up sinister spirits, Kaya is branded a troublemaker due to her inexplicable behavior, leaving her isolated and misunderstood. That perception begins to change when her teacher, Ms. Chie, uncovers the truth behind Kaya’s actions, setting the stage for an absurdly charming horror-action tale where tiny fists fly, and the supernatural collides with everyday kindergarten chaos.

Our Take

What if a psychic toddler was holding together the most haunted kindergarten imaginable? That’s the delightfully unhinged premise here, following Kaya, a misunderstood child whose strange behavior masks her role as the school’s unofficial supernatural defense system. To everyone else, she’s a disruptive oddball; in reality, she’s quietly shielding classmates and adults from dangers only she can see, all while navigating the loneliness of being the only one aware of what’s really going on.

The rest of the proceedings blends cute slice-of-life energy with surprisingly unsettling horror touches, balancing Kaya’s deadpan toughness and childlike warmth against genuinely eerie scenarios. A key strength lies in the emotional contrast: Kaya isn’t just powerful, she’s compassionate, motivated by a desire to protect and be trusted rather than praised. That tension is reinforced through her growing bond with a teacher willing to believe her, grounding the supernatural chaos in something quietly human and heartfelt.

Overall, this was a strong introduction that stands out through tone rather than shock as it mixes spooky imagery, gentle comedy, and emotional sincerity into a memorable hook. While the production shows some limits, the charm of its characters, the novelty of its setting, and the promise of deeper mysteries give it an engaging identity as a horror-comedy that’s equal parts unsettling and adorable, even if the concept gives off similar vibes to The 2000’s Cartoon Network series “The Life and Times of Juniper Lee”. And with the way that cliffhanger ending of the first episode sets up a personal goal for Kaya, let’s hope the rest of this series continues this intense momentum on a consistent level.