[[https://www.youtube.com/user/TahYllis Sillyhat Productions]] is an [[AffectionateParody Affectionate Parody]] series of ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', and that’s just the abridged version of it. To put it simply, Sillyhat takes the world of Umineko and, as if it weren’t twisted enough, seriously ''twists'' it, adding a dash of black humour and overall sillyness while still keeping everything within the context of the Visual Novels. That is not to say it is solely a humorous series, however; it does have its share of serious moments and it has an actual continuity. Definitely worth watching for anyone who has caught up with the novels.

Think of it as "Umineko: The Abridged Series" in the format of the novels.

(A word of advice to those about to watch this series for the first time: These are not just random silly moments; each video ultimately connects to create one, singular storyline in fanfiction form, not to mention each gives away epic spoilers for the other. Watching any video out of order may result in ContinuityLockout, so it is highly recommended you watch them in chronological order—start with "If Rudolf Could Sing" and go up from there. It should also be warned that while this series has its own continuity, it also contains very accurate spoilers for the real series.)

There are three seasons: ''Umineko'' covers the first four arcs of the original series, while ''Umineko Chiru'' covers the second four arcs. The third season, ''Umineko Zangyou'', consists of a "Post-Scriptum" arc and other follow-ups.

[=TahYllis=] has also done parodies of ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'', ''Manga/TheUnforgivingFlowersBlossomInTheDeadOfNight'', ''VisualNovel/RoseGunsDays'', ''{{Franchise/Danganronpa}}'' and ''VisualNovel/CiconiaWhenTheyCry''.

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!!Tropes associated with Sillyhat Productions:

* AffectionateParody
* AlmostDeadGuy: In "Deus Ex Machine End A", [[spoiler:Amakusa]] and [[spoiler:Kawabata]] survive long enough to make several sarcastic comments about their impending deaths.
* BeCarefulWhatYouSay:
** While taking tea with Virgilia before the "Trial of the Black Witch", Battler declares that he'll do whatever it takes to win. Virgilia replies that she'll keep that in mind... and indeed, reminds him of it later.
** In the same episode, Battler demands that 'Lord Goldsmith' stop treating the game like one giant circus and get serious about it. Virgilia grants his wish.
* BerserkButton: Claiming that George hurts animals is a very, very bad idea. [[HypocriticalHumor Even if you are one.]]
* BigBrotherInstinct: Battler isn't too pleased when [[spoiler:'Amateru']] seems to be bothering his little sister.
* BigDamnHeroes: Ange on numerous occasions.
* BlackComedy
* BorrowedCatchphrase: During "Trial of the Black Witch", [[spoiler:Lambda]] screams a version of Battler's "Useless! It's all useless!" while [[spoiler:trying to break out of Bern's barrier]].
* CheckPlease: Uttered by Battler at the end of "Solving the Fourth Twilight".
* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: Battler claims early on that he's already gotten used to Beatrice's evil mind games. Unfortunately, his attempt to take a laidback approach backfires pretty spectacularly when Lambdadelta decides he needs more motivation to take things seriously.
* ContentWarnings: A few episodes are prefaced with warnings about disturbing content. Warnings about spoilers are also common.
* CrackFic: "Interlude" revolves around a bored Lambdadelta using a stray Fragment to try writing one.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Of course, this being Umineko, the tradition is held up with “Anti-Plot VS Anti-Filler”.
** The first twilight holds a few similarities to the first twilight of the second game, except for [[OffWithHisHead the murder method.]]
* CurseCutShort:
** For a period of time, Battler is kept from being able to 'express his true feelings about' the games he plays with Beatrice and the other witches because Beatrice makes him literally choke on his own words. She calls this a good alternative to [[SoapPunishment washing his mouth out with soap]].
** The first part of "Endgame Tea Party" ends right as Battler's declaring that it's "Time to kick some witch a--"
* DanceBattler: Seen in "Deus Ex Machina". Featuring [[VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution DDR]].
* DeaderThanDead: [[spoiler:Doctor Nanjo]] is rendered this for several episodes.
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: Rosa's entry in the Character Album begins and ends by noting that she's "Prone to violence."
* DeusExMachina: The appropriately titled last episode is about averting this trope. Lampshaded twice by two different characters — Will says they shouldn’t have relied on this after [[spoiler:the island is blown up in an attempt to destroy the goats,]] and later, [[spoiler:Featherine shoots down a suggestion from Lambdadelta to resolve the climax with this as she wants the story to have some dignity.]]
* DiabolusExMachina: Combined with YankTheDogsChain in [[spoiler:"Cat Box of the Golden Witch", as Bern's response to Battler's OutOfCharacterMoment]].
* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: Kanon keeps running into this issue in "Deus Ex Machina".
* DramaticShattering: In the multi-part episodes, the final scene usually shatters, with ToBeContinued appearing over the cracked screen.
* DrowningMySorrows: The presence of [[spoiler:the Green Fairy]] implies that their master indulges in this.
* DueToTheDead: Battler invokes this when Erika wants to mess with the first victims' bodies.
-->'''Erika:''' "Detective's authority: the detective has a right to investigate the crime scene."\\
'''Battler:''' "Battler's fist: has the ability to lodge itself in the detective's face."
* EroticDream: George mistakes Shannon summoning him with magic for him having a dream about her. Then Jessica materializes and he gasps. "Bad brain!"
* EurekaMoment: An argument between Virgilia and Gaap in "Deus Ex Machina B End" causes Ronove to realize how to handle [[spoiler:Erika's armada]].
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Seen in "Cat Box of the Golden Witch" with [[spoiler:Kinzo's love for Lion]] and [[spoiler:Rudolf saving his son]].
* EvilIsPetty: If there was any doubt left about Bernkastal being this, one needs only witness her final move in "Cat Box of the Golden Witch": [[spoiler:having Gohda stumble into the clock switch and blow up the island just to negate Battler's already bittersweet victory]].
* EyeScream: [[spoiler:Kinzo]] suffers one of these in "Anti-Plot VS Anti-Filler".
* {{Facepalm}}: Ange's reaction to Battler's less-than-stellar comeback at the end of "Epitaph".
* TheFairFolk: [[spoiler:Hansel]] turns out to be the Green Fairy.
* FateWorseThanDeath: Poor [[spoiler:Erika]]. Sure, it’s funny the first time before FridgeHorror sets in as to how long she’s been going at it...
* FightingYourFriend: It's heavily implied in "Deus Ex Machina End A" that this is the fight [[spoiler:Bernkastel promised her audience]] all along: they were setting up [[spoiler:Battler and Ange]] to clash from the start.
* {{Flanderization}}:
** Kinzo, though it could be argued he’s actually behaving quite in-character.
** Battler’s incompetence is taken up to eleven in the Chiru parodies, though he does have a few awesome moments here and there.
* ForeignCussWord: According to the Character Album, Kanon has tried to adopt some British mannerisms to seem more mature. This mainly consists of him calling things 'bloody' all the time, so it hasn't worked as planned.
* FusionDance: "Trial of the Black Witch" sees Shannon and Kanon fuse into 'Shkanon'.
* TheGadfly: Erika acts like this, especially in the [[spoiler:"Post-Scriptum"]] arc.
* GallowsHumor
* HarmlessVillain: Battler accuses Beatrice of being one in "Battler’s Dream". She is not amused.
* HeroicBSOD: Played for laughs with Krauss when [[spoiler:Kinzo dies.]] He is literally unable to do anything but look off into the distance and bemoan how his life will be ruined, what he will do about his inheritance, and what will become of his stamp collection. And he’s ''still'' going at it when [[spoiler: the goat butlers start attacking.]]
* HeroicRROD: Again, played for laughs with [[spoiler:Shannon]] in "Cat Box of the Golden Witch".
* HostileShowTakeover: In "Trial of the Black Witch", Kinzo hijacks the game in the form of Lord Goldsmith, 'the most powerful witchlock in the universe'. [[spoiler:Except it's not really him.]]
* HypercompetentSidekick: 'Gretel' serves as this to Battler. Ronove also serves Beatrice in this fashion, but downplays it, especially when compared to Gretal's BrutalHonesty.
* HypocriticalHumor: "I would never hurt an animal!" Says George as he beats up one of the goats.
* ImTakingHerHomeWithMe: Gaap declares this about Battler during her introduction.
* JugglingLoadedGuns: Turns out that even "If Rudolf Could Sing", using a rifle as a prop doesn't end well.
* KlatchianCoffee: Eva's coffee turns George completely hyperactive.
* KnightOfCerebus: Lambdadelta decides to take this role by raising the stakes at the end of "Epitaph". Specifically, she tells Battler that if he doesn't present a theory by the end of each episode, she'll punish him by [[spoiler:permanently erasing one of the pieces]]. And to [[ProveIAmNotBluffing prove she isn't bluffing]], she does just that, [[spoiler:erasing Doctor Nanjo]].
* LeftHanging: Exploited by Lambdadelta in "Rejected Fragments", showing Bern just enough of one such fragment to pique her interest, just to leave her in suspense.
* LikeFatherLikeSon: The ColdOpen of "Absence of the Golden Witch" shows that Battler is just as lax about gun safety as his old man.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall:
** "Battler's Dream" makes references to Battler checking out all of Ronove's 'sprites' and Ronove needing to leave the screen in order to perform because he does not have the necessary 'sprite' to perform on-camera.
** In "Anti-Plot VS Anti-Filler", Beatrice tells Battler that he's running out of time about halfway through the last video.
** During Gaap's introduction in "Trial of the Black Witch", she states that she's been working in the background the whole time fixing up {{Plot Hole}}s, and that when she's working really hard you can hear her {{Leitmotif}}. Battler points out that it's playing right then.
* ManOfWealthAndTaste: One of the first things Battler specifies about [[spoiler:EVIL-Battler]] is that he's "a snappy dresser".
* MexicanStandoff: Features in "Cat Box of the Golden Witch".
* TheMole: [[spoiler:Virgilia in "Trial of the Black Witch".]]
** Towards the end of "Deus Ex Machina", [[spoiler:Hansel]] is revealed to be this for Bernkastel.
* MoodWhiplash:
** In "Battler's Dream", Ronove starts to play a violin solo he calls "[[TitleDrop When They Cry]]." As he starts up, Battler starts to reflect upon better times with his cousins, Shannon and Kanon... [[spoiler:and then the music starts screeching]].
** "First Twilight?" goes from the usual scene where Rosa is about to hit Maria to a sudden joke, and ''then'' Rosa hits her. As the creator puts it in the summary, "There's only one thing I dislike more than recreating a sad scene, and that's ruining it with jokes."
** In "Surprise Tea Party", Beatrice jokes around with Battler and offers a partial MindScrewdriver for "Anti-Plot VS Anti-Filler", while still taunting him with unconfirmed details. Then she declares it's time to [[spoiler:erase his memories]].
** One of the extra scenes shown in "Deus Ex Machina: S End" begins like [[spoiler:the actual "Magic" end where Battler and Beatrice almost escape the island, only for Beatrice to disappear with a gold ingot. Cue [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Ricordando Il Passato,]] Battler crying out Beatrice's name... and then demanding his gold back.]]
* MultipleEndings: Keeping in line with Episode 8, "Deus Ex Machina" offers them.
** A End: Battler decides to open the catbox, revealing [[spoiler:that it's a fake Will and Dlanor created. Bern's ExactWords are used against her, and after one final intellectual showdown between her and Battler, the Ushiromoya family is set free]].
** B End: Battler faces off with Beatrice one last time, [[spoiler:with Clair channeling the original's hellbound spirit. She sends him to a special Fragment in order to kill the killer and set his family free]].
** S End: [[spoiler:Lambdadelta shows off some alternate ending fragments and other random clips.]]
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: "Endgame Tea Party". Battler and Beatrice seem poised to permanently break apart over the replica boards, with Battler accusing her of being a fake who [[spoiler:can't even use the red truth... except for the fact Lambdadelta's restoration of all his missing memories included an instance of her doing just that. And he remembers that]].
* NotSoDifferentRemark:
** In "Magical Detective Erika-chan", Battler compares [[spoiler:Saikoroshi!Rika]] to Eva and Maria, stating that all three [[spoiler:created imaginary friends to cope with their lives]]. He then follows this up with a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech by harping on how [[spoiler:Eva and Maria's lives were far worse than hers was in Saikoroshi, and Rika actually had friends willing to help her, but chose to cling to her delusions instead]].
** "Deus Ex Machina End [[spoiler:A]]" sees Ange comparing Battler's desire to find the truth at any cost to herself. As with the above, it's a negative comparison, as she concludes that [[spoiler:he'll just wind up destroying himself like she did]].
* OffhandBackhand: All those dramatic instances of GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger occassionally lead to people getting whacked in the face by an arm or elbow.
* OhCrap:
** [[spoiler:Bernkastal]] gets some very satisfying ones in "Deus Ex Machina".
** [[spoiler:Erika]] also gets one in "Deus Ex Machina B End" upon hearing [[spoiler:the enemy fleet is manned by little girls in frilly dresses]].
* OnlySaneMan: Ange takes up this role.
* OriginalCharacter: [[spoiler:Hansel.]]
* OutOfCharacterMoment:
** In order to dismiss himself in "Endgame Tea Party", Kanon does something he declares is impossible for his character: [[spoiler:he smiles and tells Battler ItHasBeenAnHonor]].
** Battler deliberately creates one of these in "Cat Box of the Golden Witch" to [[spoiler:make the story end happily for him, Beato, and his family.]]
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Bern's response to Battler in "Cat Box".
* OutOfFocus: Kumasawa's lack of appearances in the early videos is {{Lampshaded}} in the Character Album, which states she "has skillfully avoided the spotlight thus far."
* PickedLast: "Magical Detective Erika-chan" has the meta-worlders form teams for a battle royale. Bern bluntly informs Battler that nobody wants him on their team.
* PinballProtagonist: Bern accuses Battler of being one when comparing him to Erika. Specifically, she says that Erika's better than him because she anticipates things, rather than [[VillainsActHeroesReact waiting for things to happen]].
* RageQuit: [[spoiler:Lambda]] pulls one in the ''Chiru'' episode [[spoiler:"Magical Detective Erika-chan", freeing up time for the WhamEpisode]].
* RainbowSpeak: In addition to the red and blue, orange is introduced, for truths that only hold true on the replica board.
* RetGone: Due to the ending of "Epitaph", the game board of "Anti-Plot VS Anti-Filler" takes place in a world where [[spoiler:Doctor Nanjo]] does not exist.
* RuleOfFunny: As is stated several times, the replica boards exist simply for the purpose of entertainment.
* SadisticChoice:
** Presented to Battler in “Trial of the Black Witch”. As put by [[spoiler: Virgilia]], “You can’t win chess without sacrificing a few pieces.”
** Battler is faced with another one in "Deus Ex Machina": [[spoiler:Open the catbox and free his family, but sacrifice his own existence in the process? Or challenge Beatrice one more time, sacrificing everyone in the Golden Land?]] [[spoiler:Featherine]] notes the apparent lack of [[TakeAThirdOption a third option]] and mocks it.
* SarcasticClapping: Dlanor's response to Battler's presentation of how the First Twilight supposedly went down in "Absence of the Golden Witch".
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler:Virgilia]] ditches Goldsmith in "Trial of the Black Witch" after he humiliates them one time too many and tries to force them to act out an overused meme.
* SecretDiary: Krauss reads Jessica's diary out loud to Rudolf and Hideyoshi. It's stated he did the exact same thing with his wife's diary.
* ShoutOut:
** Battler first thinks Ange is a girl from his school [[Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya who believes in aliens, time travellers, and espers.]]
** George’s uncanny resemblance to Franchise/HarryPotter is pointed out more than a few times. [[spoiler: Including his sudden magical upgrade in “Magical Detective Erika-chan”.]]
-->'''Beatrice:''' Dumbledore and I go way back.
** Do not bother Battler while he is smashing the windows; he is only [[VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry practicing his swing.]]
** [[VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry Tomitake, Oishi, and Irie]] were sadly not let in for the party.
** According to Kinzo, [[Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy 42]] explains everything.
** "Also, [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight people die when decapitated]]. I'll show you sometime."
** Rudolf's VA providing the Japanese dub voice of [[Series/TwentyFour Jack Bauer]] is referenced when he breaks out into song again during "Magical Detective Erika-chan".
** "[[VideoGame/{{Portal}} Is this cake real or a lie?]]"
** Zepar and Furfur introduce their love challenge via an [[Literature/CharlieandtheChocolateFactory Oompa-Loompa]] song.
** Ikuko's library includes copies of other fan parodies, like ''Witches and Woodlands'' and ''Forgery of the Golden Witch''.
** Lambdadelta 'looks into the future' to find out early spoilers about Episode 8 by viewing certain image boards through a crystal ball.
* SmallNameBigEgo: Gohda.
* SoreLoser: In "Surprise Tea Party", Lambdadelta throws a hissy fit over coming in 16th on a popularity poll, and blames the video's viewers. Bern's deadpan reminders that the poll was over several months before Sillyhat's parody began are ignored.
* StealthPun: Beatrice offers Battler some [[EyeCandy candy made from Rudolf's eyes]].
* TakeAThirdOption:
** Battler's tendency for this is highlighted before the "Trial of the Black Witch" begins. Virgilia offers him tea, citing black as her favorite, but maybe he'd prefer white? Without missing a beat, he states he wants green.
** Subverted and lampshaded by Featherine in "Deus Ex Machina".
* TurnsRed: Just when Battler thinks he has Bernkastel cornered at the end of “Magical Detective Erika-chan”, she starts getting [[OhCrap all sorts of new expressions.]]
* TooDumbToLive: The last part of “Cat Box of the Golden Witch” has Kinzo falling victim to this trope. Really, Kinzo? You seriously think [[spoiler: telling your son—-who is pointing a gun at you—-that you have the PIN and card he is willing to kill for in your pocket]] ''is a good idea?''
* TookALevelInDumbass: Oh, ''Battler.'' You can’t even name your own incompetence?
** He can't even win against a ''cardboard cutout'' of Beatrice.
** Surprisingly subverted in "Deus Ex Machina"--not only does Battler smarten up with only a few occasions of silliness, he also [[spoiler:challenges Bernkastel with a riddle that ''she'' can't solve.]]
* TookALevelInJerkass: George becomes increasingly more of a {{Jerkass}} as ''Chiru'' goes on. On top of that, his introduction in ''Zangyou'' involves him trying to steal candy from a child.
* UnhandThemVillain: Or rather, "Put me down, you bloody nutcase!" Eva-Beatrice doesn't have to say a word and Kanon immediately regrets his choice of words.
* VillainousBreakdown: Bernkastel goes through this the further "Deus Ex Machina" progresses, but special mention goes to when [[spoiler:she can't solve Battler's riddle]].
* WhamEpisode:
** Just when you think this is just another parody series, the end of “Epitaph” ''smashes'' that perception to ''pieces.''
** "Magical Detective Erika-chan" takes a sudden leap OffTheRails in Part 4, nicely setting the tone for the rest of ''Chiru''.
* WhamLine: In "Epitaph":
-->'''Lambdadelta:''' I'll tell you a little secret. This game board you exist on right now... It's just a cheap replica of the original. Know what that means? 'Course you don't. Here's a hint. '''I can erase it.'''
* WhatTheHellHero:
** Hideyoshi calls out Eva at the start of "First Twilight" for deliberately sabotaging George's date with Shannon through super-strong coffee.
** In "Epitaph", Lambdadelta confronts Battler. Though she's all smiles, she makes clear that she thinks he's not taking his matches with Beatrice ''seriously'' enough.
* WildMassGuessing: The second season, Chiru, focuses more on this, as they're based on the Core Arcs.
** The ending of "Magical Detective Erika-chan" has Battler putting forth a major one for ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' that went onto [[WMG/HigurashiWhenTheyCry its own WMG page]]. Specifically, the idea that [[spoiler:Saikoroshi-hen is the only ''true'' world, with the series being a deluded fantasy created by Rika turning herself into a {{Tragic Hero}}ine where everything revolved around her]]. Bernkastel is utterly ''outraged''.
* WitchHunt: The SadisticChoice in "Trial of the Black Witch" is underscored by described imagery based upon burning the potential culprits at the stake.
* YouShallNotPass: In "Final Twilight", Maria opts to stay behind to hold off Beatrice, the Seven Stakes and the golden sea of butterflies so that Battler can escape.

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