If you're willing to put up with a few plot holes, a large amount of rather graphic violence, and some strange stylistic flairs, then you're in for a real treat with this one.
This anime does something few other vampire stories manage to do these days: captivate you with the thrill of the genre. There is a mystery unfolding, a morally ambiguous danger in the air, and a whimsical sort of horror to it all that puts Shiki a cut above the rest.
- Story: 8 -
For the most part, Shiki's plot is very solid. There is a very strong impression of suspense that builds as you discover what exactly is going on in the secluded village of Sotoba. Unfortunately, towards the second third of the story, there are some glaring circumstances that seem almost inexplicable, which you may very well shout at as an observer of the whole scenario. It gets to the point where you really have to give the story some liberty, sadly.
That being said, stick around to watch the whole anime (including the 2 specials!) and you won't be disappointed. There is a subtle point to all the absurdities that do transpire, and it is worth absorbing in its entirety. I only wish it made just a touch more sense. But, it is about vampires, I suppose, so how real can it honestly get? Some ridiculousness seems necessary to make the more horrific parts more accessible, oddly enough.
Forgive Shiki of its sins. It recognizes its own fallibility as a fiction, and it often plays off that self-awareness by inviting us to accept the madness the story is all about. Just go with it, and you'll have a great time.
- Art: 9 -
The artwork in Shiki is quite pleasant, but at times, it feels a little less focused than what might be expected. Perhaps that's the point, though. There are moments of raw terror that are exquisitely well-illustrated, but those are occasionally mixed in with lightheartedness and almost comical facial designs. One truly impressive feat, however, which should not be overlooked by any means, is the fact that pretty much every single villager of Sotoba looks unique. The animators painstakingly took the time to create a genuinely new character in every single one of these people, including those that don't have any dialogue.
So, there's something to be said for the diversity of artistic style in the show. A few times, including a few hairstyles and color palettes, it feels jarringly juxtaposed into the horror atmosphere, but if you look past the beady-eye tears and the dyed hair, you will see a strong continuity of creative, stylized characters in a rich, grounded village setting. Some of the angles taken for the backgrounds are very well chosen, harnessing a certain degree of cinematic precision to the whole rigamarole, such as with the 'helicopter' overview of the village and its castle.
- Sound: 10 -
Shiki doesn't disappoint in the audio department. It should be noted I watched in dubbed English, and this happens to be one show you might want to watch dubbed. The VAs do a fantastic job, and each character feels original. A couple of voices are grating, but there is always a reason for it.
Besides voice acting, the sound effects are phenomenal and really on-point. The horror is amplified greatly by careful decisions to accent scenes with crisp, sometimes disturbingly real sounds.
There are a few musical tracks that repeat perhaps once or twice too often, but overall, the musical score for Shiki is also quite impressive. The tracks are always fitting and pull you further into the scenes. Additionally, for such vocal-heavy intros and outros (which I normally find off-putting), Shiki's opening and closing OSTs are rather catchy, and I was pleasantly surprised that I ended up watching them more often than not, since they seemed to build the excitement into and out of each episode quite well.
- Character: 10 -
This is the department in which Shiki really shines. As mentioned already, every character is visually unique and has their own personality. Even the old folks sitting on the bench in the first episode eventually have separate lines of thought established. There is a sentiment that builds around the structure of the show that, while watching it, one is embarking upon a journey to discover just what it is like to be a villager in Sotoba. At the same time, we also gradually learn to understand the Shiki as well, so that the two sides of the story are eventually clashing in the mind.
Some might argue that a few bad apples ruin the core of Shiki. However, if the show is given some liberty, it will not let down. It is well aware of the characters it is crafting, and it feels as passionately about the circumstances that transpire as its audience does. There is a deliberate effort being made to place the audience in the shoes of the main characters, such that we observers feel as emotionally involved as possible. If something disturbing happens to a character we like, be assured it was intentional. This is a classic horror in the sense that anyone and everyone is likely to be a victim, and there's no telling who will be sentenced next.
- Enjoyment: 9 -
Because of its shortcomings in terms of the plot, Shiki doesn't deserve a perfect score for entertainment. Sure, it's a gripping tale with lots of suspense, thrill, horror, and poignant moral dilemmas, but let's just say the second third of the show is a little bit of a letdown. Certain things happen that seem illogical, and it does take a little bit of a mental hurdle to excuse the rationale of some of the seemingly wiser characters. Some of the conclusions of the show actually get foreshadowed a little bit too early, and the logic behind some individuals only makes sense in the aftermath of it all. Again, sit tight and let it run its course, and Shiki will, without fail, be very entertaining.
- OVERALL: 9.2/10 -
As someone who rarely looks forward to the next inclusion of vampires in modern fiction storytelling, I went into watching the anime Shiki, or Corpse Demon, with very low expectations. I came out of it with a smirk and a head full of thoughts, happy to write my first review on MAL.
If you can excuse a bit of graphical intensity, give Shiki a shot. It delivers in full, and it lives up to the genre it seeks to redefine. It may cut a few corners, but honestly, it didn't mean to hurt anyone. If you forgive it for its forsaken ways, you might just let yourself get bitten. Enjoy!
