Story: 10/10
The story follows an unknown man and an unknown deformed woman travelling across a plain. On their journey they discover various different things about life while teaching the audience different lessons, such as appearances being deceiving, the meaning of dreams, the right path towards a bright future and so on. The story is very compact but has a lot of impact. It is truly the definition of quality over quantity.
Art & Animation: 10/10
While the art may be bizarre, one gets used to it very quickly. The characters are drawn in a quirky way and the colors are also strange, but mix together flawlessly. The art might not be good on its own but as a compliment to the story, it serves its purpose wonderfully. The animation is also very fluid, with excruciating detail. Just one frame is enough to make you have faith once again.
Sound: 10/10
The soundtrack only consists of a single music track. Despite this, the track itself is wonderfully crafted and is an important part of Shigeru. It describes the tone, setting and characters all the way through to the end. The composer knew what Shigeru was and made the most appropriate track. The sound effects are also top-notch. The voice acting was also exceptional. The actors really put a lot of emotion into it and the sound is engineered brilliantly.
Characters: 10/10
I cannot describe the characters in enough detail without spoilers. There are two characters: an unknown man and a deformed woman with strange proportions. The reasons for their personalities, why the deformed woman looks the way she does and their life struggles are all fleshed out. Considering the amount of time this lasts, the character development is exceptional. You could start to sympathize with them even within the first few seconds. They are that good.
Enjoyment: 10/10
My enjoyment was very high. There is nothing quite like this. This breath of fresh air reinvigorated my spirit and even made me analyse some of the characters' actions when it was over, in philosophical detail. Truly something that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Overall: 10/10
In conclusion, I feel that Shigeru is the work of a mastermind and that it is a masterpiece of animation. Despite the shortness of it, it manages to have an interesting story, extremely fitting art, an amazing single-track music piece and very well-developed characters. Give it a try and you'll be sure to love it!
