Story - 9/10
First episode's always boring, but I've lived until the very end of it. The story remains enigmatic; there are answers that you can only know in the next chapters, and that's the best part of Shiki. You never know that werewolves were a rare breed, that this character had a past that would serve as an irony in the next couple of years (am I right Hasegawa-san). Although I can't give it a perfect 10, because I'm disappointed that there were no restraints to how ruthless, violent and almost disgusting parts of the story haven't been erased. To me, it's 'illegal' to the eye, despite the genre (the young doctor torturing his wife, the no-words-to-describe HORROR parts that I wish I would never see in a lifetime).
One word to describe the story? Unpredictable.
Art - 10/10
What can I say? It's anime, but Shiki never fails to make each episode a masterpiece. Every flashback, every teardrops are crystal and the way the animation progresses, it gets better. For example, there are horror scenes where the character thinks she can see through the windows, or the barrier. The art is impressive because the drawings are being dealt sensibly. There was too much blood, on the other hand, that I guessed the creators didn't mind showing--which can be bad for the public audience.
Sound - 10/10
I have no problem with the voice subs. Wrath, despair, whatever, the voices are very convincing.
The OST is perfect! Beautiful! Tragic!
As expected from Yasuharu Takanashi, composer of Naruto/Shippuden.
The music makes the story charismatic. It what brought me, to be honest; as I was listening to an emotional collection from Youtube. The music makes you want to disappear and fall down into the music's well of wishes, enchanting hungry vampires, or the humans that lived before 'they' (Shiki) coexisted.
Character - 7/10
I love the characters, but I will just point out some flaws (and striking points).
Natsuno, as said of Ben Affleck in Batman, was too grouchy. Like, he never gave a damn about Megumi--and HE WAS HUMAN.
Doctor Oshio went too f*cking far for his wife. Did he marry her so he could feast with her body? He couldn't have told her what she was, even if dumb people considered that 'Oh, the Doctor saved many lives by killing her', she's still a human being on the 'inside'--did Kyouko even know what she was? What his wife needed was humanity from a fellow human being. You can't deny that the Doctor did the right thing. At least show a bit of sympathy from his eyes, hesitation, probably?? Or else we're dealing with a psychopath that has lost himself, and will get worse. Doctor, I am very disappointed in you!
At first I was annoyed with Akira and Kaori, who were really annoying. But in the end, they were the good guys, so deserved to live. But--I wish we could have seen more things about the young protagonists; they were limited, I guess.
Seishin was a good person, and the story about the older and younger brother explained in the end was beautiful, it was a story worth-telling and remembering even in dark times.
Who could forget Sunako, a poor girl that was the least evil? I could tell that because she's just a girl, what else?? She was the spokesperson for all the Shikis that lived in the anime. Vampires feed and attack people to survive, and it's not like they chose that kind of lifestyle. Survival was part of living, which means you've had to fight through all the odds. Until in the end, killing didn't matter, because they were so torn in the midst of hunger. Hunger sparked the intent to kill. Hunger was the center of the cycle of energy being passed around Mother Nature. Hunger was the very reason they transformed into monsters. Could they control it? No. But vampires were wrong to kill, either, in the story their existence might probably a mystery unsolved that even the author could not answer.
Sunako understood things. She liked reading, she appreciated the concept of death. She's like a deformed angel, and she's choking on her halo.
Tohru and Ricchan dying together like Romeo and Juliet...wow. Although I wish he could've kissed her or something like that. Love goes around, and people need it, better than 'hunger'.
Seishirou and Chizuru are poor bad creatures. No comment on that.
I love Tatsumi. At first I hate him, but then I love him for how of all characters, he's the showoff, the extravagant one. He has the style with the clothes, and his hair shape is Wolverine. Anyhow, I think his undying loyalty and pride to lead his people, to serve the Kirishikis until the end--that is a true leader. He knows how to give up, when things have gradually been falling apart, and he will do the right thing.
Enjoyment - 9/10
Scary as f*ck, but you'll get used to it. I'm talking about the early to middle chapters.
I have a rant on the later ending chapters: it's too messy, 'screwed' because I think even animators should be doubting if this is something the whole general media should see. Unless if they're limiting their audience, or wanting to shut their doors to actual humans that may find the scene (endless stream of blood, abhorrent replay of decomposing corpses, blood and hammering, again and again!) disturbing, impolite and worst: not their type. At least cut or limit the show. Change it to a better video, like a flashback or whatever. It's too much for the eyes.
Overall - 9/10
Personally, I recommend this to ones that have a thirst for fantasy, mystery, and something that deals with psychology. It's a good anime that you can relate with, if you look at the dark parts of yourself. Shiki gives humanity a bad impression, and that's good. Can you deal with the truth? Do you fear a lot? I mean, these are just the worst-case-scenarios that could happen. Shiki's teaching us that...don't give into temptation, don't fear death because it's natural, and you can never live on if you keep on hating yourself. Dream on, live in a big city and just don't look down. There are stories and myths that may be true, but in the real world, I guess you can never know until you've seen one huh? So until now, I guess these are all bullshit, but feel free to overlook humanity's capabilities. Deception, fatality, mourning...
I want everyone to watch it, actually. But prepare yourself for a one hell of a ride. Shiki never goes off your head, not for a long, long time.
