I must get this out of the way first: if you're thinking that CloverWorks shit the shat outta Shadows House just like The Promised Neverland, please don't be, because this work is heavily supervised by duo mangaka Soumatou, and merely did some changes lest a Season 2 is confirmed in the works (you can check out the Twitter replies about this change). As of this review, this is the only season that we're gonna get for Shadows House, and barring the anime-only changes which are made to only reflect the time constraints of how much the anime adaptation can squeeze out of the manga's material, I'd say that this is already good enough. If there is a Season 2 in the works, the missing characters would be added back in to add to the already great showing of a Victorian-esque mystery, supernatural, horror show.
So then, the easiest you need to know about Shadows House is that this works mostly like a buddy/pair-system in the so-called "Shadows" mansion (which in reality is a prison), where every child taken into the Shadows mansion attends to a Shadow Master known as a Living Doll, and the pair must work in tandem, because the Living Doll is an exact mirror to the attached Shadow Master who can emit soot. While that may be so for most pairings, there is one that defies all logic: the soft-spoken Shadow Master Kate and her servant, the cheerful Emilico. From the get-go, you don't really know much about the mysteries of Shadows House, it's like playing The Legend of Zelda where you're Link and you must find out the secrets of the world on your own, only except that Emilico is playing the role of the player and fumbling around with Kate, slowly opening her quiet, introverted heart to Emilico and discovering what is the Shadows House all about: what are its secrets, and with the whole other notion of other Shadow Master-Living Doll pairs, to even the higher-up Shadow Masters themselves serving under their Lord. This is more than just a typical slice-of-life anime, that's for sure.
Characterization plays a huge part in Shadows House, and just within Kate and Emilico, you can get the sense that once other supporting cast of duos comes up, you can instantly see the different between these two and the rest of the master-and-servant relationship. The dynamics of the show really play to its lengths, and for that it mostly succeeded with varying levels of bonds, both good and bad. Let's take a duo that I feel is the most peculiar and interesting: Master John and servant Shaun (1 of the main supporting duos) for example. John likes to be outlandish with his principles, but Shaun chooses to be humble. Regardless, both Shadow Master and Living Doll have to work together regardless of their differences, and as eccentric as things can get, there are times when conflict arises, and they have to solve it amiably, because any sort of trouble could get your punishment harsher than what already happened. As usual, Kate and Emilico being the stand-out duo, once their acquaintance is established, they can do things that doesn't detract from who they are as individual beings, fighting for each other and learning things along the way for whatever challenges the Shadows House have in preparation for all young Shadow Masters and Living Dolls. And trust me, this is one hellish of a journey that has its fair share of twists and turns with its ever-changing plot...and Emilico, just keeps being that happy-go-lucky girl that I don't know what kind of situation would faze her speechless. She's such a glorious sunshine of a character that's as clumsy as how I adore her antics of a behaviour so cognitive and frenetic.
I've really never had issues with CloverWorks when it comes to the studio's stellar production. Even with episodic director Kazuki Oohashi on his debut directorial role, you really wouldn't the notice between how amateur and professional directors do their utmost job to satisfy the fans and newcomers. Being a sister studio of A-1 Pictures, you can't really go wrong that the studio manages to ace the sense of gloominess and horror within Shadows House alone, greatly capturing the manga's dark and elusive tones, not to mention being dark that you had to up the brightness somehow. For reference, Soumatou's manga is one of the most unique I've ever seen in a source material, and CloverWorks really did a great job hammering that look on the small screen. Two thumbs up.
Even the music is somewhat unique to Shadows House. As a side note, we don't get instrumental songs quite a lot, but music composer Kenichiro Suehiro did a marvellous job on the musical side of things, as such with the instrumental OP and even Edward's theme in Episode 8. As for ReoNa, she's been a mainstay for banger songs, and the ED reflects all of that valor in a cry-for-help way of despotism. Especially with some shows subbed that come with lyrics attached, I'd like you to pay attention to those because these songs hide their foreshadowing meanings and elevate the show's understanding to its senses and pulling the audience along with it. It'd be best if you take a shot and read between the lines, that'll teach you how to appreciate the anime adaptation much more.
Shadows House is somewhat of an oddball when it comes to adaptations, even to the hardcore manga fans who've been waiting long enough for the source material to get an adaptation. No doubt that this show is quite the allureness that gives off a puzzling yet un-grotesque way, but it also knows how to reel the audience in for a mystery thriller that mixes so well with the slice-of-life moments, creating a balance within the two that I didn't think that would be the difference of enjoying and appreciating such a novelty of a work. Truly some great stuff here, and I would certainly like to see a Season 2 of this in the future. IT'S JUST TOO GOOD to let go and honestly hard to put this down.
So now I plead: CloverWorks, please make a Season 2 of this, keep the mysteries coming!
