Shiki Review

屍鬼
Shiki

Streamed the show, so I don't have any screencaps on hand.
Deal with google images for now.

Aired in 2010

This show starts with a suspenseful mystery feel, but the pacing, and the large cast ruins much potential.

CHARACTERS (2.5/5)

Like Horizon, this show has a very large cast of characters. However, unlike Horizon, the show attempts to split the focus evenly in the beginning.

 That doesn't work too well.

Often, we are unsure of who the main character is, and because of one of the plot mechanics, people don't die when they are killed. A good attempt is made to explain the backstories, and character development also occurs throughout the entire show.

It's safe to assume, that some of the characters never even interact with the others.

Some vanish for long amounts of time, then show up at convenient moments within.

It's confusing and annoying, leaving one cliffhanger to start working on another.

The pacing of the story doesn't help either.

SETTING/ANIMATION  (3/5)

The story is set in a quiet rural, isolated Japanese village by the name of Sotoba. They have some local beliefs unique to them. The picture to the is Kanemasa, a western style house built for some new arrivals to the village.

The animation is.... Well, it is what it is. The characters themselves are a little pointy (chins). But the work on the eyes are very nice, as well as post-affliction characters are very nice. The backgrounds are done well, as is the effect of creating a Japanese village. The animation effects near the end do seem a little cheap though.

STORY (2.5/5)

If anything, the story was good. The pacing and the large cast killed any chance of it being great.

The show starts off looking suspiciously as your slice of life, featuring Megumi (Right), with Natsuno (Blue hair above) as the love interest. FIRST EPISODE SPOILER: She dies.                                                                                                              

Then the story proceeds to introduce us to every character, with names, until everyone has had some screen time. This is over several EPISODES, any by that time you will be bored, and wanting the plot to carry on.                                                            

The cast is diverse in the beginning, it gets more narrow, then gets diverse and narrow again. This style is one that is very annoying to watch.                          .                                                                       Despite that, the overall story line was still a good one, and not bad in it's own accord.

There are several plot holes, and some characters are introduced to do almost nothing whatsoever the entire time. People unfamiliar with the medical terms will also be a little confused.

The ending leaves much to be desired, as it basically screams: "See you next season!"

MUSIC (5/5)

The soundtrack, has some rather tense music, that fit the ups and downs of the show perfectly.
The OP and ED fit the show nicely, and the change in the middle does much to refresh the show.

OP1 via youtube below (not my video):

OVERALL (3.25/5)

The Show can be can be slow, and the ending leaves much to be desired, but it being a manga adaptation, we can expect that much. I would not recommend this as an entry level, as some of the gore may shock viewers. It's still a decent show worth watching.