Shiki

Pros: Character depth Colors Human side of things Mood

Meh: Story

Cons: Plot holes Many important events to move the story happen off screen.

This anime is a strange one. The story itself is average and much if not most of it makes no sense. The plot holes are bigger than the plot, and i almost stopped watching it in middle because of that.

Nonetheless, the mood and music are nice, the story is slightly interesting, and not everything can be guessed with regard to what will happen next. The characters are drawn interestingly and with much color, so it's not boring to watch.

There is a human side to the story, and they take the time to develop many of the characters insofar as it is possible. That is the show's saving grace.

If you don't watch this anime, you won't be missing much. Conversely, if you do watch it, you probably won't regret it too much.

Shiki is a wonderful anime and manages to build suspense while also having a more slow-burn approach to horror. I have seen many horror anime/anime in general, and Shiki is one of the only ones where I find myself revisiting scenes or listening to the soundtrack regularly to relive it.

When I saw the rather high ratings on this anime here on IMDb and some anime related forums I decided to give this series a try even though the story line sounds admittedly rather shallow and uninspiring.

Now that I have finished watching the series I was surprised to experience that the plot and characters are indeed a lot deeper and more interesting than I would have expected them to be. It's hard to talk about the series without spoiling a lot so all I will say is: "Shiki" is a well written, creepy and exciting story without any unnecessary fan service or romance (which I really appreciate nowadays...) and worth the watch if you aren't just looking for a "quick anime fix" but want to be told a gripping tale about which actions are or aren't morally acceptable when threatened by impending death and misery.

8/10

At first I read about Shiki on various rating sites as I was looking for an anime on horror and dark themes. Little did I realize that I was going to stumble upon a vampire story. If I would had known it was a vampire story I am sure my interest would have faded out, and I am glad I didn't. The story starts slowly, but doesn't bore the heck out of people with unwanted episodes. It is direct and it grows on you. The music is also really well matched, as it suits the darkness that is there in the anime. The series makes you wonder whether the plight to survive can make us all into monsters, or is it just that there is a monster waiting to come out in each and every one of us? Happy watching! ;)

Those seeking action and quick resolutions I'd suggest skipping this, but anyone who enjoys a well crafted tale should really take the time to watch this.

The animation style is a bit dated, but it holds up pretty well.