r/anime • u/GallowDude • 10d ago
Rewatch Shiki Rewatch [Halloween 2026] - Episode 1 Discussion
I hate this village! I HATE IT!
Episode 1: The Shed Blood: First Blood
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Information:
MAL | AniList | ANN | Kitsu | AniDB
Legal Streams:
Unfortunately, there are currently no places to stream Shiki legally. As such, you'll have to look into alternate methods.
Hey! Turn off the lights and stop honking! Just what time do you think it is?
Questions of the Day:
1) Thoughts on Mieko-san having lived several days with the dead body?
2) Why do you think Yuuki is dramatically staring down the road towards the city?
3) What's your favorite hairstyle so far?
Screenshot of the Day:
Fanart of the Day:
Rewatchers, please remember to be mindful of all the first-timers in this. No talking about or hinting at future events, no matter how much you want to, unless you're doing it underneath spoiler tags. This especially includes any teases or hints such as "You aren't ready for X episode" or "I'm super excited for X character"; you got that? Don't spoil anything for the first-timers; that's rude!
Guess I can leave the window open now that there's no one hiding in the bushes.
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u/mischievous_shota 10d ago edited 10d ago
So the series seems to have the Rokuyō listed for each day events are taking place. It's a six day calander that's supposed to predict the fortune that day. The six days are:
Senshou - Good luck before noon, bad luck after noon. Kanji for Senshou means “first-win”. Good day for beginnings (in the morning).
Tomobiki - Your friends may be "drawn-in" towards good and evil. Funerals are avoided on this day Tomo = friend, biki = pull. A funeral might pull friends toward the deceased). Typically crematoriums are closed this day. By that same logic, it's a great day for weddings because you can pull your friends towards the feelings of love. I've heard it's good luck in the morning and evening but bad luck at noon.
Senbu - The opposite of Senshou. Kanji for Senbu means “first-lose”. Bad luck before noon, good luck after noon.
Butsumetsu - Kanji is written as "Buddha" and "annihilation". Symbolizes the day Buddha died. Considered the most unlucky day.Weddings are best avoided. Some Shinto shrines close their offices on this day. Some people arrange getting married on this day for a discount lmao.
Taian - The opposite luck of Butsumetsu. Great peace and the luckies day. Great day for weddings or any undertakinr really, like shop openings and such.
Shakku - Kanji for it means "red-mouth". The red symbolises fire or blood. Be wary of fire, knives, and things that can hurt you. Avoid things like weddings since red is associated with death. The hour of the horse (11 am to 1 pm) is lucky. The rest is bad luck. So the opposite of Tomobiki.
It'll be interesting to see how the events of the series coorelate with the fortune of that day.
We start with finding a girl seemingly dead in the woods on Shakku, August 12th.
August 2nd, Shakku - Someone is going around destorying Jizou statues.
Megumi seems to not mesh well with small town life.
August 6th, Butsumetsu - Dead bodies found in Yamiairi Area. No more residents left in Yamiairi. Spot on for "annihilation". It's interesting that Mieko-san was living with the dead bodies for several days before she died.
August 8th, Senbu - Megumi chickens out from mailing a letter. She comes across Yuuki-kun dramatically staring down the road. The letter was meant for him.
August 9th, Tomobiki - Honking at Roadside Resturant Chigusa at 2 am. Who the hell does that?
Dog ears? Is this possibly a good boy?
He's from the Kirishiki family asking for directions. They're moving to Kanemasa.
EDIT: Forgot to say, I'm a First Time Watcher.
August 11th, Taian - Rumours about Kirishiki family moving into Kanemasa spreading. Megumi goes to Kanemasa to meet them. Someone is watching her. A lucky day for a new meeting? But she hasn't come home and is missing.
The whole town is looking for her. I love how even Yuuki does his part and looks outside his window.
August 12th, Shakku (midnight) - We're back to the opening. They found her and she's not dead. Eyes are red though.
August 13th, Senshou - Momi fir trees are brought down from mountains to make grave markers and coffins. Village's specialty. Ootsuka Yasuyuki telling Chizuru Kirishiki from Kanemasa about this. Something pouring in from windows in Megumi's recollection in bed. She's not traumatised by the encounter at least, so it might not have been so bad.
August 15th (Senbu) - Megumi died.Yuuki is just glad to not have to close the window anymore lmao.
Interesting that we got our first death on Senbu, the first loss as it were.
What's your favorite hairstyle so far?
Say what you will, Megumi be styling.
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u/Sporadia_ 9d ago
Oh sweet. I think your calendar analysis has potential to spark a new trend.
She's not traumatised by the encounter at least, so it might not have been so bad.
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u/GallowDude 10d ago
So the series seems to have the Rokuyō listed for each day events are taking place. It's a six day calander that's supposed to predict the fortune that day
Dog ears? Is this possibly a good boy?
Rumours
her and
died.Yuuki
Megumi be styling
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u/oomoepoo https://anilist.co/user/oomoepoo 10d ago
First timer
Guess I can leave the window open now that there's no one hiding in the bushes.
MRW my girl stalker finally died ,
... at least that's what I gathered from their short interaction shortly before Megumi died.
Well. At first, this all seemed a bit confusing with all the different characters, dates, locations and random old people dying of totally natural causes! But the longer I watched, the more intrigued I was, especially after Megumi vanished and then turned up again, only to definitly permanently die a bit later.
This episode really felt like the classical vampire story setup: The sleepy village at the bottom of a very pompous house that doesn't fit in at all. The inhabitants of said house are a bit weird and apparently oddly beautiful. There's deaths that at first seem normal but might be not normal at all upon closer inspection. There's even wild dogs that mysteriously have an increased presence!
Of course, this is still an anime, so we have Megumi, an upbeat, slightly snobby girl and a cool but distant classmate who the mc is crushing on, unfortunately unrequited. And naturally, everything is set in japan.
It's a bit of a slow burn but an enjoyable one and gets the job done. Some camera angles felt very "Shaft", though we didn't get the signature head turn. OP and ED are really good and set the mood, especially the ED. Curious to see where this goes.
1) Thoughts on Mieko-san having lived several days with the dead body?
I wrote in my notes: "Oookay... very not creepy."
Can't imagine living next to a decomposing body for longer than a day
2) Why do you think Yuuki is dramatically staring down the road towards the city?
I kinda assumed it was to better ignore Megumi. Maybe he's waiting for something else than the bus?
3) What's your favorite hairstyle so far?
I didn't pay much attention to the hairstyles tbh, but I really liked Megumi's long hair. The land lady seemed very fabulous too.
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u/mischievous_shota 10d ago
I love how it's not just the inhabitants but also the Kanemasa house itself that stands out so much.
I kinda assumed it was to better ignore Megumi.
His ass was staring in the distance even before she showed up. Maybe he's going through a chunni thing?
Though he looked at her when she said she couldn't wait to leave the village so maybe he relates. Or maybe he was just happy that she would move away from him.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 9d ago
Though he looked at her when she said she couldn't wait to leave the village so maybe he relates.
That is want I thought
Or maybe he was just happy that she would move away from him.
Definitely the correct interpretation in hindsight.
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u/Vaadwaur 9d ago
MRW my girl stalker finally died
She was oddly bad at it.
But the longer I watched, the more intrigued I was, especially after Megumi vanished and then turned up again,
The damned travel swiftly.
There's even wild dogs that mysteriously have an increased presence!
There's this nearby village that is filled with mountain dogs. These are just spillover.
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u/GallowDude 9d ago
She was oddly bad at it.
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u/Vaadwaur 9d ago
Oh, don't underestimate the psychos, some of y'all are quite effective at stalking.
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u/GallowDude 10d ago
definitly
japan
though we didn't get the signature head turn.
Can't imagine living next to a decomposing body for longer than a day
I didn't pay much attention to the hairstyles tbh
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u/oomoepoo https://anilist.co/user/oomoepoo 10d ago
Apologies, I'm a bit scatterbrained today. I will try and pay more attention to hair styles and other things (like spelling) in the future!
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u/BosuW 9d ago
MRW my girl stalker finally died
Ding dong the witch it's dead! 🗣️🔥🔥
Well. At first, this all seemed a bit confusing with all the different characters, dates, locations and random old people dying of totally natural causes!
I remember the first time I watched it I was able to keep up with everything pretty good, so rest assured the story construction at least should make it easy for you!
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u/oomoepoo https://anilist.co/user/oomoepoo 9d ago
I remember the first time I watched it I was able to keep up with everything pretty good, so rest assured the story construction at least should make it easy for you!
I have nobody to blame but myself (and the shitty subs not translating the info blurps on screen) :')
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u/GallowDude 9d ago
and the shitty subs not translating the info blurps on screen
Hey, I offered you a decent copy lol
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u/oomoepoo https://anilist.co/user/oomoepoo 9d ago
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u/GallowDude 9d ago
Could also blame Reddit for turning PMs into a shitty Facebook Messenger ripoff.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce 10d ago
Shiki – First Timer
Somehow I feel like October only starts today. Chalk it up to me having no sense of time or urgency and instead relying on things in my calendar.
So, Shiki was a pretty spontaneous rewatch for me since I was in the mood for something more horror-y. I know nothing, have middling to no expectations, and like the posting time slot. Going forward I don’t know how long I will stick around or if I keep posting daily. At the latest near the end of October I will probably drop out since there’s big things happening that need to be taken care of.
Anyway, until then I’ll let Shiki surprise me!
Shiki Ep.01 – First Blood
Pretty effective intro, I gotta say. Especially since it was a ruse to begin with and a good mystery has many of these deployed throughout its runtime.
The opening act was certainly very anime and established Megumi as quite a stalker. Her demeanor truly reminds me of mid-2000s protagonists where words like “privacy” or “not hurting others” were whispered suggestions. But I’d say it’s decently effective in connecting with her despite the extra-ness of the show’s energy.
I do find the overuse of still-frames and flash cards pretty annoying and the overexaggerated jokes a bit too much, though. Like, there’s something about the directing that feels very amateurish. It’s not just that weekly evening show with 50% filler episodes kinda vibe to the interactions and reaction shots, it’s also that the show seemingly can’t stay with an emotion and use it.
Like the fakeout of finding Megumi actually alive in the end, but somehow changed, with her hazy memory of presumably the new girl, Chizuru, being the cause of it. That was already a cool turn from what we thought was going to be a corpse. But then they turn around on that, too, and have her die, medically confirmed, properly in bed 2 minutes later. But even that doesn’t stick, the scene pivots to the main guy who seemingly only cares about having quieter evenings from now on. I don’t know what the show wants me to feel here, the drama, the unease, the mystery, the comedy? And seemingly it doesn’t know, either.
Additionally, I’m fairly sure we turn back on her death, again, next episode and have her be undead. They put too much effort into her character design to throw that out of the show, haha.
But I sorta fuck with the hair styles and outfits in general, ngl. At least the character designers understood their task and I love to see that. Megumi wants to be anywhere but the village and her fashion already tells that without her opening her mouth. Each skull on the dress represents one year of teen angst missing out on life. There were already about 4 eyebrows and 2 beards that I absolutely admire for their insane geometry. Also, props for the VA of the dog. He had fun, a lot of fun!
1) Thoughts on Mieko-san having lived several days with the dead body?
Since all of that basically already spells out vampires, I’m booking on a thrall. Basically the type of vampires that can spellbind another living being to serve them until they sever the bond, after which they expire.
2) Why do you think Yuuki is dramatically staring down the road towards the city?
Nothing, it’s his signature move as the male protag teen with a dark inner secret. You wouldn’t understand, it’s mysterious!
3) What's your favorite hairstyle so far?
I’d like to see Chizuru’s in full frame for once. But so far it’s either not-catboy truck driver or the old guy with facial hear construction like an MC Esher painting.
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u/oomoepoo https://anilist.co/user/oomoepoo 10d ago
But I sorta fuck with the hair styles and outfits in general, ngl.
Looking at Megumi's design here, I can't help but think of One Piece's Perona. Pink pigtails, parasol, dresses extravagantly. Might just be a general vibe though.
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u/mischievous_shota 10d ago
Nothing, it’s his signature move as the male protag teen with a dark inner secret. You wouldn’t understand, it’s mysterious!
It'd be hilarious if he was just wondering where the fuck the bus was.
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u/GallowDude 10d ago
Somehow I feel like October only starts today. Chalk it up to me having no sense of time or urgency and instead relying on things in my calendar.
At the latest near the end of October I will probably drop out since there’s big things happening that need to be taken care of.
That's when you marathon ahead and post seven essays at once
Her demeanor truly reminds me of mid-2000s protagonists where words like “privacy” or “not hurting others” were whispered suggestions
shots, it’s
They put too much effort into her character design to throw that out of the show, haha.
task and
I’d like to see Chizuru’s in full frame for once
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u/Vaadwaur 9d ago
Chalk it up to me having no sense of time or urgency and instead relying on things in my calendar.
It was 80 degrees yesterday. In fuckmothering October. Time has no meaning in climate change land.
There's even wild dogs that mysteriously have an increased presence!
She could just walk into X or Inuyasha and no one would really notice.
I don’t know what the show wants me to feel here, the drama, the unease, the mystery, the comedy?
Yes.
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u/Sporadia_ 9d ago
Somehow I feel like October only starts today.
They put too much effort into her character design to throw that out of the show, haha.
I do love the suggestion that she shouldn't die because she spent too much on her outfit.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce 9d ago
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 9d ago
I’m fairly sure we turn back on her death, again, next episode and have her be undead. They put too much effort into her character design to throw that out of the show, haha.
You do make a very strong case...
There were already about 4 eyebrows and 2 beards that I absolutely admire for their insane geometry
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u/Second_Cour 10d ago edited 10d ago
First Time, Dub
I’m going into Shiki very blind. I marked it down on my to-watch list, as I remember thinking it’d be my type of show. From memory it was recommended based on my favourite anime Shinsekai Yori, by a rating site algorithm. That’s about all I remember about it.
OP is pretty cool - nice art direction, and good track. I still have no idea what this show is going to be about, though: perhaps a murder mystery?
Wow I’m instantly loving the art style, as we head into the show.
Megumi seems like a girl out of place in a village, wishing to live the big city life. The comedy is pretty good here - doesn’t feel overcooked and the juxtaposition works well.
Wow, we get some very brutal imagery of decomposing bodies, with bugs feasting on them. I think going into this show blind was a great idea.
I’m really enjoying the Megumi character; she feels very real in her outlook.
And then Megumi died. Or has she? Is this a supernatural show? Did the family who moved into that big European house do something to her? So many questions.
I usually write essays for the first episode of an anime I start, but I’ve just been utterly engrossed in this show. It’s such a visual smorgasbord, with great writing, and a thick air of mystery. I almost decided to quit this rewatch so that I could binge the show.
WOW. This is by far the worst write-up I've ever written for a rewatch. I usually go into extreme depth, but the last thing I wanted to do was pause it and jot down some notes. One of the most immersive opening episodes to an anime I've watched. Thank God it's midnight, so I can post this review and move onto the next episode.
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u/GallowDude 10d ago
From memory it was recommended based on my favourite anime Shinsekai Yori, by a rating site algorithm
Hey, I already made that joke
perhaps a murder mystery?
I think going into this show blind was a great idea.
Hard not to go blind when you have maggots eating your eye sockets
I almost decided to quit this rewatch so that I could binge the show.
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u/Sporadia_ 9d ago
Hard not to go blind when you have maggots eating your eye sockets
/u/FD4Cry1 Mirai Nikki intensifies.
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u/mischievous_shota 10d ago
I almost decided to quit this rewatch so that I could binge the show.
I'm a first timer too and decided I wanted to watch in August. So I know how it feels to have to hold back lol. Stay strong!
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10d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Sporadia_ 9d ago
Also, the hairstyle question is genuinely the most dangerous part of this discussion.
Not if we all agree now that it's Megumi.
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u/protected-reader 10d ago edited 10d ago
Rewatcher
I watched this around 7-8 years ago so I don't remember the point about Meiko-san but it is probably expanded on later; or maybe it is just setting the tone for the series.
I guess everyone in the audience can guess what the Kirishiki family's deal is but it is still entertaining to watch things go down at the slow, cinematic pace it is taking. My favourite OST (the only one I remember) from the show called 'Eau de vie' plays during the search scene in the middle of the episode and it brought me right back to my first watch.
I am not particularly a fan of any hairstyle but I do like Yuuki's whole look a lot; I too would have a crush on him if I were a girl in that small village.
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u/mischievous_shota 10d ago
She imagined the outsiders adopting her as their own daughter so easily but whilst she couldn't stop imagining a handsome son with an interest in her, she still said no to that idea and clung to her crush on Yuuki. I thought that was interesting and cute (as cute as stalking someone can be).
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u/GallowDude 10d ago
it is still entertaining to watch things go down at the slow, cinematic pace it is taking
My favourite OST (the only one I remember) from the show called 'Eau de vie' plays during the search scene in the middle of the episode and it brought me right back to my first watch.
I too would have a crush on him if I were a girl in that small village.
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u/Sporadia_ 9d ago
Rewatcher
Tag yourself. I'm tired Megumi. Already?
I was looking forward to this rewatch although I must confess that I was mainly interested in visiting that European mansion atop the hill. Maybe the residents will recognise how my rizz outlevels the other rewatch participants and take me in.
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u/ZamHalen3 9d ago
Rewatcher
I'm a music guy who originally watched this after hearing the sound track separate so I will be starting by centering the music in as many comments as I can. The main humming motifs being the thing that the rest of the score is built off of is so cool. The first full track that plays during Megumi's monologue is what drew me to this show in particular. The voice and almglocken combo has this serene quality but because the tuning is off we get the dissonance that underscores the rest of the track. It's absolutely dreamlike and deceptive, with the dissonance pulling in the undertones of the mystery. From the very first note you know that no matter what is happening on screen, something isn't right. The mystery and daily elements of the show are scored with pretty dated sound effects even by 2010s standards though I realize on this watch that it's a deliberate choice meant to place the anime firmly in the 90s. And the grand Gothic part of the scoring is fantastic but we'll get back to that on a later date.
I always forget that this anime has quite a few of the late 90s anime sensibilities which is great considering the setting and time period.
Having lived in a small town before I always have felt for Megumi's conflict with being stuck there. While she has troubling behaviors I still feel pretty bad for her. The reality is that she is extremely innocent and so naive.
This first episode is so campy and it's great. Between Megumi's day dreaming, how brooding Yuuki is and the over acting on many parts. The horror is so in your face here in some ways but it feeds the famous slow burn with the juxtaposition between the drama of the music and the more subtle situation.
Questions:
1. While we might come across answers to this later there have been cases of loved ones in denial ignoring long dead family members. Having gotten into some true crime the psychology of loss has some pretty varied impacts and that itself may play a role.
Yuuki in parallel to Megumi also wants to leave but for entirely different reasons. They are likely to develop into foils for each other's character.
This is a Tatsumi stan account every October.
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u/GallowDude 9d ago
I'm a music guy who originally watched this after hearing the sound track separate so I will be starting by centering the music in as many comments as I can.
I realize on this watch that it's a deliberate choice meant to place the anime firmly in the 90s
We Harry Potter now
While
Yuuki
Having gotten into some true crime the psychology of loss has some pretty varied impacts and that itself may play a role.
This is a Tatsumi stan account every October.
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u/AB4ND0N_H0PE https://myanimelist.net/profile/mNFiendishRogue 10d ago
Here I was hoping to get a link to the stream to watch it for the first time.
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u/BosuW 10d ago
Rewatcher
Let's goooo it's been a good while since I watched this one and it's one of my favorite anime ever! I remember the good ol' days when all the episodes were on YT in high quality. The full thing, not even "parte 1/3 sub español" kinda deal (I mean it was sub español but that's because it's my native tongue lol). I remember it used color coded subs for each character too. I tried to track down those fansubs, but regrettably wasn't able to find them. Instead I came across the next best thing: one which has the dialogues in a just slightly creepy font. I realized afterwards that it's hard subbed though, so that might show up in screenshots.
Anyway, for such a relatively obscure anime it's kinda wild it was also one of my first. Probably within my first five even. I found out about it (and Elfen Lied) because back then since AoT S1 had just exploded in popularity there was this small trend of making anime gore compilations on YT 🙃. Hmm I wonder if those videos are still up?
It's so good to have this back and I'm looking forward to everyone's comments since there will be plenty to dissect from the narrative!
Man, just episode 1 and I'm already appreciating it even more than I remember now that I've developed just a bit of an analytical eye. Shiki isn't one for jumpscares but it is impeccable at building an uneasy atmosphere.
This episode really is the chronicle of a death foretold. The intro scene already ends with an image of Megumi's corpse. Yes, we later find out she was still alive at that point, but it seems her passing was inevitable as she didn't get better and died a day later.
Incidentally the OP is fucking fantastic. There's some talk about lead-in EDs, but lead-in OPs hit just as hard, and the way Kuchizuke specifically layers it's starting cut over some manner of disturbing imagery is just unforgettable and makes each instance have individuality, which extends to the way the episodes themselves are handled. Mother's Basement dedicated a "What's in an OP?" video to it years ago that I highly recommend ONLY FOR REWATCHERS. I will be sharing again at the end as it contains heavy spoilers.
Back to the episode, we are shown Megumi's inevitable demise from the start and then pull back to see the days prior. The way her figure walking on the road fades in like a ghost is one of those things that make me say Shiki has an elite grasp of atmosphere. The incredible soundtrack is already adding to it as well. I can't say I've heard even half of it, but this might be Yasuharu Takanashi's best work.
[Shiki]Foreshadowing is already pretty strong with the destruction of the statues. Also this is a crazy bit lol
I don't have a lot to say about the contents of the episode since it's mostly doing setup. You get to know about the village of Sotoba, it's circumstances and community. It's a closed off and traditional place with a strong sense of community. Everybody is somebody else's somebody and everyone knows everyone, and nothing happens without the whole place knowing about it by next day.
Megumi was a misfit who dreams of the bright city life. And kinda delulu if you ask me. Just as with her crush on ex-city boy Natsuno, her admiration seemed to be genuine but it was about the idea of it and not the real thing.
Despite being the local weird girl, all the community quickly comes together to search for her for a whole day when she goes missing. Not necessarily with enthusiasm, as Tomio has to drag his lazy son Atsushi into it, but it's good that he did as he was the one to find her. Unfortunately, they would prove to be too late.
[Shiki]Seeing all the village community joining in to search for Megumi makes her an even bigger piece of shit for what she does to them later
[Shiki]Right after commenting that he doesn't have to close the window anymore because Megumi is dead, Natsuno is briefly blinded by the sunlight. Given the story has a bone to pick about how easily humanity can disregard the lives of our peers, I wonder if this is intentionally symbolic.
ED is just okay really. Not great not terrible. [Shiki]I like that you only see Sunako's face and pitch black eyes at the end and from afar though.
Questions of the Day
3- Ah how could I forget about the first Shiki jumpscare: the infamous Shiki hair! I don't think I can claim a definite favorite so far though
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u/GallowDude 10d ago
I mean it was sub español but that's because it's my native tongue lol
inevitable as
There's some talk about lead-in EDs
Shame /u/Shimmering-Sky isn't here to see this
it's starting
[Quote] Also this is a crazy bit lol
[Response] Girl's head is so empty that even getting it crushed by a tractor wasn't enough to kill her
it's circumstances
But which it? There are so many circumstances!
[Quote]Seeing all the village community joining in to search for Megumi makes her an even bigger piece of shit for what she does to them later
[Response] Especially considering how torn up her dad is over it, despite her saying she hates her parents so much that she doesn't want to kill them, as it would risk them reviving
I don't think I can claim a definite favorite so far though
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u/BosuW 9d ago
Shame u/Shimmering-Sky isn't here to see this
Oh that's a shame, I thought she was
[Response] Girl's head is so empty that even getting it crushed by a tractor wasn't enough to kill her
[Response]Even truck-kun's family has limits on who gets isekai'd it seems.
[Response]Especially considering how torn up her dad is over it, despite her saying she hates her parents so much that she doesn't want to kill them, as it would risk them reviving
[Response]I feel sorry for Megumi's parents for having a daughter like her and that they still loved her very very much. Girl just never, at any point, realized what she had.
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky 9d ago
Oh that's a shame, I thought she was
I'm trying to limit the amount of rewatches I'm in compared to the upwards of 6 I've been known for doing in the past because I wanted time to play the new Fire Emblem game, lol. I already signed up for two other October rewatches before this one came about (Katekyou Hitman Reborn & Pandora Hearts) and have two others that were already ongoing (Dragon Ball & Hikaru no Go), so I didn't want to join a fifth.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 9d ago
I'm now pushing Noir to November and Vandread to December (that's mecha so you have to watch) and Geneshaft will have to spill over into January. Just too much going on in October.
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u/GallowDude 9d ago
Vandread
That series is worth watching just to hear Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and Julie Ann Taylor play the opposite of their usual typecasts.
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 9d ago
I remember it used color coded subs for each character too. I tried to track down those fansubs, but regrettably wasn't able to find them
I get why it's an effort no one wants to go through, but I really wish color-coded subs were more common. They're so nice
there was this small trend of making anime gore compilations on YT
These compilations are literally the only reason I know anything about Blood C lol.
Also, I'm fairly certain that the first full episode of anime I watched (Knowing that it was anime, so not like, YGO or Pokemon as a kid) was Elfen Lied, likewise because of some early 2010s video of that kind, so I do relate a bit.
There's some talk about lead-in EDs, but lead-in OPs hit just as hard
Kind of by nature ED lead-ins tend to have a bit more dramatic flare, but OP lead-ins are soooo much rarer, they really do just hit differently
I will be sharing again at the end as it contains heavy spoilers
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u/GallowDude 9d ago
Elfen Lied
That show could only have blown up as it did by coming out in the exact year that it did. It's nowhere near good enough to have had such staying power.
OP lead-ins are soooo much rarer, they really do just hit differently
Watamote season two when?
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u/BosuW 9d ago
I get why it's an effort no one wants to go through, but I really wish color-coded subs were more common. They're so nice
Especially when the cast is so large but also color coded themselves!
These compilations are literally the only reason I know anything about Blood C lol.
Same lol
Kind of by nature ED lead-ins tend to have a bit more dramatic flare
Shiki really kills it with them though, pun intended
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u/goddessofthewinds https://myanimelist.net/profile/SpiritOfTheWinds 9d ago
Rewatcher, subbed
I didn't remember how "special" Megumi was in the first episode. Wearing her dresses and pimping herself even though there are only farmers around.
How I missed the OST. Haven't heard many of the tracks yet, but man, the feels of that OST is just so good and fits so much with the vibe.
I realize that the character design might be the only thing I don't like that much, but it doesn't affect my enjoyment of the rewatch. It just takes a bit to get used to that style again.
Hopefully the first-timers enjoy the show!
See you on later episodes.
1) Well, old peoples can be weird sometimes, but I feel like she might have been affected later than the others
2) I will abstain even though I don't remember fully
3) Cat hairstyle for sure.
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u/BosuW 9d ago
I didn't remember how "special" Megumi was in the first episode. Wearing her dresses and pimping herself even though there are only farmers around.
It's even a bit funny really. She's out here trying to to have this "Shoujo heroine" aura but people in town just keep talking about how their cow's not milking as much this year and how the neighbor's brother's cousin's wife's daughter got woke up in the night by the new family that moved in
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u/goddessofthewinds https://myanimelist.net/profile/SpiritOfTheWinds 9d ago
Oh yeah, all the gossiping was funny as hell too.
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u/Vaadwaur 9d ago
Rewatcher
Sub
So...Shiki. I don't exactly remember the chain of events that lead me to this anime. I know that it was after I had seen Mirai Nikki, which I got to from Higurashi, but before Shakugan no Shana. I had the vaguest connection with Bucktick from the Trinity Blood dub but I doubt that was it.
In ep note:Goddamnit, everywhere I look, I see more Utena.
Ok...Megumi is quite the piece of work. Using a goth punk fashion sense in a remote village is iffy at best, and frankly she'd be goth loli if she were shorter. Teens are inherently creepy beings, so her stalking the new boy in town is rather mild on the scale though still a bit concerning. Wanting to leave her two horse town is fairly universal, though spoken from a deeply Tokyo-centric sort of manner. And her key encounter is of course hidden from us.
The 'village' of 3 dying is weird but when a place is that dead, not fully surprising.
QotD:1 Was that dude that much different being dead?
2 It is where the bus is coming from...
3 Sunako.
Guess I can leave the window open now that there's no one hiding in the bushes.
So I am not alone in seeing the Higurashi...
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u/BosuW 9d ago
Using a goth punk fashion sense in a remote village is iffy at best, and frankly she'd be goth loli if she were shorter.
It might be a minor miracle that she wasn't a complete pariah.
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u/Vaadwaur 9d ago
As I joked in a different village anime, the entirety of her appeal could be that she isn't a second cousin to most of the boys her age. These small villages often need new DNA.
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u/BosuW 9d ago
Or maybe that's precisely why she was into Natsuno: he's the only boy her age that isn't her second cousin since he came from the city
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u/Vaadwaur 9d ago
Wouldn't shock me. That said, her trope is a classic one in the opinion of people from Tokyo.
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u/moichispa https://myanimelist.net/profile/moichispa 9d ago
Rewatcher Watched the series as it aired, rewatched the first episode past year
Oh Shiki, one of the great animes from Noitamina programming block golden era.
The seris goes heavy on the effects and the hairstyles. yeah the character style is rather excentric, it was distinctive even on that era. But is is cool when you have so many characters, and yes some of these minor characters will be important later on the plot. Not sure why the character is so odd, souirce is a regular novel, I think.
Speaking of characters I love the rural setting, specially when it is used to nicely. You can tell it is a small town, the conversations, the cows, the fact that all the town knows about the people who moved in etc.
Funny thing, the series aired in summer which made the summer scenes more relatable.
- Thoughts on Mieko-san having lived several days with the dead body?
Creepy but I have heard of cases like this happening to people with dementia
- Why do you think Yuuki is dramatically staring down the road towards the city?
Mysterious edgy boy from the emo era early century
- What's your favourite hairstyle so far?
Why hairstyle when you have the most glorious beard evah
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u/BosuW 9d ago
Damn you watched it as it aired? You're one of the real ogs!
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u/moichispa https://myanimelist.net/profile/moichispa 9d ago
If you keep watching anime you will be the real OG someday too
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 9d ago
First Timer
Now starting a third rewatch, I'm going to get confused.
Shiki Ep 1
All I know about this show is that it was written by the author of 12 Kingdoms, which I really loved, that she wrote Shiki instead of more 12K, that her husband wrote Another, that Shiki is better than Another but, while it has its fans, still has its problems, and that it involves vampires.
- I don't think I've ever heard this OP before.
- BUCK-TICK! They also did the OP for Trinity Blood!
- Rewinding....
- half-way through the episode, wondering if this girl is a main character or will be dead by the end of the episode.
- Or maybe that's going to be the 9th grader.
- Megumi, maybe they think you are weird not because you are wearing a dress, but that your dress has skulls on it.
- I've never heard this ED, either.
- I think we'll be seeing Megumi again....She's in the ED, after all.
Some similarity to Dracula's arrival in England.
The show doubled down on the tonal whiplash, with the sudden time jumps, shouting and punching, tsundere boy and grumpy girl.
Oh, you know what, Megumi reminds me of Lydia in Beetlejuice. They probably have similar wardrobes.
Q1: Meiko probably took 3 days to die, just like Megumi.
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u/GallowDude 9d ago
I'm going to get confused
Shiki is better than Another
First of all, how dare you? (Another Spoilers)
Megumi, maybe they think you are weird not because you are wearing a dress, but that your dress has skulls on it.
Megumi reminds me of Lydia in Beetlejuice
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u/BosuW 9d ago
half-way through the episode, wondering if this girl is a main character or will be dead by the end of the episode.
I believe the very first scene answered that...
Megumi, maybe they think you are weird not because you are wearing a dress, but that your dress has skulls on it.
In the mid-1990s too!
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u/Pedang_Katana 9d ago
I'm tempted to do another rewatch of this since I watched this anime while it was airing back then, and I did my first rewatch sometimes before the lockdown (prob around 2018/2019). So there's at least 7 years since my last rewatch and I'm pretty sure I forgot at least 50% of the plot lol. Guess I'll see if I got the time since I'm pretty occupied with so many isekais
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u/Sporadia_ 9d ago
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u/Pedang_Katana 8d ago
In my defense I've been catching up with a lot of anime and just so happen to like many isekai 🤣👌
Something like Cautious Hero, Tsukimichi, Handyman Saitou, Re Zero just to name a few ✍️(◔◡◔)
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u/TheDanubianCommunard 9d ago
First-time, subs
I have heard some things about this and that, but not had a complete image what is this about. I knew already it was quite different than most stuff. And basically te last work by the studio Daume, which effectively defunct after that. Also aired on the good old Noitamina timeslot.
Basically this episode just made the settin for what is to come. We have a small countryside village close to the forest, some unusual incidents happening in a short time. Lots of dead bodies found with advanced stages of necrosis. They mentioned a temple or a shrine, I could suppose it might some kind of "curse" was involved, or maybe it something different. And also one night, that truck is honking with too much noise.
Second part is involving Megumi. She lives in this village, but she really yearns for a city life, and that is why dressed up like that and also her behavior. Village life is not for her. And also got fascinated by the those starnge incidents in the city. She sees a strange but fancy castle out of nowhere, imagning it as a wish-granter device. It might be a mayoiga of some sorts. Whatever happens, happens, she just ventures deeply in the forest, and something bad will happen to her. Got sickened, saw some unknown but supernatural entity, then dies. I can confirm she died to some supernatual curse, maybe it is the same thing just like the villagers from before. It might be the beginning of something deeper.
As for the rest of the village, they quite ordinary, but also they are not perfect as human beings, you'll see why.
1) Thoughts on Mieko-san having lived several days with the dead body?
Very crazy.
2) Why do you think Yuuki is dramatically staring down the road towards the city?
To gain some attention.
3) What's your favorite hairstyle so far?
The normal, natural hairstyle.
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u/BaytaCosmico https://myanimelist.net/profile/AnimeBayta 2d ago edited 2d ago
First-timer, subbed
Very late here, but posting anyway since I just got around to starting this. Will keep adding my week+ late posts as I slowly continue this.
The first episode was not what I expected at all. The starting was very much in the horror template. That start and the rural setting reminded me a bit of Summer Hikaru Died. But that didn't last long. Once we get Megumi's pov, the tone changed so drastically. It was like I was watching a different show.
But then we get the bit about those three dead people and bam! Back in proper horror zone. Only to switch back to Megumi-chan and her impatience to leave the village (again a familiar refrain to Hikaru but tonally poles apart).
Interestingly, the mood shifts somehow work. I wasn't expecting something played at such a high pitch but it wasn't jarring. I haven't looked up when this came out, but it definitely gives older anime vibes. I like that.
I really thought Megumi was dead at the beginning so was surprised they found her alive. That said, it was obvious she was going to die. I wasn't sure if she'd waste away slowly or by the end of the episode. Turned out to be the latter, which makes sense given the episode title. It was a bit abrupt though. And Yuki's reaction seemed awfully cold. That shot outside the window and the eerie soundtrack seem to hint that he might be the next to go. Let's see if that's what happens.
I'm hooked and looking forward to the rest.
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u/GallowDude 2d ago
Very late here, but posting anyway
I just around to starting this
Will keep adding my week+ late posts as I slowly continue this.
But then we get the bit about those three dead people and bam! Back in proper horror zone. Only to switch back to Megumi-chan and her impatience to leave the village (again a familiar refrain to Hikaru but tonally poles apart).
pitch but
it definitely gives older anime vibes. I like that.
Yuki
I'm hooked and looking forward to the rest.
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 10d ago edited 10d ago
First Timer
I am apparently not watching Mirai Nikki right now
Shiki has been on my PTW for years now, so it does feel quite nice to finally get to it. Going into the show, I knew it's a horror mystery, and one of the more well-regarded horror anime around at that, so that's fun given those aren't that common. I also know that it's an adaptation of a novel (That I keep misremembering as being by the author of Another, but is actually by the wife of the Another author, who herself also wrote the Twelve Kingdoms novels, which I've heard great things about), which makes me even more interested because (Regular, non-light) novel adaptations are relatively rare with anime, but tend to have more flowery and interesting writing. Finally, and honestly, probably the real reason I've wanted to watch this show for so long: Oooooide kono ude no naka!
I really, really like this OP haha? Bit of a random personal anecdote, but I've actually been listening to this song for like, a decade now! I'm pretty sure I'd heard it before I even knew it was the OP for Shiki, but it's definitely the reason I know of the show at least. Through this OP, I learned about Buck-Tick as a band; a band I quite like now! And while I won't say they "got me into" visual kei bands since I haven't listened to that many of them, they are the way I learned of a few other bands in the sphere that I really love today. All of which is to say that while finally hearing an OP you'd known about for a long time in context is always satisfying, there's a rather special and strong personal satisfaction to me in getting to experience this one with its show!
I do really like it as just an OP as well. As in, as far as its purpose in making me really interested in the show goes. It just has this very strong mood with it, y'know? Even if I didn't know this was a horror mystery, I feel like the OP communicates that in visuals and in music. Just lots of fun and great visuals here, and I love how it ends on the eerie music box part, with the blood (?) raindrops showing spots of light on the skull in-sync with the music.
Such a vibe
(And also take this as my petition that we need to have more visual kei bands doing anime OPs)
On the topic of music, I don't have too much to say about the staff here, except for Yasuharu Takanashi on the OST. He's got some big names on his resume like Naruto Shippuden and Fairy Tail, and I have heard, and rather enjoyed, some of his OSTs before, like Log Horizon, so his name here is nice. Especially given the, imo, importance of music in a more atmospheric work, like this one seemingly aims for, and to that end, I also already liked the music within this first episode together with some of the sound design! The character designs here do feel a little... eccentric? I had vaguely heard about it before too, but it's mostly the hair lol. Or really, while we're not Clamp here, there are some funky proportions all around and a propensity for rather sharp edges. But I love it! I mean, come on, there are two separate characters here with weird catboy hair, how am I not supposed to enjoy that?!
Anyway, as for the actual story, wow this episode throws a lot of names at you haha . Basically just the names for some of them as well. And dates too! Probably going to take me a bit to get them all and follow it all, but atmospheric small-town mysteries do usually call for a pretty expanded (And ideally intertwined and a little messy) cast, so I'm all for it. Otherwise, it's a pretty bold but very fun choice to have a lot of this episode focus on a character that ends up dead by the end of it! Megumi was pretty interesting in the time we had her, having that classic plight of feeling dissatisfied and out of place in her rural environment, though she was getting some real delusions of grandeur in her perspective by the end here, and all that very much affected her attitude towards others. Oh, and she, uh, y'know,seemed to have been a bit of a stalker, so there's that. Starting out from her perspective is a fun twist, though, and it's a perspective that, in its contrast, does help set the closed-off mood and character of this village heading into the actual mystery part. Given the pace everyone here seems to live at, it'll be interesting to see what the reaction here ends up being, even more so since I'd like to think Megumi isn't going to be the last person dying mysteriously here.
(Well, I guess she's not the first anyway! What with those bodies at the start, but I'm not quite sure what to make of that yet, or actually, when it even happened relatively with all the calendar jumps here haha).
Because as for how she dies; god, the end of this episode is soooooo vampire-core. The new family from outside moving into the secluded, very ornate castle, being described as beautiful to an enchanting degree, the way they come in in the middle of the night, the eyes, Megumi's slow "Anemia" death especially. I don't know about the blue-haired husband because, frankly, he seems a little silly with his catboy hair, but surely the blonde lady drinks people right lol? Which is really interesting? It feels decidedly Dracula-esque in a way, I guess, and if that's really what we're going for, then I am quite intrigued!
Not too much to say otherwise. Just really enjoyed the atmosphere of this episode and how it set up the mystery! Going by the OP, I'd guess Yuuki will take over the main character seat? He seems pretty cold on the whole, and despite his dislike of Megumi, he also doesn't look to be too content with living out here either. Though how he actually gets involved when his reaction to Megumi dying was "Oh nice, I can keep the window open now" should be interesting. Besides that, I liked the direction here a decent bit too, some fun uses of perspective to frame Megumi's situation and I like the occasionally somewhat stylized shots or uses of lighting. This cut was also fucking awesome. So good stuff all around, and I'm excited to see how this plays out.
Either the brown-haired catboy one or the doctor guy, because I like all the edge his hair has.