A quintessential small-town horror anime, Shiki tells the tale of a remote, isolated village struggling against what seems to be a never-before seen, and unavoidably deadly, illness. Its characters vary greatly in age and occupation, and are myriad in number; easily several dozen are named, and at least somewhat pertinent to the story. As the story progresses, and a trickle of mysterious deaths builds into a deluge, these characters help- or hinder- the investigation into the origin of this "disease". Shiki keeps you on your toes- mistakes are heavily punished, often by death. No character is ever safe.
The animation of Shiki, technically, is not overwhelmingly impressive, but it compliments the tone well: the creepier scenes are often made better by a lack of "cleanliness" in the lines. The unique character designs work surprisingly well within the setting of Sotoba, clearly delineating the otherworldly effect of some of its inhabitants. I also appreciated how the camera was kept around eye level for many shots, which leant the effect of found-footage.
Shiki's soundtrack perfectly fits its story, and the anime would not be the same without it. Ethereal and somber, it encapsulates hopelessness, death, and new life again. More than anything, the haunting choir sticks with me, months after watching.
For all its heavy material, Shiki is not overly depressing. It has tragedies aplenty, but triumphs as well, even if it makes you question their cost. Many pieces of media have worn out the "What if humans are the real monsters?" question, to the point of triteness. Fortunately, Shiki seeks to answer another question: Can survival itself be evil? Go check it out- but make sure to close your window blinds first.
