First, let me put up this disclaimer: this blog will discuss Shiki the anime, not the manga or novel. If you want to talk about stuff that happens there, then go to some website that discusses spoiler material. I’m usually very lenient on comment moderation, but I will get poisonous and delete comments that discuss spoilers.
The only thing I want to know here is the following: Shiki is an adaptation of a manga that is an adaptation of a novel, right? Wouldn’t it have been better if this series would have directly adapted the novel, rather than going for a strange double adaptation?
Either way, this is one of those rare second episodes that actually surpasses the first episode for me, even after an already favourable first impression. The direction was excellent here, the acting was very believable and the animation had quite a few interesting cuts and angles. We’re really in for an awesome series if this keeps up.
Having grown up in a small village, even smaller than the village that is portrayed here, I can somewhat understand the feelings of Natsuno feeling cramped up. It really is a village in which everyone knows each other, and there is hardly anything to do, other than to sit inside. I like how the creators portrayed the village, and actually put a lot of attention in making the bird’s eye view connect with what happened in the series. The strange thing about this village is how many doctors there are. I mean, in an entire village that’s loaded with old people, one out of every 216 people is a medical staff.
I’ve also gotten used to the character designs y now. They’re a bit weird, but definitely original. Especially the older people look great here. Daume… turned out to deliver a surprisingly solid series, considering that they only did silly moe shows up till now. It’s actually great to see that Noitamina allows all kinds of animation companies to produce a series for its timeslot, and it’ll be interesting if Daume made more of these serious series in the future, in other time-slots.
Interestingly, the series s taking the approach of a bit of a medical thriller: some kind of disease is causing problems (probably having something to do with that castle that was built). In the first episode, it still seemed a bit too similar to Higurashi and Ghost Hound, but with this episode it really set itself apart.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
I just love the character of that doctor. Somehow feels like he may play a prominent role in the story
Regarding why they adapted the manga:
(Of course only, if even, minimal, absolutely needed spoilers)
The source novel is rather dark and gritty horror fiction, set in a rural context. It is by far not as ‘colourful’ and anime’esque as the manga adaption.
The adaption came much later and I would dare to accuse them of actually trying to ride on the small wave of success that Higurashi created.
They changed some details around, so that the younger characters have more spotlight and so the events are a little more fastpaced.
They also changed some designs…to me it seems they did this to make certain things more appealing towards a possible fandom and less…disgusting and/or strange.
The manga adaption was released 2007/2008 by the way, under the flag of Square-Enix, who also host the Higurashi Manga.
I agree that the second episode was even more impressive.
Regarding the two-step adaptation: one general reason one might have for such a process is that novels are such a different medium than anime that a lot more “adapting” has to happen. That is, you practically have to pass through the Manga format on the way from Novel to Anime. In the case of Anime, this intermediate stage would be called a storyboard; it is used to sketch out the visuals (in Film the storyboard is used to plan the shots before actual filming begins). Despera, the Yoshitoshi ABe, Chiaki Konaka, Ryutaro Nakamura project was conceived this way from the beginning (first a novel, then a GN adaptation as a step towards an eventual anime project).
Shiki runs in Jump Square; Square Enix has nothing to do with it.
Without getting into any spoilers, these first two episodes have been compressing the first third or so of a very long novel; while a really slow build up works in a novel format, where she can really milk a sense of rising dread, in an adaption you want something to um, happen. Since the manga had actually done a good job of finding a few threads to focus on and get into the meat of the story faster, it was a reasonable choice to adapt that rather than try and solve the puzzle again.
What Buddy said… The manga appears to be the material they opted to adapt. Most likely due to just how they’ve managed to visualize the scenes, something you’d have to go through if it were starting from the novel (meaning more work). Not that I see the manga essentially as being more workable as its a “storyboard” but rather that its already arranged and visualized the story in its own manner, its not a rough transition phase as it can stand on its own well. The manga becomes more of a collaboration now between the author and the artist, as you do have part of his style with visuals injected.
Damn, remembered it wrong.
Okay so it wasn’t the same same magazine, sorry.
But they still clearly rode on the wave of Higurashi’s success with the dichotomic designatmosphere aspect.
I wouldn’t say I like the manga/anime much less because of it. I just never saw a reason to go for that heavily cliched design.
I really liked the 2nd episode for it’s atmosphere, maybe even more than that same part in the manga.
Still, like Buddy already implied, Fujisaki’s manga version goes for the meat of the story…
So I would still say it’s the less patient version of Shiki for a slightly younger audience.
I don’t know anything about the ins and outs of the publishing industry and what, if any, relationship Shueisha’s catalog might have with Square’s Gangan catalog. I don’t think any, but that’s not even close to something I am confident about. However, it’s possible that it’s (1) a rights licensing issue (2) a promotion decision (3) more convenient. I suspect a combination of 1 and 2, but untangling the deals involved in that from the outside is someone else’s problem.
I thought the second episode was better. Megumi’s really annoying, so this episode instantly benefits from her being in a preferable position. Future productions should take heed and place annoying characters in similar positions, even if the source material doesn’t call for it. Just think of how much more tolerable Zero no Tsukaima would be.
Rural areas have less infrastructure and a lower demand for medical services, but the elderly require more medical services and medical subsidies would also compensate. I think it’s less believable that a country doctor, in the 90s, would prefer to consult with the town shaman than to call in experts if he suspected an epidemic. Between that and the town leaving the elderly to die in the heat, I’d leave the Ebola outbreak to Sherlock Holmes move to Kyoto and live in a 4.5 tatami mat hell.
Don’t forget to ponder how Alucard’s castle was built there. There should be a temporary influx of workers and the resulting build up of infrastructure to support its construction. That project should have been a huge influx of capital and the townsfolk would fall over themselves to exploit its development. That would make for an entertaining show all on its own if you ask me.
I’ve also gotten used to the character designs by now. They’re a bit weird, but definitely original.
I assume you’re talking about those funky hairstyles. Seriously though, I thought this was another great episode. Amongst the many good things going for this series, the incidental music and the eye imagery – as well as the mounting death toll – all helped to build up the creepy mood even more so this week. I thought the images of the dying/dead old people were genuinely scary, as well as the fact that the medical staff don’t know what’s going on (never a good sign!).
On another note, I really liked the way that the gossipy (old) folks’ comments and the ‘buried-alive’ imagery were used to aid the feelings of claustrophobia felt by both Natsuno and Megumi’s friend (can’t remember her name).
Overall, knowing nothing about the source material, this is turning out to be a very atmospheric series in it’s own right, with some very inventive and memorable scenes. Looking forward to following it, and seeing what you guys think, over tthe coming weeks.
I just never saw a reason to go for that heavily cliched design.
I’m pretty sure only Fujisaka has that distinct style of drawing, which is pretty consistent with his other works. So I’d hardly call his style cliche’d since its quite distinct, also nobody really attempts to copy his style (which finds more affinity with old school artists than the newer ones which are more or less the same).
Well tis episode just cemented it fo rme:
SHIKI, Cat shit One and HOTD are the BEST series of this season. Sadly these three are also THE ONLY watchable/good series of this season.
Authored by FUYUMI ONO, my favourite Japanese author. She wrote novels of Ghost Hunt and Twelve Kingdoms, which are amongst my favourites as well….