Shadows House | Review | Pinnedupink.com

Shadows House

Anime targeted at the Seinen Demographic isn’t the best fit for the faint of heart unless, of course, it’s accompanied by genres like Comedy. The word brings to mind other genres like Tragedy, Horror, Drama, Supernatural, Mystery, Sci-Fi, and Action, and there is much to be experienced in these series for mature audiences. Sometimes, they serve as grim reminders of the harsh reality we live in, but not without a thrilling story that will keep you entertained throughout. What would be the perfect candidate for an underrated gem of a Seinen series that simply must be watched?

Shadows House is a 13 episode TV Anime series that aired from the 11th of April until the 4th of July, in Spring 2021. It was produced by Aniplex, WOWOW, Tokyo MX, Shueisha, and BS Asahi, licensed by Funimation and brought to life by Studio CloverWorks.

The main staff includes Oohashi Kazuki as Director, Mukoyama Tsurumi as Episode Director, Koizumi Kisuke as Sound Director, and ReoNa on Theme Song Performance. It features the genres of Slice of Life and Supernatural and is targeted at the Seinen Demographic. It received a rating of PG-13, is best suited for mature audiences; teenagers 13 years or older.

Shadows House is based on the source Manga of the same title. It started publication on the 6th of September, 2018, and is still ongoing. Serialized in Young Jump, it is the work of Author and Artist Soumatou. The Shadows House 2nd Season has also been announced. The sequel Anime TV series would be produced by Aniplex, adapted from the Manga by Soumatou, have similar genres, and possess identical ratings.

The series revolves around the “Shadows,” characterized by their pitch-black appearances and tendencies to emit soot whenever agitated. These are actually a family of nobles who reside in a grand and colossal manor deep within the mountains, far away from other human beings. They have a unique practice where, whenever a Shadow child comes nearly of age, they get assigned a Living Doll of their own. Henceforth, this Doll will act as their attendant and their second half, possessing the face the Shadow child could have had if not for their dark complexion.

The story thus turns to protagonist Emilico, a lively, cheerful, and newly created Doll who serves a soft-spoken female master named Kate, the co-protagonist. There is a big difference between the two’s personalities, but despite that, Emilico does her best to carry out the needs and wants of her master.

Progressively, she learns more and more about her role and duty while also meeting her fellow Dolls and their respective masters. But the real tale lies in her coming to know more about the very purpose of her existence. "Do not fret over trivial matters" is one of the rules which all Dolls must follow and abide by. Day by day, this rule becomes harder and harder for the ever-curious Emilico to uphold, as she eventually finds herself facing the deep secrets hidden within the Shadows House.

The Shadows House works in the pair-system, as mentioned earlier in the "Shadows" mansion. The Living Dolls attend to their Shadow Masters, working in tandem, as two beings who are mirror images attached. This pattern follows most of the pairs, except for one pair that defies all logic; the soft-spoken Shadow Master Kate and her cheerful Doll Servant Emilico.

Initially, the viewers don’t get to know much about the dark mysteries of the Shadows House; instead, they get to go through and discover it alongside Emilico, who progressively unfolds the secrets of the world she’s in on her own. It's a joy to see the household through her as she fumbles around with Kate, who slowly but surely opens up her quiet and introverted heart to Emilico.

She thus discovers, piece by piece, what the Shadows House is all about, its secrets, the other Shadow Master-Living Doll pairs, and the “higher-up” Shadow Masters also serving under their peculiar Lord. Even though the Slice Of Life tag is there, this is definitely not a typical example of it.

The Characters are the major gears that drive the show through exciting characterization. It plays a considerable part within Shadows House, and Kate and Emilico are the pinnacles of it. Especially when the other Shadow-Doll duos appear, viewers will instantly see the contrasting difference between the central pair and the remaining cast’s relationships.

The dynamic of the show centers around these character-driven relationships and the varying levels of their bonds, both positive and negative. One of the most interesting supporting duos is Master John and Doll Shaun, in which John prefers outlandish principles while Shaun chooses a humbler path. Despite their differences, all Shadow Masters and their respective Living Dolls must work together and make things work, and even though there are times when conflicts arise, the duo must opt to solve them amicably.

If not, any sort of trouble they cause could end up getting them a much harsher punishment than what had already transpired. As expected, Kate and Emilico stand out. Once their acquaintance is established, they go about their lives doing things that don't detract them from who they are as individuals and different beings. They fight for each other and learn lessons along the way in preparation for whatever challenges the Shadows House has in store for all the young Shadow Master and Living Doll pairs.

Their journey together is hellish, with numerous twists, turns, and an ever-changing plot. Emilico’s happy-go-lucky attitude through all these hardships is incredible, leaving viewers to wonder what could possibly faze her. She steals the show with her sunshine personality, natural clumsiness, adorable antics, exceptional cognition, and frenetic behavior.

Studio CloverWorks never fails to please with its stellar production values. The series is directed in a way that will satisfy both veterans and newcomers. The show manages to capture the atmosphere of gloominess and horror within Shadows House perfectly while mastering the Manga's dark and elusive tones and maintaining a dark surrounding that doesn’t bother viewers. The source material is unique, and the Anime does it justice on the small screen. The character designs are cute and lovable as well. This department leaves almost nothing to be desired!

The Music and Sounds of Shadows House are unique. Instrumental songs play a memorable role in the series, from the Opening theme "a hollow shadow" by Kenichirou Suehiro to the character themes. The main ending theme, "Nai Nai" by ReoNa, is an absolute banger, and it represents all the valor contained in a desperate cry for help in despotism.

The lyrics hold intricate meaning, foreshadowing events to come and elevating the viewer's understanding of the show while also pulling them along with it. Thus, it's worth paying attention to the lyrics and reading between the lines, as it makes the series even more enjoyable. The other ending theme is "Watashi no Kanpeki na Sekai" by Kenichirou Suehiro, which is also superb.

Shadows House is definitely not your typical anime, even within its genres. It has a unique allure that is both mysterious and un-grotesque, which reels you in with its horror-thriller premise mixed so well with Slice Of Life elements. Everything lies in perfect balance, allowing you to both enjoy and appreciate this masterpiece. This series is just too novel to miss, and you may end up thoroughly entertained. Highly recommended, and it’ll leave you yearning for the sequel.