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Shiki (novel)

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Shiki No Tubusa
Cover of the first manga volume of Shiki as published by Shueisha
屍鬼
GenreSupernatural, Horror, Mystery, Fantasy
Serial novel
Written byFuyumi Ono
Published byShinchosha
Original run1998 – 2002
Volumes5
Manga
Written byFuyumi Ono
Illustrated byRyu Fujisaki
Published byShueisha
MagazineJump SQ.
DemographicShōnen
Original runDecember 2007 – June 2011
Volumes11 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed byTetsuro Animo
StudioDaume
Original networkFuji TV (Noitamina slot)
Original run July 8, 2010 – December 30, 2010
Episodes24 (2 bonus episodes included on video release) (List of episodes)

Shiki (屍鬼, lit. Corpse Demon) is a horror novel by Japanese novelist Fuyumi Ono. It was originally published in two parts by Shinchosha in 1998, it was then reprinted into five parts in 2002.[2] A manga series adapting the story, drawn by Ryu Fujisaki was serialized in the Japanese monthly magazine Jump SQ. from December 2007 to June 2011. An anime adaptation of the manga by Daume began broadcasting on July 8, 2010 on Fuji Television and concluded later that year on December 30, 2010.[3] North American anime distributor Funimation Entertainment simulcasted the series on their online video portal and released the series on DVD & Blu-ray on May 29, 2012.[4]

Plot

The story takes place in a particularly hot summer in the nineties, in a small quiet village called Sotoba. A series of mysterious deaths begin to spread in the village, at the same time when a strange family moves into the long abandoned Kanemasa mansion. Toshio Ozaki, dean of the only hospital in Sotoba, initially suspects an epidemic. But as investigations continue and the deaths begin to pile up, he becomes convinced that they are the work of the undead plaguing the village. A young man named Natsuno Yuuki, who hates living in the village, begins to be pursued and surrounded by death.

Characters

Main characters

Natsuno Yuuki/Koide (結城/小出 夏野, Yuuki/Koide Natsuno)
He is one of the two main protagonists in the series, a 15 year old boy who lives and attends school in Sotoba. He hates living in the village and would prefer to be in the city. Originally a city dweller, Natsuno reluctantly moved to Sotoba with his parents when they wanted a change of environment. He often exhibits a cold exterior, especially disliking Megumi Shimizu, who has a crush on him. He is kind and friendly toward those whom he considers his friends (Toru, Toru's younger siblings, and the Tanaka children). He is then approached by a resurrected Toru, and he allows Toru to drink his blood until he dies. In the manga and anime Natsuno instead transforms into a jinrou and helps Toshio Ozaki destroy the rest of the shiki.
Toshio Ozaki (尾崎 敏夫, Ozaki Toshio)
One of the two main protagonists in the series. The dean of the hospital in Sotoba, Toshio resigned from university hospital, returning to take up his father's position when he died. He is fondly given a nickname, "Waka-sensei"(young doctor), by his colleagues as well as the residents. Toshio dislikes both his mother and his late father, as both of them often put reputation of the Ozaki family before anything else. He is childhood friends with Seishin Muroi and Mikiyasu Yasumori. He is 32 years old and married to a woman, Kyoko, whom he rarely sees, and he is a chain smoker. He is baffled by the mysterious deaths and swears to solve the case and protect his village. He is one of the first people to discover the existence of the Shiki and later becomes the leader of the resistance against them.
Sunako Kirishiki (桐敷 沙子, Kirishiki Sunako)
A 13 year old girl who moves into the Kanemasa mansion atop the hill with her family. She claims to have a rare genetic disorder known as SLE, which forces her to stay inside her home during the day and only come out at night. She and her family are fans of the essays and novels written by Seishin Muroi, and is the reason they moved to Sotoba. She dislikes it when people call her name with the honorific "chan".
Seishin Muroi (室井 静信, Muroi Seishin)
Seishin is the local priest in Sotoba, as well as an author of several novels. His current work is called Shiki (Corpse Demon in English), a story about Cain and Abel and why Cain killed his beloved younger brother. He has a sense of the supernatural and detects the presence of the real "shiki". He is childhood friends with Toshio Ozaki and Mikiyasu Yasumori. He is 32 years old, single, and once attempted to commit suicide in a drunken state during his university days.

Secondary characters

Megumi Shimizu (清水 恵, Shimizu Megumi)
A 15 year old girl attending the same school as Natsuno, Megumi also hates living in the village and longs for city life. She has a one-sided crush on Natsuno and often daydreams of a relationship with him. Megumi encounters the Kirishiki family in the beginning of the series, and disappears without a trace until the residents find her lying in the middle of the forest. She is thought to die from a complicated case of anemia and is later revived as a okiagari/vampire. After she was revived, she became much more malicious, using her new powers to stalk Natsuno and target any friends of his (and old ones of hers).
Touru Mutou (武籐 徹, Mutou Tōru)
He is the eighteen-year-old son of the director, Takeshi Mutou, of the Ozaki Clinic. He is the older brother of Aoi and Tamotsu, and Natsuno's best friend. He likes games and has a kind of happy-go-lucky personality. He has a crush of one of the nurses, Kunihiro Ritsuko, who teaches him how to drive. He is killed by Megumi, as she was jealous of his closeness with Natsuno, but he then revives as a okiagari Shiki. He is a reluctant killer, consumed by the grief of killing his best friend. He is very subdued and seems more 'human' than many of the Shiki.
Kaori Tanaka (田中　かおり, Tanaka Kaori)
Kaori is Megumi's childhood friend. She is 15 years old, and is a friendly and kind girl who ignores the fact that her "best friend" Megumi dislikes her. She and her younger brother Akira find out by chance that some of the recently deceased villagers are returning to life and killing the rest of the inhabitants, so they team up with Natsuno to stop them.
Akira Tanaka (田中 昭, Tanaka Akira)
He is Kaori's younger brother and he is in 7th grade. He is childish but he can also be very brave. He is also Megumi's childhood friend. When he sees one of the villagers who was supposed to be dead, he and his sister start spying on the Kirishikis, which is when they meet Natsuno, who also believes that those who died are behind the murders in Sotoba.
Tatsumi (辰巳, Tatsumi)
One of the main servants to the Kirishiki family, Tatsumi is a special kind of vampire called the "jinrou", who can withstand the sunlight unlike other Shikis and cannot be easily killed. He is a sadistic individual and enjoys tormenting his victims. But he is also quite calm, hardly showing any signs of panic during a fight or even in the face of death. He also acts as the commander of the Shiki-turned villagers. He has a great respect for Sunako.

Manga

Main article: List of Shiki chapters

The manga series adapting the story, drawn by Ryu Fujisaki was serialized in the Japanese monthly magazine Jump SQ. from December 2007 to June 2011. It has some plot differences with the novel, the most notable being Natsuno Yuuki not dying when bitten by Toru and instead turning into a jinrou.

Anime

Main article: List of Shiki episodes

An anime adaptation of the manga version of Shiki was first announced in Japan on December 2009, with the official website unveiled.[6] Although Aniplex was listed as handling production for the anime, the website stated that the company will be in charge of distribution duties while Daume is responsible for the animation production.[7] Japanese celebrity Gackt made his first regular cast debut on Shiki, as revealed during Noitamina's late-night timeslot lineup.[8]

References

  1. ^ Funimation licences Shiki for DVD/Blu-ray
  2. ^ "小野不由美『屍鬼〔一〕』｜新潮社". Retrieved 2010-07-09.
  3. ^ "Shiki, Yojō-Han Shinwa Taikei, Working Promos Streamed". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
  4. ^ Funimation Confirms Shiki on DVD, Blu-ray in Spring 2012
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Funimation Announces Shiki English Dub Cast
  6. ^ "Shiki Horror Mystery Manga Gets Anime Green-Lit". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
  7. ^ "屍鬼 <スタッフ・キャスト>". Retrieved 2010-07-09.
  8. ^ "Gackt Stars in Shiki, Noitamina Anime Details Confirmed". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
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