During a fiercely hot summer in Sotoba, a peaceful and quiet village with a population of 1300 people, a series of bizarre deaths begin to occur. At the same time, a strange family moves into a long abandoned mansion in the region. Hospital dean Toshio Ozaki cannot figure out the cause of death in the deceased, initially suspecting an epidemic. As investigations continue between the hospital staff and the residents, it turns out that the village is being attacked by vampires.
Shiki is an eerie and thrilling story about the antagonistic relationship between humans and vampires. Death reeks everywhere in this story. It is also a psychological story that questions its viewers about what is good and what is bad. The line between these two forces are very vague and the characters, humans and vampires, explore these issues.
Unlike most vampire stories of the 21st century, Shiki reminds us that vampires are fearsome enemies of humans. At the same time, vampires also carry some burdens that humans cannot understand. Humans being the prey have no choice but to fight back and reveal a much darker side to themselves. This struggle is constantly repeated throughout the story. The protagonist Yuki and Ozaki-sensei are the manifestations of these problems. The character development is excellent in the portrayal of vampires and humans.
The animation is top notch and each episode leaves you wanting more. I highly recommend this to horror and mystery fans. This may not be the scariest anime but it leaves a slight chill in the atmosphere.