[My Anime Wallpaper Edits] Collection 1

Credit to the creators of the original images. I edited and scaled them up for desktop, most are 1080p and some are higher resolution.

[Anime Review] Shiki

Of all the anime series I have watched Shiki stands out as one of the most unique and interesting, especially in the horror genre. Its unique and unusual art style is intended to be unsettling and it certainly is. While Shiki has excellent character development and pacing, its greatest strength lies in its intricately crafted plot, which begins with a mysterious disease spreading through a small and isolated town. 

The empty haunting eyes and outrageous hairstyles set this horror anime apart from others in the genre

The plot shares remarkable similarities with the novel The Plague by Albert Camus. In both stories there are two protagonists working together to fight a disease, one of whom is more practical while the other is more philosophical. Where they differ is that in Shiki as the plot progresses and the true nature of the disease is revealed, the protagonists experience a paradigm shift and by the end of the story are working in direct opposition to each other. 

The ending of this series will question your perception of who the protagonist is

Dramatic irony is used to great effect with regards to the true nature of the disease (for those who have not yet seen Shiki I will not reveal any further). The story also shares many of the existentialist philosophical themes of The Plague such as the blurred lines between good and evil, questioning of the meaning and morality of life and death, and the inevitability of death. 

The philosophical themes in Shiki are remarkably similar to those of The Plague

Shiki is also heavily influenced by Gothic fiction. The conventions and motifs of Gothic literature are evident in every aspect of Shiki: The Romantic (appreciation of nature, emotions and the unusual or exaggerated), remote and mysterious setting, the tormented characters, violent plot and the supernatural. These Gothic elements blend exceptionally well with the rest of the plot. 

The archetypal Gothic / Romantic castle, complete with forest and mountains

I enjoy finding links between contemporary film and literature and anime. In this regard Shiki is one of my most memorable and thought provoking series, due to its rich variety of literary influences. If you have read The Plague, enjoy Gothic fiction or horror I highly recommend giving this series a watch.