The fifteen-year-old Megumi Shimizu dreamed of leaving her small country town behind for the big city, but those dreams died when she did. It was her murder that kicked off a summer of blood and terror in this small town where a city boy and a country doctor try to stop the epidemic of death happening around them.
What Shiki did very well is hiding a classic creature tale – in this case, vampires – in a way that did not make it seem obvious at first. It was a successful breath of fresh air in vampire media. If you are looking for more anime recommendations like Shiki, then head on down below.
Anime Like Shiki
For Fans of Small Town Intrigues
Higurashi – When They Cry
Keiichi Maebara just moved from Tokyo with his family to the small town of Hinamizawa in the summer 1983. As the town is so small, school children of all ages are lumped into one class. There he becomes fast friends with four girls where he spends his days after school idly playing games. However, as the town’s annual festival approaches, he learns about a series of murders, disappearances, and other mysteries that surround it. When he confronts his friends, he finds them mysteriously tight-lipped.
What Shiki and Higurashi most have in common is the isolation of people in a very rural village. In that isolation, something horribly violent and confusing starts to happen. Rumors and paranoia become a staple as well as mystery. They both also enjoy undercutting violent death with soft slice of life moments as well.
Ghost Hound
In the small village of Suiten, three boys with traumatic pasts learn how to let their souls travel in between the world they know and the mysterious Unseen World. The Unseen World is one of ghosts. However, the three boys aren’t the only things coming and going from this world. Ghosts are now also beginning to pass into the real world as well.
While Ghost Hound is notably less violent than Shiki, it does share a passion for creating a mysterious occurrence in a very rural village. They both do well in drawing you in at the beginning and unraveling things from there.
The Lost Village
A bus full of eccentric individuals that met on the internet all decide to leave society behind in search of a mysterious village that cannot be found by any map. Excited for their new life, these people soon find that this village is full of more mysteries than they can comprehend.
While The Lost Village is innately different in that a bunch of strangers travel to an abandoned rural village, it still shares that same sort of isolation. Furthermore, like in Shiki, there is something sinister and deadly going on in the village with the cause not being immediately apparent.
Another
Ever since 1972, class 3-3 in Yomiyama North Middle School has had a strange tradition of pretending that one of their students did not exist. When Kouichi Sakakubara transfers into the class, he finds himself drawn to a girl that no one seems to notice. Not paying heed to the warnings of his classmates, all hell is about to break loose.
Both set the the show up as violent murder mysteries that are disguised as one thing, then may or may not turn into something else. If you enjoy watching characters die violently and, near the end, in rapid succession, then Another is another staple.
From the New World
After a small portion of humanity suddenly developed psychokinetic powers, the world underwent a rapid transformation. After 1,000 years of turbulent history where regular humans struggled against those with powers, we focus in on Kamisu 66, a small town where 12-year-old Saki Watanabe finally awakened her powers. This awakening means she is finally able to join her friends at the Sage Academy. However, things in Saki’s life do not remain as simple as those precious days. With missing children in the village, rebellious rumblings, and a world steeped in myth and mystery, Saki and her friends are about to face the shocking truths of their peaceful society.
While Shiki starts off a mysterious illness, From the New World hooks you by making you wonder what caused the modern world to end. Through these small village stories, you watch people slowly unravel the truth of things, a truth that is much darker than it seems.
For Fans of They Live Among Us
Mars Red
In 1923, a rise in an illegal artificial blood trade in Tokyo has seen a dramatic rise of vampires in the city. To combat this, Special Forces Unit 16, also known as Code Zero, was established to hunt down these vampires. Colonel Yoshinobu Maeda has been placed in charge of the unit, tasked with disrupting the artificial blood trade and dispatching of the vampires that are causing havoc. To help him, the unit is staffed with vampires that have fallen under the government thumb.
Both series are about vampires, and does them in a rather stylistic sort of way. However, while Mars Red does have its more action-oriented moments, it spends plenty time waxing artistic like Shiki. Mars Red also shares a passion for mystery, but its isn’t quite as enthralling.
Kurozuka
In the 12th century, Kurou flees into the mountains after his brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo, first shogun of Japan, is killed. The historical records say he committed suicide, but in actuality, he met a strange, beautiful woman named Kuromitsu whom he fell in love with. However, she reveals a dark secret that he is now unable to die. This is his journey through the ages.
Both series are, ultimately, more refreshing takes on vampires. However, while Shiki hides its classic creature in mystery, Kurozuka keeps it out in the open, but adds complexity with a non-linear plot. Kurozuka also takes more from eastern vampire lore while Shiki remains more western.
Ajin
Immortal humans known as Ajin first appeared in Africa 17 years ago. While they were labeled a threat to mankind, to many they were just an infrequent news item. However, for Kei Nagai, a high schooler studying hard to be a doctor, he discovers he is an Ajin after being fatally hit by a car. Now on the run from the government that wants to imprison him, Kei must find a way to survive.
While Ajin isn’t vampires, it shows a similar sort of world where dangerous creatures live hidden in society right up until it comes into the main character’s life. Although Ajin has decidedly more action to it, there are plenty of intrigues abound like in Shiki.
Parasyte
One night, sixteen-year-old Shinichi Izumi was peacefully sleeping when a race of parasitic aliens descended on Earth. One parasite infects Shinichi, trying to get to his brain to take over his body, but ends up getting stuck in his right hand. Unable to relocate to the brain, the alien, named Migi, now has no choice but to learn to coexist with Shinichi in his body in order to stay alive. Unfortunately, the other parasitic aliens are not so friendly with humans or to parasites that failed to complete their mission.
While Parasyte is about body-snatching aliens, it tells a similar tale about how dangerous creatures live among society and slowly bring chaos to it. However, Parasyte takes place in less isolation than Shiki and has a more steady stream of action.
For Fans of Supernatural Mysteries
Dusk Maiden of Amnesia
For 60 years, the Seikyou Private Academy has been haunted by a ghost known as Yuuko, a young woman that died in the basement. With no memory of her life, the ghost founds the Paranormal Investigation Club to find answers.
While Dusk Maiden of Amnesia is a ghost story, and notably less violent, it can still be just as shocking as Shiki can be. Furthermore, both shows share a certain sinister allure that some characters have even if they don’t have sinister intentions.
Shadows House
The Shadows are a family of nobles who live in their massive mansion. They are pitch black in appearance and emit soot that will linger on everything they touch. In order to effectively display their emotions, each Shadow is given a Living Doll to be their attendant and their face. This is the tale of cheerful and curious Emilico, a newly created doll, who was given to her more soft-spoken young Shadow, Kate. While it is promoted that Living Dolls be loyal and unconcerned about trivial matters, Emilico is constantly intrigued by the massive mansion and those that live within.
Intrigues. That’s what these shows share. In both, you keep watching because of the intrigue that it sets up. Furthermore, despite happy veneers, you always feel like something terrible is going on underneath the surface.
Corpse Party
On the night after the school’s cultural festival, eight students and their teacher gather to say goodbye to a friend that is moving to another school. While it was a fun time of telling scary stories, they decide to perform a ritual that will assure that they are together forever. However, what they don’t realize is that their school is built atop an elementary school where a series of gruesome murders took place many years before. After doing their spell, the groups finds themselves transported to another dimension where they are trapped inside the old elementary school building that is now home to only corpses and vengeful ghosts.
This one is almost purely for those that liked Shiki’s occasional passion for gore. Corpse Party has a flimsy plot and an average mystery to it, but what it does do very well is graphic gore. It does so well that it is somewhat legendary for it.
Do you have more anime recommendations like Shiki? Let fans know in the comments section below.
