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clodia_risaPremise: When a person dies with intense regrets, they become a reanimated corpse called Shikabane. They have great regenerative powers, and sometimes other kinds of powers, and generally end up killing a lot of humans. Shikabane Hime are shikabane who work with a group of mysterious monks to destroy the shikabane. This anime follows an ordinary high school student, Ouri, as he learns about the Kougon Sect and Shikabane Hime.
Comparable to: Buffy. With more Slayers (at least 15) and Watchers. Only the Slayers are more similar to and treated more like vampires with souls. Only the souls come because of the contract they signed, and the Watchers generally regard them as the Scooby Gang did Spike with a Soul, not S1-S2 Angel with a soul.
Reasons to dislike it: Genderfail say what? All SH are ages 10-18ish. All of the SH shown are paired with male monks who are older than them. The only female monk I've seen is paired with the one SH that looks like a 10yr old. Almost all of the SH/monk combos have some kind of sexual tension, but generally in the creepy way. SH are generally despised in the Kougon Sect. They are supposed to be treated as weapons only. Also - every time the girls fight, their clothing rips in very sexualized ways. I'm not even certain if it passes the Bechdel test. The only time the girls seem to talk to each other is in the heat of battle.
Reasons to watch it anyway: The main SH/monk pairings overcome the issues given above. There is a true connection and caring between the monk and SH. The main characters continually try to find the balance between treating their SH as damaged young girls and very dangerous weapons. And that's not even the main plot! We have fascinating (compelling, terrifying, awesome) antagonists, a mystery about the main character (Ouri), a mystery about the Kougon Sect itself, and the main SH, Makina Hoshimura, is fierce. She is a scary scary girl, and like Roy Mustang, her powers only grow with her righteous anger.
The first three or four episodes are pretty slow, but if you can make it through them you'll be completely hooked. I've had to force myself to slow down on the episodes so I can savor the last seven and all the mindfuckery that I can sense is to come. Every time I want to cringe at how they are treating the SH, Ouri comes through with his refreshing simplicity. He's trying to heal Makina's heart by being there for her and supporting her and treating her like a real person. It's slowly working. Very slowly.
Another issue is that they introduce only three main characters in the first few episodes, and then they give you about 6 more to remember in the next two. I can't remember most of their names, I think of the SH by their hairstyles, and their monks by their characteristics or simply as "Bow-girl's monk"
I'm going to put reactions and speculation behind this cut tag - trust me, you don't want to read this. It'll spoil so much for you.
1) What the hell is Ouri? He's got that imaginary cat that Akasha and Makina can see, but sometimes has many many eyes, and tells him to remember what he is. I think he's some kinda Shikabane. The centipede guy of the Seven Stars made an interesting comment about Ouri's nature being to love SH, and Ouri certainly isn't working against that nature. Especially since Bow-Guy's statement about humans being people who repress their innermost self. Plus there is the whole "creepy kid found by the river who didn't know anything about anything at three years of age" factor. I do find it fascinating that Akasha, Sadahiro, and Keisei were the three good friends and the three who (I think) found him. And now look at them. This is the mystery that I'm longing the most to solve.
2) Mystery behind the Kougon Sect. I think they're lying. I think that the SH don't enter heaven if they complete the 108 killings, or at least the Kougon Sect can't guarantee it. That's what I feel, and I think that's why Akasha turned traitor. I have no idea what's up with Sadahiro and Akira. I like them, but I don't trust them.
3) Seven Stars - I wonder why they want Makina. I mean, Makina specifically. Something about her family, I'm sure. But how does that tie into the overarching plot?
It's only 25 episodes long, and available (subbed) on funimation.com or hulu.com. Please note that it is rated M, so on Hulu you'll have to have an account to watch it. I dare you to watch the opening sequence and to tell me that you don't want to watch the show. Also - watch the anime, don't read the manga first. I've only read the first chapter of the manga, but Makina's voice feels very very different. Her ferocity is what drew me to the anime.
Comparable to: Buffy. With more Slayers (at least 15) and Watchers. Only the Slayers are more similar to and treated more like vampires with souls. Only the souls come because of the contract they signed, and the Watchers generally regard them as the Scooby Gang did Spike with a Soul, not S1-S2 Angel with a soul.
Reasons to dislike it: Genderfail say what? All SH are ages 10-18ish. All of the SH shown are paired with male monks who are older than them. The only female monk I've seen is paired with the one SH that looks like a 10yr old. Almost all of the SH/monk combos have some kind of sexual tension, but generally in the creepy way. SH are generally despised in the Kougon Sect. They are supposed to be treated as weapons only. Also - every time the girls fight, their clothing rips in very sexualized ways. I'm not even certain if it passes the Bechdel test. The only time the girls seem to talk to each other is in the heat of battle.
Reasons to watch it anyway: The main SH/monk pairings overcome the issues given above. There is a true connection and caring between the monk and SH. The main characters continually try to find the balance between treating their SH as damaged young girls and very dangerous weapons. And that's not even the main plot! We have fascinating (compelling, terrifying, awesome) antagonists, a mystery about the main character (Ouri), a mystery about the Kougon Sect itself, and the main SH, Makina Hoshimura, is fierce. She is a scary scary girl, and like Roy Mustang, her powers only grow with her righteous anger.
The first three or four episodes are pretty slow, but if you can make it through them you'll be completely hooked. I've had to force myself to slow down on the episodes so I can savor the last seven and all the mindfuckery that I can sense is to come. Every time I want to cringe at how they are treating the SH, Ouri comes through with his refreshing simplicity. He's trying to heal Makina's heart by being there for her and supporting her and treating her like a real person. It's slowly working. Very slowly.
Another issue is that they introduce only three main characters in the first few episodes, and then they give you about 6 more to remember in the next two. I can't remember most of their names, I think of the SH by their hairstyles, and their monks by their characteristics or simply as "Bow-girl's monk"
I'm going to put reactions and speculation behind this cut tag - trust me, you don't want to read this. It'll spoil so much for you.
1) What the hell is Ouri? He's got that imaginary cat that Akasha and Makina can see, but sometimes has many many eyes, and tells him to remember what he is. I think he's some kinda Shikabane. The centipede guy of the Seven Stars made an interesting comment about Ouri's nature being to love SH, and Ouri certainly isn't working against that nature. Especially since Bow-Guy's statement about humans being people who repress their innermost self. Plus there is the whole "creepy kid found by the river who didn't know anything about anything at three years of age" factor. I do find it fascinating that Akasha, Sadahiro, and Keisei were the three good friends and the three who (I think) found him. And now look at them. This is the mystery that I'm longing the most to solve.
2) Mystery behind the Kougon Sect. I think they're lying. I think that the SH don't enter heaven if they complete the 108 killings, or at least the Kougon Sect can't guarantee it. That's what I feel, and I think that's why Akasha turned traitor. I have no idea what's up with Sadahiro and Akira. I like them, but I don't trust them.
3) Seven Stars - I wonder why they want Makina. I mean, Makina specifically. Something about her family, I'm sure. But how does that tie into the overarching plot?
It's only 25 episodes long, and available (subbed) on funimation.com or hulu.com. Please note that it is rated M, so on Hulu you'll have to have an account to watch it. I dare you to watch the opening sequence and to tell me that you don't want to watch the show. Also - watch the anime, don't read the manga first. I've only read the first chapter of the manga, but Makina's voice feels very very different. Her ferocity is what drew me to the anime.