Sankarea

Sankarea is a unique, and somewhat ghoulish, anime series released by Studio Deen in 2012. The show was later dubbed into English by FUNimation. The story follows Chihiro Furuya, a high school student who holds an uncanny interest in zombies. He is fascinated by them to such an extent that rather than a human girlfriend, Chihiro yearns for a zombie one!

The narrative takes an unexpected turn when Chihiro's cat dies. In an effort to revive his beloved pet, Chihiro attempts to create a resurrection potion in an abandoned building. While dedicating himself to this ghastly experiment, he crosses paths with the captivating young girl named Rea Sanka. Rea, the sheltered daughter of a wealthy family, is drawn to the abandoned building out of her own curiosity and desperation to escape her stifled home-life.

Rea is fascinated and sympathetic towards Chihiro's efforts to resurrect his cat. Drawn together by their shared sense of being misunderstood and out of place in the regular world, they strike up a close friendship. Things take an even more surprising turn when an accident befalls Rea, causing her to partake some of Chihiro's homemade resurrection potion, which ultimately leads her to become a zombie.

The relationship between Chihiro and Rea takes center stage in Sankarea. Though initially Chihiro is taken aback by this unexpected turn of events, his lifelong fascination with zombies makes him view Rea less as a creature from the underworld and more as an object of immense curiosity and affection. Rea, for her part, manages to retain her humanity despite her changes, adding an interesting dimension to her character.

As the show progresses, it delves into the implications of her new reality. While Rea feels joyful finally breaking away from her oppressive family, a different set of problems occur as a result of her transformation. The series brilliantly merges horror, romance, and supernatural elements, using unique story-telling techniques that paint a vivid picture of the characters' lives and the struggles they face.

Sankarea is not a typical love story, but rather an exploration of life, death, and the grey areas in between. It tackles some serious themes, such as toxic familial relationships, obsession, and personal freedom, alongside the intriguing backdrop of the supernatural. It also does a good job of injecting moments of humor into the plot, keeping the series from veering too far down a dark path.

The animation and artwork of Sankarea is beautiful and high-quality. It utilizes a vibrant color palette that adds to the overall surreal ambiance of the series, and the character designs are distinct, memorable, and intricately detailed. The show is an impressive mix of moody, atmospheric scenes, effectively blending elements of the supernatural with everyday life.

Sankarea provides a crisp, sharp & exciting soundtrack that complements both its more comedic and its darker moments. The voice acting, both in the original Japanese version and FUNimation’s English dub, is commendable, with all characters eloquently bringing their respective characters to life, successfully maintaining the funny, quirky, but also the emotional tone of the series.

Though Sankarea differs greatly from most mainstream anime, it is a well-constructed series that takes the mistaken identity trope and puts a unique spin on it. With elements of dark fantasy mixed with traditional slice of life and rom-com tropes, Sankarea doesn't shy away from pushing boundaries and stands out as an unforgettable series. Its bravery in addressing mature themes with the overlay of the zombie transformation is a considerable accomplishment, and makes the series more relatable even as it veers into the fantastical.

Sankarea marks an intriguing departure from standard romantic anime narratives, meditating on intimacy, connection, and the mortality on a deeper level. It is a show filled with peculiar charm, engaging characters, and a compelling storyline that is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Despite its apparently morbid premise, Sankarea emerges as a surprisingly touching and thoughtful exploration of what it means to be truly alive. Not simply for zombie or horror enthusiasts, this show is for anyone who enjoys absorbing, character-driven narratives and beautifully crafted anime with an extra slice of quirky!