Shigurui Review - 84/100
Apologies for the lateness of this review, but more on that later. Let me first put up a warning: if you’re planning to watch this series and have some kind of little brother or sister: keep Shigurui AWAY from them. Nobody under sixteen should be allowed to watch this. Not only is this one of the, if not THE goriest anime I’ve seen, it’s also filled with over-the-top sexual reference.
Sure, a show like Elfen Lied may have had more blood, but that was also all it had: lots of blood and random limbs gushed over the screen, but it never really went further than that. Shigurui carries gore to an entirely next level. The amount of detail is astonishing; the creators have an amazing amount of medical knowledge, and they use al of it. When a finger gets broken, you see exactly which bones dislocate. When an arm gets cut off, you see exactly how the muscles grow back. And that’s what makes it such an effective horror-series.
Especially when you combine it with the storytelling. The pacing is very slow, but it uses the gore and very creepy sound-effects to create an extremely tight atmosphere. It’ll have you during its many and creepy climaxes. If it wasn’t for its flaws, this would have been one beast of an anime.
Because yes, it’s a shame, but there are a few things that went wrong here. Especially in the first half, the creators get carried away a bit too much and delve in pointless rituals, like cutting off a woman’s nipple and eating it. Only at episode six, the series gets back on track With a gripping and powerful second half. The role of women also isn’t too good in this series. Basically, every single guy in the series is a bastard, and nearly all the women are good for is to serve as sex-objects or helpless sword-targets.
My biggest gripe is with the ending, though. The ending, while it does resolve a few things, leaves huge amounts of plotholes open. The reason I’m so late with this review is that I kept hoping that there would be some kind of thirteenth episode that would wrap the entire series up, but there’s nothing. One of the two major questions asked in the beginning hasn’t even been answered, for goodness’ sake.
Still, despite this, Shigurui is a definite recommendation for those who can stomach the huge amounts of gore. The animation may be simple, and most of the series consists of still frames, but the art itself makes up for it, by being incredibly detailed, and it’s only when the creators turn to CG on very few occasions that it doesn’t look excellent. But seriously… isn’t there really not some kind of second season or OVA to wrap it up?
There’s a manga in progress but it’s going very slowly, so I think there’s still much to wait for a new season.
Comment by Cos — October 22, 2007 @ 14:49
ah - i want to see it really bad now
Comment by alynd — October 22, 2007 @ 23:41
Shigurui was far too gory and twisted for me, and the fantastic animation made everything all the more harder to stomach for me. Honestly though, besides the gore, I just didn’t like the show all that much. After four episodes, I never found any of the characters interesting. The entire cast was just unlikeable. I can tolerate gore, as in Baccano!, but the combination of squeamish stuff and “messed up-ness” made Shigurui something I didn’t enjoy.
Comment by roastedpekingduck — October 23, 2007 @ 5:36
If you want to find out what happens next, read the manga, which is ongoing. As a reader of the manga myself, I was completely thrilled with the end; it ended with exactly the event I would have wanted at it’s climax. >)
I have to question your opinion of the women. I think you do them a great disservice. Iku is a very strong woman indeed, a partner and collaborator (and all round rock really) in the second half of the story. And considering what she’s had to tolerate, I think Mie is too. As for your ‘helpless sword target’ comment, look at how the men treat each other with such casual cruelty. I don’t think anyone gets away with an easy life in the brutal world of Shigurui.
I can only hope there will be a second season, because this series was art. It realised an amazing manga beautifully (especially in the evocative sounds).
(As you can probably tell, this is one of my favourite things ever).
Comment by thomasvye — December 1, 2007 @ 18:36
So what does happen in the manga then? I don’t understand Japanese :(
Comment by taelrak — December 4, 2007 @ 5:05
This anime is insane, seriously i’m a 5th year medical student and i’ve seen surgeries and in fact conducted some myself, but the intensities of this type of violence rocked me to the core. I have no idea how historically correct this is (not saying the storyline is true, but whether the cultural influence is correct, maybe someone can shed more light on that subject) but I found it to be intriguing, I had to stomach a lot of the violence, but apart from that i’m a lover of shigurui.
I would have to agree with Thomas about the women, I found the women to be quite strong, they played the part of quiet onsiders which we have all learnt in history classes was their exact role brilliantly. I do agree they were the attention of many sexual expliticites in this series, but hey… i don’t believe this should be shown to anyone under the age of 16, hell i haven’t even told my 17 year old brother about it. The female characters showed the complexities of this era, such as male dominance, loyalty, honour and family (blood related or not).
I do agree on the lack of follow up, i’ve been searching for ages for an adequate ending (to ease my troubled mind about the many burning questions i have) and yes i’m one of these ones that don’t understand japanese and therefore am unable to share in the pleasures of manga. to be honest i’m pretty unhappy with anime series that have poor endings, my recent gripe before shigurui came along was trinity blood - loved it, couldn’t get enough of it, and then caput i’m left hanging… i’m sorry its not a comment about trinity blood, i’ll leave that one alone.
overall, shigurui is brilliant in both art and storyline. the violence and gore are something you will have to stomach and if you can’t - don’t watch it! simple. but the story is great.. i know someone said that the characters are unbelievable and its slow paced. i totally agree with the slowness of the story, but for some reason it takes a hold of you and you just can’t stop watching (maybe its the gore - who knows). but the characters are intense, they don’t show much personality, but again i believe this to be the cultural influence of the era - they are basically soldiers for their dojo, so taken in that vane, i believe they were well constructed. thanks for listening to my ramblings.
Comment by Joel K — February 26, 2008 @ 7:56
I for one thought the ending was PERFECT… both characters were displayed with a level of realism i have NOT seen in ANY anime I have ever watched… just trying to put myself in their situations was one of the things I found compelling about this series. Also, the way the characters interacted (restrained, unresponsive) says VOLUMES more than every other character i have seen that would smile while getting beaten up but turn violent when someone they care about is about to be hurt (a la shonen-style). Take for example the event where the successor is first announced. All the main characters showed their true colors in that short segment. (One appeared as simply a tool only capable of following orders, the other conniving and self-obsessed)
Furthermore, to end the series the way it did was about the best you could get out of an anime that portrays two characters with such indomitable spirits. I also seriously liked how it was NOT a shounen-style/bullshit series where you KNOW a characters will survive. There was never a moment during a showdown that I could say “I know this guy’s gonna win,” (with the obvious exemption of the main characters) as nothing ever felt definite.
One more thing, samurai society was adamant about subjects such as fealty and loyalty, which was portrayed very well in this series.
Comment by Searching for Odin — February 29, 2008 @ 22:00
I have to disagree with you about the ending. I find it unfortunate that the manga is carrying on past the anime’s ending, because I thought it was perfect. It really isn’t about the fight that initiates in ep 1, but rather about the journey that brought them there. I know what I just said was very cliche, but I feel that it’s very true with regards to this series, and very effective. I did not feel cheated by the ending, as I kind of expected it given the pacing of the story.
Comment by Mike — April 6, 2008 @ 0:56
I just finished the series today and had that annoying feeling afterwards at being left hanging (though I pretty much saw that coming), but after letting it sit for a few hours, it’s actually grown on me.
I think that the winner of the fight is irrelevant, and in a way, letting the viewer imagine that fight in your head creates far more interest. They couldn’t have added anything more to the story by showing the fight and winner, so it isn’t really needed.
This series is right up there for me in terms of art direction, music, characterisation and depth. I am recommending it only to hardcore anime enthusiasts though as I think it is a bit difficult to get into.
Amazing show, might chase up the manga.
Comment by Mark — April 22, 2008 @ 12:52
This is easily the best anime I’ve ever seen. The story is extremely realistic, this is definitely something that could have happened in that period. Also, Shigurui was based off of a novel, so it explains the quality it has over any other anime.
I loved how for once Samurais were presented as realistic human beings instead of heroes that saves the day. I love how the end, there was no one to save anyone. Everyone was wallowing in their own misery while the supposed “villain”, Irako, went up higher and higher in social status. While many believe that Irako was the villain in the story, he was the one who was actually trying “break” the system Japan had at the time. He was the only one who didn’t want to be a slave, a mere soldier, he detested the laws of the society at that period. Although that did cost him his eyes, in the end he succeeded by destroying what Fujiki ever had.
I know a lot of people complain about the ending. Well, what if they didn’t show you the match at the beginning, would you be satisfied then??
Plus, there’s a manga that is yet to be finished. I’m in the process of reading it right now, and yes, it actually gets better and better. There still much to tell in terms of story and the rise of Irako, the fall of Fujiki. Kugan’s past, Fujiki’s past, it’s just brilliant storytelling.
Comment by JJ — May 12, 2008 @ 0:05
I just want to know about Mie…I have no real other way to say it, but towards the end of the anime, she got a bit “weird.” And I don’t see anything wrong with Fujiki, and why he has to “fall.” If anything, he showed dedication and loyalty, even to Mie while she was still holding on to the dream of Irako (that, by the way, made me dislike Mie very much).
And I’m just curious…I thought Mie liked FUJIKI instead of Irako? Wasn’t that why she wanted to bite her tongue during that one time?
Comment by Alx — May 13, 2008 @ 3:37
And praise the anime licensing gods,as Funi grabbed it,and there is an official site up.
I cant wait to get the R1 dvd’s with art
box !!!! I like many are surprised they got it,surprised anyone grabbed it.
Check AOD.com for the full press release.If any of you enjoyed it,put your money where your mouth is,and support the companies that are making it.Buy buying the dvd’s when they hit stateside.
Comment by Mark — May 16, 2008 @ 20:59
I had to see it three time to actually grasp the many nuances of the story (translation aside) and.. I would very much like to see this anime in the big screen, in a word.
This series I consider an “epic”.
Fujiki was the good obedient one and Ikaro was the liberal creative one.
There is no good or evil here only the struggle within the parameters of their basic instincts. Human drama.
I think that I understand samurai thinking, to the degree that my western ignorance allows.
This series with its awesome sound, has a zen to humanity connection that grows in complexity as the story rolls, no moment seems to be wasted and every ritual has a point to it. The biting of the vase..
My question is this.
Who cuts off Fujiki’s arm??..
Was it Gonzo?.
Did they fight for the supremacy of the dojo?
Comment by Alex — June 1, 2008 @ 22:49
1 fucking question!
i mean cmon…
how the hell did Fujiki lost his hand in, presumably, so dramatic manner? (with the burn mark and everything)
Awesome anime but cmon man, few more episodes wouldnt spoil anything..
Comment by Duke — June 8, 2008 @ 18:05
Irako cuts off Fujiki’s arm in their first battle
And the reason why Mie went crazy towards the end was because Irako was expelled from the school. She really loved him but she knows that she will never see him again.
It was explained in the manga, and she stopped eating and became really skinny
Comment by JJ — June 10, 2008 @ 11:28
Who wins at the tournament which started in the 1st chapter?
Comment by Fabian — July 17, 2008 @ 21:28
Irako doesn’t cut off his arm in the first battle. He breaks his fingers. In fact he breaks the fingers of the arm which he ends up keeping. The missing arm is never resolved.
Comment by MP — July 25, 2008 @ 18:52
No, I’m talking about the tournament with the real blades. The one which already shows Fujiki with 1 arm, and a blind and cripple Irako. Who wins that?
Comment by Fabian — July 26, 2008 @ 1:25
Here is the scene where Irako cuts off Fujiki’s arm….
This happens *after* the final episode of Shigurui…so only in the manga
http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=34022
Comment by TheBastid — August 20, 2008 @ 1:37