Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
BunniestAC
I really like stories that start out beautiful, and then as they progress, we discover a truly disgusting undercurrent.
The concept is a major standout for this story. Normally, we talk about light and shadow, as if without light, there would be no shadow, highlighting the importance of the light. This story, however, makes the shadow the one holding the reins.
The plot isn't dramatic; it progresses slowly and steadily. There isn't a shocking twist that gives you goosebumps, but rather a slow, deliberate, and stable pace.
The story has some loose ends. Since it has a bit of a political theme, I was hoping for more detail and nuance, but what's there is just okay.
There are still many plot points waiting to be explored, but to be honest, I'm a little scared. Stories in this genre often…
Read at the sourceAeroGunz
“Shadows House” is what happens when a pretty awesome idea is held back by unfocused writing and inorganic infodumps.
I wasn’t expecting this show to be that much right up my alley. A slow burn mystery. Questions piling on with each episode. Every answer is earned and not given. Methodical world building. The MC is more passive than active but we can’t have it all. And then… episode 10 happened and destroyed everything but I’ll get to that.
Before we start I would like to explain something. I will be talking about “plot” and “story”. Many people use those terms interchangeably. I’m not one of those people, so to make sure everyone is on the same page…
I use the definitions for “plot” and “story” as Lisa Cron describes them:
“What happens in the story is the PLOT, the surface events.”
“…
Read at the sourceSnaiy
Im not sure why a lot of people.like this anime, or say its a hidden gem, but lets summarize my toughts (I wont even be talking about the last three episodes being anime original, so thats not what made the score worse)
Lets start with arguably one of the strongest, in my opinion weakest elements: Story/message/mystery
Basically, this work is supposed to be a kind of mirror on classism, slavery and oppression vs freedom of tought.
The problem is, we never actually see these play out, we see in some characters and their development, that they are more freedom leaning, than into the oppressing system, but thats it, thats what we get. We never get anything related to changing the situation, we dont even get answers about if it should be changed, just some mediocre character development and t…
Read at the sourceHydraKat
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from this series. I started watching it because of a TikTok featuring a couple that caught my eye though they don’t appear until the second season. And since I’m a crumb-hunter, I ended up watching both seasons just to get to their part.
The story turned out to be really enjoyable. Not overly complex, but definitely original. I really loved how the characters and situations aren’t sexualized at all — that’s something I truly appreciate. Some moments even felt genuinely sweet and touching.
I’m also a big fan of the kind of music this genre usually has, and this one didn’t disappoint.
If you liked The Promised Neverland, there’s a good chance this one will be for you too.
Read at the sourcebergars
You know the mystery is good when an annoying protagonist can't push me away from the story.
Supernatural mysteries aren't easy to pull off. I, for one, need a strong realism, with a proper acknowledgement of the unreal, and an incorporation of it with how real humans react to it. I hate it when a story can't truly react to its own rules properly. Either it's too normal, or too exaggerated for my own good, but when the characters are born into this thing, the concept moves by itself. It's one of those stories which I'm jealous of the writer for.
Emilico, a girl, is seemingly born as a doll in a house with shadow people. She's instructed to learn to clean, wash clothes, and be a servant to a twin-like shadow girl. Slowly instructed to connect with her.
Of course, the first question of…
Read at the sourceGarlandReese
I think there are a lot of anime fans like myself who really crave something different from the giant mech, slice of life, high school = everything forever, titles that just seem to litter the entire landscape like they grow on trees. We want something different, but not so out of the box you're confused or nauseated. If you're feeling this way, I recommend "Shadows House". This manga-adaptation premiered in the Spring of 2021, a time when I was more focused on sanitizing everything I came into contact with than the latest anime, but I am sorry I missed this one for it turned out to be one of the more unique things I've seen in quite some time.
"Shadows House" is set in Victorian Era Europe, most likely Great Britain if we are going by the names of the characters. One morning, a girl wake…
Read at the sourceMidniteAndBeyond
This is a review of seasons 1 and 2
I'm sure a lot of people will be immediately drawn into the aesthetic of this show, myself included. I had a lot of ideas flowing through my head of what I was hoping this show would be like, which perhaps is what led to me feeling a little let down in the end. It's ok. But it doesn't lean as far into the macabre as I would've liked. And the interesting visuals kinda end with the shadow characters. Everything else is just sorta standard. I know this story is still ongoing, so perhaps its a bit too soon for me to judge the parts that didn't make sense to me. But it was a recurring issue throughout both seasons, especially throughout season 2, where it would bring up one storyline or one really big revelation involving a specific character and then just c…
Read at the sourceMrSlamboni
This feels like a missed opportunity. I personally do not what the best course would have been, but I know this can't be the the best way. Shadows House has a very strange but creative premise. When I first read the synposis, it felt like a gate was just opened in my brain. I couldn't even imagine all the endless ways this story could go. However, I did not imagine it would take the superpower shounen route.
It could have been a drama about scheming nobles, with the dolls adding an extra layer of complexity to the interactions and social relationships. It could have leaned harder into the mystery aspect, withholding information about the shadows as you slowly watch our cast unravel the secrets of the house. It could have been a horror, with a different artstyle and slightly different prem…
Read at the sourceDompa112
When i started the first season i did so with the mindset that if its good enough ill watch second straight away. If not ill wait a bit. Well this review will only cover season so it ended up not jumping straight to the second. Not that it was bad. But just did not end up enjoying it as much as id hoped.
Felt that it was pretty slow moving. Characters arent that interesting that got me invested in them. Music was bland. So was the OP/ED.
Theres this interesting mystery behind the shadows and the world. It was one of the things getting my attention to start watching. Im still interested in that. Feels like something that could end up really exciting. But the events so far didnt quite get me that excited and again felt very slow.
Its not bad. Its a decent watch and ill get around seein…
Read at the sourceFirechick12012
(This review covers both seasons 1 and 2)
Hey kids! Do you like gothic mystery with a side of mild eldritch horror in the mix? Do you like the original Brothers Grimm fairy tales or the ones by Hans Christian Andersen? Do you want something that harkens to all you Victorian era loving Hot Topic goth kids? Do I have the show for you. Shadows House is an anime based on the ongoing manga by Somato. It centers on a mysterious Western-style mansion high atop a cliff, where mysterious, faceless beings known as Shadows, whose entire bodies are as black as coal and emit soot depending on their emotional state. Because they have no faces of their own, they have servants known as Living Dolls, with each shadow being assigned their own individual Living Doll. Such is the case for young Emilico, a bu…
Read at the sourcevulcavtuber
This anime did take time to grow on me, I persisted because I really liked the world building and overall mysterious vibes from the show. I cannot in good faith recommend this to anyone who does not like naïve main characters. If that's you, it will probably take a lot to get through the first few episodes (5, for myself) as the main character is the absolute worst at taking hints.
The show itself has an interesting premise but the way big mysteries are revealed tend to feel lackluster, if more time was spent with the relevant characters revealing the secrets themselves and actually responding to it, it would have felt less... out of the blue and unimportant to the main characters at the time.
Read at the sourceggultra2764
Set in a mysterious mansion, Shadows House focuses on the denizens of the titular household each having their own Living Doll that regularly clean up the soot emitted from the bodies of their Shadow masters or mistresses. The series mainly focuses on the young Shadow, Kate, and her Living Doll, Emilico, slowly developing a bond together. But as the two spend more time within the mansion with other Shadow and Living Doll pairs, they come to realize some rather dark secrets involving its denizens.
Shadows House is a series where first appearances can be deceiving. While seemingly starting off as a sort of slice-of-life series involving the everyday happenings within the mansion, the series gradually dabbles into elements of mystery and drama as episodes progress. Delving into elements of sa…
Read at the sourceRebelPanda
There is a misconception that Shadows House is a slice-of-life, but that's not the case. It is a mystery through and through, with elements of horror. By combining clever visual storytelling, a mesmerizing aesthetic, a touch of philosophy, engaging characters, and on-the-nose class criticism it crafts one excellent show.
Shadows House takes place in a mansion reminiscent of gothic horror meshed with steampunk aesthetics. The manor itself is a Victorian-era stone castle shrouded by fog high on a hill. Its imposing architecture with spiked fences resembles a prison. Inside, it is a dimly lit maze bearing heavy curtains, red rugs, drab wallpaper, finely ornamented rooms, and expensive wood furniture. Oil lamps light each room, and coal provides the heating. Soot coats the walls, but not from…
Read at the sourcenostalgiaas
When I read Shadows House's synopsis I thought, oh wow, what a unique and interesting plot. And don't get me wrong, it is, but it's a pity this was the result when it had the potential to be something so great.
My biggest problem with the show are its plot holes and its MASSIVE plot conveniences. The writing is just lazy and all over the place. It was frustrating to watch in a show that's supposed to be so dark have no consequences for the characters' actions and having them be happy go lucky for 90% of the time in dangerous situations.
As for the artstyle, it's gorgerous looking but nothing special at the same time, the design of the characters are cookie cutter, basically looking like all the other shows next to it, so to speak.
Speaking of the characters, most of them are honestly unbe…
Read at the sourcelamaraptor
Right out of the gate this series grips you with it's atmosphere and mystery. It does a fantastic job slowly revealing answers to the questions it's constantly raising, and crafting a dark narrative where everything is obviously not as it seems. But above all I think the characters are what make the show so compelling to watch, Ms Sunshine Emilico being the obvious standout. Her bubbly personality shines so brightly to contrast to dark setting, and her innocent curiosity is what grounds the audience so firmly in the story. You want to know more about how the Shadows House works because she does, and it's a brilliant way to exposit information without it feeling like exposition.
Many of the other living dolls introduced all serve to make Emilico more unique by being more brash and arrogant…
Read at the sourceGR0K
Shadow's House is frustrating for me.
I am utterly in love with the concept
This sort of obscure noble family living deep in the mountains, incapable of expression and constantly emiting soot from their bodies, "create" these living dolls that serve both as their live in maids/butlers and their "faces," emoting and expressing for them in the ways they cannot.
I also like(not love) the aesthtic choices made for this show--minus the art style; the music along with the designs of the creatures and characters give me a Don't Starve meets Studio Ghibli vibe that I really love. I would have liked a darker color pallete and low key lighting to give more of that creepy vibe, but it still works.
I love the world building the most. The setting is compleling, and everything from the origins of t…
Read at the sourceLllama1
***REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***
I absolutely loved the whole aesthetic of this anime. The sound, the vide and basically the visual aspect of this anime.
STORY 7/10
The story is also quite interesting as it the premise is quite different and new. It seems like everything is normal and everyone is happy but there's a lot of things happening underneath. I do think there were a lot of unanswered questions and as the story progressed I was just left with a lot of them. There also wasn't much happening in the story in the beginning and the only thing that was really interesting was the debut. I do hope they answer more questions about the world and stuff in S2.
Art 9/10
Everything was just drawn so well and the aesthetic was unmatched. The whole vibe just adds to the tension as well. The…
Read at the sourceShyzore
translated from Portuguese-Brazilian in google translator because of MAL rules.
I was very disappointed at the end, the series has different and interesting ideas, concepts but for me the other points of it such as characters, story, script and developments are very weak and that's why for the work it only has its ideas as good parts.
Characters like the mc and the secondary ones aren't nice or charismatic to the point that you're always kind of annoyed by most of them, their interaction for me is the most tiring and stressful part, since the naturalness of the dialogues goes a long way, and mixing the lack of charisma of the characters with the superficial plots, and clichés being used in a very obvious way, the anime is very tiring.
The story itself doesn't have anything very relevant…
Read at the sourcePakTikus
* I gave this review months later after watching this anime*
The first time i watch this anime its really confusing from like episode 1-3, but i decided to kept going because i got good recommendation from other people about this anime and its true once you get into it, the anime is really wholesome, the character building is amazing you really get to know each character until like around episode 11+ this show starts to crumble and all of that character building was for nothing. The climax didnt feel like a climax and i didn't get and exitement nor what i was expecting from all of that character building, Honestly overall its a good anime but i feel like the ending is too rushed.
Note : This my first review ever and my english is not my first language im sorry if its bad, ill try to imp…
Read at the sourceJoexySun
Short Review (Spoiler-free):
Shadow House, in a nutshell, is a quality production with commendable attention to details, likeable characters, fluid animations, consistent art, great songs, etc.. However, if you have seen Cloud Atlas or any similar stories before, the core mystery of Shadow House would be too predictable. To add salt to the wound, Shadow House revealed its core twist in the hammiest way possible.
Baseline quality: 7/10.
Recommended to: fans of "Imperial-harem in-fight drama". Fans of dark and morbid shoujo anime. Fans of Victorian-era aesthetics.
Pros:
++ A quality production with detailed facial arts, character designs and great attention to details. You could feel the textures of the Victorian-era costumes, decorations, etc. as well as the omnipresence of black…
Read at the source
