Shadows House

The Shadows, characterized by their pitch-black appearance and tendency to emit soot when agitated, are a family of nobles who reside in a colossal manor deep within the mountains far from other humans. When a Shadow child is nearly of-age, they are assigned a Living Doll who acts not only as their attendant but also as their second half—the faces they could have had if not for their complexion.

Emilico is a cheerful, newly created Doll who serves a rather soft-spoken master named Kate. Despite their difference in personalities, Emilico does what she can to carry out the needs of her master. As she learns more about her role and duty, Emilico begins to meet her fellow Dolls and their respective masters and comes to know more about the purpose of her existence.

"Do not fret over trivial matters," says one of the rules by which all Dolls must abide. But how could the ever-curious Emilico do so in the face of the deep secrets that the Shadows House holds?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kate Main

Kitou, Akari Japanese

Emilico Main

Sasahara, Yuu Japanese

John Supporting

Sakai, Koudai Japanese

Shaun Supporting

Sakai, Koudai Japanese

Barbie Supporting

Kugimiya, Rie Japanese

Patrick Supporting

Kawashima, Reiji Japanese

Lou Supporting

Sakura, Ayane Japanese

Rum Supporting

Shimoji, Shino Japanese

Maryrose Supporting

Nakahara, Mai Japanese

Ricky Supporting

Kawashima, Reiji Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Kitazawa, Shiryuu Producer

Furuhashi, Souta Producer

Tsuji, Toshikazu Producer

Reviews

Dec 14, 2024

MrSlamboni

Recommended

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 premise. The shadows could have been a more paranormal entity. The possibilities are actually endless.

Shadows House DOES touch on all these ideas. It does incorporate slight aspects of drama, mystery and even horror. In fact, it is at its strongest when it leans on them. However, it was really jarring seeing the superpower concept pop out of nowhere. Of course there's the typical tournament arc because every show needs the Chuunin exams these days.

It's still a good show because of its premise and the fact that it does lean into its strengths sometimes. However, it is undercut by its shonen-esque atmosphere. This is a decent show that could have been a masterpiece if the unorthodox premise was fully embraced and built upon.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Sep 21, 2023

vulcavtuber

Mixed Feelings

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.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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May 14, 2022

Shyzore

Not Recommended

Funny

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 that happens, despite a few plots that are "nice" the work can't bring anything new in a way that excites or instigates to want to know more about, and the events that occur. in the story in my view are completely useless, since in the end the situation of the characters in the series doesn't change basically at all since the developments that a few have are extremely superficial and "expository" which makes it kind of difficult to accept the developments and the "new people" they saw after these developments.

Now visually it's good, some storyboards good, some scenarios very well designed, consistent animation despite more generic designs, and the only thing I think is bad about the animation is the 2d textures on the characters' clothes they are pretty ugly.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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'Shadows House' Receives Second Anime Season

A second anime season for Soumatou's Shadows House manga was announced at the special livestream event for the anime on Saturday. The event also revealed an ann...read more

Sep 11, 2021 8:03 AM by Vindstot | Discuss (26 comments)

	Any chances of Season 3? Himmels22 - Nov 22	12 replies	by THERIGAMES99 »» Dec 19, 8:10 PM
	Poll: Shadows House Episode 10 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - Jun 12, 2021	131 replies	by EmsyCish »» Dec 2, 3:23 AM
	Poll: Shadows House Episode 9 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Jun 5, 2021	76 replies	by EmsyCish »» Dec 2, 2:40 AM
	Poll: Shadows House Episode 13 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 ) Stark700 - Jul 3, 2021	151 replies	by callmethebigG »» Oct 22, 7:48 PM
	Poll: Shadows House Episode 4 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - May 1, 2021	123 replies	by callmethebigG »» Oct 21, 9:42 PM