Final Impressions: Sankarea

Posted by DarrenW
July 6, 2012

Dear readers,

Yes, and this is the first anime that I have watched finished from Spring 2012, much much more coming up! [13 Reviews to be frank >:( ]


Let's sum up our Zombie Resurrection Anime "Sankarea!!!"

Chihiro Furuya

Now what happens when someone dies? What would you do? Sit around and grieve, or revive the corpse???!!! Well, that is exactly what our main protagonist, Chihiro Furuya, is planning to do.

Babu

Chihiro Furuya is your average high school student has a fetish/love for ZOMBIES, which is very weird. He thinks that all zombie girls are cute, and that human ones are just, meh.

After the death of his beloved cat, Babu, Chihiro can't take it anymore. He wanted Babu to be back alive, so it can spread the joy that was once there when it was alive. Digging up an antique recipe book, he found out that it was actually a recipe... for ressurection.

And that's where our other main character comes in. After experimenting at his "secret laboratory" abandoned resort not far away, he notices a girl visiting the place everyday, a girl called Sanka Rea.

Okay! Now you know where the title of this anime comes from.

Remember what you wish for.

Wanko

Sanka Rea is also a high school student, of which she attends the Sanka Girls School (named after her), across the river from Chihiro's, of which her father is the principal of that school.

After getting to know each other, Chihiro finds out that Sanka's father is real weirdo and sick-in-the-head,  willing to go to any ends of the world to "protect Sanka" and making Rea do stuff that anybody wouldn't do in thier lives (if we had daughters that is).

Chihiro's Fetish

She said she hated her life to the extent that she would rather die and be reborn as someone else.

But really... She wouldn't expect what happened next.

After completing the resurrection potion, he finally tests it out on Babu, but with no immediate effect. The dead corpse remains dead. Rea steals part of the potion from Chihiro, and goes home. Unfortunately, she is caught by her father for leaving the house unofficially, and is locked up.

In an attempt to save Chihiro from her father's henchmen, she escapes once again, but unfortunately, her luck runs out. In a struggle with her father, she loses her balance and plunges down a cliff, her body impaled by a pointed tree stump as she dies.

She later staggers back to life, except, well... her body is dead. She has become A ZOMBIE!

Yes, before plunging to her doom, Rea actually swallowed the potion Chihiro created, and avoided resting in peace. The following episodes follow the manga exactly. Mainly with regards to Rea's acceptance as a zombie, ironically living a more "human" life. 

And then the plot thickens! In an attempt to kidnap Rea, they kidnap Chihiro. (Because they couldn;t fight the zombie strength Rea had). He is interrogated by Rea's father, and in the end, they decide it with a duel, a fencing match.

Then comes the second challenge. The potion Chihiro created was not perfect. Rea's body will eventually decompose and she will have eternal rest, something that NOBODY wants! With his grandpa's dementia, how will Chihiro be able to create the perfect antidote?

DON'T TELL ME YOU JUST FOUND OUT

Who will win? What will happen in the end? Will Rea be able to live a normal girl's life?

Rea's Father

Well, for you manga followers like me, I have to say that the ending for this anime is unfortunately, without impact. It appears most likely that the anime will have a continuation into the further development like in the manga. Well isn't that good? :D

In terms of plot, I have to say, definitely creative, however, in this initial stage, plot development is still in the introductory states, and no complex plots as of yet. Still, excellent introduction plot!

The theme of a living girl not having an ordinary life, and a dead zombie girl having a normal girl's life is good, and interesting. Though near the middle and the end, was mainly about Rea getting back at his father.

We also see another theme developing between Wanko, Rea and Chihiro, where a love triangle has appeared. Though so, it actually turns out well in this anime, without the usual fighting over the guy.

Of course, for art, the anime has done an amazing job as it looks exactly like the manga, and more specifically, the art is very detailed in a lot of places. Though it was only until this anime that I realised what Wanko's hair colour was.

Sanka Rea

Duoun

Mero

Personally, I think this anime is very well done as it follows the story in the manga almost completely, and finally because it embodies a very important message about parenting, that is to allow your children to stretch their wings once in a while, and not restrict their lives forever.

"Sankarea" premiered on April 5th, 2012, and ended with 12 episodes. It was fansubbed by AniBlaze, Anifecta-Subs, Asenshi, Commie, Doki, Eveyuu, Hadena and Hatsuyuki (Wow quite the popular anime) . It will also have an OVA soon. It also has a manga edition in 2009 which is still ongoing btw. The manga's plot far exceeds the anime and is most likely contain what the anime is going to show. But don't blame me if you find season 2 uninteresting.

Hint: That Flower. [Literal]
DarrenW
Edited by FayeA