Konnichiwa Hivers, it's me, your ridgette again! For today, I'm going to share an anime about a shop that sold animals—but this isn't like the usual pet shops. Managed by a seemingly friendly owner, this shop doesn't only sell ordinary pets; it also accommodates the special needs of its customers. Needing a pet to accommodate your personal desires? Then come with me as we sneak a peek into this unusual shop, Pet Shop of Horrors.
About the Anime
Pet Shop of Horrors is a josei anime that premiered in the winter of 1999. It aired from March 2, 1999, to March 23, 1999. It was animated by Madhouse, and its genres are horror and mystery. Its theme mainly revolves around the supernatural, and it has only 4 episodes. This anime is an adaptation of a manga written and illustrated by Matsuri Akino.
Situated in a place called Chinatown, a mysterious place with many rare and valuable commodities, this pet shop was managed by Count D, an interesting yet mysterious man. His shop has everything from dogs to cats to birds to insects to reptiles—but what this shop offers doesn't limit itself to normal animals. This shop also caters human desires that can be fulfilled by the animal that one will buy, but unlike ordinary transactions, these transactions involve a sales contract. The contract contains three terms that, if not abided by the customer(s), the shop won't be held liable.
With a string of unusual deaths surfacing, Leon Orcot, a Washington homicide detective, decided to pay a visit to the pet shop. He had been investigating those deaths, and the only common thing that he had noticed in the victims' information is that all of them were once customers of Count D's pet shop. Intending to pin down the count on his alleged illegal transactions, Leon investigates further on the pet shop as well as the recent customers. Sensing another murder to come, he rushed into the action—only that he's quite late. But was he? Well, watch it if you want to know.
So I was searching for an unusual anime with mythological creatures because I've been fond of those stuffs since then. I'm really a myth fanatic, and wherever that myth came from, it really doesn't fail to interest me. That's why, when I came across this anime, I was really filled with excitement and anticipation. But my excitement somehow dissipated when I discovered that it only had four episodes. Anyway, I watched and finished it, and I really want an anime sequel!
It doesn't have a detailed plot or a definite mc. Pet Shop of Horrors is kinda a collection of stories about what happened to the unfortunate customers who bought something from there. Given that it's only a collection of the stories of unfortunate customers, it's obviously episodic. The stories range from tragic to hopeful—depending on how you interpret a tragic or hopeful ending. I was really hooked and entertained throughout my whole watching experience because it contains mysteries, but unlike the usual anime that I've watched—in which mysteries last for several episodes—the mysteries in this anime get solved before the certain episode ends. That's why I don't have time to deduce because I'm really absorbed with its story.
As for its visuals, I like how nostalgic it felt for me, though I didn't grow up watching that art style. It was released at a time when I still didn't exist, so supposedly there's no way I feel familiar and nostalgic for its art style. But somehow I felt some nostalgia, especially when it's paired with its background music. It's the usual old art style, but it's really beautiful. I like how they didn't censor some scenes, both the sensual ones and some gore.
Overall, my personal rating for this anime is 8/10. I really like how those mysteries led to deeper issues—intriguing ones that present some philosophical ideas. As for its horror premise, honestly, I was quite spooked at the first episode, but later on I got used to it. Compared to other horror anime, this one isn't that scary because for me, it's on the borderline between melancholic and tragic. It's really a brief yet entertaining anime, and although it's an old one, for me the art style was pretty good. Count D is really gorgeous (hehehe), and I liked how mysterious he was until the anime ended.
It's really a short anime series, so I couldn't help but wonder what will happen next, and I'm also curious about who is really Count D. Although I'm somehow reluctant that it ended, in retrospect, for me, it had a satisfying end for its last episode. So if you're looking for a brief yet somehow satisfying and really interesting horror anime, then you must really try watching the Pet Shop of Horrors.
Before I end this review, I gladly share with you its trailer, so—
That's all for now, Hivers. I hope you enjoyed reading my anime review. See you on my next blog!
Arigatou and tanoshinde ne minna-san~
The pictures that didn't have a source were screenshots from the anime's episode, while the first and last picture were edited in Canva.
That's interesting 🤔, I'm curious what's the other animals they have and what kind of desires those people has that only those animal can fulfil, like, wtaf 😆 I can think a few but it's ewwy, lol. But I'm curiousssss, but I'm not sure if I want to watch it. 🙉
It's really an entertaining anime to watch, @ruffatotmeee ... like every ep will make you look forward to the next one because it's episodic, and anything can happen next. Even tho it's really brief, it's definitely enjoyable—so let your curiosity consume you and watch it hehe.
Hahaha, curiosity is killing meeeeee, lolol. For now, sa watchlist ko lang muna sha.
ok ok @ruffatotmeee ... Count D will be waiting for you!
I saw this anime in locomotion times, I don't know if you are familiar with that channel and I consider it an exotic anime in its approach, each horror story I liked the way it was presented and if it caused me horror.
Its drawing style fits with what it wants to transmit, a type of drawing of yesteryear that I miss because nowadays it's all cute and I don't like the styles of nowadays.
Excellent recommendation and in my case good nostalgia, I will encourage me to see again to give my opinion of this anime too
Yeah, I definitely miss this kind of art style... Tho I didn't grow up seeing this kind of art style, I really like it better than the new ones. The characters' emotions in this art style resonate better with me compared to the new horror anime... It's a really underrated gem, and I hoped it would have been longer.
@ridgette this is one interesting anime! The art style is like those aesthetic lofi anime that are on trend these days and also the plot caught my attention. I'm putting this one on my watchlist haha!
Definitely worth watching, @makiyumee and it's easy to binge watch for it only has 4 eps... and even tho it's episodic, I really like how the plot in each ep motivates me to continue on to the next one. The mystery was really there, and there's definitely no dragging parts ahahaha.
I could never finish reading the manga, I only watched the anime, but I could never know how the story ended haha I had borrowed it from an acquaintance, I'll have to watch it again to remember what it was about.
I had forgotten, they are anime that very few people know, but they are really very good 👀
Now that you've said it, I'm also really intrigued by its manga. I badly wanted to know who's really Count D because his character was such a mystery to me, so I'll definitely try reading its manga. It's definitely an underrated anime, but its animation is pretty good for its time.
Wow, only 4 episodes? I can finish watching that in less than a day!
The show seems interesting too, I wonder why they only had 4 episodes..
Yeah, it's really easy to finish, and after I downloaded its eps, I proceeded to binge-watch. It took me just less than a couple of hours...and after finishing it, I also wondered why it ended in just 4 eps. It's such an underrated gem, and I hope it'll have a remake someday, and that time with a complete adaptation of the source material.
I need a pet to bring to me my financial desires😞
The visuals is looking a bit like that of code geass,I may be mistaken. I've never really watched any horror animes tbh. Looking forward to it as it's what this month's quest is based on and yes,would def try this. Here's to hoping it doesn't rot in my watchlist cause the amount of pending animes I have rn is saddening.
Lol, I also need this pet ahaahahaha, wait—code geass... now that you've mentioned it, I remembered that it's been sitting on my unfinished anime list for a quite long time. Hmmm..the art style... kinda at first glance—but not really. It just have 4 eps, so I definitely believe that you can finish it easily!
At this point,I need that slap,that motivation,that sudden movement to start any anime. It's not even finishing it anymore, it's actually starting to watch it. I don't know what's wrong with me!
There's definitely ain't wrong with you...I sometimes felt that feeling, so I just stopped watching and did other stuffs or hobbies I have. Then the motivation just popped out later. For me, just a little diversion would do... and I do hope this will also work out for you.
This looks really interesting I will look for it, if you like mythology anime I recommend The Blood of Zeus, it is not the traditional Japanese anime we love, but it is quite raw and having to do with the gods and Greek mythology has a lot of content I got lost in some parts for not being attentive and I had to go back to understand some things or forge an idea, I saw it on Netflix, so far it has 2 seasons.
Ohhh Greek mythology! I'll definitely check it out. I've been fond of Greek myths before, and I'll see if it's the same with the Greek stuff I've read before. Thanks for the recommendation, @actioncats—I will definitely look into it.
Ohhh! Interesting!❤️✨
It's indeed interesting, and the story will surely intrigue you. Although it is just a miniseries, it is surely worth watching.
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