If you want anime about vampires, there are some choices. We will try to help you decide which you prefer: Hellsing or Shiki?
Hellsing and Shiki are very different, but they cannot help but have things in common because they are both about vampires. We decided to make a handy list of similarities and differences between the two to help our readers understand which one they might prefer over the other.
Similarities
Vampires
The first similarity is, obviously, the topic. Both Shiki and Hellsing tackle the topic of vampires. The vampires are even similar in some aspects, such as they don’t like the sun or holy symbols. Shiki vampires have very distinct eyes, and they are mostly identified through that, and Hellsing vampires have their eyes turn red when they are angry or using their powers. This similarity is not absolute, though.
Bloodiness
Speaking of Hellsing Ultimate, here. The bloodiness in both Shiki and Hellsing Ultimate is intense. Again, there are some differences. Also, keep in mind that 2001 Hellsing doesn’t have that much blood; it was censored into dust. In that regard, 2001 Hellsing is even less bloody than Shiki, where blood is precious albeit plentiful.
Genre
Both anime are multi-genre, and they cannot help but overlap in the cases of comedy and mystery. They are similar in their use of drama, as well, although drama in Hellsing Ultimate is rather limited. Despite this overlap, the primary genres of these anime are different, so take a look at the differences section.
Soundtrack
No, the soundtrack is not the same, it is just equally awesome, and it is used well to make sure that the right moments are highlighted by the right music.
Themes
Some of the themes in Shiki and Hellsing are similar, especially when it comes to humanity. It can be argued that preserving humanity is the main theme of Hellsing Ultimate, which is especially clear in the case of Victoria Seras, but occurs with other characters as well. In addition, there is a similarity in reconciling being undead with wanting to remain human or at least human-like. Shiki shares the theme of humanity, but it is more focused on other topics.
Differences
Vampires
The vampires in Hellsing and Shiki are not identical. The most important difference is probably the subspecies. For Shiki, there are shiki, the regular vampires, and the superior Jinrou, who can walk during the day. In Hellsing, there are ghouls, who are fairly mindless, and vampires, who seem to be quite similar to humans in their emotions and thinking.
Bloodiness
Blood in Hellsing and Shiki is not the same. In Hellsing, blood just pours, like water, and few people care about it. In Shiki, blood is precious. In Hellsing Ultimate, most people who die are nameless and often faceless monsters or special task forces. In Shiki, you watch the characters you have grown to love be first killed off by the shiki, and then, after they become shiki too, be killed a second time, stake through the chest. Shiki is emotional. The real bloodshed in Shiki also starts in the final couple of episodes. In Hellsing, blood is almost always on the screen.
Genre
Hellsing might technically involve mystery elements, but it is first and foremost action. It is about exterminating vampires, and about Alucard having cool guns to slaughter faceless undead with. We are not saying that there is no development or drama in Hellsing; it is just that if you do not like action, you will not like Hellsing, especially Hellsing Ultimate. Shiki is a drama. It has some comedy and mystery, but it is a tear-jerking drama, and while it has some absolutely horrible violence scenes, they are not par for the course in Shiki, which makes them even more impactful.
Soundtrack
Of course we have to talk about the inclusion of Buck-Tick’s music in the opening and ending of Shiki. To be clear, Hellsing’s soundtrack is absolutely amazing, and it is awesome in its own right. But Shiki having Atsushi Sakurai sing for their anime deserves a special mention.
Themes
Shiki has a very strong theme of any death being terrible. It wouldn’t work with Hellsing due to all the guns. It does not really work in Shiki either; after all, shiki’s lives are presented as incompatible with humans remaining alive. But it is a very prominent, possibly central, theme, so it’s important to mention. As a minor addition, Hellsing takes place in England, but Shiki is a Japanese anime, with Japanese culture being quite prominent, which is another distinct theme.
To sum up, Hellsing and Shiki are similar in a few rather important elements, but they are also very different, with Hellsing being more of an action anime with a lot of blood, while Shiki is a drama which treats (most of) its bloodshed as a tragedy.
Bonus
Both Hellsing and Shiki have creepy girls, with Hellsing Ultimate’s Girlycard, 2001 Hellsing’s Helena and Shiki’s Sunako.