Pet Shop of Horrors

Pet Shop of Horrors is a Japanese horror manga created by Matsuri Akino. Madhouse produced a 4-episode OVA adaptation of various chapters of the manga. In an unusual move for an OVA series, the anime first aired as a miniseries on the TBS television network. The series focuses on the eccentric Count D, proprietor of a mysterious pet shop located in the heart of Chinatown, and the numerous patrons who visit his shop. The customer has typically under gone some sort of personnel loss, and Count D attempts to sell them an appropriate pet to fill the void. Each pet purchased from the shop comes with a contract with three major points. These points differ for each animal sold, and breaking this contract usually results in dire (and sometimes disturbing) consequences for the buyer, for which the pet shop claims no liability. Individual chapter usually introducing one or more new characters in each chapter. The detective Leon Orcot is used to tie the chapters together into an ongoing plot, usually in the form of a subplot within each chapter. Initially he suspects Count D of malicious criminal activity and using the pet shop as a front for drug trafficking. As the series progresses, he learns more about the pet shop and Count D himself, entering into a strange friendship of sorts with the Count as he works to uncover the truth.

Episode 1: Daughter

A rich couple has lost their only daughter, Alice. The bereaved couple comes to the shop and Count D offers to sell them a rabbit, a rabbit that looks exactly like their recently deceased daughter Alice. The couple is overjoyed and wants to takes the rabbit home. The Count has them sign a contract, explaining that 1) no one else may see Alice, 2) incense must be burned at all times, and 3) feed Alice only water and vegetables. If these terms are not kept, the shop cannot be held responsible for the consequences. The couple agrees and leave with their new “pet”, unaware the vigilant Leon is watching them. The pet brought so much happiness to the couple and entirely forgot that their daughter died. Once then, Alice begs for sweets, and ignoring their contract, the couple gives in. Their love for Alice makes them breach one of the contract's terms. A bat-winged creature (the Count's pet) informs him of the situation. The Count can only shake his head in sorrow. Meanwhile, Alice writhes in agony and to the couple's horror, her stomach explodes. The couple is overrun by bizarre creatures and the mother will have to face up to the real reasons behind her daughter's death. Their daughter (the real Alice) died because of her drug addiction, pushed over the edge by the last bit of cocaine her mother reluctantly gives her. Again, she dies because of her mother's love. A repeated mistake led to the loss of her daughter, again.

Episode 2: Delicious

The popular idol singer Evangeline Blue and her manager Jason Green are about to be wed on a luxury ship when Evangeline “accidentally” falls overboard, her body never to be found. The heartbroken Jason travels to Count D's to pick up a pet that Eva had supposedly ordered. His “pet” to purchase also resembles his lost love, but this time the doppelganger is in mermaid form. He was surprised that the pet turns out to be a mermaid who looks exactly like Eva. The contract for this pet instructs that no one may see her, she must be kept in clean salt water, and, most importantly, she must never go hungry. Leon thinks that Jason killed his wife and investigates further, eventually learning the truth of what happened that night. Meanwhile, Jason might just be giving new meaning to the term “sleeping with the fishes”.

Episode 3: Despair

Robin Hendricks is an actor, after the phenomenal success of his debut movie, Robin couldn't get any more acting jobs. His wife had left him and his acting career was going nowhere because he had been typecast. Then, he was found dead in his apartment. The detective Leon immediately suspects the Count in the crime. A sugary treat convinces the Count to be talkative, and he tells Leon that the life of Robin was a lonely one and all he had was his collection of exotic lizards. On a visit to the pet shop to pick up an additional pet to cheer himself up, Count D shows something special to Robin. It is a very rare species of reptile known as Medusa, with the face and upper body of a beautiful woman, but the lower half of a large lizard. The condition is Robin could never look into Medusa's eyes, so Medusa lizard must always wear a blindfold, for her gaze could kill. Inspired by his new creature, Robin gives his all at his next audition so he can once again feel the adoration of the fans. But sometimes that just isn't enough and he realized that the only one can give him true love is his new pet. Too bad for him because the gaze of his pet lover's eyes will turn him to stone. And it happened.

Episode 4: Dual

This strange story is about Kelly, an assistant to a young politician named Roger Stanford. This young politician comes from a long line of success in politics, but is considered the bad apple of the family due to his carefree and being a womanizer. His faithful assistant Kelly Vincent tries Roger's political career was on the right track. Kelly is determined to make Roger the president of the United States that's why they want the legendary animal called the Kirin, who grants the wish of its sovereign through the blood of others. Count D just happens to have one Kirin in stock. Roger tries to convince the Count to sell the Kirin, however the Count refuse and told that the Kirin is the one who will decide to whom it will belong. Kelly has a long talk with Roger's wife Nancy, who is unhappy with politics, she feels Kelly is just being used by her lothario husband. After Kelly and Nancy revisit the shop, The Count informs them he will now sell the Kirin. Roger and Kelly return the following day, whereupon the Kirin, in the guise of a little girl, is given to them. The Count reiterates the Kirin will decide who is its master, and grant its master one wish. On the way back home, a school bus full of children is in peril, but the quick thinking of Roger and Kelly prevent a disaster. However, their car goes over a cliff. Which man will the Kirin call master and allow to live?