List of Shadows House episodes

Key visual for the series

Shadows House is an anime television series based on the manga series of the same title by the duo Somato. The series was announced on the cover of the sixth volume of the manga in October 2020. The series is animated by CloverWorks and directed by Kazuki Ōhashi, with scripts written by Toshiya Ōno, character designs by Chizuko Kusakabe, and music composed by Kenichiro Suehiro. It aired from April 11 to July 4, 2021, on Tokyo MX and other channels. The opening song is the instrumental "A Hollow Shadow" by Suehiro, and the ending song is "Nai Nai" (ないない), is performed by Reona. The ending song for the eighth episode is the instrumental "My Perfect World" (私の完璧な世界, Watashi no Kanpeki na Sekai) by Suehiro. Funimation licensed the series outside of Asia. Following Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll, the series was moved to Crunchyroll. In Southeast Asia, the series is licensed by Muse Communication. It was broadcast on Animax Asia in the region.

On September 11, 2021, it was announced during a livestream that a second season has been greenlit. The main cast and staff reprised their roles. It aired from July 9 to September 24, 2022. The opening theme song is "Shall We Dance?" by Reona, while the ending theme song is "Masquerade" by ClariS.

Series overview

Season	Episodes		Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
1	13		April 11, 2021 (2021-04-11)	July 4, 2021 (2021-07-04)
2	12		July 9, 2022 (2022-07-09)	September 24, 2022 (2022-09-24)

Episodes

Season 1 (2021)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	1	"The Shadow and Her Doll" Transliteration: "Shadō to Iki Ningyō" (Japanese: シャドーと生き人形)	Kazuki Ōhashi	Toshiya Ōno	April 11, 2021 (2021-04-11)
A group of children consume cups of coffee-coloured drinks before pledging their servitude to the Shadows House and their masters. A female Living Doll wakes up and readies herself to serve her Shadow mistress Kate, working to clean the soot emitted by the latter day in and day out. While Kate is quiet, reserved and poised, her Living Doll is optimistic, bubbly and clumsy. While Kate frequently emits soot around her Doll at first – a sign that she is worried, angry or anxious – the two begin to warm up to each other. The Living Doll is christened the name Emilico, and is informed that she will be soon dispatched to clean areas beyond Kate's room. Excited, Emilico glances out the window and notices a grouchy-looking Doll who glares at her when she waves.
2	2	"Outside the Room" Transliteration: "Heya no Soto ni wa" (Japanese: 部屋の外には)	Hayato Sakai	Momoka Toyoda	April 18, 2021 (2021-04-18)
Emilico is assigned to a cleaning squad with three other Dolls: Mia, Lou and Rosemary, discovering the existence of many other Dolls like herself that constantly work to keep the Shadows House clean and are explicitly instructed to "not fret over trivial matters". While cleaning Kate's room, she accidentally ruins a precious stuffed doll, causing Kate to get angry. In desperation to be useful to her master, Emilico works extra hard to fix the doll, replacing some of its stuffing with the soot Kate regularly emits. She also sews a small bird soft toy for herself named Pan-chan after her favourite food: bread, wanting to make something important for herself too much like how the doll was for Kate. Kate apologises to Emilico later and the two make up. One day, Emilico falls from the windowsill while cleaning it in an attempt to grab Pan-chan, which had fallen out of her pocket. Kate rushes out in a panic to find her despite not being allowed to leave the room before her debut. The two bump into Mia and her Shadow mistress Sarah, where Emilico is both shocked and discouraged at how Mia perfectly mimics Sarah and the expressions she makes, especially after Sarah deems her a failure. Later though, Kate comforts Emilico that she had made progress in trying to protect what was important to her, and makes her promise to take care of herself better. Before going to bed, Emilico decides to make a "don't fret" notebook to write down all the thoughts she is disallowed to think as a Living Doll. While thinking of how to serve Kate better and the details of the debut, she begins to ponder the true nature of Shadows House. Mia later returns to her own room, finding it in disarray and filled with soot from Sarah.
3	3	"The Soot Sickness" Transliteration: "Susu ni Yoru Yamai" (Japanese: すすによる病)	Takashi Sakuma	Yūji Ōnishi	April 25, 2021 (2021-04-25)
Emilico, reuniting with Mia alongside their squad, is relieved to see her back to her normal self. She learns how aside from their cleaning duties, the primary role of Dolls are to act as their Shadow master's "face". Rosemary and Mia, who have had their debut, emphasise how their skill as a face will determine the outcome of their debut and transition into adulthood within the Shadows House. However, an alarm soon starts ringing, signalling an approaching Phantom – balls of soot that have been left uncleaned and amassed into harmful creatures. As the Dolls are dispatched to deal with them, Rosemary's head is swallowed up by a Phantom but thankfully Emilico, using water from a flower pot, gets rid of it. Unfortunately, Rosemary has now been rendered incapable of talking and moving properly, diagnosed with the "soot sickness". Emilico learns how unlike her, who cannot read, Mia was born completely literate, and notices scars on her body. At the end of the day, Kate discovers how she can manipulate objects telekinetically using the soot she emits. She entrusts Emilico with this secret, especially since Shadow lore has had no information about such an ability.
4	4	"Watchers in the Night" Transliteration: "Shin'ya no Mimawari" (Japanese: 深夜の見回り)	Jun Takahashi	Rino Yamazaki	May 2, 2021 (2021-05-02)
Rosemary returns, restored to normal health. The Doll that Emilico previously saw, Barbie, rounds all the Dolls up for a lecture. Emilico is introduced to the Star Bearers, of which Barbie is a part of, an elite group of Dolls that have all had their debut and now lead all the children Dolls. Barbie reprimands Rosemary's squad for slacking off on cleaning duties and accuses a quiet and clumsy female Doll, Rum, for being the perpetrator, which Emilico rebukes. As Barbie threatens to physically beat her, a male Doll named Shaun stands up for her. In anger, Barbie assigns Emilico, Shaun and Ram to night watch for seven days to figure out who the culprit behind the Phantom was. The three undergo sleepless nights patrolling for the cause, but to no avail, and the lack of sleep begins to affect their cleaning efficiency. As Shaun brings blankets for them to sleep one night, Rum is scared off by the arrival of a Faceless Doll – Dolls that do not speak and serve the current Living Dolls' basic needs – prompting Shaun and Emilico to search for her. Emilico stumbles upon the exit to the house and is almost shot to death by a booby trap, terrifying both children. As they find Rum, they also discover the root of the Phantom incident: a trapdoor leading to the soot cellar had come loose, causing soot to leak out and collect. Meanwhile, alone in her room, Kate wonders out loud when Emilico will finish with her work outside so they can prepare for the debut together.
5	5	"The Debut" Transliteration: "”Ohirome”" (Japanese: ”お披露目”)	Yoshihiro Sugai	Toshiya Ōno	May 9, 2021 (2021-05-09)
Even though the Phantom incident was caused by a loose trapdoor and not neglect, Star Bearer Barbara's living-doll Barbie berates the younger living-dolls not to slack-off. Later, Mia finds that her shadow-master Sarah trashed her room. Meanwhile Rum is saddened her relationship with her mistress Shirley hasn't grown. The next morning, the debutantes and their dolls/faces meet Edward, the adult in charge of their debut, and notice shelves with figurines representing them. Edward plays the piano and Ricky assumes they have to dance, but afterwards Edward places Patrick's figurine on a lower shelf and then leaves telling them to "eat their sweets".
6	6	"The Garden Labyrinth" Transliteration: "Teien Meiro" (Japanese: 庭園迷路)	Hiromi Tanaka	Momoka Toyoda	May 16, 2021 (2021-05-16)
The living dolls find clues in the sweets they were served. Outside they find themselves at the entrance to a garden labyrinth, where Edward tells them they have two hours to rescue their shadow-masters and exit the maze. After reciting some rules, he allows them to take one item each from a selection to help with their quest, and Emiliko chooses a wheeled cart. It is revealed that Edward is irritated the children danced when he played the piano. Later on, Emiliko and Rum team-up while John wanders the labyrinth after freeing himself. He eventually finds Kate and makes a shocking proposition.
7	7	"An Incomplete Map" Transliteration: "Fukanzen na Chizu" (Japanese: 不完全な地図)	Takeru Ogiwara	Yūji Ōnishi	May 23, 2021 (2021-05-23)
From the third floor of Shadows House, adult Shadows follow the Debutantes' progress in the labyrinth. Ricky teams with Lou, while Emiliko and Rum find Patrick, but he rudely refuses their help. Later the two girls meet with Shaun and they have to solve a puzzle with small statues of animals to open a gate. They then meet Shaun's Shadow John, and by combining their maps and tools discover hidden clues. As they part, Rum reveals her special ability.
8	8	"In the Palm of His Hand" Transliteration: "Te no Hira no Ue" (Japanese: 手のひらの上)	Ken Sanuma	Rino Yamazaki	May 30, 2021 (2021-05-30)
Ricky and Lou happen on Shirley, then Lou finds Louise by recognizing the way her soot is emitted. Emiliko and Rum have to go through a section of walled maze filled with scorches (malicious small creatures made of soot). Rum confides that she named herself, as Shirley never spoke to her and didn't give her a name. Kate is suspended in a cage above thorns, and the chains are breaking one after the other. Edward talks with the two other survivors of his own debut, and reveals his true motivations for organizing the current event.
9	9	"A Birdcage and Flowers" Transliteration: "Torikago to Hana" (Japanese: 鳥籠と花)	Takashi Sakuma	Toshiya Ōno	June 6, 2021 (2021-06-06)
While the adult Shadows continue watching the Debutantes, Rum attempts to free Shirley. Meanwhile Ricky has to trust and collaborate with Shaun, which is made difficult by their ongoing rivalry. Kate and Emiliko realize Edward has set them up for failure, but the girl comes up with a daring plan to save her shadow-mistress.
10	10	"The Final Pair" Transliteration: "Saigo no Ittsui" (Japanese: 最後の一対)	Tazumi Mukaiyama	Toshiya Ōno	June 13, 2021 (2021-06-13)
Not having enough time to walk back to the maze's entrance, Emiliko uses the cart to ride the waterways and Kate shows amazing mastery of her soot. While walking together Shirley makes Rum happy by saying her name, but they run out of time. Later there is a party for the successful debutantes where the living-dolls are served a special coffee. Edward is received by the high-ranking Shadows and asked to explain about Morphs and Shadows. Although being scolded for only having failed one pair of debutantes, Edward is given the responsibility of the Shadow-House's Children Wing by Lord Grandfather. Rum is repurposed as a faceless-doll and Kate realizes that Emiliko's personality seems altered somehow.
11	11	"The Dark Drink" Transliteration: "Kuroi Nomimono" (Japanese: 黒い飲み物)	Yūma Suzuki	Toshiya Ōno	June 20, 2021 (2021-06-20)
After noticing the change in Emiliko, Kate reads the girl's notebook and takes action to bring her back to her normal self. The elder Shadows visit a nearby village and the origins of living dolls are revealed. When Emiliko vanishes, Kate goes to John who ends up fighting with Shaun. Later the co-debutantes meet and Louise reveals the identity of Emiliko's abductor.
12	12	"To Lord Grandfather's Wing" Transliteration: "Ojii-sama to Tomo ni Aru Tō e" (Japanese: おじい様と共にある棟へ)	Hayato Sakai	Yujin Ōnishi	June 27, 2021 (2021-06-27)
Emiliko finds herself bound and questioned by Edward, who alters his voice and desperately tries to get information about Kate. Meanwhile, Kate and the other children hatch a plan to slip into Lord Grandfather's wing, but they are nearly discovered by Barbara and Barbie. Disguised as a faceless-doll, Kate finds the room where the special-coffee is kept. As she keeps looking for Emiliko, she doesn't notice a small Morph wearing a ribbon following her. Edward manages to trick Kate into revealing herself when she tries to free Emiliko.
13	13	"For the Sake of the Shadows Family" Transliteration: "Shadō-ke no Tame ni" (Japanese: シャドー家のために)	Kazuki Ōhashi Yui Ikari	Toshiya Ōno	July 4, 2021 (2021-07-04)
Edward reveals he plans to expose Kate as a malcontent and enemy of Shadow House, and thus be promoted to the third floor of Grandfather's wing. Disguised as a faceless-doll, John gets help from the small Morph but is discovered by Edward's two friends. Kate and Emiliko escape from Edward with the help of the small Morph, then meet with John but are caught by Edward and his friends on top of a tower. Kate and Emiliko fly away with John's help and join Shaun, Ricky and Patrick, but Edward makes a huge soot-bird and gives chase. As he is threatening Kate and the others, the Children-Wing's Star Bearers arrive and hear everything. Later, Lord Grandfather is lenient with Edward, who vows to destroy Kate and her friends. As the little Morph from before enters a faceless-doll's cell, outside the train brings a new group of children to Shadows House.

Season 2 (2022)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
14	1	"Those Newly Come of Age" Transliteration: "Shin Seijin-tachi" (Japanese: 新成人たち)	Yui Ikari	Toshiya Ōno	July 9, 2022 (2022-07-09)
During a nightly patrol, Barbie and her master, Barbara, are attacked by scorches and while fending them off, a mysterious tall robed figure passes them by. In the morning, Maryrose explains to the newly debuted Shadow Masters and their dolls about the children's wing. The Dolls and their Masters are split up with Suzie attending to the dolls in the parlor with Susanna working with the Shadow Masters to teach them about their soot powers. Meanwhile, Kate hopes to get close to John by passing a letter, arousing the suspicions of Susanna.
15	2	"The Best Star Bearer" Transliteration: "Saikō no "Hoshitsuki"" (Japanese: 最高の“星つき”)	Miki Aoki	Momoka Toyoda	July 16, 2022 (2022-07-16)
Barbara summons the other Star Bearers to discuss the robed figure and see Oliver's latest invention, a giant vacuum cleaner that is unable to leave his room due to its sheer size, a fact pointed by Susanna. Barbie worries about her abilities as a Star Bearer and wonders if things would be different if Christopher were still around. Meanwhile, Kate suspects the coffee's brainwashing effect may only be temporary but with the coffee constantly being reintroduced to the dolls, Kate resolves to become a Star Bearer so that she can gain access to the supply.
16	3	"A Great Cleaning" Transliteration: "Ōsōji" (Japanese: 大掃除)	Takashi Sakuma	Takahito Ōnishi	July 23, 2022 (2022-07-23)
Kate & Emiliko have an unpleasant encounter with the Belle-twins, Isabelle & Mirabelle. The living dolls are attacked by scorches that join into a huge phantom, then Oliver arrives with his new invention to fight it. Shaun and Rick spot a mysterious robed figure on ceiling beams and attempt to catch it. Later the Belle-twins' faces break the bottles with the special coffee intended for the living-dolls in the children's wing.
17	4	"Potential Suspects" Transliteration: "Hannin Kōho" (Japanese: 犯人候補)	Shin'ichirō Ueda	Rino Yamazaki	July 30, 2022 (2022-07-30)
Oliver explains that the scorches incident was intentionally caused. The Star-Bearers decide to handle things without reporting to Edward, as the loss of the special coffee puts their positions in jeopardy. They blame the whole incident on the Belles' living-dolls and give them harsh punishment, then confront Kate who isn't intimidated and offers to find the real culprit. While making a map of the house's children's wing, Kate, Emiliko, John and Shaun spot an old cabin and investigate it.
18	5	"A Midnight Meeting of Peers" Transliteration: "Shin'ya no Dōkikai" (Japanese: 深夜の同期会)	Tazumi Mukaiyama	Momoka Toyoda	August 6, 2022 (2022-08-06)
After John tried to open the door to the cabin, they find the rather eccentric members of the research team inside. Oliver and Olly show keen interest in Emiliko, call her "super living doll" and test her physical abilities. Oliver shows Kate his inventions while inadvertently disclosing useful information. That night Kate meets with Louise, John, and Patrick to discuss her investigation into the phantom disturbance and hopefully strengthen their bonds.
19	6	"Night Sky" Transliteration: "Yoru no Sora" (Japanese: 夜の空)	Koitohan	Yūji Ōnishi	August 13, 2022 (2022-08-13)
While Kate is meeting with the other shadows, Emiliko and Shaun continue mapping the Shadows House and wonder about their lives outside its walls. Putting together what they know, they start deducing some of the House's mysteries, then looking at the starry sky triggers a memory. When they resume their mapping, Emiliko has an encounter with the mysterious robed figure that Kate calls "Master-Robe". The next morning the Rejoicing Party is held four days too early, and later Kate tries to undo the coffee's brainwashing effects on Emiliko but it is different from the previous time. While fixing the cabin's wall he torn down, John and Shaun get into an altercation with Jeremiah and Jeremy of the research team and get a lecture on scorches. Oliver arrives to inform John he has been summoned by the Star-Bearers.
20	7	"Individual Investigations" Transliteration: "Kobetsu Sōsa" (Japanese: 個別捜査)	Shin'ichirō Ueda	Rino Yamazaki	August 20, 2022 (2022-08-20)
Starting after their meeting in episode 5, Louise and Patrick join Kate and John's investigation into the scorches incident's culprit (episode 3). Louise and Lou gather information about other shadows soot powers, and Louise decides to learn more on how to reach adulthood. After Maryrose tells her to ask the Star-Bearers, Louise and Lou meet Benjamin and Bern training. Benjamin lectures Louise about taking better care of her living-doll and face. Following his living-doll Rick's advice, Patrick talks with two older shadows still living in the children's wing. John happens to pass by after being scolded by the Star-Bearers, prompting Patrick to visit the library to learn more about marriage protocol. There he is lectured on that topic by Star-Bearer Sarah and her doll Mia. They later visit the conservatory, where the flowers are grown, and meet Margaret and her doll Maggie who are in the team led Isabelle and Mirabelle. Margaret confesses disliking her team leaders, and then invites Patrick to grow flowers with her to which he replies he will consider. While discussing potential marriage partners, they happen on Louise and Kate with their living-dolls, and Patrick has a shocking revelation about Emiliko. Afterwards, Kate and Emiliko witness Isabella and Mirabella's dolls being rushed to the washing room on a stretcher.
21	8	"The Identity of Master Robe" Transliteration: "Rōbu-sama no Shōtai" (Japanese: ローブ様の正体)	Tazumi Mukaiyama	Momoka Toyoda	August 27, 2022 (2022-08-27)
Margaret gives a peony flower to Patrick, who later has a meeting with Kate and the others. They compare notes about Master-Robe and identify two likely suspects, but when John and Shaun arrive and relay what they learned from Jeremiah about scorches and phantoms they're back at square one. Shaun recognizes the peony's scent in Patrick's bathroom as the same as that of Master-Robe, and Kate makes deductions which are confirmed by Emiliko's memories of the scorch attack. Hints on their map leads our friends to a meeting with Master-Robe, who reveals shocking secrets about Shadows House and an increasingly upset Kate. It all culminates with the exposure of Master-Robe's identity.
22	9	"The Last Lessons" Transliteration: "Saigo no Jugyō" (Japanese: 最後の授業)	Jun Takahashi	Yūji Ōnishi	September 3, 2022 (2022-09-03)
Kate, Emiliko, John and Shaun are shocked that Master-Robe is Maryrose, who doesn't possess much soot but unbeknownst to them can control scorches. When her living-doll Rosemary appears, they proceed to explain their motivations and reveal the gruesome truth about Shadows becoming adults. Rosemary then uses her scorches and attacks Emilico and Shaun. Maryrose summons a large number of scorches from the floor above, forcing Kate and John to leave their dolls suffering from soot sickness. Outside, Maryrose continues to chase them but Kate manages to trick her into losing her scorches with a false ground made from soot, dropping the scorches into an aqueduct below. Maryrose reveals a bottle of soot, shooting it at Kate which grabs her and nearly drags her into the water. John retaliates with his soot power, but Kate realizes too late that Maryrose's soot power can turn any soot into scorches with her soot. John's soot power is transformed into scorches that fuse into a phantom and resumes the chase. Meanwhile, Edward, accompanied by Aileen and Gerald, is on his way to check the outcome of a Shadow's attempt to become an adult, as required by his duties as warden. They have a tense encounter with Master Thomas, who previously held the warden's position. Afterwards, the trio continue to their destination while talking about Maryrose and Kate. Edward opens one of the boxes and cuts open the cocoon, revealing a dead living doll and shriveled shadow, the result of a failed Fusion.
23	10	"The Value of Friends" Transliteration: "Nakama no Kachi" (Japanese: 仲間の価値)	Ken Sanuma	Rino Yamazaki	September 10, 2022 (2022-09-10)
Kate and John are forced to continue running when Maryrose breaks up her phantom into scorches to corner the two by numbers. Emilico and Shaun are revealed to have held water in their mouths as they predicted Maryrose would use scorches on them and only pretended to suffer soot sickness, and leave the manor in search of their masters. Kate shares bread with John to regain his strength and reach an aqueduct, which they jump into in order to escape the scorches. They decide to head to a fountain garden nearby as Kate doesn't want to head to the manor, angry that the current situation is happening because the Star Bearers accused her. At the fountain, Kate leads scorches to the fountain, followed by John who tries to use John Punch on the water to spray it, only for the scorches to reform into a phantom and capture the two. Maryrose appears, only for a second John to appear and use John Punch on the fountain, destroying the phantom. The soot wash off "Kate" and "John", revealing to be Emilico and Shaun in disguise thanks to Shaun's plan and they capture Maryrose and Rosemary, with Maryrose admitting the actions she took to buy time were unforgivable. Despite their hesitance, the group hands over the seniors to the Star Bearers in the morning.
24	11	"The Answer of the Two" Transliteration: "Futari no Kotae" (Japanese: ふたりの答え)	Hayato Sakai	Toshiya Ōno	September 17, 2022 (2022-09-17)
Kate and Emilico are asked to accompany Barbara and the Star Bearers as they escort Rosemary and Maryrose to the adults' wing for their punishment. Barbara recalls her childhood, during which Christopher and his living doll Anthony were beloved by the residents of the children's wing. When Christopher was invited to the adults' wing, Maryrose abruptly ceased contact with Barbara. Barbara accidentally injured Barbie's face with her soot powers out of frustration with Maryrose, and was charged with supervising the children's wing as a Star Bearer until Barbie's wounds healed, allegedly at the wishes of Christopher. Maryrose recalls these events and reveals the truth: when Christopher learned of the fusion process, he killed himself, refusing to take Anthony's life. Anthony fled back to the children's wing and revealed this to Maryrose and Rosemary, who then began their efforts to rebel against Shadows House. In the present day, Maryrose and Rosemary are brought before Edward in the passageway between the two wings. Maryrose summons a phantom that destroys a window, but she is subdued by Edward. Maryrose confronts Edward about his remorselessness about the death of his living doll, Ed. Declaring that they are unwilling to sacrifice something precious to them for the sake of becoming adults, Maryrose and Rosemary leap to their deaths.
25	12	"Those Who Fight Back" Transliteration: "Aragau Mono-tachi" (Japanese: 抗う者たち)	Yui Ikari	Toshiya Ōno	September 24, 2022 (2022-09-24)
Edward realizes the blame for Maryrose and Rosemary's deaths falls on him. Kate returns to her room where awaits a hooded Anthony (see season 2 episode 11) with whom they have a long conversation. On another day, Emiliko questions the Shadows House routine after waking from a dream that was a memory of before her current life. Later, Kate helps Emiliko cleaning and they discuss how living dolls are kept in a docile state. With Maryrose gone, the twins Isabelle and Mirabelle join team 10 and Kate is named team-leader by Barbara, much to Sarah's irritation as she expected to get the position. In the following days, Emiliko works hard to fulfill her role as team 10 living dolls' leader, and stands up for Belle after Mia (Sarah's face) and Barbie (Barbara's face) state that she should be disposed of as she can't fulfill her duties due to her trauma (see season 2 episode 4 and the ending of episode 7).