Sankarea is a manga series written and illustrated by Mitsuru Hattori, which was serialized in Kodansha’s Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine from December 2009 to September 2014. It was also adapted into an anime series by Studio Deen in 2012. The story follows Chihiro Furuya, a high school student who is obsessed with zombies, and Rea Sanka, a girl who wishes to escape from her abusive father and live a normal life. When Rea dies after drinking a potion made from a poisonous flower, she is resurrected as a zombie and becomes Chihiro’s girlfriend. The manga explores their relationship and the challenges they face as a human and a zombie.
Sankarea Story
The story begins with Chihiro Furuya, a zombie fanatic who collects horror movies and zombie memorabilia. He lives with his eccentric family, which consists of his grandfather, who is a priest and a former zombie researcher; his father, who is a novelist and a cross-dresser; and his younger sister, Mero, who is indifferent to zombies. Chihiro’s childhood friend and cousin, Ranko Saōji, has a crush on him, but he does not reciprocate her feelings.
One day, Chihiro’s pet cat, Babu, dies in a traffic accident. Chihiro decides to try to resurrect him using an old book that belonged to his grandfather, which contains a recipe for a resurrection potion. He goes to an abandoned hotel, where he meets Rea Sanka, the daughter of the wealthy and influential Dan’ichirō Sanka. Rea is unhappy with her life, as her father is overprotective and abusive, and her mother is cold and distant. She often goes to the hotel to scream her frustrations into a well. She becomes curious about Chihiro’s experiment and helps him collect the ingredients for the potion, which include the toxic hydrangea macrophylla flower.
Rea also drinks some of the potion, hoping to die and be reborn as a different person. However, the potion does not work immediately, and she returns home. There, she is confronted by her father, who tries to take nude pictures of her as part of a ritual to preserve her purity. Rea resists and runs away, but falls off a cliff and dies. Chihiro, who was following her, witnesses her death and is shocked. However, he soon realizes that the potion has taken effect and Rea has become a zombie. He takes her to his home and tries to keep her existence a secret from his family and others.
Chihiro and Rea start a romantic relationship, but they also face many difficulties. Rea has to deal with her decaying body, her hunger for flesh, and her father’s obsession. Chihiro has to find a way to preserve Rea’s body and mind, as well as protect her from harm. They also encounter other characters who are involved with zombies, such as Jogorō Furuya, Chihiro’s zombie grandfather; Darin Arciento Kurumiya, a mysterious girl who claims to be Jogorō’s wife; Aria Sanka, Rea’s stepmother who is also a zombie; and Bub, a zombie alligator who is Darin’s pet.
Sankarea Ending
The manga ends with a bittersweet and ambiguous conclusion. In the final arc, Rea’s condition worsens and she becomes more aggressive and violent. She attacks Chihiro and bites off his heart, killing him. However, Dan’ichirō, who has been searching for Rea, arrives and saves Chihiro by giving him an artificial heart that he had prepared for himself. He then takes Rea and Chihiro to his mansion, where he reveals his true motive. He explains that he was once in love with a woman named Sada, who was Rea’s biological mother. However, Sada died giving birth to Rea, and Dan’ichirō blamed Rea for her death. He decided to raise Rea as his daughter, but also as a replacement for Sada. He wanted to keep her pure and innocent, and eventually marry her. However, he realized that Rea hated him and loved Chihiro, so he decided to let them go. He also reveals that he has a terminal illness and does not have much time left. He asks Chihiro to take care of Rea and make her happy.
Chihiro and Rea leave the mansion and go to the abandoned hotel, where they first met. There, they find Babu, who has also become a zombie. Rea apologizes to Chihiro for killing him, and Chihiro forgives her. They embrace and kiss, and Rea says “thank you for the meal”, implying that she has regained her memories and personality. The manga ends with a scene of them holding hands and walking into the sunset, with Babu following them.
The manga also has an extra chapter, which is not considered canon by the author. It shows a scene of Chihiro’s funeral, where his family and friends mourn his death. It then jumps to several years later, where Ranko is married and has two grandchildren. She takes them to the hotel, where they meet Rea, who is still alive and has not aged. Rea recognizes Ranko and greets her. Ranko introduces her grandchildren to Rea, and tells them that she is a friend of their grandfather. The chapter ends with Rea smiling and saying “nice to meet you”.
The Meaning of Sankarea Ending
The ending of Sankarea is open to interpretation and leaves many questions unanswered. Some of the questions are:
- How did Rea survive for so long as a zombie? What is the source of her “miracle”?
- Did Chihiro also survive as a zombie? If so, how did he cope with his artificial heart and his zombie condition?
- What happened to the other characters, such as Jogorō, Darin, Aria, and Bub?
- Did Rea and Chihiro find happiness and peace together? Or did they face more troubles and dangers?
- Did Rea and Chihiro ever get married or have children? If so, what kind of children would they have?
The author has stated that he left the ending to the reader’s imagination, and that he wanted to convey a message of hope and love. He said that he wanted to show that Rea and Chihiro, despite being zombies, still had feelings and emotions, and that they could overcome any obstacle with their love. He also said that he wanted to show that zombies are not monsters, but rather misunderstood creatures who deserve respect and compassion.
The ending of Sankarea can be seen as a metaphor for the challenges and joys of any relationship, especially one that is unconventional or taboo. It can also be seen as a commentary on the themes of life and death, freedom and control, and innocence and corruption. The ending of Sankarea is a testament to the power of love, which can transcend any boundary and defy any fate.