History Manga / ShionNoOu

* OffModel: Studio DEEN seems to have a problem with this. The first few episodes are rendered in great detail, paying close attention to character hair and especially the faces of the older male characters. This degrades over time and for several episodes the animation quality drops noticeably before getting better again halfway through the series. It never did reach the same level of detail that it started with, but it did get much better.

* BadBoss: As [[spoiler:Ayumi]]'s master, [[spoiler:Hani Makoto]] shows this, largely by being a {{Jerkass}} and frequently [[KickTheDog maltreating]] his apprentice (even framing him). Later, this turns out to be partially a case of being a convoluted ManipulativeBastard, but it could easily be both since he deliberately choses methods involving [[KickTheDog kicking the dog...]] [[UpToEleven a lot.]]

* BreakTheCutie: All three main characters had this happen to them at least once, usually taking it UpToEleven. Shion especially, since the murderer [[HarmfulToMinors intentionally murdered her parents in front of her]] and "sealed off" her voice when she was ''four''. [[spoiler:Ayumi]]'s father is [[AbusiveParents emotionally abusive]] (he seems to have had a rough childhood in general), has to pay for [[spoiler: his terminally ill mother's medical]] bills alone, and, after [[spoiler: his mother's death and losing in the tournament, is then used by the BigBad to harm his good friend and love interest]]. Finally, there's [[spoiler: Hani Satoru]], whose past is something of a TraumaCongaLine: [[spoiler:he saw his father die saving him from car accident, was abandoned by his elder brother in an orphanage, and lost his fiancée due to his elder brother's actions]].

''Shion's King: The Flowers of Hard Blood'' is a seinen manga (with an anime adaptation) by Katori Masaru that blends the game of shogi with a murder mystery.

* {{Bishonen}}: Ayumi-kun qualifies. There are also several examples of {{Biseinen}}: Hani Makoto, Hani Satoru, and Hisatani Tooru (possibly even Yasuoka Shinji).

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: In the anime, Ayumi's hair isn't blue-black, but jarringly bright blue. Hani-meijin also has obviously ''purple'' hair. In the manga, the hair colours are more subtle.

* DisappointedByTheMotive: More like disbelief, in this case. [[spoiler:"For shogi'']] isn't a motive that would make sense to most people.
-->'''Hisatani:''' [[spoiler:You mean he murdered a couple just to play shogi with a kid who was barely four years old? And even manipulated your fiancée for this?]] That’s ridiculous, I can’t accept that.

* GratuitousEnglish: Lots of it in the opening theme "Lady Love" by J-Rock band '''Rize''', not quite as much in the ending theme "My Dear Friend" by J-Pop artist '''Thelma Aoyama'''.

* ImportantCharacterImportantEvidence: Aside from Shion's searching through her memories, much of the key evidence was found and gathered by [[spoiler:Satoru]], problem being, in part, that [[CassandraTruth no one believed him for years.]]

* ZettaiRyouiki: Displayed frequently by both Shion and Ayumi; Saori's skirt is usually too long for this.

* TheAlibi: This is why [[spoiler:Satoru]]'s suspicions have trouble being proven.

* AttractiveBentGender: [[spoiler:Ayumi''-chan'']] is very, very cute... and many oblivious members of the cast, both male and female, comment on this.

* CuteMute: The eponymous Shion, who lost the ability to speak after witnessing the murder of her parents.

* {{Foil}}: Yasuoka to Hani Makoto, Hani Makoto to Satoru, Satoru to Shion, Shion to Ayumi, Ayumi to Satoru, etc.
%% * FriendlyRivalry: Ayumi and Shion.
%% * GenkiGirl: Shion is a non-vocal variant of this.

* StepfordSnarker: [[spoiler:Hani Satoru]], with a hint of JerkassFacade.

* JerkassFacade: [[spoiler:Satoru]] uses this as part of his BatmanGambit; though some feelings of jealousy are involved, once he casts it off, he turns out quite the kind person.

-->[[spoiler:'''Satoru:''']] Does that mean you would accept other motivations for killing people?

''Shion's King: The Flowers of Hard Blood''

A seinen manga (with an anime adaptation) by Katori Masaru that blends the game of shogi with a murder mystery.

* {{Bishojo}}: Both Saori and Shion count... as would Ayumi-chan, were she not simply Ayumi-kun in disguise (Ayumi-chan is even directly referred to as one).

* CastOfSnowflakes

* FriendlyRivalry: Ayumi and Shion.
* GenkiGirl: Shion is a non-vocal variant of this.

* NoPeriodsPeriod: Significantly averted in chapter six, when Shion's [[FirstPeriodPanic first menstrual cycle]] [[EmbarrassingDampSheets on her sheets]] causes her to black out due to her [[AfraidOfBlood fear of blood]].

* NoPeriodsPeriod: Significantly averted in chapter six, when Shion's first menstrual cycle [[EmbarrassingDampSheets on her sheets]] causes her to black out due to her [[AfraidOfBlood fear of blood]].

* BloodSplatteredInnocents: Although this wasn't true of the actual event (to despite [[BloodyHorror the state of the apartment]]), all of Shion's dreams about her parents' murder have this to some degree.
** Also, the FlashbackCut of [[spoiler:Satoru's father's death]].

* FairPlayWhodunit

* MeaningfulName: Satoru's name translates to "comprehend, apprehend, or become aware," guess what his role in the story is.
** "Ayumi" means "stages in a progress," "Makoto" translates to "genuine," ''et cetera''.
* MundaneMadeAwesome: Shogi of course.

* PsychoticSmirk: The killer, [[spoiler: Hani-meijin]].

* NoPeriodsPeriod: Significantly averted in chapter six, when Shion's first menstrual cycle causes her to black out due to her [[AfraidOfBlood fear of blood]].

* JerkassFacade: [[Satoru]] uses this as part of his BatmanGambit; though some feelings of jealousy are involved, once he casts it off, he turns out quite the kind person.

* HappilyAdopted: Shion, by the Yasuoka couple. The manga even has indications that her birth parents, the Ishiwatari couple, were strict.

* DisappointedByTheMotive: More like disbelief, in this case. [[spoiler:"For shogi'' is not a motive that would make sense to most.]]

* LaserGuidedAmnesia: While Shion has some trauma-induced amnesia and can only remember bits and pieces about the murder of her parents that she witnessed (remember, she was ''four'' at the time), she appears to have forgotten nothing else, that said, she was ''four''.

* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Averted since, while Shion has some trauma-induced amnesia and can only remember bits and pieces about the murder of her parents that she witnessed (remember, she was ''four'' at the time), she forgot nothing else.