Sankarea OVA Episode 1: I am also... a Zombie...

The episode opens within the Sanka family's imposing mansion, a place of wealth and visible tension. Dan'ichiro Sanka, the patriarch, oversees preparations for an event, his satisfaction unsettling. His wife, Aria Sanka, stands by, her expression a mask of indifference. What follows is a deeply disturbing ritual, as Dan'ichiro commands his daughter, Rea, to disrobe for a photoshoot. His desire to 'capture her youth' feels less like paternal pride and more like a possessive fixation, as Rea poses with a hollow, vacant look, her vulnerability exposed not just to the camera, but to the audience.

A shift in scenery introduces Chihiro Furuya, engrossed in a zombie film during a family road trip. His cousin, Ranko Saoji, teases him about his morbid obsession, while his younger sister, Mero, remains quietly observant. His father, Do'on, drives them toward their destination in Tohoku. Chihiro defends his passion, stating zombie movies are the pinnacle of entertainment, a telling declaration of his unique interests. The contrast with the Sanka household is immediate, a jarring cut from oppressive wealth to mundane, if eccentric, family life.

As the car crosses a bridge, Chihiro experiences a strong sense of déjà vu, a fleeting image of a storehouse flashing in his mind. He asks Mero if she remembers the bridge, but she does not, leaving him puzzled. The family soon arrives at their uncle, Baba-san's, traditional estate, nestled in a secluded village. Baba-san greets them warmly, noting the unchanging nature of the village, while Chihiro remains preoccupied by his strange premonition, a hint of past events clinging to the landscape.

During a family meal, the conversation turns to Chihiro and Mero's late mother, Yuzuna. Baba-san's mention of the 'accident' causes Do'on to grow somber. Chihiro admits his memories of his mother are frustratingly blurry, though he knows he loved her. His father reassures him that remembering the feeling of love is enough. Ranko expresses regret at only having met Yuzuna once, highlighting the shared grief that still lingers within the family, a quiet sorrow underpinning their present. It is a moment of raw, unvarnished human emotion.

Back at the Sanka mansion, the shadows lengthen as Rea finds her stepmother, Aria, drinking and deeply distressed. Aria's resentment boils over, as she accuses Rea of stealing Dan'ichiro's attention and being the cause of her own misery. The verbal abuse escalates to physical aggression, Aria grabbing Rea's hair and screaming. Rea can only weep, trapped in a cycle of emotional and physical torment. The scene offers a glimpse into Aria's own suffering, but it is one that she inflicts directly upon an innocent girl, making it no less horrific.

The family spends the next day sorting through an overwhelming collection of books in a vast, two-story warehouse. Chihiro, Ranko, and Mero are joined by a museum curator, selecting valuable volumes for donation. The sheer volume of books is immense, requiring constant physical labor, which quickly exhausts Chihiro. As the others depart for lunch, Chihiro collapses, opting to rest in the cool shade. He is left alone amidst the quiet stacks, the distant sound of cicadas filling the silence.

Drifting into a nap, Chihiro dreams briefly of his mother, her face bathed in a soft glow. He wakes abruptly, noticing a loose floorboard beneath him. Curiosity leads him to pry it open, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside, he discovers a wooden box marked with a circular symbol. Within the box lies a small, red, hand-bound book, its first page emblazoned with the word 'Resurrection.' Chihiro is captivated, believing he has found the key to his deepest obsession, a direct answer to his hidden desires.

Upon the group's return, Chihiro eagerly shows his mysterious red book to the museum curator. The curator examines it carefully but ultimately dismisses it as a 'cheap forgery,' a mere prank. He categorizes it as 'occult literature,' not a legitimate historical document. Despite the expert's judgment, Chihiro feels an undeniable connection to the book and secretly decides to keep it. His quiet defiance suggests a growing conviction that the book holds true, forbidden knowledge, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Back at the Sanka mansion, Rea encounters Aria once more, this time on a grand staircase. Aria appears utterly defeated, her anger replaced by a chilling despair. She asks Rea, her voice hollow, if the girl would truly be happy if she simply vanished. Rea is struck silent, unable to respond to such a bleak question. Aria retreats, demanding aspirin, leaving Rea to ponder the disturbing implications of her stepmother's words. It is a moment of profound, shared unhappiness, yet one that offers no comfort.

On their final evening, the Furuya family shares a celebratory sushi dinner with Baba-san. He expresses his gratitude for their help and suggests they visit the famous Savignac Falls before leaving. Ranko is excited, having heard about the waterfall. Chihiro's father encourages him to go, despite Chihiro's weariness, urging him to protect the girls. Though still more interested in his new book, Chihiro agrees to join the outing, unwittingly heading towards his destiny.

The next day, as the trio hikes toward the waterfall, Chihiro lags behind, catching his breath. He spots a piece of paper in a muddy puddle on the path and retrieves it. To his astonishment, it is a page about resurrection, seemingly belonging to his hidden book, detailing a ritual involving 'the water of life' and bizarre ingredients. His interest in the forbidden knowledge is rekindled, a quiet obsession taking firmer root. The dense forest around him seems to hum with new, dark secrets.

Chihiro wanders off the main path, following the sound of rushing water, and discovers a hidden pool at the base of a small cliff. There, he finds Rea Sanka, her back to him, standing in the shallow water. He watches, transfixed, as she cries out, declaring her desperate desire to die and be reborn anew. As a white flower falls from her hair into the water, she turns, her eyes locking with Chihiro's. He stands frozen, clutching the resurrection page, as their vastly different worlds collide in a moment of shocking, shared vulnerability.