Pet Shop of Horrors

Pet Shop of Horrors

Company type	Manga franchise
Industry	Manga, anime
Founded	1994
Founder	Matsuri Akino
Fate	Ongoing franchise with multiple sequels and spin-offs
Area served	Japan, North America, Australia, New Zealand
Products	Manga series, anime adaptation
Parent	Ohzora Publishing (original), Asahi Sonorama (sequel), HarperCollins Japan (spin-offs)

Pet Shop of Horrors is a Japanese manga series created by Matsuri Akino, which was serialized between 1994 and 1998 in Apple Mystery and later in Horror M, both published by Ohzora Publishing. The story was collected into ten volumes. It follows Count D, the enigmatic proprietor of a supernatural pet store located in Los Angeles' Chinatown, and his unusual customers. The series was officially licensed for release in North America by Tokyopop.

In 1999, a four-episode anime adaptation produced by Madhouse was broadcast. The sequel manga, titled Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (known as New Petshop of Horrors in Japan), ran from 2004 until 2012 under the publication of Asahi Sonorama and Asahi Shimbun Publications, initially appearing in Mungekan before transitioning to a webcomic format on Yahoo! Comics' Horror & Fantasy Club. This sequel comprises twelve volumes, with eight volumes released in North America by Tokyopop between 2008 and 2011.

The franchise also includes two spin-off series: Pet Shop of Horrors: Passage-hen, which explores the story of Count D's grandfather during the fin de siècle era in Paris, published sporadically by HarperCollins Japan from 2013 to 2017 across five volumes; and Petshop of Horrors: Hyōhaku no Hakobune-hen, focusing on Count D's father, serialized from 2018 to 2020 in Harlequin Original and compiled into three volumes.

Plot

The story revolves around "Count D," the mysterious caretaker of a pet shop situated in Los Angeles Chinatown. Each exotic creature available possesses humanoid characteristics and is sold under a unique contract that includes three essential terms, one of which is a strict confidentiality agreement. Violating these contracts usually results in dire repercussions for the purchaser, for which the shop explicitly denies responsibility.

Individual chapters of Pet Shop of Horrors commonly depict the consequences faced by clients who break these agreements, structured as standalone narratives introducing new characters. Apart from the primary figures and their relatives, recurring characters are uncommon, giving the series an episodic format.

Detective Leon Orcot provides continuity across chapters through an ongoing subplot. Initially suspecting Count D of criminal activities including drug trafficking, Leon’s investigation gradually evolves into a complex relationship as he uncovers deeper truths about D and his establishment.

Main characters

Count D

The caretaker managing the Chinatown pet shop during his grandfather’s absence, D refuses to accept the title "Count D," which belongs to the true owner of the shop. He professes to deal not merely in animals but in "love, dreams, and hope," showing a preference for animals over humans. Calm and composed, he tolerates Leon’s persistent presence despite frequent disagreements. Descended from an ancient civilization closely connected to animals, D and his family are nearly identical clones created to carry on their ancestors’ vendetta.

Leon Orcot

A resolute detective investigating suspicious occurrences linked to D’s pet shop. Initially skeptical and dismissive of supernatural explanations, Leon’s attitude toward D becomes more nuanced over time. Known for his womanizing tendencies, he contrasts with his otherwise serious professional demeanor. Unlike other customers who suffer consequences for breaking contracts, Leon receives two benevolent gifts from D—a flowering plant and a butterfly—signaling a shift in their relationship.

Other humans

Leon’s younger sibling, rendered mute due to childhood trauma and initially raised by relatives before joining Leon in Los Angeles. Chris often visits D's establishment and communicates telepathically with D, Leon, and the animals—whom he envisions as humans—under the belief that D deals in willing children. After reuniting with his cousin, he regains his voice but loses this unique perception. Two decades later, now an FBI agent, he investigates the new Count concerning Leon’s disappearance.

Leon’s capable police partner who challenges his suspicions of D with logical arguments. Fluent in Chinese and well-versed in topics such as butterfly metamorphosis, she combines professionalism with an appreciation for D’s company.

Known as "Sam," Chris’s younger cousin initially harbored resentment toward him but later reconciled following Ten-chan’s intervention. She now affectionately refers to Chris as her "brother," expressing regret for her earlier attitude.

Animals

T-chan is a , a legendary carnivorous beast akin to goats. Formerly a chef at D's preferred restaurant, their unusual dynamic developed—D prized him as a rare specimen, while T-chan sought to consume the vegetarian D. After being apprehended attempting to eat D, he transformed by ingesting his own heart. To most observers, he appears as a small goat-like creature with tiger-striped paws; however, Chris and D perceive him as a horned, hot-tempered young man dressed in Middle Eastern attire. Impulsive and immature, he frequently provokes Leon and tries to bite him during visits.

/ Pon-chan

Pon-chan is a raccoon residing at D's pet shop who looks ordinary to most but takes on the form of a blonde girl wearing Victorian dress when seen by D and Chris. She is fond of Chris and displays affectionate jealousy when he interacts with other females, contrasting with T-chan’s more abrasive nature.

Ten-chan is a shape-shifting nine-tailed fox who appears differently depending on the viewer—sometimes manifesting multiple forms simultaneously. While most see a small white fox, D and Chris perceive an androgynous youth with braided hair and flamboyant clothing. His speech is coarse and casual, possessing abilities such as personality mimicry and magical powers. A master illusionist, he effortlessly adopts forms suited to his objectives.

A three-headed dragon taking the appearance of a young girl in traditional Asian attire, each head exhibiting distinct personalities: responsible Shuko (raised by D), aggressive Kanan (influenced by Leon), and childish Junrei (shaped by a young boy). Born decades apart, the siblings often clash—Kanan especially delights in tormenting Junrei. Like Pon-chan, they develop an attachment to Chris after forming a contract with him, showing mild jealousy when he interacts with others. Their fragmented nature arises from absorbing traits of those who last possessed their eggs before hatching.

D's family

D's father remains unnamed but resembles his son with longer hair and matching purple eyes. Harboring profound bitterness toward humanity for environmental destruction, he exhibits manipulative behavior even D distrusts. In 1975, under the guise of a Hong Kong exchange student, he conducted genetic experiments where he encountered FBI agent Vesca Howell. The FBI dedicated considerable effort to apprehending him, paralleling Leon’s pursuit of D. Their confrontation ended violently—Leon wounded D's father, who then killed Howell. Reborn in human form, he was taken by D's grandfather for upbringing anew, perpetuating the family’s enigmatic legacy.

/ D's grandfather

Q-chan, a bat-like creature perceived as an animal by all observers, serves as D’s constant companion. Later revealed to be D’s grandfather and the original "Count D," he explains that the title began with his own grandfather and now functions as the shop’s name. After the series finale, Q-chan returns to humanoid form—identical to D but with golden eyes—and takes responsibility for raising the reborn D’s father, continuing the family lineage.

At the series’ end, an unnamed Chinese man inherits the pet shop. Two decades after Papa D’s death, he encounters adult Chris Orcot—now an FBI agent—and upholds the family tradition by accepting cherry tarts as an invitation for conversation. His presence implies the shop’s legacy endures through another generation.

Manga

Created and illustrated by Matsuri Akino, Pet Shop of Horrors was originally serialized in Ohzora Publishing's Apple Mystery from November 1994 until July 1998, later appearing in Horror M during 1998. Ohzora Publishing compiled the series into ten volumes under the Missy Comics DX label, released between March 1995 and September 1998. Subsequently, Bunkasha republished the manga in a condensed four-volume edition from February to March 1999.

In the North American market, Tokyopop secured the licensing rights and published all ten volumes between June 2003 and January 2005. More recently, in August 2024, Seven Seas Entertainment obtained the license to produce a collector’s edition featuring a fresh translation, planned for release in February 2025. Distribution for Australia and New Zealand was managed by Madman Entertainment.

Other series

The sequel series, Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (新 Petshop of Horrors), began serialization on April 22, 2004, in Asahi Sonorama's Mungekan. After Asahi Sonorama ceased operations in 2007, the series continued under Asahi Shimbun Publications until the magazine’s final issue in April 2009. It then transitioned into a webcomic format on Yahoo! Comics' Horror & Fantasy Club, running from August 2009 until its conclusion in November 2012. During its print run, Asahi Sonorama published four volumes between January 2005 and April 2007; these were later reissued by Asahi Shimbun Publications, which completed the twelfth volume by February 2013. In North America, Tokyopop released eight volumes from February 2008 through February 2011.

A related spin-off titled Petshop of Horrors: Passage-hen launched in HarperCollins Japan's Mugentō magazine in March 2013. Set in late-19th-century France, this story centers on Count D's grandfather operating a pet shop within a French shopping arcade known as the Passage. The series shifted to Harlequin Original in February 2015, with its most recent chapter published in May 2017. HarperCollins Japan issued five volumes spanning August 2013 to June 2017.

Another derivative work, Petshop of Horrors: Hyōhaku no Hakobune-hen (Ark Adrift), appeared in Harlequin Original from September 2018 to March 2020 and features Count D’s father as the main character. This installment was collected into three volumes released between December 2018 and May 2020.

Anime

Produced by Madhouse, a four-episode anime adaptation covering selected chapters of the manga aired in March 1999. It was broadcast as a miniseries on the TBS network within the now-discontinued "Wonderful" programming block before being made available on VHS and LaserDisc formats.

In North America, Urban Vision handled distribution through two separate VHS releases—one subtitled and one dubbed—in early 2000, followed by a complete DVD release in February 2001. The license was acquired by Sentai Filmworks in October 2008 with distribution managed by ADV Films. After ADV Films ceased operations in 2009, rights were transferred to Section23 Films, which continues to distribute Sentai titles. The series was re-released on DVD under the "Sentai Selects" line on January 5, 2016. Meanwhile, MVM issued the DVD in the United Kingdom on August 2, 2010.

Reception

Carlo Santos from Anime News Network remarked that Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo's narrative serves as both its major advantage and drawback: while its formula effectively delivers compelling human drama, some viewers might anticipate plot twists or find elements implausible. He also commented that the artwork does not evoke strong horror feelings, noting Akino’s emphasis on visually appealing characters rather than varied artistic styles. Nevertheless, Santos commended the volume for its thoughtfully structured layout and pacing. Robin Brenner observed that the series prioritizes mood over unexpected story developments, valuing Matsuri Akino’s genuine dialogue, intricate illustrations, and adept balance of humor with suspenseful tension.