Pet Shop of Horrors is a delightful cross between Gremlins and something like Tales from the Crypt. Customers at Count D's pet shop may find a 'pet' which fulfills their deepest desires, but there are always strings attached. And there are terrible, often deadly consequences for those who violate the terms of their agreement with Count D. As in many horror comic books, the results are often poetic justice. Those who suffer do so because they have been betrayed by their own weaknesses--and the contract nearly always contains a clause taking advantage of the buyer's greatest weakness.

Leon Orcott is a rookie detective who has noticed that many of the pet shop's customers die violently and mysteriously. He is certain that the pet shop is a front for drug dealing and other black market activities. His straightforward, impatient tough-guy approach clashes nicely with the count's polite vagueness, effeminacy, and sly humor. There are overtones of yaoi here, though not as strongly as in the original manga.

The series consists of four completely separate stories, linked by the developing conflict/acquaintanceship between Leon and Count D. In the first story, a couple buy a 'rabbit' that bears an uncanny resemblance to a human girl: specifically, to their own, recently deceased daughter. In the second, a man buys a pet mermaid who appears strikingly similar to his bride who fell overboard on their wedding cruise. In the third, Count D sells a remarkable lizard to a lonely actor who hasn't worked since his one, world-famous starring role. And in the final episode, a hopeful presidential candidate tries to bully the Count into selling him a Ki'rin--the mythological creature who puts rulers on their thrones.

Most of the episodes have a certain degree of the cheesiness and preachiness you find in old horror comic books, but if you find that sort of thing fun, if you love to watch old reruns of Tales from the Dark Side or Twilight Zone or Goosebumps, this will be a great show for you. The fact that they originally aired it in two-minute segments meant that they had no time to dawdle, and the show proceeds with lots of energy. Like other Twilight-Zone sort of shows, though, once you've seen it and know what happens, it's not quite as much fun to revisit. Suspense is the show's greatest strength. Though the character interaction is fun as well, it's perhaps not enough to hold your undivided interest once you know what's going to happen next.

The manga is ten books long. As well as many more episodes like the ones on the show (some with happier endings), it further explores the relationship between Leon and the count, shows more of the back corners of the mysterious pet shop, and delves deeper into the mystery of the count's identity. And Leon's baby brother Chris becomes a major character. (He doesn't appear in the anime at all.)