Resident Evil Village broke the franchise's standard mold in many ways, and one of these was through the introduction's beautifully-animated fairy tale. Narrated by Mia, the old fairy tale is forebodingly titled Village of Shadows and serves as an eerie accent piece that sets up the game's fantastical plot.
At the surface, Village of Shadows seems to be a classic, if morbid, children's tale. However, further digging reveals a deeper meaning. From the characters to the visual coding, this opening fairy tale is rich with details that foreshadow the four lords and subtly spell out the game's entire plot.
The game only shows the first half of the fairy tale to prevent spoilers and tease the future events. Village of Shadows starts with a young girl running from her mother to gather berries in a dark forest. She loses sight of her mother and gets lost amongst the twisted branches, but lucks out when she meets magical creatures that tend to her needs. The Bat Lord quenches her thirst with his blood, the Dark Weaver keeps her warm in a beautiful dress and the Fish King feeds her hunger with one of his fins. However, the story takes a darker turn when the girl encounters the Iron Steed and takes a golden gear from him, thinking it's another gift. This angers the Iron Steed, and he calls the other lords to attack the hapless child.
The four magical creatures are clearly meant to represent the four lords. In fact, the girl meets the entities in the same order that Ethan encounters the four lords in the real village. The Bat Lord that offers blood is a direct parallel to Lady Dimitrescu, as she has vampiric qualities that tie her to blood and bats. Additionally, the animation also shows three other smaller bats that represent the Dimitrescu sisters.
The Dark Weaver that spins a dress out of mist is an abstract representation of Donna Beneviento. Both characters weave the intangible into the tangible like mist into cloth and emotions into hallucinations. This comparison is tied together by a golden spool of thread in the Beneviento house, as well as the golden flowers Donna uses to spin her horrifying visions.
The Fish King is a happier version of Moreau, as their designs are both based on kappas and live among the fishes. Just like how the Fish King offers a part of his body for consumption, Moreau is the Lord who has sacrificed his body the most for Mother Miranda's approval. The last character, the Iron Steed is a clear allegory for Heisenberg, who is able to manipulate metal at will. An iron steed is another word for train, and that comparison (coupled with the entity's golden gear) evoke the steampunk imagery associated with Heisenberg.
Ultimately, Village of Shadows mirrors Rose's abduction and Ethan's journey to rescue her. Like the creatures in the story, crystallized Rose is passed to each Lord to shelter, and while their fairytale counterparts gave gifts, these gifts are deadly in real life. Lady Dimitrescu tries to drain Ethan of blood, Donna Beneviento spins deadly hallucinations, Moreau attempts to drown Ethan and Heisenberg battles Ethan with metal and scrap. The story even foreshadows Heisenberg's betrayal, as the Iron Steed is the only one who is angry with the girl, hinting towards Heisenberg's later defection.
Capcom also slid in additional details that strengthen the themes explored in the game. In the beginning of the fairy tale, the girl runs on roots that bear a resemblance to the Mold roots writhing under the village. It's a visual clue to Rose's connection to the Mold that foreshadows the ending where Miranda's ritual has no effect on her. The mother character represents both Miranda and Mia, two mothers who lost daughters. This connection is strengthened by the fact Miranda is posing as Mia.
Later on in the story, players also learn that the girl is trapped in a mirror by a witch. This provides a clue to why Rose was kidnapped in the first place: Miranda sees Rose as a reflection of her lost daughter, Eva. Notes in the game also explain how the four lords were failed vessels for Eva, and this epiphany explains how Village of Shadows tells the story of both Eva and Rose in a clever duality. For Eva, the four creatures were vessels for her return, which explains their gifts; for Rose, the four creatures were captors who prevented her escape.
Village of Shadows is an aesthetically pleasing and surprisingly deep story that foreshadows Resident Evil Village's twists and turns. The visual details and plot line describes the four lords before they appear and hint at Miranda's larger goal. The fairy tale is an ethereal addition that provides a great introduction to the game's more fantastical elements.