Dorohedoro: “A Unique Anime Experience"

A particular sentence answers almost every anime and manga fan: “Anime is for kids.” Not only are the people saying this kind of thing devoid of any understanding of anime and manga, but they are also judging something superficially and going off common stereotypes. Usually, we fans show the darker side of anime to give them a better idea. There are quite a few good titles to get the job done, but most of the time, we go with the Seinen series featuring gore, horror, or psychological aspects. The following series has one such title.

Dorohedoro is a TV anime series that aired from the 13th of January until the 30th of March in Winter 2020, spanning 12 episodes with 23 minutes each. Studio MAPPA was the one who brought it to life along with Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Movic, TOHO Animation, BS11, Shogakukan, Sumitomo, RAY, and Pia.

Its primary staff included the producers Bezerra Wendel, Sasaki Reiko, Aoi Hiroyuki, and Tomihara Daiki. It featured the genres of action, comedy, fantasy, and horror, along with the central theme of gore. It was targeted at the Seinen demographic and thus received a rating of R-17+ for its violence and profanity.

The series is based on the source manga of the same title, which spanned 23 volumes from the 30th of November 2000 until the 12th of September 2018. Serialized in Gessan, it was the work of author and artist Hayashida Q. Since March 16, 2010, VIZ Media has also published it in English under the SigIkki imprint.

The anime series received a 6-episode special OVA series titled “Dorohedoro: Bonus Curse or Extra Evil” (Dorohedoro: Ma no Omake) on June 17, 2020. These were 5-minute episodes that received a rating of R+ for their mild nudity. It further explored the world of sorcerers and the Hole, showing what the characters do in their spare time when they’re not seeking out enemies.

The story is set within the Hole, a very dark, decrepit, and disorderly district where the strong constantly prey on the weak and death is an ordinary occurrence. Quite befitting its name, this realm is separate from all laws and ethics, which serves as a testing ground for the magic users who dominate it. Magic users are the race occupying the highest rungs of this world, finding the denizens of Hole to be no more than mere insects.

As such, the Hole dwellers are murdered, mutilated, and experimented on without a second thought, and they simply end up littering the halls of Hole's hospital every day. The Magic users boast free access to and from this cesspool, face little to no challenge for their authority, and appear untouchable to most. There are a few exceptions, though, and Kaiman, more reptilian than man, is one example. He is a man hunting magic users on a heedless quest for answers, armed with only a trusted pair of bayonets and his handy magic immunity.

Magic users are the only thing that can help Kaiman get his life back to normal because his appearance and nightmares are constantly cursing him. But his biggest obstacle is his stomach, and this is where his female companion, Nikaidou, comes in. This girl who runs the Hungry Bug restaurant is, in fact, his greatest ally.

So get ready to experience a gritty world of hellish design that maintains a healthy balance of comedy and lightheartedness amidst the never-ending death and carnage. There will be plenty of twists and turns along the way as the anime follows the lives of the Hole's residents, weaving a genuinely unique world of unearthly origin and dreary appearance. This series is definitely not for the weak of heart, squeamish, or easily disturbed!

Dorohedoro is a highly unique show that I recommend to anyone looking for a dark, violent, and gritty anime. In the good old days, anime tended to be very unconventional and full of flair. Dorohedoro reminds me of those days while bringing a refreshing and engaging story to the table.

One can go on about how unique this show is, especially regarding most anime these days, and that it is in no way cheap, having rightly earned all its hype. Although the anime adaptation only covers a portion of the manga, they manage to keep the tale engaging, unpredictable, hectic, and entertaining. The mere originality of this story and world is awe-inspiring, right down to every violent, dark, and confusing detail.

Many odd and unusual elements are present here, along with a surreal and unpolished artistic style that exudes visceral vibes. The story expertly incorporates elements of magic, demons, and curses, along with a nice amount of comedy and dark humor. The steampunk and goth-cyberpunk aesthetics only serve to enhance these aspects. If you have read the manga, rest assured that MAPPA did an excellent job adapting Dorohedoro's style, setting, censorship, and atmosphere.

The story’s direction and pacing are excellently handled, bringing about an authentic madness with a rhythm that is both fast and faithful to the story. I won’t go into too many details about the plot itself because of spoilers; this is one story you simply must experience for yourself.

The characters are the best thing about Dorohedoro. There isn’t even one character who is relevant or redundant. There’s also no clear distinction between the good and bad guys, contributing further to their individual and interconnected depths. They all have excellent dynamics, and even the minor characters bring something worthwhile to the show.

Each of these beings has their own goals and motivations to press forward, all of which showcase a refreshing sense of toughness, strength, uniqueness, and near-unbelievable charisma. There are no villains or heroes here; instead, we are treated to a diverse cast of characters who work as groups with different objectives that continuously cross each other.

It’s a friendly reminder of how the world isn’t black or white, bringing out the gray in every situation. Amidst this world of chaos and unorthodox things, the two main groups of En and Kaiman are in an intriguing position. They have excellent chemistry, and by the end, you, as an audience, will be unsure who to support.

Moving on to the Art and Animation department, the expert use of CGI is highly praise-worthy. It is hardly noticeable, and the backgrounds are phenomenal, working cohesively to establish the atmosphere of the grim world of Dorohedoro. If there was any downside, it’s the fact that the CGI needs a bit of getting used to because it is not something we usually see in anime.

On the other hand, adapting the unique artistic style of the manga to the anime is challenging, so there are few welcome differences. The studio’s use of 3D animation and CGI varies depending on the scene, managing to integrate very well in some instances and not so much in others. But this generally happens unnoticed, and we get an excellent CGI experience. Props for how they managed to enhance most of the scenes to whole new levels on most occasions! The character designs are faithful to the source material, and the backgrounds do a great job of capturing the surreal atmosphere.

The Sounds and Music department is less ground-breaking than the previous two departments, but it is still delicious. The opening theme is "Welcome to Chaos" by (K) NoW_NAME, and the ending themes are "Who am I?" by (K) NoW_NAME, "Night SURFING" by (K) NoW_NAME, "D.D.D.D." by (K) NoW_NAME, "Strange Meat Pie" by (K) NoW_NAME, "SECONDs FLY" by (K) NoW_NAME, and "404."

Believe me when I tell you all these pieces are unique, full of movement, fun, and color. The endings change every 2-3 episodes, which is refreshing, and all are good. The OSTs weren’t as noteworthy, but they did a decent enough job of maintaining the vibes and atmosphere. On the other hand, the voice actors do a masterful job of bringing their larger-than-life characters to life with so much solidity and substance.

Overall, Dorohedoro is an extraordinarily bizarre and fun show, thrilling from start to finish, with a plot rife with mystery and madness. You’ll constantly be wondering, "What the hell is going on?" in a good way, and the incredible cast of characters will keep you invested as they drive the tale forward. MAPPA did an excellent job of staying faithful to the source material here, albeit leaving out a few not-as-important things that don’t negatively affect your experience.

There were a few occasions where I wondered if the visual aspect would’ve been better had it stayed solely 2D, but that’s probably just me. Q Hayashida’s manga was an excellent anime series worthy of so much popularity and praise, especially considering the sheer effort put into it. I am looking forward to Season 2! In conclusion, Dorohedoro is not for everyone because it features a grotesque, confusing, and violent tale. Still, it's a fun experience, and I would readily recommend it to anyone interested in these genres.