Dekin no Mogura: The Earthbound Mole
As a kid, I used to think it would be so cool to be immortal. But as I grew up, I started to realize that the pain of watching all your loved ones pass on while you continue living alone in an ever-changing world is far too cruel. Immortality is not for ordinary people; the mental strain is nigh unbearable, so it is best reserved for deities and higher powers. Life is fleeting, but this timer spurs us to make the most of the time we have and live a life worth living on our own terms…
“Dekin no Mogura: The Earthbound Mole," also known as simply “Dekin no Mogura," is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired from the 7th of July until the 22nd of September in summer 2025. It was produced by Kodansha, Tokyo MX, Avex Pictures, BS11, Crunchyroll, A-Sketch, and arma bianca and brought to life by studio Brain's Base. The main staff behind it includes Ishiodori Hiroshi as director, episode director, and storyboard artist; Yamada Haru as sound director; Fujita Shinzou on script and series composition; and syudou on theme song composition, performance, and lyrics. It features comedy, mystery, and the supernatural, targeting the seinen demographic. Each episode runs 23 minutes and has earned a PG-13 rating for teenagers 13 years or older.
The anime is based on the manga series of the same title, which began publication on the 8th of April, 2021, and is still ongoing. It is the work of author and artist Eguchi Natsumi and was serialized in Morning. It was also published digitally in English via K Manga. Two music videos were released, titled “Kensou” and "Kamitanomi," in relation to the anime; the former featured the titular song by Sheeno Mirin featuring Aile The Shota, which became the ending theme of the series, and the latter featured the titular song by syudou, which functioned as the opening theme of the series.
The story kicks off with university students Kuriaki Magi and Yaeko Kirihara, who have the grueling experience of seeing a seemingly normal man receive a fatal blow to the head. But they are left dumbfounded when they see that very same man run away unscathed after the incident. Curious, they give chase to the victim, Momoyuki Mogura, and eventually catch up with him, only to learn he is immortal. This is a preposterous claim, so naturally, Magi and Yaeko assume the man is just delusional, but their opinions gradually change as they begin to see apparitions. Mogura goes on to explain the phenomenon to them: those are the spirits of dead people that produce something called “demon fire," a light that is capable of guiding spirits post-death. He himself has been stripped of the right to carry this fire, so now he spends countless years collecting these products from spirits, hoping to enter the afterlife someday himself. After hearing this, Magi and Yaeko decide to help him find more spirits with the hopes that this mysterious Mogura would finally reach his peculiar dream in some shape or form.
The plot starts off slow and doesn’t show much sign of picking up, so most are likely to drop it after the 3-episode rule. However, things really get going around episode 5, and they maintain that momentum until the very end, executing the ending perfectly. I won’t overpromise and call it a masterpiece, but it has a ton of good comedy and consistently maintains a fun atmosphere to keep things from getting boring. Facilitated by a lovable cast of characters whom the narrative gives enough space to shine, save for the antagonists themselves, they grow and develop without hampering the immersion. It’s pretty episodic by nature, having a “spirit-of-the-week” format for the most part, and it plays off this unique concept quite well. There were moments when the delivery could have been better, but overall, I enjoyed this eccentric supernatural comedy. Everything from the supernatural aspects to the jokes and even the fairly long monologues is handled well, and it’s not a competition of any one character trying to overpower the rest.
The character department is a mixed bag of the good, bad, and absurd. Mogura was definitely the highlight for me, while Yaeko and the Nekozukus are also top-tier units to watch. Some characters are just downright ridiculous in a wonderfully absurd way, while a few others fall flat because they are hard-stuck in a very single, specific role throughout the whole series without further development. There were some cast members who appeared ever so briefly and then became irrelevant, but could have amounted to so much had they been given a chance. But for what it’s worth, I loved the oddball characters who formed the heart of the show. They are definitely flawed and stupid at times, but remain surprisingly deep and relatable in weird ways. All of their reactions to and interactions with the bizarre world around them feel very grounded and realistic, much like those of normal, everyday people trying to make sense of the chaos.
The art and animation department is decent, but it isn't something to write home about. I do want to give credit to the color-pencil art style they employ, which is unique and beautiful to look at. The animations and use of CGI are controlled and limited, ensuring nothing is excessive because the series isn’t that kind of show, while the color palette has a burning effect alongside the masterful use of shadows. The character designs are mostly mediocre and not distinctive, but all the spirits have neat designs that I appreciated for what they conveyed. I did like the designs of Mogura and the Nekozukus to an extent, but none of them were very appealing and sometimes looked odd, especially in their facial shapes and features. I will applaud them for mixing 2D and 3D in just the right amounts without becoming overbearing, letting the 2D art shine, and employing 3D only where they couldn’t do without it.
The Sounds and Music department is very similar to the visuals. It’s nothing special, but I did enjoy the aforementioned opening and ending themes, "Kamidanomi" by syudou and "Kensou" by Sheeno Mirin featuring Aile The Shota, respectively. I would actually look forward to the end credits after every episode, which has a strange way of captivating you with its mysterious, ambiguous atmosphere and blends perfectly with the series' themes. The opening has nice glitchy visual effects and a vibrant, neon-ish color palette that I enjoyed, along with its easy-on-the-ears tune. The OSTs are so easily forgettable that they’re not even worth mentioning, and the voice acting is also decent at best, with no standout performances. They do use the sound effects well for the comedy and supernatural aspects, but that’s it.
Overall, “Dekin no Mogura: The Earthbound Mole” is a very easy-to-watch series that you can take on leisurely and not worry about wracking your brains too much. It doesn't get much recognition, and I bet that’s because most people drop it before Episode 5, when things really get going. If you do give it a chance and hang on, you’ll find that the payoff is quite satisfying, and it doesn’t go anywhere but up after that point. That said, it’s not something I can recommend to everyone, as it caters to comedy and slice-of-life fans while also throwing in some introspective and profound elements within a very unique premise.
Mogura himself is a good MC that you will remember, as he remains interesting and mysterious throughout the show and excels at keeping viewers' attention. The humor may not work for everyone, so if you don’t find it funny by Episode 5, it’s best to drop it. Personally, a majority of the cast had me laughing consistently, and I was always eager to learn more about the world and where the overarching plot was heading. It was also refreshing to hear these characters ponder each other's true motivations deeply, proving they aren’t blubbering buffoons lacking basic social skills and emotional understanding. If there is a sequel, I would gladly watch it, but even if there isn’t, I’ll be happy for the nice ride thus far.
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