Dororo is an anime filled with things that are missing at times in gritty animes: the balance between action and character development, solid to great fighting sequences, and making sure every episode has scenes, subplots, and minor (foil) characters have a clear purpose. So if you're searching for all of those things, you've found the right anime to watch. This anime would be a good case study for any aspiring writer of film or animation to study so they don't fall down the rabbit hole like Michael Bay (director of Transformers films) and several others have done.
Story Arc: 9
The overall story of the anime is
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a solid 9. The reason I didn't give it a 10 because there were times the pacing of the story yoyo-ed a little. There were episodes where the pace might have hit a snag or dragged. Overall, I found it amazing how the story flowed. Every episode had a purpose, even the "filler" ones. Everyone involved in Dororo's production made sure to take me on a journey. The confusion I had was the anime's title was the name of the demon/ghoul slaying character. Instead, I found out that his name was Hyakkimaru, and his orphan counterpart was Dororo. I have a theory as to why, but I'll save that for forums. I loved how this anime really dove deep into themes such as human vs. human, human vs. demons, mother & child vs husband & wife. It's one of several reasons why I love anime and how different is it compared to Western/American animation and film. They obviously wanted to tell a high-quality story more than make a cash cow.
Art & Sound: 9
Dororo had brilliant art and sound! Animators truly shined in their ability to pay attention to every detail: the way clothes and hair moved in the wind; the movement of animals, ghouls and demons; and the background elements of a scene such as trees and buildings. Sure, there were times where the movement of characters was weird when they were running in a non-linear direction and the shape of bare feet seemed off, but those are things I wouldn't hold against them. The detail of body parts and blood is surreal. So fair warning, there is plenty of violence and blood. It makes Elfen Lied feel like child's play when it comes to bloodshed. The sound production was similarly excellent as the art. I loved the intro and ending music from the first ten or so episodes. Also loved how every sound effect seemed real such as the sound of katana's clashing, or Hyakkimarou and other characters killing their enemies. Even the sounds of bows and arrows sounded legit!
Characters: 9
Besides the overall story, the characters and their development really blew me away! For anyone involved with writing characters and their story arcs, it can be tricky. I'm sure even people who have been writing for film, animation, or literature would suffer or lack in writing solid characters and their development. Not so with Dororo. Others may disagree, but I believe Hyakkimaru, Dororo, and other characters' journies weren't written well. I really appreciate how every foil character that was introduced into Hyakkimaru and Dororo's lives had a purpose. While some may feel they weren't important, it's completely the opposite. This anime proves that every person who enters your life is in it for a purpose. They either help make you wiser, cause you to stray from your path, or are just there to help you learn more about yourself. Writers for Dororo excelled in this regard. There are some characters I would like for them to have explored a little more, but that's just me.
Of course, my favorite characters were Hyakkimaru and Dororo. Who couldn't love two main characters who are different yet complement each other well? Hyakkimaru is malformed yet has supernatural sight and a mission. Dororo has eyes, nose, ears, and arms and legs that work yet were struggling to survive and was blind to seeing true demons and evil. They come together and form a bond and a great team. This is honestly relationship goals for me. While most of the time Hyakkimaru is the go-to person to mow down enemies, Dororo also steps up several times to save and protect him. There was a true give and take between the two of them. There were also other characters whose story arc was just as interesting. I loved how the writers helped me to see them as real people, and not just sacrifices keep Hyakkimaru's swords sharp or fillers for an empty space. All foil characters had personalities, emotions, goals, needs, and backgrounds.
Enjoyment: 9
I really enjoyed this anime and everything about it: the fighting, the sword clashing, and the highs and lows the characters went through. So authentic until I felt I was there. I literally cried during the last episode, and I don't cry often! Again, there were a few snags, but that didn't take away from enjoying this anime.
Final Score: Solid 9!
If you're looking for serious anime that explores serious and dark themes instead of the slice of life, then you might enjoy this anime. The fighting scenes are pretty solid. There were very few times where it felt awkward or dragging on for too long. The incredibly detailed artwork and clear sound make you feel as if you're there, safely watching everything happen. The anime definitely is a fine example of how two main characters can share the spotlight instead of the same old hero/heroine and sidekick pairings.
Aug 12, 2019
Dororo is an anime filled with things that are missing at times in gritty animes: the balance between action and character development, solid to great fighting sequences, and making sure every episode has scenes, subplots, and minor (foil) characters have a clear purpose. So if you're searching for all of those things, you've found the right anime to watch. This anime would be a good case study for any aspiring writer of film or animation to study so they don't fall down the rabbit hole like Michael Bay (director of Transformers films) and several others have done.
Story Arc: 9 The overall story of the anime is ... |
