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Year: 2015
Genre: Drama, Supernatural, Suspense
Episodes: 12
Rating: 4 out of 5
Death is a journey that we all must take. It is inevitable for the human race. We will all die one day. What is the afterlife like? If you believe in heaven and have done right in the world, your soul will go to the silver city and fly with the angels. You will go to hell if you have done wrong in the world.
Who do you think will judge your soul? Would it be an angel as you stand in line waiting for your fate? Does an angel have a book on your life and decide where you should go? What if your soul goes to a building where your soul is judged by a bartender. You will have to compete in a game against another person to prove where your soul will ultimately go. Death Parade is an anime where souls compete and judge each other with the decision of reincarnation or the void.
Overview
What is the afterlife like? After death, one believes they will go to heaven or hell. When someone dies, they are sent to Quindecim, a tower with many different and unique sets of bars run by bartenders. The bartenders are known as arbiters and are the ones that are tasked with judging one’s soul. The souls arrive in pairs and must compete in Death Games with their souls on the line. As the pair play, the secrets of their lives are revealed until they can be judged appropriately and either sent for reincarnation or banished into the void.
The series follows Decim, a lone bartender at one of the bars in the Quindecim. Decim has been passing judgment until one day, he has a soul he cannot judge. Decim’s boss decides that the best thing to do is to have the person become his assistant. During this time, the truth about the soul comes to light and might change how arbiters view judging different souls.
Review:
Let me tell you, Death Parade for me started off with a bang. That first episode was intense as you watched two people judged and whether their soul would be reincarnated or sent to the void. The structure of the show is fascinating to watch. First, each episode revolves around two people playing a game. Throughout the game, you learn about the person’s life and how they ultimately died. What I like about the show is that you might think that Decim is right in his decision, but something is always missing. The games are intense as you see someone’s ruthlessness or kindness come through. There were a few people I would’ve sent to the void, but then you question yourself because, once again, you don’t have the whole story, or there are minor details that are lost until the end of the show.
The second theme of the show is whether emotions should be correctly used to judge someone’s overall life. Nona believes that the system that they use can change. She believes that the arbiters need to really have the emotions of pain and happiness in them to properly judge. She sets Decim up with a Chiyuki to teach him about emotions and feelings. That final episode, all the feels come out. It was a touching episode because when Decim started crying, you wanted to cry with homeboy.
Let’s talk about some of these wild games that were played during the episode because they were intense as hell. The first episode started us off with a simple dart game. Yet, each place on the dart board corresponded with a body part, and the pain would be unbearable if you hit certain spots. Then there was a game that resembled an arcade, and homegirl beat the shit out of her opponent. You could tell that she was crazy. That is how the show is; it revolves around two people competing with each other as their truth comes out. Some people are diabolical. The episode that was air hockey was insane.
The animation is OUTSTANDING in this anime. It is so crisp, clean, and appealing to look at. First, the characters are drawn in a way that almost resembles their personalities. Maybe not their personalities, but their eyes are the ones where it is telling. Each one has a specific color, which seems freaky to look at but also appealing. The scenes are masterfully drawn and done. You could see the intensity of depression in each scene.
As far as the characters are concerned, none really stand out to you and wow you. They are pretty forgettable, and you will only remember them vaguely once you remember the show again. First, let’s start off with Decim. He is the bartender of the Quindecim bar and oversees the Death Games between people who have died and must be judged. His hobby is making mannequins that resemble guests who have made an impression on him. He is the main character as he is allowed or experimented on to gain human emotions.
The lead female is the lovely Chiyuki. She is a human who initially has no memory of her life or her real name and is simply referred to as “the black-haired woman.” She is given the task of working as an assistant at Quindecim. While watching the games, she helps Decim learn more about human emotions and behavior.
Let me state this really quick. If you know my reviews, you know I don’t listen too much to the opening or ending themes unless they have a catchy tune. Well, Death Parade has a really good theme that starts off strong. It would make Freddie Mercury blush with that opening. The opening theme is “Flyers” by Bradio, which seems to not fit the show’s overall theme, but it is fun to watch and listen to.
Death Parade is one of those anime that will have you think about life and death. Having people’s souls play games to be judged is a unique idea. Still, the show really plays on having human emotions and thoughts to properly judge. The animation and games of the show are the highlights, while the characters are somewhat forgettable.
