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Apr 3, 2015
It is instinctive for an animal to want to survive. Humans are not excluded from this. When a human’s life is put on the line, the human may take actions uncharacteristic to his or her self, to assure his or her survival. The anime Death Parade displays this darker, more primitive side of humans through everyday games such as darts.
Death Parade provides an interesting take on the events following one’s death. The deceased are sent to the bar, Quindecim, to be judged by the bartender known as Decim. Those who are to be judged are sent in pairs, and asked to participate in a game
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that puts their lives on the line. They are ignorant, however, of the fact they are already dead. The belief that one is participating in a death game brings out a disturbing, yet real side of humans. The participants of the death games throughout the series are often introduced as civilized, well-mannered people. Nevertheless, these first impressions only show a superficial side of the participants, and there is much more to them than it seems. As the game progresses, the participants are sent into an array of extremities that serve no purpose other than to bring out the real side of them, which they are judged by. From jealousy to the downright desire to kill, many dark themes are displayed by the participants in the series. The validity of this series is fascinating, and it gives a very real message about the nature of human beings.
The story of Death Parade is episodic for the majority of the series. Small similarities here and there can be found, but no real connection between episodes is present until very late into the series. A problem I had with the show dealt with this. An issue would be brought up that could potentially drive the story only to be dismissed as a trivial matter. This left many unanswered questions at the end of the series, as many of these issues were completely ignored. After many games are played, the focus of the story is redirected towards a black haired woman, whose name is not revealed until late in the show. Her reason for being at Quindecim and other issues are explained in the latter part of the show.
The biggest problem with the show was the characters. A very interesting cast of characters are introduced in the beginning only to be ignored. While Decim and the black haired woman had major development towards the end of the series, characters such as Nona or Ginti are left untouched. As they are also listed as main characters, Ginti and more specifically Nona should have had much more screen time. Nona was named the leader of the place, but did not act much at all. Another lackluster character was Oculus. His background is left unexplained and the motives for his actions in the latter part of the show are questionable. With that being said, the main arbiter per se ,Decim, is developed exceptionally as the story progresses. His time with the mysterious black haired woman leads him to question his ways as an arbiter. By the end of the show, he is a completely different than the emotionless arbiter he was at the start. Another strong side of the characters was the people being judged. As mentioned earlier, their actions were very real and delivered a strong message about humans. Moreover, it was hard not to be drawn to the game participants as their stories were revealed. Whether it was devoting one’s whole life to a loved one, or seeking out revenge for a loved one, it was heartbreaking that some of these characters had to die.
There is nothing to complain about when it comes to the art and animation of Death Parade. Everything is well drawn and it was a pleasure to watch the animation of the games. The same can be said for the sound. The original soundtracks add to the intensity of the games and the ominous feeling delivered by the atmosphere. The opening “Flyers” by BRADIO is the kind of song that one can listen to on repeat many times over. I will say, though, that it does not fit the story in any way, shape, or form.
Death Parade is definitely something that you should consider watching. Although somewhat flawed in certain areas, it is entertaining and provides a deep message concerning humans. Go watch it now and you’ll be in for a ride.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 4, 2014
Hyouka involves an "energy-conserving" protagonist in Oreki Houtarou. Put bluntly, he is lazy. He will not do anything unless he has to, and if he has a task to do, he will complete it in a swift, efficient fashion. That is his motto. "If I don't have to do it, I won't. If I have to do it, I'll make it quick" This all changes in his joining of the Classics Club.
The story of Hyouka revolves around the Classics Club and its members--mainly focused around Oreki Houtarou and Chitanda Eru. Chitanda's endless curiosity leads to the demise of his lifestyle, as he is coveted into
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solving each and every one of her inquiries. This setup is problematic as it often leads to the anime being episodic as the it progresses. Often times as I was watching the series, I found myself checking the previous episode because I felt I had skipped an episode due to the lack of connection between each one. That was only a minor problem, however, and it sometimes was dealt with through multiple-episode arcs such as the Hyouka mystery, or the thief of the Cultural Festival.The mysteries were by far my favorite part of the anime. They exercise your brain by making you think, and it is very entertaining as Houtarou uses his to solve them. That is the premise of Hyouka--Chitanda becoming curious, and Houtarou succumbing to it.
The other two members of the Classics Club are Fukube Satoshi and Ibara Mayaka. Satoshi considers himself a "database" and limits himself to not drawing conclusions. I found him to be entertaining and likable as he often uses this as an excuse for his incompetence, leaving Houtarou to finish off the mystery. Mayaka is a hardworking girl, who is strict with herself and sometimes others. I will not say I disliked her, but I felt she had no part in the solving of the mysteries. As a whole, the cast of Hyouka levels out to be exceptional, and they kept me entertained throughout the whole anime.
The art style of Hyouka is well-done, especially with the character designs. I wouldn't say it's beautiful, but you should have no complaints with the art if you decide to watch the series. It is a relatively new anime, so if high-quality is your cup of tea, Hyouka is for you. The soundtrack was decent. I never skipped the openings, mainly because I never do, but the first opening I enjoyed a lot. The original soundtracks were good, especially when it came to solving mysteries. As a whole, the art and soundtrack is not amazing, but is in no means bad, and was executed properly. If you are planning to watch this show, they should pose no problem at all.
Overall, Hyouka is an anime in which you can relax and think at the same time. It combined the genres of mystery and slice-of-life, and executed them perfectly. As for my enjoyment, Hyouka is a great watch. I was never once bored during it. If you're planning to watch it, I would highly recommend it, whether you want to think or relax.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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