Dororo

The greedy samurai lord Daigo Kagemitsu's land is dying, and he would do anything for power, even renounce Buddha and make a pact with demons. His prayers are answered by 12 demons who grant him the power he desires by aiding his prefecture's growth, but at a price. When Kagemitsu's first son is born, the boy has no limbs, no nose, no eyes, no ears, nor even skin—yet still, he lives.

This child is disposed of in a river and forgotten. But as luck would have it, he is saved by a medicine man who provides him with prosthetics and weapons, allowing for him to survive and fend for himself. The boy lives and grows, and although he cannot see, hear, or feel anything, he must defeat the demons that took him as sacrifice. With the death of each one, he regains a part of himself that is rightfully his. For many years he wanders alone, until one day an orphan boy, Dororo, befriends him. The unlikely pair of castaways now fight for their survival and humanity in an unforgiving, demon-infested world.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Hyakkimaru Main

Suzuki, Hiroki Japanese

Dororo Main

Suzuki, Rio Japanese

Mio Supporting

Mizuki, Nana Japanese

Biwamaru Supporting

Sasaki, Mutsumi Japanese

Tahoumaru Supporting

Chiba, Shouya Japanese

Jukai Supporting

Ootsuka, Akio Japanese

Nuinokata Supporting

Nakamura, Chie Japanese

Midoro Supporting

Mutsu Supporting

Munakata, Mariko Japanese

Itachi Supporting

Satou, Setsuji Japanese

Yamamoto, Kouji Producer, Planning

Ootsuka, Manabu Producer, Planning

Matsunaga, Masato Producer, Production Coordination, Production Assistant

Furuhashi, Kazuhiro Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Reviews

May 10, 2024

Latooq

Recommended

The worst thing that could possibly happen to a certain anime is to have a much more popular show that airs in the same season. In other words, if your show isn't a brainless battle shonen it will definitely be overshadowed. But a lot of times it only takes the show itself to make even fans fall out of love with it. And Dororo fans can blame Demon slayer for hogging all the attention, but there is more to this.

The story takes place in medieval Japan where all the feudal lords decided to play Civilization 6 IRL instead of doing something meaningful. One of them ... being on the verge of loosing resorts to cheating; it is asking demons for help and promising everything in return. Later on, his wife gives a birth to his son, who have no eyes, no nose, no skin, and no limbs. The son became a victim of his father's promise and Daigo happily accepts this outcome in anticipation of prosperity the demons will give him, which makes him the worst father since Evangelion. In the end, the newborn baby is adopted by a craftsman who replaces all the missing parts with prosthesis. After growing up, Hyakkimaru embarks upon a journey to recover his body parts, but given how superior these prosthesis are in this setting I wander why he would risk his life to recover them.

The story structure of finding and killing demons is the only thing this anime has in common with Demon slayer. The fight scenes aren't the selling point here but rather the wholesome sibling-like ( not anime-like ) relationship between Hyakkimaru and Dororo, the side stories, which greatly affect the main duo, and the emotional satisfaction from seeing Hyakkimaru recovering his senses and experiencing rain for the first time. In addition all of that is complemented by the confidence of the direction, the amazing cinematography, and the music. The technical execution can't be separated from the story and vice versa. They complete each other just like pineapples complete the pizza. And if you had to suppress your urge to vomit upon reading my analogy, there is a chance you are not going to enjoy the first part as much as I did.

During the production of the second part, Mappa employees realized that they are doing Attack on Titan next year so Dororo was handed to art college students as their assignment. Only this can explain why the anime has lost all its charm. "Bad" would be a wrong word to describe it, "unimpressive" is more fitting. The story got repetitive, the character development got stale, the first opening could've been used in the second cour, but it was replaced with the forgettable one. The biggest issue is probably the "central" storyline, which despite having the most screen time made no impression on me. This is just a bunch of sticks duct-taped together that was supposed to morally challenge the viewers but, unfortunately, it fell short. One arc shows the exact same situation, where few innocent people get sacrificed in order to keep the rest save, and the show never tries to build a conflict out of it and doesn't justify anyone. The "core" storyline, on the other hand, where Hyakkimaru is learning the difference between being a human and having a human appearance is much more personal and thus more captivating.

The high quality gets back in the third part. And even if the second part already left a bad taste in my mouth, I still can't say that the weakest parts eclipse the strongest ones. I will forget the lows anyway but I will still remember Dororo for its highs. It's also nice to see a finished anime every once in a while, although, the ending is open so there can be a sequel, I would prefer Mappa to make OVAs which would fix the middle part.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Oct 28, 2023

knarf_37

Mixed Feelings

"Dororo" is an anime that manages to captivate viewers with its unique blend of dark fantasy and historical storytelling, while also leaving room for some critical scrutiny.

On the positive side, "Dororo" boasts a fascinating and intricate premise that takes place in feudal Japan, where a ronin named Hyakkimaru battles against demons to reclaim his stolen body parts in a Faustian-style pact. The character development is impressive, as we witness the moral complexities of both Hyakkimaru and his companion, Dororo. The animation is well-crafted, particularly during the intense battles with supernatural beings, and the show's ability to transport viewers to the grim and atmospheric world of ... samurai-era Japan is truly commendable.

However, "Dororo" does have its drawbacks. The pacing can be uneven, with certain episodes feeling slow and drawn out, while others rush through critical plot points. This inconsistency may make it challenging for some viewers to stay engaged. Additionally, the character development and relationships, while compelling, could benefit from more exploration and depth. The supporting cast often feels underutilized, which leaves viewers wanting more.

In the end, despite its shortcomings, "Dororo" is a series worth watching, especially for fans of dark fantasy and historical settings. If you can overlook occasional pacing issues and are interested in a unique take on the classic tale of demons and revenge, "Dororo" has much to offer. It's a solid recommendation for those who appreciate complex characters and are willing to invest in a storyline that fuses action, supernatural elements, and the moral dilemmas of its protagonists.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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Jun 29, 2024

colelouch

Not Recommended

After a 12-hour marathon of the series with Gigguk, I found that while the show has a lot of potential, it's hindered by a low budget, inconsistent animation, and poor pacing in the storytelling. The initial concept is straightforward yet rich with potential: A daimyo sacrifices his firstborn child to demons in exchange for power and prosperity, and the child must battle 12 demons to regain his humanity. The title "Dororo" doesn't hold much significance for me, even though some argue that Dororo is Hyakkimaru's reason to fight and stay sane. In truth, it's his family's rejection and his adoptive father's world that ground Hyakkimaru. ... Aside from treasure hunting and a tragic past, Dororo doesn't add much to the story.

The anime can be divided into two arcs. The first 12 episodes are definitely the high point. Despite some inconsistent animation and odd pacing, the plot has a clear focus, and each standalone episode is memorable with just the right amount of brutality and fatality. The animation quality in the second arc decreases significantly; episode 15 has become a meme in the anime community, even though plot-wise, it's a good episode. The latter half's animation quality is acceptable, but the plot feels somewhat aimless. The final climax is also dull, with many characters making questionable decisions. Overall, with a better budget, animation, and pacing, this show could be much better because some standalone episodes have really good plots. I was surprised to see it has such a high score on MyAnimeList.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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