What can I say? I didn’t expect much when I started, but it surprised me a whole lot. And now that I’ve watched the series twice already, I definitely think it is a masterpiece.
For starters, the story is wa~ay awesome. The plots, which are subplots that seem quite separate, intertwine into a unique story that combines action, comedy and fantasy quite artfully.
But that’s not it- each episode’s story is relayed in a fresh way; the sequencing of events might seem backward at times, but instead of clouding things, the episode becomes better. It’s literally like watching a story ‘unfold’. The studio told this story innovatively.
And by the way- if you like big, unpredictable surprises, DRRR is teeming with them.
For art, the style suits the story well. (I don’t have a critical eye for art…oops.) I can say though, that the backgrounds and layouts really did give to the whole mystical, intense atmosphere. The character styles are also distinct, there’s no ‘Change hair color. Ta-da! New person!’.
Now, for the part I like to discuss best- characters. Our protagonist Ryuugamine isn’t half bad, he’s relatable and is exactly what a kid going to an exciting place might seem like- complete with naivety, or so it seems. A thing about Ryuugamine is that he is realistic. I notice in some anime that characters’ circumstances do not justify their attitudes; this is not the case in DRRR’s cast. Reactions and emotions are well played, which means characters are for the most part well rounded. (And lovable.)
Let’s end this.
The main thing that, in my opinion, made this anime noteworthy was:
Story. Characters and art made it what it is, of course, but the story is ingenious.
A reason constituting for why I might not have enjoyed DRRR:
… I’m drawing up a total blank here... Right, it's that good.
So! My first, negative impression of DRRR being about gangs and thug life didn’t even last throughout episode one. You’ll definitely love DRRR at least a little.
