Story: 8/10
Don't let the opening deceive you, Death Parade is no fun and games. Each episode deals with a new pair of people sent to Quindecim, each with their own backgrounds shrouded in mystery, slowly unveiled piece by piece as the episode airs. Each episode is intense and emotional and provide valuable and interesting commentaries. Every episode has it own climax, keeping the person watching entertained all the way through. The anime, similar to Cowboy Bebop, becomes a linear story towards the end rather than episodic. The sudden turn is very good and the conclusion is one of the more satisfying of anime endings I've seen in a while, a definitive end. For only 12 episodes, the anime packs quite a punch. However, the short run time hinders possible development of characters and plot and I really wanted to see more of Quindecim explored and developed. It ended definitively, but I wouldn't mind a second season.
Art/Sound: 10/10
The animation is fluid and beautiful. The character designs are memorable. The soundtrack kicks in when it needs to but never overtakes the series. It''s a subtle yet effective work. This is one of the most gorgeous and vivid anime I've seen in a long while and is an excellent testament to modern 2D animation.
Characters: 7/10
Aside from Decim, who is a total bro and contender for anime protag of the year, the other characters don't really stand out. Not that they're bad characters, but there's just not enough time to flesh them out. In particular, I wanted to see more of Quin. I was excited when she showed up and thought she'd be waifu of the season, but she has like 3 minutes of screentime. The other protagonist, a girl who remains nameless for most of the series, is pretty good, but her story, while the focus of the series towards the end, is nothing groundbreaking though not bad. The minor characters are all leagues better developed than the mains.
Enjoyment: 9/10
Despite this, Death Parade is still one of the most fun, exciting, compelling, and thought provoking anime to come out in the last few years. As a nostalgiafag who gets a boner from 80's anime, that's saying a lot. Every episode has a definite conclusion and the episodic nature makes every episode fresh and exciting. There's never a slow moment. I appreciate that especially for such a short series. Though its time spent with you is brief, every second counts. I'm reminded of Baccano, another excellent short series.
Overall: 9/10
Death Parade has one of the best concepts I've heard and it delivers more or less. When it connects, it does so perfectly. The brief run time of the series is the only major flaw in that it ends a great series. The ending was definitive, but a second cour would be much appreciated. I love the setting, premise, and characters too much to deal with it all having ended already.
