It’s hard to call this show “new” and “refreshing” since it’s almost three decades old. The manga originally ran from 1988 to 1995, but it is only now getting an anime adaption. However, it seems to have been updated slightly to fit modern times, seeing as everyone is running around with smartphones and tablets.
The show starts off with some sketchy moments that made me doubt the direction that this anime was going to go in. The very first scene of the anime shows a parasite infected husband eating his wife’s head off, then proceeding to kill their daughter. And after the main character, Shinichi Izumi, has his right hand infected with a parasite, his errant hand grabs his lady friend’s breasts. Being the cynic that I am, it honestly made me think it was going to be THAT kind of anime: full of extreme violence and sex with not an ounce of substance in sight. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Out of place sexual fanservice is almost non-existent. In addition, while the anime is pretty violent, it doesn’t feel gimmicky and ham-fisted. There’s nothing in Parasyte that is on the level of the fingernail scene in Higurashi or the scene with the puppy in Elfen Lied for example.
The first thing you’ll notice about this anime is the amazing art and vivid animation. The character designs are all very realistic (barring some funky hair colors): no impossible proportions or humongous eyes. Of course, sometimes anime with such an art style can fall into the trap of making the characters look too similar, making it hard to differentiate between even the important members of the story. This isn’t the case in this anime. Each character has a simple yet unique and memorable design. Whether it is Reiko’s intense look and striking beauty, Nobuko’s prominent scar, Mamoru’s rosy cheeks, Satomi’s funky yet cute hairstyle, Kana and Mitsuo’s sense of fashion, or Gotou’s intense facial features, each character has a unique trait that sets them apart from the rest. It’s interesting to note that Shinichi’s distinct feature changes over the course of the anime. First it’s his glasses, then his hairstyle, then the scar he acquires near the end of the anime.
The story is an intense, well executed, and well-paced psychological horror that keeps you hooked from the very beginning. Strange creatures known as parasites kill and hijack a human host’s body and then must sustain themselves by killing and feeding on other humans. However Shinichi Izumi’s parasite fails to hijack his brain and instead lodges itself in his hand. They reluctantly band together in order to protect themselves from other parasites who are beyond reasoning with.
The premise is pretty simple but this works in the anime’s favor. The parasites are creepy, yet fascinating creatures and seeing their evolution throughout the anime serves as the core of the series. The series never really seems to reach any slow, unexciting points. There always seems to be something going on yet it doesn’t feel like it moves too quickly either. There are some hidden messages in the story dealing with environmentalism. The parasites frequently compare their feasting on humans to humans killing and eating other life forms such as cows and pigs, as well as their casual disregard for the environment. While this makes Shinichi and the viewer think about and question the value of a life, it’s a plot element that’s mostly just sprinkled in. It’s never really developed into a message that will stay with the viewer after they’ve finished the anime.
Despite being a horror/sci-fi film, it develops and handles romance a lot better than some actual romance anime. Romantic relationships in anime are frequently unsatisfying. If two characters even end up being together at all, you rarely see them show each other any kind of affection. They’re usually too shy to do something as simple as holding hands. Then the anime ends before we can even see their relationship grow to the next level. Parasyte however, does an amazing job of building and showcasing relationships and sex, all without being childish or having its characters act like five year olds with crushes. It truly showcases a mature romantic relationship.
The ending does a fairly good job of tying up most of the loose ends. Although you can’t help but wonder about certain plot points that were never concluded or clarified. For example, learning more about the parasite's origins and body compositions would have been fascinating.
While the characters aren’t bad, most of them are very static and are either killed off, ignored, or barely change throughout the story. Shinichi and Migi are the two characters that change the most. Being infested with a parasite changes Shinichi and slowly saps away his humanity, empathy, and emotions. Most of his development involves trying to regain these qualities, while clinging to what little humanity he has left. Migi is the exact opposite. Migi is initially a life form with no remorse, empathy, or emotions. Migi only really cares about learning and surviving, it doesn’t matter who dies or who gets hurt so long as he and Shinichi live. It's interesting to see how interacting with Shinichi and observing other humans changes Migi for the better.
Another parasite with a similar development is Reiko Tamura (known earlier in the series as Ryoko Tamiya). This creepy, emotionless, woman is cold and calculating at the beginning of the series, much like all the other parasites. Changes to her character come about when she is impregnated early in the series and gives birth to a human baby. The treatment she gives this child is abhorrent at first, but slowly she too develops both a genuine maternal instinct and a true understanding of the relationship between humans and parasites.
Other characters of note aren’t given such treatment when it comes to their character development. A lot of the characters introduced either die or are largely ignored in the overarching story. For example, we barely learn about Mamoru Uda, a crucial ally to Shinichi and Migi. Satomi Murano also makes the most appearances behind the main characters and main antagonists. But we learn nothing of her life, backstory, or interests other than her complicated relationship with Shinichi. She is little more than a love interest for the main character. Cute and sweet as both these characters are, their lack of development was a wasted opportunity.
We also never learn why Mitsuo is such a douchebag, why Kana has the powers that she has, or why Nagai and a few of his fellow classmates have beef with the rest of Mitsuo’s gang. All of these are interesting plot points that the writers could have AT LEAST made a small nod to.
Last but not least is the sound. The soundtrack is a pretty mixed bag. There are some very good tracks that perfectly convey the anime’s creepy, intense mood, and then there are some really horrible, out of place dubstep tracks. The voice acting is great, with a diverse and lively cast of veterans and newcomers alike.
Parasyte is a rare gem of an anime that clearly sets itself apart from your average, run of the mill, throw away series that blends in with the giant mass of anime that gets thrown at us every season. It’s a memorable anime that doesn’t show its age in the least; an amazing example of great execution and engaging storytelling. And its full of memorable meme worthy scenes that you’ll be laughing about long after you finish, including (but certainly not limited to) the “Why are you talking to your penis” and “Who in the world holds a baby like that” scene.
Even despite its small flaws, it’s an anime that hooks you in keeps you interested for all 24 episodes.
