Dorohedoro

A stylistic masterpiece! A uniquely flavored anime with a striking atmosphere that carefully balances gothic, punk, and grunge aesthetics with humor, warmth, and relatability. Even though the storyline is not the most layered or thought-provoking, the charisma of the world that Dorohedoro immerses you in keeps you invested in the anime nonetheless.

The way this world is presented is just so aesthetically creative and intriguing – I couldn't get enough of it. The split between the Hole and the Sorcerer's World is ambiguous and provoking. It makes me curious about the history of the world and what caused the rift between the two of them. Hell-based themes are prevalent in both of the worlds, which works within the context of the anime as a stylistic choice, but also prompts more questions. I can deduce how the world works through context – for example, the distinction between the different tiers of sorcerers and devils – but I can't get to the bottom of what exactly makes the world tick. The mystery of it all keeps me engaged and wanting to know more.

I thought the characters were also brilliantly designed, working seamlessly within the world and written in a way that oozes "cool" and "alternative" but likable nonetheless. While they are a bit one-dimensional in many cases (looking at you, Nikaido), the energy that each character adds to the big picture is tantamount. I think the pairing of Caiman with Nikaido works very well, but the antagonist duo of Shin and Noi work even better. One can tell that there is some subtlety to their relationship, although they are obviously foils of that of our main protagonist duo. That being said, I don't feel as if there is much depth to these characters, and that a few episodes in, you can get a good idea of each one. They are all quite transparent.

That is one potential critique of the anime – it lacks depth. There doesn't seem to be any thoughtful thematic messaging, nor are there any motifs that challenge the reader in any way. However, I argue that this is not exactly a bad thing, as the anime gives us more than enough for us to keep us satisfied through all the eye candy and visual aesthetic. The nature of this anime being a mystery, the central plot does a great job at hooking you in, as the anime does a good job bringing back the audience to the main problem at hand (hard to miss with the giant lizard head). I'm willing to forgive some of the questionable plot devices (Noi's end-all-be-all healing for example) because of how enjoyable the show is to watch!

It's a shame that we haven't gotten Season 2 yet because I'm hooked! Stylistically and creatively, this has to be one of my favorite watches in a while!