Trigger warning for suicide and sexual assault.

We are absolutely starved of high-budget sci-fi thrillers, which is why the community latches onto any that come along. Heavenly Delusion seemed like it would break that unfortunate trend. This story takes place in a dystopian future where the civilization has been left in ruins. Mysteriously, a group of children has remained shielded from the desolation surrounding them nestled within an isolated facility, similar to a boarding school. Tokio, a young girl among them, threatens to disturb the tranquil life when she begins questioning the nature of their home.

Amidst Tokio's inner turmoil, a fellow student reveals that two individuals, one bearing a striking resemblance to her, will emerge from the outside to deliver them salvation. In a parallel narrative, we encounter Maru, a boy who is the spitting image of Tokio, traversing the desolated landscapes of Japan alongside Kiruko, his determined companion. Two-thirds of the anime's runtime follow their quests, intertwining two goals: Kiruko's relentless pursuit of both the elusive doctor who conducted an operation on her and the fabled paradise known as Heaven. A profound twist surfaces as Maru possesses an extraordinary ability: His touch becomes a lethal force against the man-eating monsters, grotesque creatures literally known as man-eaters.

Man-eaters manifest as enigmatic creatures with animalistic features, resembling ordinary animals but imbued with extraordinary abilities and characteristics. The designs of these monsters are captivating and unique, animated uncannily, showcasing an intriguing blend of aesthetics. While the anime provides limited insight into the origins and reasons for their existence, these formidable entities ruthlessly assault and consume human beings. Due to their resistance to conventional means.

The most engaging part of the show is seeing Maru and Kiruko traveling through the ruins of Tokyo. You get a sense of the fallen civilization. Their confrontations with man-eaters are both terrifying and thrilling. However, the fights should've been more strategizing on how they take down the monsters. Too often, it's just, let's figure out how the monster attacks, only for them to use brute force to kill it. In anime like this one, you can predict the heroes will come out on top; I wanted the HOW they win to be a little unpredictable. Regardless of the low stakes, the action choreography is fantastic! Production I.G. went all out with the sakuga. I don't know who they outsourced these scenes too, but they need them on more projects! The fight scenes are pretty brief because drama is the show's focus, but goddamn, they're a marvel to behold.

Before returning to Heavenly Delusion's positive aspects, I need to mention one problematic and pernicious part. Or, the "anime bullshit," as they call it. I was initially intrigued by the sci-fi transgender themes the anime introduces; however, as the show continued, it seemed only to be a vehicle for raunchy humor and fan service. There is nothing wrong with either of those, and the show balances the tone nicely. However, I was disappointed at the missed opportunity to develop its unique themes.

Kiruko was a fairly well developed character, and he had plenty of growth. However, it was incredibly uncomfortable how he felt attraction towards his sister, even kissing himself in the mirror, which shows his incestuous sexual interest. This scene and others (including one disturbing sexual assault) perpetuate a long-time transphobic belief. Speaking of incest, why the hell was Haru so attracted to Kiruko? Despite referring to her as his sister, he was blatantly in love with her—jumping at the opportunity to kiss and fondle her. One of the most controversial scenes of HBO's animated calamity "Velma" featured a character kissing someone going through a panic attack to wake her up. Maru does that same thing to Kiruko in this series, and none of you said a goddamn thing. It’s worth mentioning that neither episodes containing sensitive material, sexual assault or suicide, contained a forewarning.

Ok, my next gripe. I said there would only be one, but bear with me. As mentioned, about 25%-50% of the episodes occur in an orphanage-like compound where researchers and robots raise the kids. There are many characters in this side plot, but they lack personality or many distinguishable traits. There needed to be more character development, even for the central character Tokio. By the end of the season, these characters grew slightly, but even up until the open-ended finale they were merely reacting to their surrounds rather than playing an active role in their story. Most of the storyline is about the kids' relationships with one another, both romantic and sexual. Other than the rudimentary "loss of innocence" theme, I couldn't quite put my finger on the message or purpose. Though some have compared this plotline to The Promised Neverland, it has more in common with Darling in The Franxx, without silly sex mechas or bigotry.

The early parts of the story require A LOT of suspension of disbelief. Good luck! Some of the technology, contrived character choices, and medical miracles are very hard to take seriously. Some of the deaths were hilariously dumb. Not all of them were funny, some even heartfelt, but it's difficult not to roll your eyes at the absolute stupidity of some characters. From ignoring help from others to thinking it's a fantastic idea to wander into an empty space with a bloodthirsty monster alone. Occasionally, their I.Q. is on par with a baby. If they had the common sense of a doorknob, they could've avoided these tragic deaths… At least those characters provided unintentional humor amidst the chaos—too bad they were the punchline.

Heavely Delusion presents a dystopian world filled with potential and captivating elements. The animation and action sequences are genuinely thrilling, showcasing the skill and talent of the production team. However, the show needed to catch up in its writing. The missed opportunity to explore the thought-provoking transgender themes meaningfully is disappointing. The low stakes and uncomfortable scenes, including incestuous undertones, kept the lead characters from growing until the distressing last arc. Furthermore, the side plot in the compound lacked character development and failed to deliver a clear purpose. The overreliance on suspension of disbelief, uninteresting characters, and poorly written script lowered the overall enjoyment value. Despite some unintentional humor and moments of brilliance, Heavenly Delusion ultimately failed to reach its full potential.