Warning: might contain moderate spoilers.
What does it take to create something that, in all its horror, chaos and disturbing imagery, can enrapture the witness with such ease?
From its starting pages and frames, Dorohedoro presents itself as sincerely brutal and shocking. What also becomes immediately obvious is that every character involved in this tangled mess of a world has a well defined and charming personality. Stripped of any unnecessary baggage, the people swept into Kaiman's attempt to discover his true self experience a world that isn't ready for their own form of insanity. Mind you, no character in this story would be considered remotely normal
...
in any other setting. They come from a world beyond post-apocalyptic, a world where fear and body horror are the norm, a world that is nevertheless their home. Their actions, reactions, thoughts and impulses are all based on the previous experiences that have twisted them into the lovable family of Dorohedoro.
Aptly named Hole, the human realm is haunted by the ever looming shadow of the sorcerer realm, a world where magic dictates rank. Used as guinea pigs for practice, the humans of Hole have become accustomed to living in distress and terror of the magic mongrels who have no gripes with mutilating and destroying any human being. At first glance, one might think these sorcerers are just magical humans too, but the truth is more twisted..
Hole is the perfect setting to start off Dorohedoro. It's the most cyberpunk world colored without blatant use of technological advancement. In fact, it's seldom present, mostly seen under the form of a few elements of the magical world. From the oppressed low-lives to the extreme body alterations that occur to the sense of fashion of the characters and even some vehicles used, everything about Dorohedoro screams cyberpunk. Replace androids with giant bugs, the elite with hell's own devils, the split society with Hole and the sorcerer's realm and you have the perfect formula. It's honestly not surprising, since Q. Hayashida did study manga under Tsutomu Nihei, the creator of Blame! and Knights of Sidonia. However, while Nihei's influence is present, make no mistake. Hayashida creates her own story, her own world and characters, unique and ever lovable. While never mentioned in the manga or anime, this world's God does exist - it's Hayashida herself. She controls everything and molds it to her own exciting ideas. She writes every moment with a passion I've rarely felt transposed through panels or lines of dialogue. She presents a fleshed out world through actions, stories, designs and characters. The injustice occurring in Hole is one that holds deep roots in this world's creation and is one of trigger points of the story we follow. Dorohedoro might be more cyberpunk than some more visually appealing stories; it removes the neon lights, the glamour and nostalgia and throws the witness deep into the chaos, fear and hatred between the multiple factions involved while still looking sharp and occasionally riding flying hot rods.
What keeps this setting from being utterly depressing and nihilisitic are the characters and the bonds they form; their interactions and dynamics are what keeps the witness enamored all throughout the episodes or panels. Make no mistake, some of them are not good people. But they're not really bad either. Not really. In fact, each perspective is given a chance to make its case. What separates Dorohedoro from other similar stories is that it's hard to pinpoint one pure form of evil in this world. Well.. if you ignore the ever haunting presence of one satan-esque figure that will make their presence felt soon (perhaps).
These characters are not just proactive in their adventure, they are proactive with each other, they help each other grow and evolve through their dynamics and dialogue, they change each other's lives irreversibly. Kaiman just fell into Nikaido's life one day bringing back the past she tried to run away from. But instead of making her run away further, he contributes to her finding the strength and courage to slowly embrace it and take advantage of it.
And Kaiman's a goof. A tough, dangerous, lizard-headed goof. His love of food makes the witness dream of gyoza. But there's much more to him than that. For his strong loyalty and devil-may-care attitude only scratch the surface of a much darker past..
Nikaido, as Kaiman, is one of the leading characters who, using her almost ironically bubbly personality, keeps Kaiman rooted in reality and never gives up on helping him find his true identity. She's not only takes matters in her own hands often, but also pushes other characters to change and take action. What's more, Nikaido is a fighter and a good one at that. She can and will crush anyone in her way. Much like Kaiman, she doesn't deal well with nonesense and won't take anyone's BS.
While Kaiman is the protagonist in the series, their roles occasionally switch along with their dynamics and we see Nikaido's journey as fleshed out as Kaiman's.
But they're not the only pair of characters that grab the witness by the collar through their chemistry and banter.. So, it's time to address the elephant in the room.
Ask many already existing Dorohedoro fans who their favorite character(s) are and you'll often hear two names: Shin and Noi.
The two perpetually deranged cleaners of En share not only a partnership but a connection that often leaves the witness longing. Their impressive figures are contrasted by their often childish personalities and cutesy faces. Yeah, really. Who'd guess these two are capable of such horrible things just by looking at their faces? If you ignore their muscles and extreme magical powers, they're just two people having fun doing what they like, while enjoying each other's presence and food.
For a couple of absolute maniacs, they are surprisingly caring and involved in other characters' lives, a fact which slowly becomes evident as the story progresses. They not only look out for each other, but they will also help others who are more or less close to them, be they happy about it or not. What's more, they aren't your run-of-the-mil psychopaths that some anime or manga fans might be used to. There is much more about them, they're fully fleshed out people, with somewhat troubled pasts, with connections and principles. One thing that becomes immediately evident is the refusal to use magic against the powerless. While not really excusable, they choose to enforce their murderous intent through purely physical means. Physical being the keyword. With physiques straight out of Ancient Greece, the two cleaners can easily take on any opponent. Well, almost.. Well, at first anyway. Because, what's also great about them is that they're not an OP'd Mary Sue/Gary Stue pair. They often suffer damage at the hands of other characters, including our very own Kaiman and Nikaido.
But about that elephant.. "SENPAI!". Now, wait just a second. This isn't your run of the mill typical shonen romance. But something's there. And it's slowly forming. And, as many DRHDR fans might agree with, their chemistry isn't one of pure friends. While Shin's somewhat shy and tough guy personality prevents him from being very open about any possible interest in Noi, she on the other hand is somewhat more open about her appreciation for the bespectacled killer.
In fact, one of DRHDR's themes I feel is the dynamic between men and women. Sounds kind of cheesy, right? You'd be surprised! Even from the first couple of episodes, it's made clear that the relationship between Kaiman and Nikaido is one of pure friendship and care. Their relationship is explored throughout the story through the actions and decisions of the characters. While rarely put at the forefront of the adventure, perhaps only for more comedic purposes, DRHDR's pairs are often share a chemistry unique only to their circumstances. From Ebisu and Fujita's like-hate relationship to En's odd affection for the small Kikurage, each character is pushed to grow and develop more through their relationship with their "pair". I say "pair", because, to an extent, it all remains enshadowed in ambiguity
The ambiguity of DRHDR is one aspect that really adds to the world's cohesive structure. Now, I'm somewhat reticent about using this term. Witnessing it used as an excuse for poor writing at times or as justification for otherwise mediocre stories, it's become a tough pill to swallow.
While possibly turning some people off, there's seldom a clear villain. There are antagonists, yes. But what becomes clear quicly is that even they get the chance to shine as protagonists. We experience their lives, their feelings, their emotions and intentions. They're not much different than the witness. They are, for all intents and purposes, human. There is not one cardboard cutout character in the main cast and, aside from a couple of scarce episodic characters, most have a chance to show off their true colors.
And colors are plenty. For all the darkness, horror and disturbing imagery, Dorohedoro is colored with love. The love of its creator, the love of the studio adapting it and the love of its fans. Hell, even the characters' love for one another seeps through the screen or pages. It's clear and visible to anyone that this is a story that took a lot of heart. Through dialogue, action and visuals, the magnetic personalities of the characters and the fascinatingly unique setting capture the witness like dark and muddy waters on a stormy night.
And speaking of visuals.. I guess there were two elephants in this room. One was you and one was I. I mean, it's not what some might have wanted. Judging by the relatively low (by MAL standards) score that Dorohedoro currently has, it's not hard to imagine why. Such a charming story can't possibly be disliked by people, right? Well, it's not the story that's the problem for some.. it's the medium. The err "2.5" CG used to bring the story to life is maybe not the best looking I've seen. Sure, it's much better than Berserk's sequels or Kenran Ashura, but it's definitely no beautiful 2D rendition as some more popular shows enjoy.
While I'm personally not bothered by the use of CG when used correctly and aesthetically, there are a few aspects that jump out. The use of 12 fps is often discussed as faulty use of CG. Why not, after all, take full advantage of the medium and refrain from trying to copy 2D animation? While the explanation might be found in studio MAPPA's use of 3D and 2D animation combined at times, one can't help but notice it's at times a little janky.
If one aspect were to suffer most because of this, it's the detailed and often literally sketchy art of DRHDR. Q. Hayashida's style is reminiscent of Nihei's own, while more chaotic, dynamic and cute. Yes, the characters are pretty cute, aren't they? Just look at those happy faces!
The anime unfortunately doesn't fully make use of her art. In fact, it would be pretty difficult to do her very detailed and intense art justice.
I've seen complaints, many complaints about the characters looking a little.. thick. People often bring up that especially the female characters look a little thinner in the manga.
And, while at times, I can sort of understand what would make them think that - which is something I'd attribute to the studio's possible lack of experience using 3D - the character designs do share one consistent aspect with the source material: they're not always consistent.
The manga's dynamic aesthetic allows for the characters to occasionally morph their appearances and sometimes, especially in earlier chapters, their designs don't always perfectly hold up.
In this regard I'd say, even if intentional or not, the anime manages to mimic the charm of its manga counterpart.
But fat? Well.. Take one look at Noi and myre those muscles. Pure physique. Most of the main cast is designed to seem imposing and strong. I remember one specific spread that actually puts them in order from tallest/largest to smallest. It really is the little things. Well, large. Strong. The big things. Big is sometimes better. Both Nikaido and Noi maintain their cuteness and charm, even if the 3D medium is not always the most flattering.
And yet, despite it's visual flaws, you can't help to fall in love with it. Sure, the anime is a little faster paced than the manga and, at times, it feels like I'm watching these lives evolve on fast forward, but there is nothing here but passion and an adventure damn worth experiencing.
For what it is, Dorohedoro is an adaptation that speaks to the already existing fans of the manga, at least. The charm is there, the love is there. The little details that made the manga an absolute blast are present. Adaptation alterations aside, the series retains its essence. While MAPPA is notorious for failing to live up to what they usually build up in their TV anime, as long as they keep a close eye on the source material, they're bound to create a great adaptation.
Would I necessarily recommend this to anyone? Well.. why not? Based on the initial reactions to it, you'd think nobody would have praised it by the end, right? But it's Q.H.'s mastery and the respect that MAPPA has for the work of art that makes it stand out and shine.
Would I want everyone to watch, read and enjoy Dorohedoro? HELL YES!
It's absolutely one of the most charming, intriguing, captivating and magnetic stories I've ever read and watched. And I can only wish that more people felt the same way.
So, what did we learn from this first season?
Kaiman cares about his spikes.
En wouldn't do a great job adapting the series.
Eating sorcerer meat pie makes you sick.
Noi looks good no matter what she's wearing.
What will learn in Season 2?
Well, that's for the manga fans to know and for you to find out.
Now go read the manga and eat some gyoza.
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Mar 30, 2020
Dorohedoro
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Warning: might contain moderate spoilers.
What does it take to create something that, in all its horror, chaos and disturbing imagery, can enrapture the witness with such ease? From its starting pages and frames, Dorohedoro presents itself as sincerely brutal and shocking. What also becomes immediately obvious is that every character involved in this tangled mess of a world has a well defined and charming personality. Stripped of any unnecessary baggage, the people swept into Kaiman's attempt to discover his true self experience a world that isn't ready for their own form of insanity. Mind you, no character in this story would be considered remotely normal ... 
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