Anime ● Review: Death Parade

Very Average Joe
Jun 24
3 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

English Title: Death Parade

Japanese Title: デス・パレード

Director(s): Tachikawa Yuzuru

Screenwriter(s): Tachikawa Yuzuru

Studio: Madhouse

Released: 2015

Runtime: 12 episodes, ~23m each.

Starring: Maeno Tomoaki, Seto Asami, Ookubo Rumi

My Verdict: Afterlife and judgement psychological thriller. Visually solid. Mildly intriguing initially but not particularly gripping. Overall, tries a bit too hard.

● In the opening episode, a couple turns up at a nice-looking bar without any memory of how they got there. The bartender, Decim, informs the couple that they must play a game in which they stake their lives. The couple is actually dead and this is a form of judgement in which Decim, an arbiter, decides whether their souls are to be reincarnated or go down into the void.

● A premise involving judgement in the afterlife is not new. Setting aside arguments against reincarnation, judgement as a process that takes a short period of time makes sense; after all, not all issues are resolved in this life.

● Although the premise is fine for the purposes of drama and exploring the human condition, the problem is that arbiters like Decim can make mistakes in their judgements. As such, this process then comes across as a mere extension of this life. Generally, I try not to question the premise too much but this is one of those cases where it is difficult to buy into it.

● The other problem is that arbiters are given the memories of those they judge and yet they behave as if they don’t know it all.

● Although Decim is honest and serious, he does not appreciate human emotions enough. This is not entirely inappropriate as those who judge should not be swayed by emotions. One of the points of the series is that there is the important distinction between understanding someone intellectually and relating to them emotionally. It is a valid point but it is too much of a weakness for an arbiter.

● So, whilst there is the episodic approach that feels like “judgement of the week”, there is a sort of arc that deals with the above. This is done by having Nona, a fellow arbiter, introduce to Decim a young woman referred to as the “Assistant”. She is human and has her own story, and her presence and observations impact Decim.

● The first episode deals with the couple. The second episode is the same case but from the perspective of the Assistant. Other than that, the series mostly takes the episodic approach. This is compensated or cushioned by the Assistant and the personal development of Decim.

● Visually, it is solid. The linework and rendering are nice with good use of 3D. The tone is dark with some grit but this is measured. Along with stark highlights and the use of diffuse glow, it has that surreal effect fitting to the genre. There are instances of cool tracking shots too. Overall, it looks slick.

● There is a decent amount of imagery, religious, mythical or otherwise, but there doesn’t seem to be a consistent focus throughout.

● Each episode is generally paced well enough, gradually revealing the lives of those who are being judged. Initially at least, it is not a bad exploration of the human condition even if it is arguably a little superficial. But, on balance, the premise is a bit of a stretch and therefore a little pretentious for the sake of being a psychological thriller.

● The first two episodes are the best, and whilst Decim and the Assistant have an arc to try to give the series some sort of frame and focus, it is not enough to truly lift the series.