So I’ve just finish watching the anime....

... and I have to say, hands down this is one of the best anime I’ve watched so far (second to only the first season of Code Geass).

The characters in this show were all very nuanced and multi-layered. The story was devoid of major plot holes although the use of ex-machina type mechanics which were never fully explained or hinted at did get kind of old. Each episode was thrilling and kept me watching not just because I wanted to see the ending, but also because I wanted to continue watching the journey. Themes of betrayal, sacrifice, needs of the many vs needs of the few, greed and ambition make this show a very Shakespearean one with numerous manifestations and eventual resolution of each thematic conflict. Hyakkimaru also showed consistent character development throughout the series and the plot was coherent from start to finish. Good buildup with a good payoff.

The only other critique I have is that the titular character, Dororo, is shown to be a very undeveloped character, which makes even stranger that the show was named after her when you could easily argue this show was about Hyakkimaru’s journey more than it was about hers. But other than that, wonderful premise with a wonderful story.

L3->8.1/10