The story of Dororo was originally in a 1960s Manga, it had a more simplified design to it which was a massive rave then, but it was still a massively successful series that lasted 2 years, not staying too long and not wearing out its welcome. It was later adapted to an Anime of the same name in 1969, which was then remade into a Manga in 2018, that is still currently running(circa 2020) which this Anime is drawing from.
So what can I say about the remake of a remake that tells the tale of two very different people during the Waring States period of Japan?
This has to be one of the best Anime series I've seen in my lifetime!!! Studio MAPPA artfully takes myth, legend, history and fantasy, blending them together in a nearly perfect way that has had me floored from start to finish. The art style is gorgeous and gruesome in places, not pulling punches as so many would these days when depicting life during a war, it has traditional Japanese woodblock style art intermixed with detailed and flowing animation, outstanding Siubokuga (Japanese Ink Painting) scenes and stills that give looks on the characters, monsters and areas we explore each episode. Combine that with some classice anime Ultraviolence that gives proper context to it and pair that with religious symbolism throughout.
Add to this the delicately woven stories of the ambiguous central characters Hyakkimaru and Dororo and the detailed and sympathetic foils to the heroes in the wonderfully fleshed out list of side characters, the story of Dororo is one ANY Anime fan should watch and will love.
