“Death Parade” is an older psychological thriller animated series created by Yuzuru Tachikawa, a director from the studio Madhouse. The series aired on January 10, 2015. “Death Parade” is based on an animated short film “Death Billiards”, which was another one of Yuzuru Tachikawa’s creations.
“Death Parade” is set in a bar named Quindecim, which is run by an Arbiter named Decim and his assistant, who is referred to as the “black-haired woman”. Arbiters are puppet-like entities with unique abilities that look and act somewhat like humans, but most of them lack human emotions. Each Arbiter runs a bar on a different floor of an unnamed building with the purpose of judging whether a soul, usually referred to as a customer, should be reincarnated or sent into the void to be completely erased.
Once the customers of the Arbiters arrive, they are forced to play a game chosen by roulette, their lives seemingly at risk. The winners and losers don’t matter to the Arbiters. They only care about what their customers do during their game. Arbiters believe that during a competitive environment where their lives are at stake, humans will reveal their true nature. After the game, the Arbiters will cast their judgment on the souls. To help the Arbiters make their decision, they are granted a part of their customer’s memory, but Arbiters can still be wrong and may occasionally make the wrong decision.
The first episode opens with the newlywed characters, Takashi and Machiko, who arrive at the Quindecim bar in different elevators. They have no memory of how they got there and no memory of most of their lives. They eventually encounter Decim, who they think is a bit weird due to his uniquely shaped irises and white-colored hair. Sitting down at the bar, they try to question Decim about where they are and how they got there, but Decim replies that he cannot disclose that information. After listing off the rules of the bar, Decim attempts to request the couple to spin the roulette to decide the game, but they ignore him and attempt to find an exit to the building, ending up unsuccessful. Returning to Decim they try to threaten him, but he is unphased and eventually convinces them to spin the roulette. The game that is chosen is darts, but as an added twist, each part of the board corresponds to a body part on the other player’s body, inflicting pain based on the amount of points scored. After many twists, turns, and near assault, which Decim had to stop, the game ends. Decim then decides who goes in what elevator and the episode ends as the elevator doors shut, blocking out the view of Takashi’s unconscious body, and Machiko’s regretful face.
“Death Parade” is definitely not meant for people of too light of heart and not all audiences will find it entertaining. “Death Parade” may have a chaotic and sometimes confusing storyline, but illustrates the lonely and tragic life of a near-emotionless puppet slowly learning what emotions are and how important they are in everyday life. While expertly portraying multiple tones and themes, “Death Parade” certainly doesn’t slack off on other things that make a series stunning. It has stunning visuals and surprisingly in-depth knowledge of thriller elements to further complement the feeling of immersion and realism the show offers.
Visuals in any sort of media are extremely important in gaining an audience’s attention, and while visuals aren’t necessarily the most important part of a series, they certainly hold a lot of influence on a series’ general feeling and tone. “Death Parade” is illustrated in a semi-realistic fashion, which greatly enhances the feeling of realism and relatability with the characters and their stories. From grand openings with vibrant, fiery explosions to dark and gloomy elevator endings, “Death Parade” illustrates how things can feel dark, dull, and gray when someone is feeling melancholy, and uses vibrant, flashy colors when characters reach their happiest ending.
Characters in “Death Parade” change every episode, but none of them are forgettable. “Death Parade” shows us each character’s stories in the form of flashbacks. Each flashback fleshes each character out, making them feel more and more relatable. Living through each flashback, both the good and the bad, allows the audience to see that the characters aren’t just one-time appearances to entertain the audience, but instead are people that have dreams and motivations.
People love thrillers, be it shows, books, or movies, and “Death Parade” definitely shines in its own unique way. Using heightened emotions, high stakes, and dramatic plots, “Death Parade” attracts and retains the audience's attention. Of course, like all good thrillers, “Death Parade” dives into many different other genres like as mystery, crime, and action, but plays a bit with the classic thriller formula, blending all of these genres into a flavorful mass that attracts viewers like a moth to a flame.
Overall, “Death Parade” is definitely not a mind-blowing show that would leave a mark on history, but it has its own unique charm that most mainstream media lacks. Through dynamic, fleshed-out characters and a potent, passionate display of emotions, “Death Parade” burns its own little home into viewer’s hearts, definitely becoming something utterly unforgettable.
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