Welcome to another art post here in the community.
I have absolutely no idea why I hadn’t watched Dororo (2019) until now. I knew it was a remake of an old manga by Osamu Tezuka, the same creator of things like Astro Boy, so I confess I started it with low expectations, thinking it would be something lighter or outdated.
But I was so wrong.
Dororo is heavy.
It's dark and bloody.
At the same time, it manages to be extremely human and touching. It almost feels like someone took that dirty, melancholic spirit of Berserk, toned down the blind rage a bit, and replaced it with a more introspective look at what it means to be human, what it's like to lose everything and still have to move forward. And all of this is told fluidly in just 24 episodes. I can’t believe it took me this long to give it a shot.
The story revolves around Hyakkimaru, a man who was born without practically any parts of his body no skin, no eyes, no arms, no legs, no tongue, no hearing, nothing. That’s because his father, a greedy feudal lord, made a pact with 12 demons so that his land would prosper in exchange for his newborn son's body parts.
And of course, the demons accepted.
It’s one of the most brutal openings I’ve ever seen in an anime. Right from the start, you feel like there won’t be a happy ending.
But Hyakkimaru survives.
A doctor finds him, builds prosthetics for him, and teaches him how to survive.
For every demon he defeats, a part of his body is returned.
And so begins his journey to kill the demons and recover his humanity. Along the way, he meets Dororo, a street orphan with a bold attitude who becomes his companion on this bizarre path between the supernatural and the painfully real. And let me tell you... the relationship between the two is the soul of the anime. It’s not a forced friendship. It’s something that grows, shapes itself, suffers, and heals.
Hyakkimaru is practically mute during the first half of the series, since he doesn’t have hearing or a voice at the beginning. That might seem like a problem at first, but man, the way the anime conveys his pain, suffering, and struggle without him saying a word is absurd. His gaze, even without real eyes, says it all. When he finally regains part of his hearing and later his voice, it’s like you’re right there feeling everything with him.
Now, Dororo, the character, is a whole other story. At first, it seems like they’re just the typical comic relief, but over time you discover that the kid has an emotional burden just as heavy as the protagonist’s.
Their family story, what happened to their parents, and how they ended up living on the streets... it’s sad, revolting, and a gut punch.
And the coolest part is that the anime handles all this with respect, without forced melodrama.
Speaking of the animation it’s not perfect all the time, okay? There are a few episodes in the middle where you can see a dip in quality, especially in the faster action scenes. But overall, the direction makes up for it. There are beautiful shots, well-choreographed fights, and a visual care that matches the anime's dark, mythological tone. The aesthetic is kind of raw and gritty, but that’s intentional it pulls you right into that feudal Japan corrupted by greed, full of monsters, but where the real horror often comes from humans themselves.
Oh, and the soundtrack... man, what a banger of an opening! The first opening, "Kaen" by Queen Bee, throws you right into the vibe. It’s stylish, unsettling, full of energy. The background score during the episodes is also used really well. Awkward silences, tribal beats, distorted sounds all of it helps keep you immersed in that broken world.
Now, for the negatives… well, like any anime with episodic arcs, there are some weaker ones. There are parts in the middle of the series that feel like filler side quests that don’t add much. And I’ll admit that the ending, while satisfying, didn’t give me the catharsis I was hoping for. It’s not bad, far from it it wraps up the journey, delivers character growth, and leaves you with the feeling that you watched something important. But I was left wanting more. Maybe that’s actually a compliment disguised as a critique?
Another thing is that the anime tackles some really heavy themes mutilation, war, hunger, abandonment, religious fanaticism so it’s not for everyone. If you like anime just for the action or comedy, Dororo might feel slow. But if you want to dive into a drama that makes you think and feel, it’s absolutely worth it.
At the end of the day, Dororo reminded me why I love anime so much. It pulled me out of my comfort zone, made me root for a character who couldn’t even speak, and moved me in a simple yet profound way. Does it have flaws? Sure. But they’re small compared to the impact the series leaves.
For fans of Berserk, Vinland Saga, or even Samurai Champloo (for the setting and themes), Dororo is a recommendation I make with my eyes closed.
And once you finish it, hit me up so we can talk about that episode with the blind monk.
Seriously, that was one of the best moments of the whole season.
