Edited in Canva
So earlier this day I started watching this anime and I really thought I couldn't finish it. However, the odds were all in favor to me so I had plenty of free time today that's why I finished it before noon came. I never thought I could finish a 12+ episode-long anime in less than a day, but I guess today's a special day hehe. Anyway, after finishing it, I was filled with somewhat melancholy. Finishing it too soon just kinda felt wrong because even though I mostly binge-watched anime before, I always made sure to leave a couple of episodes for the next day. Plus the downside of this is that I can't memorize well the names of characters, so by the end of the last episode, I somehow forget some of their names haha.
So before I forget all the names and as well the story, be with me as I share with you a portion of how the fathers of Vlad Agency managed both their parenthood and mission in their headquarters, the Delico's Nursery.
About the Anime
Delico's Nursery is an anime series that premiered last summer of 2024. This one aired from August 8, 2024, to November 28, 2024, and it was animated by J.C. Staff. This fantasy-mystery series focused on the themes of vampires and childcare. This 13-episode-long anime is based on the popular stage play, Trump, which was created by Kenichi Suemitsu. He later on became part of the adaptation and became in charge of the anime screenplay and series composition.
So it all started with the siege that happened in Delico's manor. Vampires who are under the initiative or control of a member from Pendulum, a rebellious organization of dangerous vampires, wreaked havoc and killed the people inside the manor. There are a lot of casualties that night, but the greatest of them is the lady of the manor, Frieda Delico, the wife of Dali Delico. After her death, change came in their manor because Dali now decided to take childcare into his own hands. Perhaps inspired by her late wife's last words, he became a full-time house dad.
However, it wasn't long before Vlad Agency required his service as the cases of seemingly random vampire killings rose high. Forced to attend to his responsibility as a nobility, Dali decided to juggle both his fatherhood and mission. But he isn't alone in this venture because Gerhard, Henrique and Dino—all from prominent noble families—were also forced to partake in such a venture. Completely foreign to childrearing, these fathers struggled to attend to their children's needs and adding to this difficulty was the increasing aggressiveness of their enemies.
With their lives and pride on the line, they continue to uncover the mystery behind the killings—only that the root cause is amidst them—a frail immortal god on which their whole race depends. Bonded with their Noblesse Oblige, these noble men will purge anything to protect their race, but one must not forget they're also fathers who will do anything to safeguard their children.
Aside from the fact that I didn't expect to finish this anime in less than a day, I also didn't anticipate that its story would be quite heartwarming and cute. Vampire anime is usually far from that spectrum, I mean most of the vampire anime I watched before seldom feature children—teens maybe—but certainly not babies and children. It's just too unusual to see those stoic-looking vampires bathe cute children and tend their diapers. It's both cute and funny, however, the story isn't limited to all that cutesy. There's also that dark part in it, but I can assure you that no children were hurt badly.
The first half of the series was kinda slow and boring at times because it focused more on the childcare part. Their struggles in being fathers were mostly highlighted, though there are also parts that hinted some foreshadowings on what will happen in the next half. Honestly, the plot isn't something new so I advise that you shouldn't expect much from it. I don't want to spoil much of its plot, yet it's another revenge story with a tragic origin. However, cliche as it is, I'm still up with it. Perhaps, the only thing that somehow impressed me is how it ended because most of them were in the hopeful state. It showed that even though all of them are different, each of them strives to achieve their version of happiness and seeing how they end up made me quite melancholic.
As for its art style and visuals, I loved how they portray them so elegantly. The way their lips curl looks so sensual, and it's the feature that I couldn't help but focus on. Most of the character designs remind me of other anime characters and an example of this is Katarina. She's one character that I really like because she's so graceful. Biologically she's male, but the way she imposed herself is definitely the opposite. She reminds me of Margarette from Mashle. They both exude such sassy yet dependable vibes and the end totally made me more fond of her.
So much for my fondness of her, the animation of this series was quite changing in the sense that there are times it's decent looking, then there are also times it isn't. Some action scenes kinda look sloppy, especially the swordfights in later parts. I'm really a fan of those kinds of fights so I mostly pay attention to them. I don't know if it's just me, but I noticed it was inconsistent. Nevertheless, other than that, the way they portray the settings and the background was fine and it did match the mood of its themes. On the other hand, it's music was something commendable. I really like how the violin in the first episode elevated the emotion of those scenes in it.
Also, it's not only in the first episode but as well in the later ones. The background music did really play an important role in making those episodes more engaging to watch, and for me, that's something noteworthy. The opening and ending songs were also nice, but honestly, I like its ending song better. They both sound cool, but I like more how the ending song sounds. Also perhaps, it's because it has English lyrics in it that I much understand it and it subsequently resonated with me more.
So to sum it up, this anime may have flaws but surely it doesn't overpower the enjoyable aspects that you'll experience while watching it. That's why if you're looking for an unusual vampire-themed anime with a pinch of mystery and a tad of cuteness, then this review is definitely your sign to try watching this anime: Delico's Nursery.
Before I end this review, I'll share with you its opening song, so—
Have you watched this anime before? Or is this your first time encountering it? If you have something to share about this anime, feel free to write them down in the comments. That's all for now, minna-san! I hope you enjoyed reading my review.
Arigatou and tanoshinde ne~
The pictures that didn't have source were screenshots from the anime while the last picture was edited in Canva.