Review of Parasyte: The Maxim
Parasyte the Maxim is a good, but not outstanding, anime. Overall, I would say there are no harsh critiques to be said, but also no high praises either. It’s a competent action-horror show with some good ideas. I was expecting the story to be a simple action romp where the main character faces off against a bunch of monsters, each one more dangerous than the last. While there is certainly a lot of that, the anime does get a bit philosophical at time. What is life? What does it mean to be human? How should we treat other lifeforms? It even dabbles a bit into environmentalism.These questions added a new layer to the story which was unexpected but welcome. I wish the show would have dove deeper into these questions but I suppose the answers were meant to be open ended.
The story also focuses on the main character and his struggles with being part human, part parasite. At first, I was getting some Spiderman vibes. “Nerdy character gains superpowers and confidence,” that sort of thing. However, it is different from classic superhero genres because the source of the main character’s new powers has a mind of its own, and that mind is coldhearted and logical to a fault.
The main driver of entertainment is the tension between Shinichi and his parasite Migi. Shinichi is your average high school kid that reacts in ways you would expect. He isn’t your typical hero with the always-positive attitude. In fact, he is almost constantly beaten down by the unexpected turn in his life thanks to the arrival of the parasites. Shinichi is always trying to do the right thing, but the show does a good job at conveying that it pains him to do so. He is constantly paranoid and stressed about the dangers that can come from every corner. Migi has a more dead-pan and self-preservationist attitude. He makes it clear that he is willing to do whatever it takes to survive, even if it means harming Shinichi or the people he loves. Shinichi will often try to save people while Migi tries to save themselves. This dynamic makes the show fun to watch.
The villains of the show are the parasites. They are interesting because their motives are not necessarily evil. They are just doing what any animal does - survive. This makes them appear ruthless and cold-blooded. The parasites also evolve throughout the show, changing their methods often. These are formidable foes that are able to learn and adapt, making them feel like a real threat.
The art is at its best when it portrays the parasites. Humans that have been taken over by these things have an appropriately "dead" look in their eyes, making it easy to find out who they were. The highlight of the show is when the parasites reveal themselves to do battle or to eat humans. The faces split apart to reveal deadly flesh-transforming-blade-things, which is always fun to watch. There are other wiggly movements that they are capable of, particularly showcased through Migi. This establishes them as a truly unique lifeform that you just can't take your eyes off of.
Overall, this show was a good watch. It doesn’t do anything particularly noteworthy in terms of sound or animation, but the characters are good enough to sustain your attention throughout the show. The show has interesting ideas but it’s lacking that “it” factor that makes it super compelling. Nonetheless, I think those looking for an action anime with a unique twist will enjoy this one.