Review of Dororo
“The path I take, does not lead that way. I am human. Don’t you become a demon either. Live on as a human.” I won't say too much in this review. Over the past several months I've had so much to say about, what I believe is, the best anime of 2019 thus far. But now that its over, I'm content saying less rather than much. **vague SPOILERS ahead** Dororo is unlike much of the media coming out of Japan concerning the samurai. We've see a great deal of glory hoisted onto these "heroes," of the past. Dororo is an anime that is not afraid to criticize thishistory, while also telling an extremely original story.
This review will probably get lost in the end of season ocean of reviews, but I feel my final impressions are important to write down.
In the beginning it is the sins of the father which creates pain and suffering. We have all seen this before. But in the end, it is the sins of the father which promise life and stability in Dororo. Maybe that is the difference in leaving a male or female behind to succeed you in an unforgiving world.
The line between man and demon becomes increasingly blurred as Dororo moves progresses, what were once hated antagonists become sympathetic men, and beloved protagonists display flashes of the demon within. Maybe the point of Dororo is to show that while we all may harbor these demons, it is within our power to be eaten by desire, or to conquer it. The final episode shows us a protagonist who has long wanted, no longer chasing after "things," finally happy with just having a full body. Society tells us that we never have enough, that we have to want, but Hyakkimaru finds happiness by obtaining simply what most of us are born with, a body of ones own. I see this story as a coming of age tale from two different perspectives. Hyakkimaru is the yang, Dororo the Yin. The taichi symbol shows that within black there is white, and within white there is black.
The growth of these two ^ throughout the series is similar to other anime in someways, but different in many. The conclusion was executed perfectly by MAPPA and the production maintained an efficient work schedule. The love put into this anime is so much more evident than many others, and now that I've watched it weekly, I'll have to experience the entire story as one. I hope everyone else enjoyed this anime as much as I did!! Live on as humans! :)