'Dororo' Is a Fantastic Update of an Old-School Property

Airing in the first half of 2019, Dororo is a 24-episode dark fantasy anime series based on the classic manga of the same name by Kimba the White Lion, Black Jack, and Astro Boy creator Osamu Tezuka – the “Father of Manga” himself.  There was already a Dororo anime adaptation back in 1969, but this 2019 version in comparison is more of a reimagining than an adaptation.  It borrows the core premise of the manga, but it essentially tells an entirely different, updated story – a story that is more apt for modern anime audiences.

Dororo centers on a ronin named Hyakkimaru, who roams the land hunting down demons, and who is hell-bent on reclaiming the body parts that they took from him.  For when Hyakkimaru was still in his mother’s womb, his father, a daimyo, made a deal with these demons – that in exchange for granting power and prosperity to his domain, they could take his son’s body parts.  As a result, Hyakkimaru was born without any limbs, face, skin, and various organs.  Almost immediately after his mother gave birth to him, baby Hyakkimaru was taken from her, by order of his father, and was set adrift on the river and left to perish.  Fortunately, he was found later by a doctor named Jukai, who then took him in, raised him, outfitted him with prosthetics, and trained him in swordsmanship.

Meanwhile, the eponymous character of the show, Dororo, is an orphan child thief whose life Hyakkimaru has chanced upon saving while he’s on one of his demon hunts.  Afterward, Dororo decides to tag along with Hyakkimaru, and, warming up to him from the get go, begins referring to him as “Big Bro.”  On the other hand, the impassive Hyakkimaru, sensing that Dororo poses no threat, simply tolerates the uninvited companion.  But as time passes, Hyakkimaru learns to genuinely appreciate and care for Dororo.

Obviously, the initial draw of this show is the kickass fight scenes and violence that can be expected from its gritty setup.  Most notably, plenty of excitement is generated whenever Hyakkimaru goes into battle.  For even though he carries a normal katana, what he actually uses in combat are the dual katanas grafted on his arms.  And seeing these unique weapons be wielded is typically exhilarating; there’s this Wolverine-esque charm to them.

But Dororo isn’t only worthwhile for its top-notch action.  It’s well-written as well.  Sure, there are parts that may feel slow and boring, but as a whole, the script is quite solid.  The intriguing premise is successfully given much justice; both its episodic and series-overarching storylines are excellently gripping, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking.  Moreover, visceral arcs are impressively provided for the characters – primarily with but not limited to Hyakkimaru and Dororo – which explores complex themes such as moral ambiguity, revenge, corruption, and redemption with satisfyingly taut execution.

All in all, I’m really well-pleased by how Dororo turned out being.  I really don’t have any complaints.

Okay, maybe one.  I don’t think it gave a good reason for explaining why this anime had to be named after the deuteragonist.  But it’s just a minor frustration.