Trying to reclaim his memory, the lizard headed Caiman is on a mission to kill all sorcerers in a bit to find the one that transformed him. Aiding him in his plight is the hard hitting chef Nikaido, and together they hunt down and murder any magic users setting foot in “The Hole”. However, their killing spree does not go unnoticed, leading them to become entangled with the magic realm's most influential figure.
“Dorohedoro” presents a world unlike any other, offering a rich amalgamation of diverse inspirations. Consequently, this landscape transforms into something wholly original, even within the noticeable homages to various genres and styles. That is not to say that some common anime tropes do not exist within the series, but the way the world and people interact with these characters gives them a certain unique nuance within the medium. Ultimately, the unique tone of the show can best be summarized in three separate elements: the use of magic, environments, and character design.
Firstly, magic is approached in a way that mixes various mythologies and skills, that are detailed and often absurd in execution. Even looking at the more powerful leader in En, being what can best be described as a “Mushroommancer”, his power could be seen as niche in another series, but becomes the focal point of great power. Adversely, there are many micro examples throughout the series of peculiar magic integrating itself into a cohesive narrative.
Secondly, the environment becomes a character unto itself, with elements of horror, steam punk, fantasy and post apocalyptic blending through the landscapes in complimentary fashion. The mix of elements can be overwhelming, in the sense that it is really hard to pin down the actual neutral state of the environments. However, for many, this will add to the charm of the production, and create a constant sense of wonderment.
Finally, and following in similar suite to the environment, the character design reflects the mix of inspirations, with a special emphasis on fashion. This even carries over to ‘bit' characters, which showcases the attention to detail from the animators to ensure the world of “Dorohedoro” is fully realized. As a result, there is a lot of visual intrigue in ‘people watching' the denizens of both worlds.
In spite of a rather eclectic design, the story is presented as a straightforward mystery. This helps to ground the series and transforms the absurdist existence of its subjects into an engaging narrative. Furthermore, the series makes sure to give almost every character their own sense of identity, and by the end, the viewer is given multiple protagonists and antagonists to cheer for.
Ultimately, “Dorohedoro” stands as one of the most exciting and engaging projects to come out of the Netflix exclusive Anime. Within this review there were many things I could have discussed further; the superb voice acting, the great relationship building between personas, the seamless contrast between the mortal and magic world, the action, the proper integration of CGI and hand drawn, the comedic timing etc. But in the spirit of keeping the review a reasonable length, “Dorohedoro” is a masterfully crafted series making it a highly anticipated series (Season 2 has already been confirmed). It may not be for everyone, but it has the makings of a cult classic and deserves a large fanbase.
