Anime review time, lowly creatures. Today we have the justice working at its gruesome best in Deadland Wonderland.
Teenager Ganta Igarashi witnesses the murder of his entire class at the hands of a strange being known as The Redman, and is framed for the crime. He is sentenced to the prison/amusement park know as Deadman Wonderland (nothing better than a self explanatory title). In this prison, the inmates are forced to be play deadly games such as being shot at by arrows while running a race or fighting each other, for the amusement of park guests. Winning these games allows the prisoners to win points and buy items to help them further survive. Ganta learns the inner workings of this system as he tries to figure a way to escape, and as he also learns about his new found powers using his own blood.
The premise of Deadman Wonderland is Ganta trying to find out why these terrible things happened to him. Although he has to deal with the insanity that runs rampant through this prison, Ganta doesn’t come off as some whiny little kid. He is somebody that can be sympathized and you are glad to see him evolve and grow more powerful.
And then we got some other interesting characters. Such as Shiro (a name that means white in Japanese for all the Nihon Go impaired), a ditzy and almost insane albino girl who seems to wonder and sneak around the prison as she pleases (yes, this is a unisex jail). Shiro acts as a comedy relief at times.
And she's quite proud of it too.
Then there is Chief Guard Makina, a very busty (can’t wait for those cosplays) but no non-sense and strict women who will slice any out of line inmate with her saber. You got quite the cast of characters in this show.
And they all know to respect Makina.
Then there is the flow of the story. The plotline is one where thing are introduced without explanation and you kind of have to grin and bear it until it is revealed why it happened. For example, Ganta’s relationship with Shiro. Through the beginning of the series we are introduce to the fact that Ganta knew her in his childhood, but the series doesn’t explain right away why he doesn’t remember her. For that matter, Ganta doesn’t seem to be surprised at the fact that he doesn’t remember Shiro. He simply just slowly remembers her. It’s the same way with most of the major points of the show. It’s kind of a strange way of revealing things but not too frustrating. Just go with it people.
In addition, this anime is quite bloody and brutal. Prisoners are killed and dismembered in many ways. The show does work within the limits of being aired on Japanese television, (such as having certain gore blurred out……wusses) but gets its point across that something gruesome has happened.
Pictured above: Getting a point across.
In a related note, the action is pretty decent. With Ganta’s powers we have projectiles thrown around everywhere made from his own blood as well as swords and other weapons being made by using this power. On top of that you can pile on guns and explosions in for some violent fun.
Fun being had.
All in all, Deadman Wonderland is a dark and action packed series that is sure to leave you intrigued. Not for the squeamish but definitely a brutal good story.
Watch for free here:
http://www.crunchyroll.com/deadman-wonderland
Makina knows your viewing habits.