• Submissions
  • Support Us
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
  • nl Nederlands
  • en English
AVO Magazine - One click closer to Japan
No Result
View All Result
  • AVO Magazine
    • AVO Magazine, who?
    • About us (日本語)
    • AVO Magazine presents
    • AVO Magazine Podcast
    • Join AVO Magazine’s Discord Server
    • Support AVO Magazine
  • Staff picks
  • Music
    • Japanese Music News
      • Concerts and festival news
      • Musical Snack
    • Curtain-raiser
    • Weekly MV Roundup
      • About: 7 New Music Videos You Need To Check Out
  • Japan-related Events
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Reports
  • Colophon
  • Contact
    • Submissions
    • Join the AVO Magazine team
  • AVO Magazine
    • AVO Magazine, who?
    • About us (日本語)
    • AVO Magazine presents
    • AVO Magazine Podcast
    • Join AVO Magazine’s Discord Server
    • Support AVO Magazine
  • Staff picks
  • Music
    • Japanese Music News
      • Concerts and festival news
      • Musical Snack
    • Curtain-raiser
    • Weekly MV Roundup
      • About: 7 New Music Videos You Need To Check Out
  • Japan-related Events
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Reports
  • Colophon
  • Contact
    • Submissions
    • Join the AVO Magazine team
No Result
View All Result
AVO Magazine - One click closer to Japan
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews

Anime review: Death Parade

Cypher by Cypher
3 February 2015
in Reviews, Series Reviews
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
0
Anime review: Death Parade
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on RedditShare on Tumblr

This anime mainly takes place in the atmospheric bar named Quindecim, the bar is absolutely stunning. There’s also plenty of room because they only receive two guests at the time. The bar does have several downsides, for instance the fact that you have to be dead to visit the bar and that you might be headed to hell once you leave. After having watched four episodes it became clear to us that it was time for an anime review of an anime with possible one of the most misleading OP’s ever.

The origin of this anime lies in a short named Death Billiards. This was an anime short made for Anime Mirai 2013, a project that was started with the purpose of training young animators. The short took place in the same bar and had the same concept and some of the same main characters that you’ll come across while watching Death Parade.

The people who visit the Quindecim aren’t aware that they have passed away yet and don’t realize how they got there. After their arrival they are welcomed in a friendly manner by Decim, the barman and they are offered a drink. After the guests have made themselves comfortable Decim explains the rules to them. After which the guests get to play a game in which their life is on the line. During the game Decim will judge them as an arbitrator and in this way he decides which one of them is eligible for reincarnation and which one is eligible for the void (also described as hell). To be best able to determine this the game consists of specific elements that increases the realization of the guests that their life is on the line. This way they aren’t afraid to go to extremes which was very clear in the first episode. Not all of the episodes are as serious as the first episode, the third episode, for instance, was a lot calmer, but despite the calmness it wasn’t any less heavy.

Quindecim in Death Parade aflevering 2
Quindecim in Death Parade episode 2

The anime has a very fitting atmosphere with Quindecim as the setting. This is a big bar and has lighting you would expect at a bar. The surrounds, which consists of among other things an aquarium filled with jellyfish, is calming and calm. This enables you to fully enjoy the roller coaster ride you experience while watching an episode. And as if the sleek drawing style with bright colors weren’t enough, all of this is also accompanied by great and atmospheric music.

There isn’t much known about the different characters at this moment, this adds to the mysterious atmosphere of the anime. For instance one character is referred to as “Kurokami no Onna” which means lady with the dark hair, she doesn’t even know her own name. There also isn’t much known about what her role in the entire thing is going to be but it seems like, at the moment, she mainly serves as an emotional compass for the sometimes a little too rational Decim. The same can be said about the story as a whole, on which they don’t elaborate much and of which they don’t show very much. What is very nice to witness is the interaction between Onna and Decim. It’s clear that both of them have their own ideas and opinions and this can create some interesting situations. At certain moments it almost seems like they themselves don’t exactly know where they’re going with something. Personally I’d appreciate it if they’d explain certain things a little less in the anime. The most fun part of an anime like this is a bit of uncertainty and when they leave certain pants open for discussion among the viewers and for their imaginations, when they get to fill in the blanks.

The animation and music already make the whole thing a success on its own and the fact that the anime is one that distinguishes itself from other anime only adds to that. Just the story itself could be a little better if they wouldn’t try to fill in all the blanks themselves.

Studios: Madhouse
Started airing: 9th of January 2015
Number of episodes: 12

Rating: 80/100

Tags: 2015anime
Previous Post

Game Review: Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

Next Post

Game Review: Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed

Cypher

Cypher

Former contributor.

Related Posts

Convention and expo announcements

5 films you shouldn’t miss at CAMERA JAPAN 2022

by Yuki
19 September 2022
Anime Summer 2022: 10 titles to look forward to!
Staff picks

Anime Summer 2022: 10 titles to look forward to!

by Yuki
22 June 2022
2021 JUJUTSU KAISEN ZERO The Movie Project © Gege Akutami/Shueisha / TOHO Animation
Film Reviews

Jujutsu Kaisen 0: Is the prequel film a blessing or a curse?

by AlexD
6 April 2022
Anime Spring 2022: 10 titles to look forward to!
Staff picks

Anime Spring 2022: 10 titles to look forward to!

by Yuki
23 March 2022
BELLE © 2021 STUDIO CHIZU
Film Reviews

Is Belle a Beauty to Behold? A Film Review

by AlexD
9 March 2022
Next Post
Game Review: Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed

Game Review: Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Support AVO Magazine with a digital coffee

About AVO Magazine

AVO Magazine is more than just an online magazine about Japanese music and culture. In addition to covering Japan-related events in Europe, AVO Magazine also supports and organises them. Under the banner AVO Magazine presents, several concerts and festivals have been held, including AVO J-Rock Festival (2013) and AVO J-Music Festival (2018), featuring performances by Japanese (indie) musicians. More information about AVO Magazine can be found here.

Have news related to Japan or Japanese music you'd like to share? Feel free to send us an email.

Popular articles

  • The photo features the four members of MIKABOMB (Also written as MIKA BOMB), all dressed in an alternative fashion style, wearing punk-inspired attire. They are standing close together, posing in front of a brick wall and next to what seems to be a bar.

    MIKABOMB to continue their comeback with shows in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 7 New Music Videos You Need To Check Out (Week 22, 2025)

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Live Report: An Cafe’s Miku takes tea for one

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Crossfaith return to Europe for a 13-show tour across 8 countries

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • DAMNED to embark on first European tour in autumn 2025

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Affiliates


1_General CDJapan
Twitter Bluesky Facebook Instagram Threads Tumblr Youtube Reddit

Online magazine since 2012 and based in the Netherlands. AVO Magazine is a Japan-related entertainment website with information about events in especially in Europe. There is a big focus on Japanese music. Other contents we publish are reports, reviews, informative articles, and interviews. AVO Forum, founded on May 16, 2003, served as the foundation for AVO Magazine.

Contact (Francisca Hagen): hello[@]avo-magazine.com

Please do not use text and photos made by AVO Magazine without permission. An email is easily created. Let's support each other!

Affiliates


1_General CDJapan

Featured on

  Lucydafirst - Crate Culture Podcast LOGO

AVO Magazine Approved

  • ANGURA
  • Arlequin Photography
  • Get Your Genki
  • Idol is SHiT
  • iPod of mine
  • J-POP streaming
  • Japan Jams
  • Japone Artists
  • The Sushi Times

© 2012 - 2025 AVO Magazine - One Click Closer to Japan!

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Japan-related Events
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Reports
  • Colophon
  • AVO Magazine\\\’s Official Link Page
  • nl Nederlands
  • en English

© 2012 - 2025 AVO Magazine - One Click Closer to Japan!

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.