Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody (a Neo-Tokyo Anime on Blu-ray Review)

I suppose part of being biased towards RPG’s has made me appreciate this anime series and its characters even more. I just enjoyed every episode and wishing more will be made. But with solid voice acting on both Japanese and English soundtracks and an entertaining, action-packed storyline, I can definitely recommend “Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody”.

TITLE: Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

DURATION: Episodes 1-12 (300 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Japanese Dolby True HD 2.0, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Funimation

RATED: TV 14

Release Date: March 12, 2019

Originally Created by Ainana Hiro

Director: Oonuma Shin

Series Composition: Shimoyama Kento

Music by monaca

Character Design: Takimoto Shoko

Anime Production: CONNECT, SILVER LINK.

Featuring the following voice talent:

Horie Shun/Justin Briner as Satō/Ichirō Suzuki

Tsuda Minami/Brittany Lauda as Liza

Kono Hiyori/Brittney Karbowski as Pochi

Kinugawa Rika/Carli Mosier as Iona

Goto Yuko/Cynthia Cranz as Mosa

Kusaoka Suzuna/Jeannie Tirado as Yuni

Takahashi Rie/Julie Shields as Zena

Atsugi Nanami/Luci Christian as Martha

Okuno Kaya/Margaret McDonald as Tama

Aoi Yuki/Monica Rial as Arisa

Nagano Yuki/Morgan Berry as Lilio

Eino Airi/Tia Ballard as Misanalia “Mia” Boruenan

One night, after an exhausting 30-hour shift, everything changes for 29-year-old programmer Suzuki “Satou” Ichirou.

Whereabouts unknown and nearly half the age he once was, Satou awakens in a mysterious land where video game mechanics are his greatest strength. Game UI, endless inventory space, and the ability to become more skilled with the push of a button make navigating this expanse a breeze. However, just because he’s level 310 doesn’t mean everything will be easy. With demons terrorizing the populace, only Satou and his adorable companions can protect this new world while simultaneously reaping the rewards!

Back in 2014, the first volume of the Japanese light novel series “Death March Kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyosokyoku” by Ainana Hiro was released.

The light novel was serialized online in 2013 through the user-generated novel publishing website “Shotsetsuka ni Naro”. Later acquired by Japanese publisher Fujimi Shobo, the first volume of the light novel was published in March 2014. Which would then lead to a manga adaptation by Ayamegumu for “Age Premium” and “Monthly Dragon Age”.

The anime series adaptation would be produced by Silver Link. and Connect and aired in January-March 2018 and now the anime series is released on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Funimation in a regular edition and a limited edition version.

The series revolves around a gaming programmer named Suzuki Ichiro who has to stay at work late trying to fix the bugs for two MMORPG’s for his company before they go public. Stressed because he hasn’t had adequate sleep, when he goes to sleep, he awakes and finds himself in a parallel world that resembles an RPG game he had worked on.

Using the name of Satou Pendragon, he is attacked by an army of lizard people and in desperation, he uses all of his three special “Meteor Rain” attacks (which he had programmed in the game to aid newbies) and defeats them and acquires a skill. It happens that Satou ended up defeating a God in the game and his level instantly jumps from 1 to 310 and all his stats and money are maxed out and he finds out that not only does he have many weapons but also disguises and other special skills.

Not knowing how to get back home, he lives on as a high-level merchant and keeping his skills down low and using disguises to keep his skills a secret. In the process he rescues slaves and becomes their new master. But instead of being cruel and controlling, he treats all of them with compassion.

The anime series is looks and sounds great in HD! Both Japanese and English soundtracks are well-done, picture quality is vibrant and looks great in HD!

As for special features, there is only one included. An audio commentary featuring English dub voice actor Justin Briner (voice of Satou Pendragon), voice actress Monica Rial (voice of Arisa) and ADR Director Emily Neves.

As for extras included on the special limited edition, a 40-page art book “Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody” and Acrylic Satou Standee are all housed in a rigid box with specialty print.

As for the anime series, I know there are some people who may feel it to be similar to “Sword Art Online”. Both stories feature a heroic protagonist who is compassionate, great at fighting and also has other female characters interested in him, while he cares for one person.

While there are similarities, “Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody” leans more to the comedy side due to the numerous characters and for the most part, the series is like a harem anime series with one guy surrounded by many young women and girls. But I feel the series does a great job of incorporating RPG elements from a character’s skill and more.

In terms of the entertainment of this series comes with the female characters which join Satou. Former slaves, Satou purchases them but instead of treating them as slaves, he treats them with compassion, gives them new clothes and gives them good food to eat and so that is why they care about being close to Satou, because he is the first person to treat them as normal than someone beneath him.

Characters include Liza (a lizardkin demi-human salve) and two young demi-humans named Pochi and Tama, Arisa who is an 11-year-old fallen princess who was turned into a slave and Lulu, a a slave who is Japanese and considered unattractive in the game world and Misanaria, a young elf who was rescued by Satou after being kidnapped.

But the series is also made interesting by Satou making sure the girls learn how to fight and also level up through their battles and utilizing their skills effectively and working together as a team.

So far, I am really enjoying this anime series and while the 12 episodes represents the first three light novels, I’m hoping there are plans to make more episodes soon.

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