Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Dororo – Complete Collection (2019)

I’m quite content with the overall anime series and for those not looking for a super long anime series, then “Dororo – Complete Collection” is a captivating, gorgeously animated, action-driven anime series that I highly recommend!

Image courtesy of © Tezuka Productions/Twin Engine Inc.

Click here to purchase this Blu-ray on Amazon

---

TITLE: Dororo – Complete Collection

ANIME RELEASE DATE: 2019

DURATION: (Episodes 1-24) 600 Minutes

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (16×9), English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English subtitles

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATING: TV MA V

Release Date: June 29, 2021

---

Originally created by Tezuka Osamu

Director: Furuhashi Kazuhiro

Series Composition by Kobayashi Yasuko

Original Character Design: Asada Hiroyuki

Character Designs by Iwataki Satoshi

Art Director: Fujino Mari

Music by Ike Yoshihiro

Anime Production by MAPPA

---

Featuring the following voice talent:

Suzuki Hiroki/Adam Gibbs as Hyakkimaru

Suzuki Rio/Chaney Moore as Dororo

Matsuda Kenichiro/Andrew Love as Hyogo

Chiba Shoya/Blake Jackson as Tahomaru

Uchida Naoya/David Wald as Daigo Kagemitsu

Munakata Mariko/Elissa Cuellar as Mutsu

James Belcher as Biwamaru

Patricia Duran as Nuinokata

Ty Mahany as Jukai

---

Life as an orphan in feudal Japan is brutal, and while street thief Dororo has managed to survive, wile and craft can only go so far in the body of a child. Then, just when it seems that Dororo’s luck has run out, he’s rescued from a man-eating ghoul by a mysterious young man wearing a doll-like mask and artificial limbs that conceal deadly blades! Born without arms, legs, sight, hearing and even skin after his father crafted a monstrous deal with the forces of darkness, Hyakkimaru now somehow seeks out the demons who cursed him, regaining one of his lost attributes for each monster slain. With deadly secrets from his own past to protect, the young thief joins into an alliance with the impossible warrior, setting forth on a quest to restore Hyakkimaru’s stolen humanity and rid Japan of devils!

---

Back in 1969, Tezuka Osamu, creator of “Astro Boy”, “Black Jack”, “Kimba the White Lion” and more, created the manga series “Dororo”.

With a total of four volumes created (first serialized in “Weekly Shonen Sunday”), despite not having a log publication life, 26 half-hour anime episodes were created and aired on television in 1969 and a live-action film was made in 2007.

And in January 2019, a new anime series adaptation by MAPPA and Tezuka Productions made its premiere on television and now the complete anime series will be released on Blu-ray courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.

The series is set during the Sengoku Period and we see how daimyo Kagemitsu Daigo making a pact with 48 sealed demons in order to rule the land and increase his wealth.

The demons are willing to agree if he sacrifice something belongs to him and sure enough, Kagemitsu sacrifices his unborn son.

When his son was born, he is born without limbs, eyes, nose, ears, internal organs and the father wants to get rid of him.  His wife wraps him up and puts him in a basket and sends him away in the river.

Fastforward to the present, a group of thieves surround a man with a sword.  The man is able to kill everyone and we see him remove his arm to expose a sword inside his arm.

We watch as demons try to follow and kill him, but so far, the man known as Hyakkimaru is able to defend himself and defeat them.

As Hyakkimaru walks, he sees a group of men trying to capture a child.  Hyakkimaru tells the men to be careful of a monster in the river but they laugh at him, not believing him and sure enough, the monster envelops the men and turning them to skeletons.

As for the child, his name is Dororo and Hyakkimaru saves him.  As for Dororo, he is a thief and he wants nothing but the sword that Hyakkimaru has on his arm.  And sure enough, since Dororo is determined to getting the sword, he makes himself Hyakkimaru’s sidekick.

As Dororo is attacked by another demon, Hyakkimaru saves him and then tells him his story after his eyes come out of his head.  We learn that Hyakkimaru is actually blind, has fake ears and many fake body parts.

How is it possible that he is able to look human despite fake body parts?  We learn long ago that a doctor found Hyakkimaru as a baby and how he had no body parts or anything.  But the kind doctor welcomed him as his own baby, raised him and build body parts for him and Hyakkimaru grew to have great intuition.

But we learned how he has been followed by demons and because he didn’t want the doctor to get hurt, Hyakkimaru left home and now learning if he is able to kill each demon, a body part eventually comes back.  And it’s been a mission for Hyakkimaru to visit villages, saving people, but also defeating the demons that reside in each area.

And while he does this, he is followed by a young bratty thief named Dororo.

How will Hyakkimaru, who can’t really communicate do with this talkative young thief?

---

VIDEO:

“Dororo” is presented in 1080p High Definition.

MAPPA did a fantastic job of bringing Tezuka Osamu’s manga work from 1969 and giving it a modern approach.  From the way violence is depicted to the gorgeous art backgrounds and character designs, the anime is vibrant, while black levels are nice and deep.  I didn’t notice any banding issues and the anime looks absolutely fantastic!

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

As for lossless audio, “Dororo – Complete Collection” is presented in Japanese and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 with English subtitles. The series is front channel driven but dialogue and music is clear. For those who want a more immersive soundtrack can easily switch their receiver for stereo on all channels.

Both Japanese and English voicework is fantastic!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Dororo – Complete Collection” comes with the textless opening and closing animations and Japanese promos.

---

I actually had the opportunity to read the original manga series and I was instantly captivated.  Tezuka Osamu has managed to create a story with wonderful pacing and character dynamics, that I really enjoyed this series.  It’s unfortunate that the manga series was canceled, so only four volumes were created.  Tezuka had to create a finale that worked and while the ending was fine, one could only wonder what if Tezuka’s manga didn’t get canceled?  What if he had more time?

But with the anime adaptation,  while violence is well depicted in the original manga, the anime series shows us the horrific violence involved.  People’s limbs get cut off, demons eating on humans or Dororo fighting and killing demons and monsters.  All that is featured in the anime series and yes, blood.

But if anything, this is a mature animated series and because you see a kid on the front cover of the Blu-ray, it’s important to note that this anime series is not for young children.

But overall, this is an anime series that will captivate you from beginning to end.

If anything, I wish there was more to the anime series, as I can only imagine what if Tezuka Osamu was able to continue his manga series?  Would we have a different ending for Hyakkimaru and Dororo?

Nevertheless, I’m quite content with the overall anime series and for those not looking for a super long anime series, then “Dororo – Complete Collection” is a captivating, gorgeously animated, action-driven anime series that I highly recommend!

---

Click here to purchase this Blu-ray on Amazon