Deadman Wonderland
Deadman Wonderland began with an earth shattering tragedy that leads to the false conviction of middle school student Igarashi Ganta of mass murder, causing him to be sentenced to death row. To Ganta’s bewilderment and horror, he finds himself shipped off to Japan’s only prison: Deadman Wonderland. Ganta will learn that under its fun house like facade, Deadman Wonderland is a house of horrors. To make matters more complicated, Ganta discovers that he wields a strange and deadly power called the Branch of Sin that marks him as a target of the darker forces of Deadman Wonderland. Despite the odds stacked against him, Ganta is determined to find the true killer responsible for his incarceration.
Deadman Wonderland is a bloody, gory, messy anime ripe full of mutilations, beheading, and lots and lots of blood. Viewer be warned, this anime is shocking on so many levels. The combination of strong language, bloody action scenes, and the sadistic tendencies of certain characters, calls for a strong stomach and a mature audience. With that being said, the character development was okay. I definitely would have preferred that the series had run longer, so that the various characters had more time to grow. Deadman Wonderland’s short length was definitely a detriment to its character development.
The plot was actually pretty entertaining, but just like the character development, it suffered because of the short length of the series. I felt that the moment that things were really getting good, the series simply ends. A second season was definitely implied, but it has been years since this anime has been out and there has yet to be news of any further continuation of the series. You’ll just have to read the Manga to finish the plot.
For me, the number one draw of this anime is most definitely its psychological side. Deadman Wonderland will play with your head, make you sick to your stomach, and satisfy your hunger for action all in one serving. You’ll never know exactly what emotion to feel, so try not to tax yourself trying to figure your emotions out. When it came to aesthetics, the artwork was cool. It was dark; a perfect reflection of the very character of this anime.
Deadman Wonderland was a captivating watch and was as entertaining as it was gory. I’m giving this anime 8 out of 10. I recommend Deadman Wonderland to the action and gore fans out there.
