On July 1, the first season of the anime 'Hell's Paradise' came to an end. Studio MAPPA adds another interesting title to its collection, one that could easily have been lost in the competition with giants like 'Dr. Stone' and 'Demon Slayer'.

Yuji Kaku's manga 'Hell's Paradise' was published by Shueisha in the online magazine Shounen Jump+ (which also publishes 'Chainsaw Man', adapted by the same studio MAPPA) from January 2018 to January 2021. As of now, the total circulation of the manga (13 volumes) exceeds 4 million copies. The work is fully complete, which should benefit the anime creators. At least, there won't be a situation where they catch up to the manga during adaptation and start inventing their own plot or even cancel/freeze the series.

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Incidentally, the adaptation has already been renewed for a second season (unsurprising, given the ratings of the first). True, it's unknown exactly when it will come out, but let's hope it's soon, as the continuation promises to be very interesting. Okay, let's not get ahead of ourselves for now and talk about the first season.

What's the Plot?

The events of the anime 'Hell's Paradise' take place during the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate. The main character is a shinobi named Gabimaru, nicknamed the Hollow (because he is known for his ruthlessness), who was captured and sentenced to death. Only, they can't cut off his head, burn him, or even tear the criminal apart, as Gabimaru possesses unusual abilities and a strong will to live. 

Watching the 'execution' process is Yamada Asaemon (a ronin executioner from the Yamada clan) Sagiri. After each failed attempt to execute the ninja, she talks with him and tries to build a profile of his personality. Eventually, the girl offers the criminal a deal: full absolution and a pardon in exchange for the Elixir/Fruit of Immortality for the shogun. According to legend, this miracle is located on a mysterious island from which no one has ever returned alive. 

Without much hesitation, Gabimaru agrees and joins the condemned criminals who decided to embark on this dangerous journey under the supervision of the Yamada Asaemons in exchange for a pardon. True, they'll have to work hard. First, there are practically no clues about what exactly to look for. And second, there are many competitors, but only one winner, so you have to be wary not only of the island's surprises. However, Gabimaru intends to win these Hunger Games and obtain the Elixir because his loving wife is waiting for him at home. He desperately wants to return to her to live a normal life. 

There's an Island of Misfortune in the Ocean

'Hell's Paradise' grabs you almost immediately. The ruthless condemned killers first fight each other for the right to go to the island, and upon arrival, they must always be on guard to survive in unknown conditions and also not fall at the hands of a competitor or their personal executioner-observer. By the third episode, the anime resembles James Gunn's 'The Suicide Squad', so the viewer immediately understands: every character is mortal. This makes it all the more interesting to watch the plot develop and guess who will survive.

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If you think the characters are ruthless killers you won't feel sorry for and can't get attached to, believe me, you're wrong. First, besides the criminals, there are the ronin executioners, who can also die, even though they are certainly not guilty of anything and are just doing their job. And second, each condemned criminal has their own story, which is quite capable of making you empathize with them (with some exceptions). 

One of the anime's strongest aspects is its characters. Almost every one of them is well-developed. Even secondary characters get so much screen time that it feels like they aren't secondary at all. Thanks to this, while watching, you don't get the feeling that everything around is just a backdrop for Gabimaru's story. It becomes all the more interesting to watch all the expedition participants, whether it's two brothers ready to do anything for each other or a ronin with a passion for natural science and medicine paired with a swordsman who wants to leave his name in history.

However, the main figures here are still Gabimaru and Sagiri, so it is through them that the central theme of balance in a person is revealed. First, we are visually shown the burden of the characters' souls, their hopes and doubts. And as the plot progresses, 'Hell's Paradise' introduces us to the energy of Tao — the life force that all living and non-living things on Earth possess. That is, any feelings are an embodiment of this energy. To learn how to use your Tao, you need not only to be very strong physically but also to accept your weaknesses. And when a person finds balance, they become capable of much. This is where the characters are best revealed.

Sagiri is a samurai. Contrary to family customs, she decided to find her own path, which is why she constantly faces gender discrimination. The girl is mired in her worries and doubts, but nevertheless, she has the strength and abilities that will help her become a fine Yamada Asaemon. Gabimaru is a ruthless ninja. Behind him are thousands of victims; he is practically emotionless. But his wife helps the Hollow understand that he is wrong about himself. Love for this innocent and pure girl should seemingly weaken the shinobi, but 'Hell's Paradise' doesn't play by those rules.

Of course, ideally, when watching, you should be at least a little familiar with Eastern religions and have a superficial understanding of Chinese mythology, but overall it's not necessary, because at some point almost everything will be explained in simple terms. True, afterwards you might want to delve deeper into Japanese history and Chinese philosophy to better understand all the nuances affecting the plot.

Blessing of the Celestials

'Hell's Paradise' looks very high-quality. MAPPA doesn't resort to 3D rendering, which is very pleasing, and isn't afraid to show blood on screen, which adds spectacle to the fights (and the entire anime). In many ways, of course, you can find similarities with 'Chainsaw Man', but there's nothing critical about it. For example, Chobei Aza — a bandit who can adapt to external conditions and is ready for any recklessness for his brother — reminds one of Denji (and not just in appearance), and Yuzuriha (another shinobi on the island) and Power have similarities in character. Moreover, the openings of the titles aren't exactly similar, but they have some kind of identical vibe. Although here the opening credits are more colorful and polished than those of 'Chainsaw Man'.

Overall, the project turned out quite beautiful. The island's landscapes are mesmerizing (and how the bathhouse is shown here, folks, it's simply a song). You want to explore this hellish paradise along with the characters: all these strange statues, numerous plants, as well as unusual and dangerous inhabitants (which is, in fact, what Yamada Asaemon Fuchi does). Yuji Kaku's imagination amazes viewers and complicates the artists' work, but the result is clearly worth it. The island resembles the abode of failed experiments of a single God, inventing his own images and incarnations. The statues, 'inhabitants', and animals seem as if they were originally intended to be beautiful but were written off as defects during the development of Buddhism and Taoism.

However, everything turns out to be much simpler. The heroes encounter a talking Groot along the way, who tells the story of the island's creators, the Celestials (who for some reason don't live in heaven), and the Elixir of Immortality called Tan (apparently the island is located somewhere in Kazakhstan). Naturally, these Celestials, in their kindness of heart, won't share the Tan, so to complete the mission, you essentially need to defeat gods who act as antagonists. There's not much to say about them yet, as their personalities are still very vague at the end of the first season. But one thing is clear — it won't be easy for the heroes. They will have to not only push their limits but also learn to accept themselves with all their flaws (external and internal) to find balance and gain new strength.

What's the Verdict?

'Hell's Paradise' can deservedly be called one of the most interesting titles of spring with a good foundation for the future. It's a bloody, high-energy, and at times cruel anime, but it teaches you to accept yourself as you are, with all your strengths and weaknesses (otherwise you won't find balance and comprehend the energy of Tao), with all external and internal flaws, regardless of gender and profession. The main thing is to stay true to yourself, not give up, and then achieving any goal will be much easier. 

The first season was a fascinating introduction to the island and ended with a rather unexpected twist, so expectations for the second season will be high. Some of the heroes searching for the Tan are already gone, and those remaining can't relax for a minute. Who will ultimately gain physical immortality and live forever, and who will gain spiritual immortality and have their name go down in history, gradually turning into a legend — we'll find out in the future. But if you're really impatient, you can always read the manga.