Based on a 2013 short film by Madhouse titled Death Billiards, Death Parade is a short, but incredible, anime.
The series opens with a couple arriving at a bar, where they proceed to play a game of darts that ends only when one of the players die.
This show explores the age-old questions of what happens after death. In this case, people who die at the same time arrive at this mysterious bar, named Quindecim, where the bartenders serve as arbiters. These arbiters determine where each person’s soul will be sent based on how they behaved in the “Death Games”. The player’s souls are either sent for reincarnation or into the void.
I love this series because, although it’s a fantasy world, it delves into the dark side of humanity — a literary theme I’ve always found engaging.
What happens when reality is stripped away, and you’re forced to play to the death? What happens when you witness unspeakable things happen to people you love? Rather than being judged on actions throughout their lives, contestants are judged on how they act when faced with this life-or-death scenario.
Episodes include deadly games of darts, Twister, pool and even video games.
This anime can get gory and intense, so it’s not for the faint of heart. Death Parade explores an interesting alternative to purgatory, and whether or not a being can truly go without humanity and serve as an unbiased judge.
Where to watch it: Crunchyroll (sub), Hulu (sub)
Number of Episodes: 12
Air Dates: January 2015 – March 2015
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