Tengoku Daimakyou

I've never written a review on imdb, but I feel compelled to do so now because this anime is simply criminally overlooked.

The animation quality is superb, the story is compelling, the characters are interesting and likeable, the humor is doled out in perfect doses, the music is excellent (one of those animes where I never skip the intro); every episode leaves you wanting more.

That said, I will now embrace the downvotes by committing the most egregious sin imaginable in the world of anime and recommend the dub over sub.

I know, I know... but hear me out.

1. The voicework talent on display is simply phenomenal; the protagonists are the obvious standouts, but even the smaller character did their job extremely well. And while this part is arguably subjective, what is absolutely objective is...

2. The translation. Simply put, whoever did the dub translation has a far superior mastery of the English language than their sub colleague. Greater clarity of meaning, more appropriate phrases, nuance, and last but not least - the timing (at times the sub will reveal a punchline to a joke or the crucial part of a sentence before the characters actually react, making for an intermittently awkward viewing experience and a few jokes ruined).

3. Audio engineering: As strange as it seems, the dub is actually better in this regard than the original audio. No spoilers, but one of the more jaw-dropping examples in episode 5 or 6, in one of the most haunting and tragic scenes I've ever seen on screen. A big part of that is the effect over the voice speaking. Out of sheer curiosity I checked the scene with original audio and was dismayed to find the goosebump-inducing voice now sounded like it came from a barrel on the other side of a valley. And there are other examples like this.

Either way, no matter which way you prefer to watch, dont miss out on something this damn good.

I found this hidden gem on Disney plus of all places. This is not for young children or even young teens. The plot intersects between two teenagers on road trip quest in search of their own goals, meeting friends or foe, laughing or fighting for their lives and secondly a closed off futuristic school of special children who discover the mysteries of their enclosed lives.

The characters on the road trip have deep and interesting backstories that drive their quest and an endearing "bro-mance" (you'll see what I mean) that balance the thrills and laughs perfectly. Their encounters along the way is a mix of a exciting moments or a beautiful melancholy that will stay with you.

A horror/scifi/mystery. Oddly enough I found this a peaceful watch as one would watching a slice of life themed anime. As a fan of the mentioned genres, this surprisingly ticks all my boxes.

This is the bomb.

It feels like I'm watching a mixture of last of us and neon Genesis Evangelion.

Like those two this had some lighthearted and heart warming moments along with some heart wrenching moments that just add to it's charm and the sense of mystery really helps it stay that way.

The two main characters in this anime are really fun to watch and they bring back the TWO MC ON A JOURNEY trope back to life.

I just hate the way it's not getting the appreciation it deserves and is being overshadowed by some other popular animes but I hope it gets better eventually.

My last words?

You really gotta watch this anime or you are missing out big time!!!!!!

If you're a manga reader, you know it can be difficult to follow complex stories with monthly issues. For example, the latter half of Attack on Titan must be read in one run to fully appreciate its depth. I think this is precisely why it lost some of its popularity toward the end of the story-it was too complicated, and casual readers couldn't easily follow the storyline.

The same is true for "Tengoku Daimakyo." I've appreciated the mangaka's other works, such as And Yet the Town Moves and other short stories (all interesting and mixtures of humor and mystery). However, I stopped reading Tengoku Daimakyo around 30 chapters in, simply because it took too long for the next chapters to become available.

The show is a godsend. It has incredible illustration, ambiance, and music. It captures the strong chemistry of the two leads, and the story never shies away from confronting the more controversial philosophical questions (e.g., who are you if you are in someone else's body?).

Watching the series within three days allowed me to see connections that I completely failed to see when I first read the manga. Once you understand how the two storylines intertwine, all those minor visual cues carry much more significant emotional weight (e.g., the view of the sky in episodes 8 and 12).

This show is a mental puzzle with answers lying right in front of you (which reminds me a bit of "The Prestige"), and the reveals are done in such elegant ways that you have to devote your full attention to feel its impact.

You can clearly see influences from Satoshi Kon, Akira, and even some of Doraemon.

After finishing season 1, I re-read the manga and found the answer to many outstanding questions, but there are still significant unanswered questions that remain. I am eager to see Season 2, as I believe if the manga concludes in a satisfactory manner, this series will be known as a masterpiece in the history of animation.

In a year filled with Demon slayer, jjk, Vinland Saga, Bungo stray dogs, Oshi no ko or Bleach it is hard to make a name for yourself as a new anime, but Tengoku Daimakyo is in my opinion a serious contender for anime of the year.

The story is complex and you need to see the full season to understand it, up until the last episode, and even then you will want to see more just because it becomes so fascinating. I can't give away anything without spoiling but it's a fantastic story, in post apocalyptic world, which if you are a fan of you'll love because the animation is also gorgeous, characters are complex, and voice acting impeccable.

Definitely recommended, can't wait for season 2.