Descendants of Darkness review: A deep story and its appeal

Descendant of Darkness - Yaminomatsuei -

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

October 2, 2000 - December 18, 2000

■Broadcasting station

WOWOW

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

Original story by Yoko Matsushita (serialized in Hakusensha's Hana to Yume)

■ Director

・Director: Hiroko Tokita

■ Production

・Animation Production: J.C. STAFF
Produced by: Descendants of Darkness Production Committee

■ Story

In the underworld, the Ten Kings' Office, led by King Enma, is the place where the dead are judged and punished for the crimes they committed while alive. The job of the Enma Office Summoning Division, which assists in the management of the office, is to investigate and guide people who have gone mad at the time of death for some reason... that is why they are called "Shinigami." Tsuzuki Asato, who works there, continues to take on various difficult cases with his partner Kurosaki Hisoka.

■Cast

・Mato Tsuzuki/Shinichiro Miki/Mitsu Kurosaki/Mayumi Asano/Seiichiro Tatsumi/Tomoyuki Morikawa/Atsushi Watari/Toshihiko Seki/Kazutaka Muraki/Sho Hayami/Chief Konoe/Tomoaki Nishimura/Brother of Kujo God/Yumiko Nakanishi/Brother of Kujo God/Wasabi Mizuta/Count, narration/Jurota Kosugi

■ Main staff

Original story by Yoko Matsushita (serialized in Hakusensha's Hana to Yume)
Planning: Takahiro Yagura, Masaki Sawanobori Series composition: Masaharu Amiya Character design: Yumi Nakayama Chief animation director: Yumi Nakayama Art director: Junichi Azuma Director of photography: Toyomitsu Nakajo Sound director: Hideyuki Tanaka Music: Tsuneyoshi Saito Director: Hiroko Tokita Animation production: J.C. STAFF
Produced by: Descendants of Darkness Production Committee

The appeal and evaluation of Descendants of Darkness - Yamino Matsuei

"Descendants of Darkness" is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Yoko Matsushita, and was broadcast on WOWOW in 2000. Although it was a short series of only 12 episodes, its unique world view and deep story development captivated many fans. This work is characterized by the fact that while it is a dark fantasy featuring the Grim Reapers, it also contains human drama and romantic elements.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Descendants of Darkness" is set in the world of the underworld. The setting is very unique, with the "Ten Kings' Office," which judges the crimes committed by the dead while they were alive, and the "Enma Office Summoning Division," which assists in its operation, investigating and guiding people who go crazy near the time of death. The main character, Tsuzuki Mato, and his partner, Kurosaki Mitsuru, have the power to draw viewers in as they take on various difficult cases.

Particularly impressive is the episode depicting Tsuzuki Mato's past and his emotional scars. Mato's trauma and his growth are carefully depicted, deeply moving the viewer. Another attraction is the mysterious character of Kurosaki Mitsuru, and as his actions and background are gradually revealed, the story becomes more profound.

Character Appeal

Tsuzuki Mato is a complex character with a bright and positive personality, but also with a traumatic past. Shinichiro Miki's voice acting makes Mato's emotions more realistic and leaves a strong impression on the audience. Meanwhile, Kurosaki Mitsuru is a cool and mysterious character, and Mayumi Asano's voice acting brings out his charm.

In addition, many other unique characters appear, such as Seiichiro Tatsumi, Atsushi Watari, and Kazutaka Muraki. In particular, the characters of the Kujogami siblings have a comical side, adding lightness to the story. In addition, supporting characters such as the Chief of the Konoe Department and the Count also play an important role in adding excitement to the story.

The appeal of production

JCSTAFF was in charge of the animation production of "Descendants of Darkness." Their beautiful character designs and detailed drawings greatly enhance the visual appeal of the film. In particular, the character designs by Yumi Nakayama faithfully reproduce the atmosphere of the original work while bringing out the anime's unique charm.

The music by Tsuneyoshi Saito also adds to the appeal of the work. The dark background music and emotionally charged soundtracks stir the emotions of the viewers. The sound effects by sound director Hideyuki Tanaka and the voice actors' performances also add to the realism of the story.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Descendants of Darkness" is highly acclaimed for its fusion of dark fantasy and human drama. Although it is a short series of 12 episodes, it is packed with deep storylines and fascinating characters, leaving a strong impression on viewers. In particular, while it deals with the theme of death, it also appeals to a wide range of audiences by depicting human relationships and romantic elements.

The reasons why I recommend this work are as follows:

• A dark fantasy with a unique world view and deep story development
• The growth of the main character, Tsuzuki Matou, and the mysterious character of Kurosaki Mitsuru draw viewers in.
• Unique characters add excitement to the story
• Beautiful character designs and detailed artwork enhance the visual appeal
• Music and sound effects enhance the immersive story

"Descendants of Darkness" is especially recommended for those who like dark fantasy and those who want to enjoy deep human drama. In addition, even though it is a short series, it is packed with dense content, so even those who don't have much time can enjoy it easily. Please watch this work and feel its charm.