Hell’s Paradise - Jigokuraku: First episode reveals dark backstory of Gabimaru

The wait is finally over for anime fans around the world who have been eagerly waiting for the anime adaptation of Yuji Kaka’s manga, Hell’s Paradise. The first episode of the series was recently released by MAPPA, one of the leading animation studios in Japan.

Yuji Kaku’s manga, which was released in 2018 in Shonen Jump, has become popular among manga readers due to its unique storyline and well-developed characters. Alongside Hell’s Paradise, MAPPA has also released two other dark-themed anime productions, Jijutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, together forming the 'dark trio of shonen’.

Hell’s Paradise’s first episode tells the tale of Gabimaru-The Hollow, with no blood or tears. The story delves deep into his shinobi background and his deep desire to live. Resembling a bit of Bollywood drama, Hell’s Paradise is also a perfect mix of action, comedy, drama and a romantic angle that strives you to keep moving. The episode introduces Gabimaru-the shinobi of Iwagakure who is sentenced to death but cannot be killed. Multiple efforts to execute him leave the audience with moments of laughter and intrigue.

Through the narratives of Sagiti-the sword teaser, we get an insight into Gabimaru’s backstory and his love life. The banter between Sagiti and Gabimaru makes him realise his deep attachment to life and his undying love for his wife. The climax leaves Gabimaru accepting Sagiti’s offer for redemption and going to the island of Hell’s Paradise to find the Elixir of Life. The island is filled with other criminals who are on death row and have the same mission as him. The debut episode leaves us in anticipation of meeting other members at Hell’s Paradise and intrigue into their backstory.

The show’s intricately detailed animation takes us back to rural Japan, to the Edo period. Each character’s expression sets the mood of every scene and lighting does a good job at complementing those features. The effective character building in the story keeps the audience hooked to the screens and in need of anticipation of what will happen next.

Some of the most famous voice artists in Japan have lent their voices to the characters, including Chiaki Kobayashi as Gabimaru, Yumiri Hanamori as Yamada Asaemon Sagiri and Rie Takahashi as Yuzuriha.

Hell’s Paradise is available on Netflix and Crunchyroll, with new episodes releasing every Saturday at 4:30 pm GMT. However, Netflix has announced that the show will only be available in a few Asia-Pacific regions. The thirteen-episode series is set to it throughout Spring 2023.