Kaho Shibuya’s Favorite Animes Of 2020

Part 2


 

I get easily scared. So, the concept of a death game is not something I appreciate. Yet, I found myself reading the continuation of the show in manga later on. Yes, it starts as the main character Kaname unknowingly installed a weird smartphone app, Darwin’s Game, and faces so many life-threatening moments, and even witnesses his friends’ deaths. Still, it turns out to be more than an emotionally disturbing and exhausting story that you have to see characters dying one by one.  Each participant in the game gets gifted an ability “sigil” special to themselves, such as being transparent, lighting fire, teleportation, etc. Like JoJo the Bizarre Adventure from part 3 where they started the idea of stands,  it’s a superpower battle show. Moreover, players can create or join a “clan,” to work together with other players as allies. Clans can claim their territory, taking over regions, or maintaining a diplomatic friendship with other clans, and there are more functions available than single players.

As the story becomes wider and more strategic, Kaname, who was just a regular high schooler without any knowledge about the game, grows as a true shonen protagonist, becoming emotionally and physically strong as a leader of his own clan. It’s remarkable to see his progress from a scared kid to a chosen one who gets recognized by the game master behind this mysterious competition. His good-natured personality helps to form a trustable team in the scheming death game.

Darwin’s Game also becomes a fantasy show, with the initial location setting is in Tokyo. They eventually jump to another space and time, meeting people from an ancient era and even oni (demons). I genuinely look forward to the second season to see such a bigger storyline in animation. Even though it hasn’t been announced yet, they certainly insinuated in the final episode with a glimpse of a new character voiced by a famous Japanese VA. Watch and find out!

Currently streaming on Crunchyroll.