Denji appearing shocked and annoyed during the Chainsaw Man anime.
By
Hannah Diffey
Published 32 minutes ago
Hannah is a senior writer and self-publisher for the anime section at ScreenRant. There, she focuses on writing news, features, and list-style articles about all things anime and manga. She works as a freelance writer in the entertainment industry, focusing on video games, anime, and literature.
Her published works can be found on ScreenRant, FinanceBuzz, She Reads, and She Writes.
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MAPPA is known for explosive animation and pulse-pounding spectacle, but its loudest hits often overshadow the studio’s most complete achievement, Dororo. While Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man dominate online conversation, they don’t represent MAPPA at its storytelling peak. That honor belongs to Dororo, a haunting, human, meticulously crafted series that remains the studio’s true masterpiece.
Released before MAPPA’s current wave of hype-driven blockbusters, Dororo stands apart because it doesn’t rely on shock value or sensory overload. Instead, it uses emotional clarity and moral complexity to build a narrative that feels timeless. Long after the trends fade, Dororo endures as the studio’s most cohesive, grounded, and resonant work.
Dororo Tells a Complete Story With Purpose
dororo hyakkimaru
Unlike many of MAPPA’s modern adaptations, Dororo isn’t bound by an unfinished manga or cliffhanger constraints. The anime knows exactly where it’s going from the first episode, following Hyakkimaru’s quest to reclaim his stolen body with unwavering focus. Every encounter meaningfully advances the plot rather than padding it with detours or spectacle.
Each demon Hyakkimaru defeats restores a piece of his humanity, both physically and emotionally. As he rebuilds himself, the series explores how newfound senses reshape his understanding of people, morality, and suffering. These shifts are subtle but powerful, showing the cost of survival in a world that feeds on cruelty.
What elevates Dororo is the moral tension woven throughout Hyakkimaru’s mission. Regaining what was stolen risks destabilizing villages that prospered from the demonic bargain made at his expense. The series refuses to present victories as simple triumphs. Every choice carries weight, and every step forward complicates his path, giving the story its remarkable depth.
Hyakkimaru and Dororo Create MAPPA’s Most Human Partnership
Hyakkimaru and Dororo meet Tahomaru while traveling through the Daigo Capital in Dororo 2019.
Hyakkimaru begins the story with almost nothing, no voice, no senses, and no memory of the life that was taken from him. His transformation could have played like a string of upgrades, but Dororo avoids that trap. Each restored sense alters how he experiences the world, allowing small moments to shape him more than any battlefield confrontation.
Dororo, the lively thief who travels with him, turns the journey into something emotionally rich. Her resilience and sharp humor soften the harshness of Hyakkimaru’s quest, grounding the series with warmth. She teaches him how to interpret emotions and navigate a world he’s only just learning to feel, while Hyakkimaru gives her a purpose she thought she’d lost.
Their bond is honest, tender, and far more mature than the exaggerated rivalries found in many of MAPPA’s modern blockbusters. When Hyakkimaru begins slipping toward obsession, Dororo challenges him, not out of drama, but out of genuine concern. Their dynamic highlights how compassion and boundaries coexist, making them one of the most authentic duos MAPPA has ever animated.
As much as fans celebrate MAPPA’s action-heavy titles, none match the emotional precision and narrative completeness of Dororo. It is a series that does not need shock factor to leave an impact. Instead, it delivers a profound journey about identity, sacrifice, and what humanity means in a brutal world. For all MAPPA’s ambitious projects, Dororo remains the studio’s quiet, unmatched triumph.
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8.6/10
Dororo
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Action Adventure Animation Fantasy Release Date 2019 - 2019 Directors Kazuhiro Furuhashi Writers Yasuko Kobayashi Franchise(s) DororoCast
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