Welcome to yet another Sunday, which means it’s time for some serious time-dumping business.
After getting all hot and bothered over Castlevania last week, only to be left holding the bag by its premature end, I needed to satiate my anime desires. Before this analogy goes completely off the rails and into hentai territory, let me reign myself back in.
I strolled down Netflix’s anime lane until I stumbled upon AJIN: Demi-Human.
I took a gamble on this one, which mostly paid off. If nothing else, there are three seasons to get lost in.
And although I admittedly only got through the first in one night, I feel I’ve seen enough to recommend spending some time with this series. Of course, I’m not the biggest manga or anime fan, but I enjoy it immensely when it’s good.
Based on a popular, long-running manga, this series adaptation has lore and backstory baggage up the wazoo. So I’m going to give you just the basic rundown.
Ajin are immortal beings that manifest as humans but cannot be killed. As such, everyone fears them and the government hunts them to experiment on them. They also look like smoke monsters. Most Ajin are out for ruthless justice as a result of the misfortunes they’ve suffered in the hands of the government.
It’s a pretty basic story held together by strong vocal performances and really clean animation. The Ajin look impressive thanks to their animations, their roiling flesh and demonic features. And there is a nice, almost dreamlike unfocused style to the backdrops.
I’m really drawn (huh… huh?) to the clean illustrations and tight framing. The colors are a bit pallid but still somehow pop in their muted schemes. And then there’s the gore — that sweet, sweet anime gore. This isn’t for the kiddies, let’s just say that much.
I’m hooked. And, like I said before, there is more than enough material here to time dump the day and night away.
You can check out the trailer below.
