Deca-Dence: Strange But Oddly Charming
Deca-Dence is an action-adventure anime created by studio NUT. It aired in July of 2020 and is the first anime that we’ve reviewed where it was not adapted from external work being a complete anime original. Directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa. Deca-Dence takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where humans have survived a calamitous invasion from creatures known as Gadoll. The remnants of human civilization live in a big mobile machine city known as Deca-Dence. The story follows a young girl by the name of Natsume and her journey to become a warrior to protect humanity. She is mentored and assisted by a man named Kaburagi who has a mysterious past that they will uncover together.
Talk about being utterly side-winded! When I tell you I am in awe of this anime I really am! Studio NUT once again cooking up straight drugs in the form of anime eye candy they outdid themselves with this on ladies and gentlemen. The absolute surprise and joy that I felt watching this show is absolutely unmatched. I first want to start by saying. It looks a lot, A LOT, like Darling in the Franxx. And it has a very similar feel at some points, especially plot-wise. It’s a slight bit uncanny. And even Knights of Sidonia with the feelings of doomed dread the show gives off in terms of vibes.
However, Deca-Dence has some absolutely amazing scenes to put this show on the map. It plays like any action shonen would with crazy visuals and larger-than-life battles. But I must say the biggest selling point of this entire show is its insane twist THAT YOU GET IN EPISODE ONE! Seriously, I have to spoil it because it sets up practically the entire show.
We take note very early on that humanity entered a collapse when monsters known as Gadoll started to terrorize humanity. They wiped out 90% of Earth’s population before the giant mobile city Deca-Dence was developed to combat the monsters. Humanity has been struggling to survive ever since.
So, you following the right simple standard stuff for post-apocalyptic settings. Now flip the script completely because aliens brought the monsters and are orbiting Earth in a giant space station where they make avatars. These avatars are the warrior species that fight alongside humans. And the humans don’t know that these avatars are for a game that the aliens play where they fight the monsters while chilling in their giant space station where if they die they just make a new character. How absolutely insane is that as a concept!?
Seriously this whole thing comes absolutely out of left field, and I adore it. Post-apocalyptic situations can become so boring and mundane because there’s a very particular way you can do it, from visual style to atmosphere and general feel. While Deca-Dence has this it has a myriad of unique things that make it shine from the rest of the fodder.
For starters, I love the convoluted storytelling mixed with the goofiest alien designs I have seen to date. You have this amazing gritty post-apocalyptic world suddenly juxtaposed by the most colorful and friendly-looking aliens I have ever seen. It’s honestly a double juxtaposition if you look at it from the perspective that they’re kind of the reason the world has gone to hell.
I won’t be spoiling anymore because, in all honesty, I’ve watched two episodes here, and I’m already prepared to talk about the masterpiece this show is. If you have the time, I highly recommend it. It’s flair, and personality absolutely captivate the audience. It has enjoyable and redeemable qualities, especially with some of the societal structures that are portrayed on the alien’s side.
Hell at this point I’m not even sure if they are aliens! For all I know they’re interdimensional beings or a robot intelligence that took over and made itself rather whimsical. But besides that, it’s a phenomenal show and deserves some more recognition!