DEDDOMAN WANDARANDO EPISODES 9-12

DEDDOMAN WANDARANDO (DEADMAN WONDERLAND) (2011)
Episodes 9-12
JP
Directed by Koichiro Hatsumi

PLOT:
     With a renewed resolve to escape, Ganta allies himself with Scar Chain in hopes of freedom not knowing that everything is going to someone else's plan.

REVIEW:
     So here we are at the end of the series. I myself thought this was a good way to do the review for this series as each episode got a breakdown of the major plot points and I tried to highlight the major underlining of each of the more dense ones as well, which I hope helped you that have read the reviews out. So now that I've taken enough of your time with my blabbering, let us finish the series and this set of reviews for Deddoman Wandarando.

PRO-OXIDANT (WORM EATER):

     After taking care of the guards in the control room, Nagi finds out he's been double crossed by Rokudo who keeps him from releasing the elevator to help free the rest of Scar Chain. As Nagi is about to start attacking Rokudo, a little girl shows up. Nagi quits his attack to save her seeing the violence that's about to happen, only to find out that her name is Hibana Daida and that she's a Undertaker. As Nagi goes for Rokudo again Hibana attacks him with a extending broad sword slamming him into a wall. Hibana goes into that each Undertaker carries a item that neutralizes the users Branches Of Sin. She then starts to torture Nagi by slicing off strips of flesh while teasing him that he's a bad man. Nagi then provokes Hibana which ends up with her cutting off his arm, which gives Nagi the edge he needed to take out both Hibana and Rokudo and release the elevator that his friends are waiting for.  With the elevator released the hopes of Ganta are raised only to be crushed by the arrival of Undertakers on the elevator, which then proceed to kill off most of the group Ganta is with. At this point with only a handful of survivors left the Undertakers leave unexpectedly. Just as Ganta is about to board the elevator, Shiro shows up and snatches the memory chip Ganta has, and throws it onto a fire destroying it.

CARETAKER (UNDERTAKER):

     After destroying the memory chip, Ganta hits Shiro telling her he doesn't want to see her again and walks off with the survivors of the Undertakers in defeat, leaving Shiro to wonder what happened. While this is going on Warden Mikuni breaks into Tamaki's office and finds some of the evidence she was searching for, only to be interrupted by Tamaki talking to the Japanese Defense Secretary about how the Deadman will be ready on time and that the results will be very pleasing. This only raises more questions for Mikuni as she finds out that there are weapons in her prison.  As Ganta and the remaining Scar Chain members make it back to their bar, they find Karako at the door happy to see they survived. Rokudo then shows up with Undertakers mad that his bomb didn't kill them all and orders everyone to be killed starting with Ganta who realizes that he can't do anything. Crow then walks in looking for a fight and seeing the perfect opportunity to do just that after Rokudo lets slip that he was the one that doctored the footage of Ganta at his trial and that the Undertakers' weapons is based on vibrations. Crow then decimates the Undertakers with a sonic blade and leaves telling everyone that he doesn't want to escape as it's the same outside as it is inside. 

     This episode sets up the rest of the series as it shows that Ganta has just been lucky to survive so far and that he's not as powerful as he thought he was and his growing frustration with Shiro which comes into play latter on. Crow is also set up to be a major player later as it shows that there is  a lot more going on with him than what is shown. It is also important to note that Toto "Mockingbird" Sakigami is introduced.

GIG OF DESPAIR:

     Ganta hating himself for being helpless in front of the Undertakers, rushes to Crow to teach him how to fight which Crow laughs at but agrees to. Karako and the rest of Scar Chain decide to escape again but this time without all the stealth. It's at this point that we learn that Nagi was the one who helped Kararko feel more at ease with herself while showing that he himself is quite insane. Karako then precedes to commandeer a Undertakers uniform to break into their office once she finds out that Nagi is being tortured. Toto at this time introduces himself to Ganta to Crow's disgust and trepidation after Toto licks some of Crows blood and says that he wants to play with the two of them but Crow tells him to go away as they don't have time for games. Genkaku at this time keeps drugging Nagi trying to cure him of his insanity, to release the real Nagi as he calls it. He then precedes to tease Nagi about killing his wife while his daughter was still in her womb and that he wanted him after he saw the rampage Nagi went afterwards. Shiro shows up drunk in front of a group of Undertakers who is saved by Karako in disguise only to be captured by Genkaku who tells her that he knows her voice and that it's useless trying to escape. Genkaku then announces to all of G Block that he plans on killing his prisoners just as Ganta completes his training and rushes off to save Shiro and Karako only to be stopped by Nagi.

     This episode is of interest as it shows that most of the inmates in G Block use insanity to escape their tortured lives and when that insanity is taken away the pain that it was hiding comes out in the most deadly way.

RELIEF (GRATEFUL DEAD):

     Nagi goes on a rampage attacking anyone he sees thanks to Genkaku's torture which turned him into nothing more than a beast. The Undertakers are killed one by one by Nagi's power which he's using like bombs all the while Genkaku is in complete ecstasy at the death and blood flowing around him. Nagi goes for the kill on Shiro who had both her legs broken only to be stopped by Ganta who takes repeated punishment to protect her. Karako then rings the bell that she keeps around her neck by accident which causes Nagi to come to his senses and is horrified by what he has done. As Karako goes to Nagi to reassure him, she is stabbed by Genkaku for ruining his fun and taking away his pet. During all the commotion Hibana escapes in the corriders of G Block only to run into Toto who then uses Crow's ability to kill her for no reason except to try out his new power. Nagi at seeing his friends hurt rushes to attack Genkaku only to have a hole blown through his stomach by him instead. Genakaku then proceeds to announce that he plans on killing everyone now and that no one can stop him. At this Shiro's legs repair theirself automatically and she stands, smiles and switches to her Wretched Egg personalitly. Ganta steps forward touching Shiro's shoulder and says her won't allow it and the right side of his body starts glowing in places almost like armor and releases a new type of attack killing Genkaku and blowing out the wall behind him. With escape possible Ganta decides to stay to watch out for his friends that are stuck at Deadman Wonderland and apologizes to  Shiro and promises her that he won't leave her. Toto is then shown in the old Directors office commenting how interesting Ganta is.

     Deddoman Wandarando was one of the more interesting animes I've seen in a long time. Event though a lot of story is crammed into the last six episodes, it was never presented in a way to confuse as all aspects was explained. The one thing I really didn't like was the back stories of he various Undertakers only to have them killed within minutes of explaining why they are the way they are. Other than that the series showed so much potential to continue on past episode 12 as multiple story lines are set in place. But for what is there, it is more than worth watching as it shows a more mature level of story telling than what is on air here the states and nothing is played out for laughs, except for a flower pot thrown at Crow by accident. If you have a way of watching Cartoon Network on Saturday nights you can watch the back half of the series right now, and it should start a repeat of the complete series starting in about six weeks.

BEST DEATH:
     High speed multi-amputation.

BEST LINE:
     Anyone that hasn't gone crazy in this hole is delusional. The Undertakers welcome your insanity!

FUN FACTS:
     Season 1 of the anime covers the first 21 chapters of the manga.

     The manga is an hiatus as the creator is on maternity leave.

DEDDOMAN WANDARANDO Episodes 5-8

DEDDOMAN WANDARANDO (DEADMAN WONDERLAND) (2011)
Episodes 5-8
JP
Directed by Koichiro Hatsumi

PLOT:
     After finding out that he was set up for the slaughter of his classmates, Ganta is forced to compete in a cruel experiments set up as fights for the entertainment of the rich.

REVIEW:

     Welcome back, those that read the review for Deddoman Wandarando for the first four episodes. I will admit that I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started watching this series, but I can say honestly I've been pleasantly surprised so far. Yes, some of the characters seem more one dimensional, but the main characters are pretty fleshed out which is hard to do within the set of time in the series so far.  With this next set of episodes the inner workings of Deadman Wonderland are more exposed and the cracks that are the character's personalities shine more brightly. Even though the series is more sci-fi than horror, it has horrific elements that adds to the tension that is building in each episode. Anyway let us continue on with the review for the series. And there will be spoilers from here on out in these last two reviews for the series.

CARRION FESTIVAL (CARNIVAL CORPSE):

     With barely any time to recover from their previous scuffle, Ganta and Crow are forced to fight one another in the true reason for Deadman Wonderland, the Carnival Corpse, which is an experiment gone extreme to view the different uses and forms of the Branches Of Sin. Crow easily gets the upper hand and punishes Ganta throughout the match. Ganta due to being un-used to using his power uses to much of his blood as projectiles and suffers anemia. Crow uses this to his advantage to go in for the kill only to walk away from the downed Ganta viewing him as almost nothing. It is at this point Ganta thinks of Shiro and finds resolve to continue and wins the match with a point blank range projectile surprising everyone that is watching. During the match Yo and Shiro are looking for a way back into G Block, Yo to search for a girl and Shiro to look for Ganta. In a scheme meant to distract the guards and get Shiro captured goes wrong as Shiro ends up killing all the guards after her, as it turns out Shiro also has the use of Branches Of Sin. It is in this episode we find out that Ganta though always complaining about his situation can easily think outside the box to find solutions. Yet when ever he thinks he gets ahead he finds out that for every action there is a reaction in response to what he does as he finds out after his match with Crow.

HUMMINGBIRD:

     Ganta after waking up after seeing the end results of his match with Crow, which is the Sore Loser Game, goes exploring and meets Minatsuki, another Deadman. Together they decide to try and escape only to be captured by G Block Guards who comment that Ganta is facing Minatsuki, who goes by Hummingbird, tomorrow in the next Carnival Corpse. Once in the ring Minatsuki's true personality comes out as she mercilessly berates Ganta for being weak and easily fooled. Right before Ganta can truly start fighting back, Yo shows up and we find out that Minatsuki is his sister he's been searching for the whole time he has been in Deadman Wonderland. Even though Minatsuki tries to play innocent to her brother, Yo tells her that she can stop acting and apologizes for not protecting her like he should have. This pushes Minatsuki over the edge into a rage and she takes Yo as a shield against Ganta. Ganta showing his ability to think around situations circumvents Minatsuki's shield and wins the match with a headbutt instead of using his ability. After the match with the crowd booing him for lack of bloodshed, Ganta flips off the audience telling them he won't kill anyone. This greatly amuses Tamaki and the true director of Deadman Wonderland who was watching the match with Shiro.

ORIGINAL SIN (WRETCHED EGG):

     The Director wakes up Shiro and tells her that it's time and the two start a battle using their Branches Of Sin. Shiro is the winner and comments on the melody that isn't there as she dons the redman outfit. Around this time Minatsuki is in the infirmary after her battle with Ganta talking to her brother Yo and Ganta as a earthquake happens. Ganta is struck by hurt in his chest as a earthquake hits, which sends a flood of forgotten memories from his childhood with Shiro. Ganta and Yo both rush to Minatsuki to keep her safe which  cracks her tough exterior a little even though she says it's useless as they can't protect her. At this both Ganta and Yo rush off to find some way to buy her freedom. Yo is confronted by Tamaki and lead Undertaker Genkaku, who then tries to attack Tamaki to no effect thanks to almost being killed by Genkaku. Ganta while trying to find someway to help Yo's sister is knocked out by another Deadman, Koshio Karako. Ganta wakes up in bar with Koshio and another Deadman, Kengamine "Owl" Nagi, watching over him to make sure he's alright. Both Owl and Koshio tell Ganta that they've been looking for someone like him when Genkaku busts in with Yo's limp body which he throws at the group. Ganta in a rage charges at Genkaku and tries using his Branches Of Sin on him to no effect, which takes the fight out of Ganta. Just as Genkaku is about to kill to Ganta, Shiro drops down from the ceiling and stops Genkaku destroying his weapon.

As you can tell, this is one of the most plot heavy episodes of the series so far as a lot happens in a short amount of time. The interesting thing about this is that even though it seems a lot to take in, it actually was set up very well where you don't get lost, unlike reading the above.

CHAINS OF FREEDOM (SCAR CHAIN):

     After being saved by Shiro from Genkaku, Ganta is introduced to Scar Chain, a group of Deadmen  plotting to break out and expose the corruption of Deadman Wonderland during inspection week, in which time Carnival Corpse is shut down. It is during this time Ganta learns that the Undertakers are also a group of prisoners who are the worst of the worst that could not be rehabilitated but are selected to be anti-Deadmen who have technology that makes Branches OF Sin powers revert back to normal blood. Unknown to them Warden Makina is also using this time to find proof of what is truly going on there as well as too many secrets are being kept from her. After Ganta gets upset after having his intentions questioned he leaves the Scar Chain, thanks to Rokudo Binjou who happens to be working with the Undertakers. After learning of Nagi's wife being killed on the order of Tamaki, Ganta joins the Scar Chain to get revenge against Tamaki and promises Shiro that they will ride a Ferris Wheel together once they have their freedom. The break out attempt begins but goes bad quickly once a security bot is sent out to capture the escaping Deadmen. Koshio decides to give the group time to escape and stays to fight off the bot and gives Ganta the computer chip with the information that will expose Deadman Wonderland and saying that she trusts Ganta with it. With this episode, the series sets up a lot of upcoming story lines and conflicts that are going to happen later on.

BEST DEATH:
     Yo's shower of body parts thank to Shiro.

BEST LINE:
     Shut the HELL up you shits! Like I'd kill anyone, dipshits!

FUN FACTS:
     Here's the lyrics of the opening song to Deddoman Wandarando.

One Reason by Fade

Slit the throat of reason and reality
Cut myself and scream for their insanity
Wake up to this nightmare that will never end
The main attraction of this twisted master plan
Trust nothing but pain to get me through the daze
Sleep with one eye open not to be their prey
Fist against my face they bring me to my knees
The pressure’s crushing down so hard
I can’t break free
When I can feel my skin crawl
When I’m about to crack
The hunger for revenge
gives me strength to stand
I will be your deadman
With nothing but this blood on my hands
Stuck in your “wonderland”
I just want to make you bleed like me
Everyday goes by without a second thought
Living in a perfect and controlled project
A puppet of their sick perversion’s appetite
Will I be trapped inside this hell until I die?
So what if no one cares
Enough to make a change
I give my bleeding heart out for one reason
I will be your deadman
With nothing but this blood on my hands
Stuck in your “wonderland”
I want to make you bleed just like me
So make me your deadman
With only poison in my veins
Stuck in your “wonderland”
Stagnated by the passivity
I’m gonna make you bleed like me

DEDDOMAN WANDARANDO Episodes 1-4

DEDDOMAN WANDARANDO (DEADMAN WONDERLAND) (2011)
 Episodes 1-4
JP
Directed by Koichiro Hatsumi

PLOT:
     After being setup for the slaughter of his class and the soul survivor of the massacre, Ganta, is sent to a privately run prison in which the inmates are the performers of a bloody circus of death for the fun of the masses.

REVIEW:
    It's been about a week plus since my last review, sorry about that to all that read this. So I had some time to think what I wanted to do next and I decided to review a complete series as the what's next for me. Those that have read what I've written know that I've done some reviews for anime titles before and this will be a good exorcise for later on this year when I review another full anime series as well. As for this set of reviews I decided to review the Japanese version of a series that is on air at the moment here in the U.S. That series is Deadman Wonderland as it is something different. Something more raw and savage. Each installment of the reviews for Deadman Wonderland will include four episodes as the whole series runs only twelve episodes. So without taking to much more of your time readers with my ramblings on to the review.

DEATHROW INMATE:

     As far as first episodes go, you have to grab the attention of the audience quickly to keep them involved in what they're trying to watch. In that regard Deadman Wonderland does that in spades as we're introduced to Igarashi Ganta with his friends at school talking about past times they have spent together and talking about a earthquake that destroyed Toyko ten years ago. It's at this point that a person wearing red armor and cape is seen floating outside the classroom window before the entire class is slaughtered in a matter of seconds by the smirking Red Man. Quickly Ganta is railroaded as being the cause of the slaughter and sent to the prison Deadman Wonderland with a death sentence. Once there Shiro, a mysterious albino girl is introduced and seemingly knows Shiro from when they were kids, though Ganta has no memory of this. At the end of the episode it is shown that Ganta has the same power that the red man does as it saves his and Shiro's life after an explosion goes off that was planted to kill Ganta. The first episode is fast moving without any pause except for when Shiro is introduced and snaps Ganta out of his depression. This one episode is one of the best first episodes I've seen in a long time due to that the character's emotions aren't hidden and no one person is seen as being flat or two dimensional but more rounded.

ANTIDOTE (CANDY):

      Unlike the first episode, this one is slow starting as the environment Ganta is forced to live in is explained as Deadman Wonderland is more than just a Circus, but is more of a small city unto itself. We are also introduced to Takami Yo, another prisoner that has quick hands and a thief explains the ins and outs to Ganta and that to live everyone has to eat a antidote called candy for the poison that is slowly killing all the prisoners due to the collars the inmates wear. But to get "candy" the have to earn cast credits to buy more, and to do so the inmates have to work and perform for the amusement for the general public as this is a circus the live in. It is here that Ganta, Shiro and Yo  decide to enter one of the more extreme amusements, Dog Race. Seeing that Ganta is involved with this race both the warden, Makina, and Tsunenaga Tamiki who is the real force behind Deadman Wonderland pay close attention to see what he does. The friendship that starts to form between Ganta and Shiro is the main focus of the episode as Ganta sees that Shiro is trying to protect him no matter the cost. Because of this Ganta finds the will to live no matter what.

G BLOCK:

     Tsunenaga Tamiki, puts Yo in charge of keeping tabs on Ganta, is forced to witness the return of the redman. It turns out the redman goes by the name Wretched Egg and is kept at Deadman Wonderland in a state of suspended animation most of the time. As in before, destruction follows Wretched Egg as multiple prisoners are killed, yet this time there are survivors. Wretched Egg seems to show up just to see what Ganta would do and to test him. This is also the second time Ganta uses his powers that seem to flow from his wounds. In the aftermath, Ganta wakes up in the infirmary with Shiro by his side. It is here that Ganta learns that Wretched Egg is kept in G Block which is separate from the rest of the prison. With a direction to finally go in, Ganta and Shiro go in search of G Block with Yo being dragged along due to his bad timing. It is at this time Warden Makina views footage of Ganta using his powers and orders him to brought to her no matter what. The interesting part of this episode is that we find out that there is more going on at Deadman Wonderland than what is shown on the surface and that those that think they are in charge find out just how little power they truly have. Ganta and Shiro's friendship is also shown to grow more as Ganta is shown to start caring more for Shiro and how he would truly be lost without her.

CROW CLAW:

     Finally finding G Block, Ganta is forced into a realizing that besides for him and Wretched Egg, there are others who have the same powers. The power is called Branches Of Sin and it depends on the users blood and each carrier of the virus has a different type. All this is explained to Ganta by Kiyomasa "Crow" Senji who calls Ganta "Woodpecker". Crow, also explains that people with these powers are referred to as Deadmen and that his fight with Ganta wasn't supposed to be until tomorrow yet doesn't mind that Ganta wants to fight today. Ganta at this point starts to learn how to use his powers and the cost of it. Before the fight can go on to long it is stopped by special forces that are kept at G Block. After waking up Ganta comes face to face with Tsunenaga Tamiki who explains that he was the one who got Ganta convicted of the slaughter of his class. Tamiki also explains that G Block is the true Deadman Wonderland which is fights between Branches Of Sin users called Carnival Corpse to the death or until one user cannot fight anymore. Tamiki also tells Ganta that he has his first fight the next day against Crow. Throughout this episode you see Ganta being beat down and broken because of what he finds out and the desperate situations he finds himself in all thanks to the sadistic nature of Tamiki, all for his enjoyment it seems.

BEST DEATH:
     Razor runway multiple amputation.

BEST LINE:
      It may be crazy to you, but that's only because reality is absurd.

FUN FACTS:
     Here's the lyrics to the song Shiro was singing when Ganta is first brought to Deadman Wonderland.

One mischievous little woodpecker
Today, poking your holes
Ruining the woods
The angry old forest god turned your beak into a poison knife
Poor little woodpecker
Your nesting holes are all tainted
Your food rife with toxins
If you touch your friends
They will all die
Oh, sad little woodpecker
Poisonous tears shining brightly
As they stream down you cheeks.