Deca-Dence is an original anime, with the season being 12 episodes long. We get a quick background of Natsume, who lives in a mobile fortress called Deca-Dence. There are monsters known as Gadoll that prowl the landscape, and the fortress has dedicated teams that fight the Gadoll, as well as harvest their meat for sustenance. There’s a hierarchy, and Natsume wants to become part of the team that heads outside to fight the Gadoll.
The true nature of Deca-Dence is quickly revealed, although maybe not with as much clarity as it could have given. There’s a dual purpose to Deca-Dence and it gives it a weird dynamic between the population within Deca-Dence, and the population outside of it, which also seems to have a significant influence. Although at the end of the day, the anime is still about Natsume, and her experience in first learning to fight, and then actually becoming part of the team to head outside.
The unique thing about Natsume is that she lost her left arm early as a kid, and in its place is a mechanical one. However, that is more of a liability for her. She meets Kaburagi, who is an amazing fighter, but Kaburagi harbors a big secret about himself. He’s part of the other civilization in the background of Deca-Dence. To be honest, this connection between the two populations is somewhat weird and not sure how it works out since at the end of it, it is all one big illusion.
Once the concept and premise of the world becomes clear, and how it works, it soon loses its uniqueness. It’s not that unique at all. Yes, maybe the roles are reversed but the events of the anime has stock standard development. Kaburagi is the true protagonist, and he gets a change of heart in the way he views the world, and who he wants to help. He builds a connection with Natsume and in wanting to protect her, he basically wants to destroy the Gadoll, and with them, the current world order.
Even though the events become more predictable and generic, a development and decision by Kaburagi in the second half of the season increases the pacing. It helps to overcome the staleness of the plot, and while it isn’t anything new or revolutionary, it helps kick things into gear and there is more meaningful action as the characters have proper objectives. It also lightly touches on the more philosophical aspects of its plot, albeit nowhere near its full potential.
Unfortunately, the anime falls flat in its finale. Yes, there is a big enemy that the characters have to fight. Yes, everyone that they’ve met joins together in a display of camaraderie to fight against the threat. And yes, there is a big battle where the good guys win and there is a wonderful ending. However, it does this in the most predictable of ways.
Overall, Deca-Dence is a very average anime. It has a slightly unique premise, where it is the reversal of the normal scenario in isekai anime. It then promptly reverts to a predictable formula with a story that falls flat. The characters are bland, the concept doesn’t quite gel together, and there is a lack of ingenuity and excitement.
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