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Boku no Daemon is an animated series that was partially made by Japanese people, its original audio is Japanese, and its story takes place in Japan, yet because it is also partially a production from Thailand, it is only included in one anime database that I know of, I was even surprised of it being absent on a certain one that has cartoons with Korean people involved in their production, but not this show. It is a shame.
The series is about a post nuclear disaster that opened a way to hell and thus allowed for demons (called daemons here for whatever reason) to come into our world (well, just Japan really), and of course that is pretty bad. The show follows a kid that was infected by daemon particles and is in the risk of dying in the long run, yet for the same reason can understand the daemons pretty well, and is friends with one, which he travels with to try to save his undying mother.
Along the way he encounters different daemon tamers who fight alongside with daemons to hunt other daemons, so they target the main daemon Anna for it has a big reward over her, related to an incident from the past and also related to a support character and one of the main antagonists.
The daemons are controlled by the daemon tamers with shockwaves of some kind through some collars, so there are different dynamics shown throughout the series. Some are practically enslaved; some are friends akin the main pair though their relationship is not as strong as the one from the main characters, and some deamons have a one sided care for their tamers who only see them as weapons. Which is why the series is referred as a type of dark Pokémon alternative.
The action is pretty cool, thanks primarily to the abilities of the daemons. The powers are basic, but the ways they are used are pretty creative and with good battle choreography and good directing, so they can be pretty fun to watch.
The visuals, being full CGI, are not that good, besides the backgrounds maybe; the rest is just ok and definitely needed more polish, but it still serviceable and well directed. The character designs are so-so, the humans are kind of crap, but the daemons are great, even the most simple ones have an interesting design and different patterns or parts to show, such as the giant spider that’s full of buildings, or the main daemon Anna with “eyes” across its whole body.
The sound is ok in terms of voice acting and sound effects, the music is quite good and immersive, even the not really memorable opening and ending can create a pretty captivating atmosphere.
There are also messages about humans being the real monsters in this show, how coexistence between daemons and humans is possible as long as they try to understand each other, and even the main character learns the lesson of some things being inevitable and irreversible, in some of the best scenes of the series.
The finale is quite epic, as what was a relatively low or mid stakes adventure becomes a countdown to stop the whole destruction of Japan and possibly every human in it.
All that I said so far are the reasons why I think this show is a one-time worth watching action adventure for a younger audience, or for older fans that grew up watching Pokémon or similar proxy battles shows. Yet at the same time, it needs to be clear that the series is very flawed.
First of all, the main point of the show takes it sweet time to be presented. Before that the series felt more like a road movie type of adventure where the main characters meet and face different secondary or support characters in a semi episodic fashion, sometimes ending episodes in inappropriate moments, with events that are unnecessarily stretched out to last more than one episode for the sake of having cliffhanger endings.
This results in some of the fights feeling unnecessary and the pacing feeling rushed at the end, especially for how coexistence is achieved, it felt very unrealistic and idealistic and sudden. Despite that, I will say that the point was built upon throughout the whole show through its different character dynamics and using plot elements that are properly introduced and anticipated, so the ending doesn’t really comes out of nowhere, and it is actually better than the ones from seinen series like, let’s say, Parasyte, or Devilman Lady.
Also, although the series takes the position of “humans are the real monsters” like so many shows, the show does feature both good and bad humans, as well as daemons that are violent because they are mistreated, and others that destroy everything just because. Thus the conflict and messages are not entirely one-sided and shallow like in, let’s say, Helck, with its victimized demons and asshole humans.
Another negative is the convenient power ups that Anna has at very crucial moments, there are only two but they do happen at the two most important and critical points in the series, while making it the most powerful creature in the series by a lot, to the point that it can win fights easily.
Another issue is the characterization. Although not a single character is left without a backdrop and something to learn, everyone is two dimensional at best if a human, and one dimensional, limited to its design, abilities, fighting style and being able to only say their name, if a daemon, with just one exception. Also, the two main antagonists definitely needed stronger punishments and consequences for the shit they did for years.
Another problem is that the narrative seems to aim at a younger audience, with a very bad exposition, telling absolutely everything and leaving nothing to the interpretation of the viewers. And yet, despite that, the action can be pretty violent and graphic, so it is more fitting for an older public. As if the main target audience isn’t very clear, or as if the show was trying to appeal to two different audiences at the same time.
If you don’t mind those issues much, or see them as expected for an atypically violent proxy battle action adventure series for kids, or teenagers at most, the series is overall fine, but again, just for a one time experience.
Recommended
The Pokémon manga and videogame series, screw the anime
Digimon Adventure 1
Digimon Tamers
Dennou Coil
6/10
