Deca-Dence is set in a post-apocalyptic world where 90% of the world’s population has been wiped out by the emergence of a new life form, the Gadoll. The last remains of civilisation live on a massive mobile fortress called Deca-Dence. The residents are split into two roles, Gears, those who can fight the Gadoll and Tankers, those who support from home. This story follows Natsume, a tanker girl who dreams of fighting, and Kaburagi, a man who gave up on his dreams long ago.
Positives
There was a lot to like in this first episode. There were a lot of really high-quality animation cuts, and the sound design was on point. The premise feels like Attack on Titan meets Mad Max, and so far, I’m really enjoying it. Both main characters are likeable and interesting. Can’t wait to see how they flesh out this world in the future.
Negatives
The art style might take some getting used to. The Gadoll designs didn’t particularly inspire me. I hope a lot of things are fleshed out more over the next few episodes, but we have plenty of time for that. I wasn’t as much a fan of the cartoony art style it would shift to every once in a while.
Summary
This is looking like it could be something special. The animation is solid, and the characters seem compelling enough so far. With a lot fewer shows this year, Deca-Dence could end up being the stand-out of the summer. Or it could go the way of listeners, only time will tell.
I plan to watch the first episode of every new show that is coming out this season. If you want to know what to watch, and what to stay away from, follow this series.
