Descendants of Darkness Review

Dr. Muraki is not a nice guy. He’s a serial killer, a mad scientist, a rapist, a vampire-summoner and a caster of malignant spells. He’s also one of the most spellbinding characters you’ll find in all of anime.

And the series he’s in, Descendants of Darkness, is one of the best anime shows you’ll ever find either. After a teenage boy named Hisoka sees one of Muraki’s murders, Muraki kills him to be rid of witnesses. But that’s not the end. In the afterlife Hisoka signs himself up at the Ministry of Hades, an agency consisting of the dearly departed. Here they investigate mysterious deaths and supernatural occurrences. All his co-workers are dead themselves, though they appear as if they could be perfectly alive, with physical bodies and good looks.

Hisoka is partnered with Tsuzuki, a well-meaning if lazy individual who joined the Ministry of Hades after dying in 1926. Aided by twelve gods he can call upon to take visible shapes, Tsuzuki soon finds his laziness fading as his job grows increasingly dangerous. Hisoka wants to find the man who killed him, and swiftly Tsuzuki is caught up in the game as well, coming face-to-face with Muraki. If the detective partners think this will be an easy enemy to vanquish, they’ve severely underestimated their opponent. Muraki leads them into a dark and tempting world of violence and power, showing them all the tricks his twisted brain can concoct. With gorgeous animation, Descendants of Darkness is a feast for the eyes. And while the main line of the series deals with otherworldly harms and wicked plots, this show does an amazing job of sprinkling in plenty of humor and light moments. The audience will be at the edge of their seats one minute and laughing with delight the next. At the same time, characters are given real depth and backgrounds, making it impossible not to become involved. All of the English language actors are excellently cast, especially Edward MacLeod as the sinister and seductive Muraki.

Descendants of Darkness has everything to make it an anime classic: loveable characters, beautiful artistry, heartrending plots, mysteries at every corner, and balances of silliness and drama. It all comes together in a perfect package. The darkness has never been so alluring.

Check out some free clips from the series here...