We don't talk about this anime enough.
Hell's Paradise (Jigokuraku) is a pretty new anime that finished airing in July 2023. Despite not being overly hyped, the show was met with positive reviews, and it looks like fans really enjoyed this 13-episode experience.
Hell's Paradise explores the story of a young shinobi (or ninja), Gabimaru. The boy was sentenced to death, and from his depressed demeanor it looks like this might be just his dream come true. He's constantly saying that no longer living is a wonderful option for him, but none of the executions have worked on him: his body remains intact no matter how hard the executioners try to rip the boy apart or burn him.
This inconsistency in Gabimaru's behavior is noticed and pointed out by Sagiri, who mentions the shinobi's wife and suggests that the boy is not really ready to die, despite his stated intent to do so. She thinks that Gabimaru loves his wife and he wants to go back to her, that's why he doesn't let his body be destroyed. The main protagonist is promised forgiveness and the opportunity to come back to his wife in exchange for finding the elixir of immortality on a weird island and bringing it back to the shogun. The boy agrees, and now he's off to this island along with dozens of other fearsome convicts, who are on his way now.
The anime raises a lot of various themes and issues.
What is the meaning of life and how precious is it to you? What are you capable of doing for the sake of freedom and love? What are you ready to do to survive? All these existential dilemmas follow Gabimaru each step of his journey.
Watching him try to escape the horrors he was forced to bring upon other people will definitely provide you with some food for thought.
Each character of the series has their own unique backstory. It might seem like all of the convicts are just ruthless savages at first, but Hell's Paradise is eager to prove you wrong. Everyone in the anime has something appealing to them, which makes it easy for the audience to root for them, and fans point out great character development in the show.
Animated by MAPPA, this series couldn't fail to be visually pleasing. Although some fans are not entirely satisfied with the art style, most agree that the anime looks amazing.
If you've been looking for something relatively new to watch, Hell's Paradise would be a great choice. But be careful, because this is not an experience for everyone. The show is packed with gore and violence as well as nudity and sexual themes. So if you were looking for a series to watch with your younger sibling, this one might not be the best option for you.