Hell’s Paradise: Jigokurakuhas been all the rage this season, bringing together a diverse assortment of characters and plopping them in a dense jungle filled with unexpected dangers. Phrased that way, perhaps it’s underselling it, but while watchingJigokuraku, something about the series' appeal felt vaguely familiar, and sure enough, a rewatch ofRokka: Braves of the Six Flowerswas in order.
Based on the light novel series of the same name,Rokka no Yuushais a 2015 anime directed by Takeo Takahashi and animated by Passione (Higurashi Gou,Higurashi Sotsu,Interspecies Reviewers). It is not a particularly popular series, nor was it very successful when it aired, and yet it has acquired a reputation among those who enjoyed it for the rather surprising direction of its story. The comparison toJigokurakumight seem flimsy if it were only based on the premise that agroup of fighters with diverse skill setsis trapped in a jungle teeming with monstrous dangers. While that is a part of it, it’s what these two showsdowith that setup that makes them both more interesting than meets the eye. Although, between the two,Jigokurakudefinitely puts its best foot forward.
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Just Another Fantasy Anime?
[Author’s note: the characters' names are spelled differently depending on whether one is looking at the anime or the light novels. For the sake of this article, names will be written as they are according to the fan wiki.
Rokka no Yuusha’s first several episodes betray its greater intrigue. It opens with lore about the return of a Demon God and the six heroes that shall be chosen by the Goddess of Fate to fight them, each of whom shall be marked with a unique flower crest. Adlet Mayer, an adventurer andself-proclaimed “strongest man in the world"interrupts a tournament, declaring that he shall win for the honor of becoming one of the chosen warriors when the time comes.
The premiere is exciting thanks to the charisma of its lead and the enchanting score by Michiru Oshima (Fullmetal Alchemist,Snow White with the Red Hair). Added to that, the world feels decidedly unique among anime fantasy stories for having a more Aztec/Mesopotamian aesthetic that’s not as often seen.
However, the premise is still fairly generic and the creativity of the action is hampered by the low budget and the CGI monsters. In a series that sells itself on the promise of a war against demons, having those same demons clash with the other visualsfeels like a recipe for disaster. The first few episodes are all dedicated to the titular “Braves” all uniting at the entrance to the land of demons.
Only those chosen by the Goddess of Fate can enter the land of the Demon God and defeat them, so the Braves need to convene and raise a barrier to prevent the demons from advancing. But suddenly, the unexpected occurs. The barrier is raised early, trapping the Braves in the forest, and where there should only be six Braves, there are seven. Someone is lying.
An Adventure, Interrupted
Rokka no Yuushais an adventure series about stopping a demonic evil, which is subsequently interceptedbefore it even truly begins, by a mystery plot. The cast is all united, but someone isn’t who they claim to be, and even the opening changes - five episodes in, no less - to reflect this dramatic turn of events.
Suddenly, the CGI monsters aren’t so bad when they’re ultimately not the real focus. In all the time leading up to this reveal, the story has already brewed tensions between the Braves. In particular, their ire has been aimed at Fremy Speeddraw, a woman who once killed Braves in service of the Demon God, yet now allegedly wishes to kill him as one herself. Besides her,the audience has ample reason to suspect everyone.
Part of the benefit of the show’s prolonged introduction is not only the investment in these characters and their underlying tension, but how it further begs speculation. There are a lot of conveniences. Characters who are close to one another happened to become Braves at the same time. Is it merely a coincidence, or is the imposter leveraging a relationship?
Adlet is the only character who the viewer sees become a Brave, but the rest of the characters find him to be the odd one out. After, he emerges onto the scene with gusto, declaring that he’s the strongest and that he’ll become a Brave, only to get exactly what he asked for. He’s the odd one out in ways good and bad, making him an ideal suspect, and a fall guy.
The narrative eases off the gas andfully dedicates itself to a mysterywhere every possibility is covered and discussed vigorously among the cast. It’s here that the strength of this series is made abundantly clear: the characters. They clash and coalesce in all the right ways, and though they are distinct, they rarely come off as one-note.
Adlet may tow that line in the beginning, but not only is his style of fighting unique for protagonists of his ilk, but the mystery set-up challenges his identity as a hero. This incurs a deeper exploration of his reasons for wanting to be strong. Knowing that these characters are expected to work together to save the world, the intrigue of this mystery story helps expand their bond really well in just one arc.
Where the show fails to deliver the prettiest animation,it succeeds in its storytelling. It takes a tried and true premise and indulges in traditionally separate genre trapping to push forward the characters and the world in a compelling way. It manages to compensate for its middling qualities by the graces of such an original and creative subversion of expectation. It’s a shame that all good things come to an end.
A Clever Failure
Rokka no Yuushawasn’t dealt the most generous hand, to begin with, coming from a studio that has a mixed reputation, and clearly not given a sufficient budget. The first season ended up underperforming, and as a result, there has never been another season, which is truly a shame because it truly is an engrossing and entertaining mystery.
For that reason, it’s hard to recommend the anime,though the light novels are well worth checking out. Yet, despite it being unfinished, and ending on a cruel cliffhanger, I still recommend it, especially for anyone who will be missingJigokurakuafter its first season ends. Even if the rest will never be animated, this first season is a hugely satisfying watch when treated as a self-contained mystery. The payoff might honestly be worth the frustration.
Rokka no Yuusha, orRokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, isn’t a masterpiece to any extent and may well be outclassed by other mystery anime. However, the nature of its story and the patience of its execution might make it unique enough to pique the interests of those who can forgive the roughness around the edges. It’s a worthwhile binge for something you don’t get every day.
