Looking at the cover picture of the anime feels like opening the gates to Hell, matching perfectly with the title: Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku. The contrast between hell and paradise is exactly what this manga is all about. It showcases the sufferings and joy, beauty, and ugliness of the deepest and darkest pits of hell. The writer Yuji Kaku did not hold back when it came to delivering the very best for the manga series.

2023 has been labeled as a very special year for fans of the hit manga series Hell’s Paradise (Jigokuraku), as an anime adaptation of the manga is set to be released this year. Hell’s Paradise was written and illustrated by Yuji Kaku and released from 22 January 2018 to 25 January 2021; and consists of over 13 wonderful volumes by Shueisha and sold over 3.6 million copies globally.

Viz media had licensed the series to be released in English in North America. The anime adaptation was finally confirmed by Anime News Network that Hell’s Paradise would be coming their way in 2023!

What Happened in the Manga Series?

To give you a small insight into what happened in the manga series without ruining too much of it, Hell’s Paradise tells the story of Gabimaru The Hollow, who was captured during an assassination mission and was sentenced to be executed. However, multiple attempts to execute him failed as nothing seemed to kill his super-human body.

Gabimaru believed that his undying love for his wife was the reason behind his powers and ability to stay immortal. One of the executioners, Yamada Asaemon Sagiri offers him a chance to redeem himself and be free if he finds the elixir of life on Shinsenkyo, a legendary realm that was recently found southwest of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Over five expedition teams had lost their lives in search of this special elixir of life. Seeing Gabimaru’s special ability, he and some death row convicts were chosen by Shogunate to get the elixir. The convicts were each given a Yamada Asaemon executioner, whom they must return with if they wished to be pardoned for their sins and freed.

Is Hell’s Paradise worth all the Hype?

The horror-action-packed anime took the manga industry by storm as it was seen as a completely unique and intriguing manga because of its storyline and solid, detailed artwork that just adds the strawberry to the ice cream. The first volume had a series of emotional bloodbaths that just gave the storyline the edge over its competitors with one of the most bloody classic shonen action moments ever seen in a horror manga.

Kaku paid special attention to the main characters Gabimaru and Sagiri, whose relationship grew over time as they faced multiple difficulties mirrored each other. Their roles were executed with a lot of thought and precision, thus, making it a story worth paying attention to. No wonder the manga series sold over 3.6 million copies.

Although the violent manga is not made for everyone, it has terrific macabre art, a solid hook, and rich characters, all of whom have this casual, uncritical brutality in their soul that it hurts to read any further and makes one sympathize with them. The mysterious first volume and Kaku’s detailed illustrations make this series a romantically gruesome manga with every bit of charm. No wonder it became a potential breakout hit!

What can we expect in the Animated Series?

The manga did not hold back when it came to the animations and gruesome, bloody moments that just made this manga a whole lot better. However, the animated series will probably be made by studio MAPPA. This studio has been previously involved in some of the best and most hit anime series ever, like Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuri on ice, Takt Op, Destiny, and Attack on Titan the Final Season.

Therefore, fans should expect the animation to be world-class, with loads of epic fight scenes and lots of blood. This is because the manga itself revolves around gore and portrays how the hell would most likely look and feel. That being said, the studio would be giving us quite the anime.

Our hopes are high for Hell’s Paradise, mostly since studio MAPPA will be taking charge of its animations. They never disappoint when it comes to giving us the perfect anime. All we can do now is wait patiently for its inevitable release, until then our fingers are crossed!