The Ultimate Face-Off: Unraveling the Epic Distinctions Between Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku Anime and Manga

The recent MAPPA adaptation of Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku has been a captivating and vibrant addition to what fans have dubbed the "Shōnen Dark Trio" – the adaptations of Shōnen Jump titles JUJUTSU KAISEN, CHAINSAW MAN, and now, Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku. With significant progress in the anime narrative, there are ample opportunities to compare this adaptation to Kaku Yūji's original manga.

While MAPPA has stayed close to the original manga's sequence of events, there are a few intriguing differences between the anime and manga versions. Here, we highlight the most significant disparities between the Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku anime and manga.

Tafel Anatomie?

Cannibal Courtesan Akaginu – Hell's Paradise Jigokuraku Episode 3

The anime adaptation of Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku maintains a level of violence and gore similar to the original manga. However, it tones down the adult themes and elements present in the manga. For example, characters like the Tensen engage in sexual activity through the concept of training, showcasing extreme expressions of masculinity and femininity. The anime attempts to be less explicit than the source material when depicting nudity, particularly of feminine bodies. This is achieved partly through censoring nipples. These censorship decisions may be influenced by the fact that Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku is aimed at a Shо̄nen demographic, which may have certain expectations regarding explicit content. The decision to depict nudity in this manner may be confusing, but ultimately it does not significantly impact the overall quality of the narrative.

Rewrite

English-speaking fans of the series may not be aware of another aspect of censorship related to the changes made in the translations of Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku. One example is the character Hо̄rubо̄, known as "The Killing Prayer", whose name was altered from "The Killing Buddha" to avoid negative portrayals of Buddhist concepts. The Tensen, who are named after bodhisattvas, also experience changes in their monikers in the Japanese script of the show to incorporate Japanese variations of Hindu terms like "Amoghavajra". Despite these alterations, the overall narrative remains faithful to Kaku's original manga, with significant moments adapted with great accuracy. The anime adaptation of Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku also retains the intense violence and bloodshed depicted in the manga.

Direction

Nurugai and Yamada Asaemon Tenza Charge – Hell's Paradise Jigokuraku Episode 5

In terms of the overall chronology of events in the series, one episode of Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku can encompass events from several chapters of the manga. However, the order of these events remains the same. For instance, in the anime, the past of Yamada Asaemon Tenza is introduced before the battle against Zhu Jin, where he ultimately sacrifices his life to protect Nurugai. In the manga, Tenza's past is revealed after Shion saves him and Nurugai from Zhu Jin and after Tenza introduces Zhu Jin to Nurugai as his master in swordsmanship. The deliberate sequencing of events in the anime caters to the expectations of seasoned anime viewers who anticipate special significance in exploring the origins of likable side characters within an episode. However, Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku deviates slightly from this expectation, as seen in the varied introductions of members of the Vanguard Party, like the special focus on Gantetsusai Tamiya, also known as the Blade Dragon, in episode 4.

The anime adaptation of Tenza's backstory in Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku extends the narrative, resulting in a significantly more emotional impact compared to the manga. One key factor that heightens the emotions is the fact that Tenza serves as the narrator. In episode 8, the anime proceeds with the understanding that Tenza will meet his demise, placing him at the center of one of the most poignant moments in the series thus far. The scene depicting Yamada Asaemon Eizen taking a young Tenza to the grave of Shion's former student, Yamada Asaemon Tesshin, who turned to a life of crime after quitting his tutelage, is not present in the manga. Instead, the character of Tesshin is introduced in the light novel spin-off, Jigokuraku: Ephemeral Dream, written by Hishikawa Sakaku with illustrations by the original series' author. By establishing a connection between Tesshin and the events of the main series, the Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku anime transforms a compelling moment from the manga into an emotional masterpiece evocative of classic Shonen character deaths.

Extension

Gabimaru Ascetic Blaze – Hell's Paradise Jigokuraku Episode 1

The extension also applies to the fight scenes in the series. Gabimaru's first display of the Ascetic Blaze was animated brilliantly and given the dramatic attention it deserved. In the manga, the panels emphasized Gabimaru's swift defeat of the enemy and dedicated a beautiful double-page spread to the moment when he sat atop a mountain of groaning samurai, right after the conflict, agreeing to go on the expedition. However, in the anime, the Ascetic Blaze itself is given more focus because the narrative leading up to it built anticipation for Gabimaru's first-ever display of Ninpo.

Despite these vibrant moments, the Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku anime adaptation may be too faithful in its representation of action. It doesn't fill in some of the gaps that were present in the manga, resulting in high-tempo moments that feel like a series of cuts rather than a seamless depiction of life in action. Although it may not match the vibrant animation of popular series like JUJUTSU KAISEN and CHAINSAW MAN, the MAPPA adaptation of Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku is highly enjoyable and shows respect for the source material, satisfying manga readers who have eagerly awaited its adaptation. There are moments of incredibly gorgeous animation, with the first-ever Ascetic Blaze being one of the standout shots of this anime season. As the 2023 Spring anime season comes to a close, it can be confidently said that MAPPA's Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku was exceptionally well done.