Daemons of the Shadow Realm Premiere Review

There is an economic approach to worldbuilding and storytelling in this episode, slowly building up to a big reveal in the most efficient way. At every turn, it is clear there is more to this village than it lets on, from the way the adults constantly give each other secretive looks and the mentions of “the world below” to the seemingly single trader who brings trinkets and even shamans when needed, as well as the way Yuru and others look up at the sky and talk of dragons when seeing condensation trails of some unseen creature.

The show is adapted from the manga of the same name by Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiromu Arakawa. Immediately, Arakawa’s style is felt throughout the episode, most notably in her recognizable character designs. The anime is produced by Bones Film, a subsidiary of the same studio that made both adaptations of Fullmetal Alchemist, and it shows in the vibrant colors, attention to backgrounds, and dynamic action.

And make no mistake: Once the bodies hit the floor, Daemons of the Shadow Realm kicks into high gear. In an instant, the premiere pulls a twist worthy of Lost, and whatever it was pretending to be up to that point goes out the window. It opens up a myriad of possibilities for what the rest of the show will be, raising some fascinating questions about the nature of the show’s world and how it works. The shift in tone is seamless, with the first half establishing how quiet and idyllic Yuru’s life is before taking that away with brutal fight scenes. The action is kinetic and hard-hitting, with the use of vibrant colors making the violence pop even more. We see a bit of the titular daemons, who act kind of like Stands in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and manifest different powers. Unfortunately, some of the 3D used in the second half of the episode doesn’t work, but at least it’s used in quick shots that don’t linger.

By the end of the episode, we have an idea of where the story might go (at least in its first story arc), the dynamic between the main characters, and the abilities we’ll encounter. At the same time, the doors are wide open for a show full of surprises; this isn’t Fullmetal Alchemist, and that’s okay. But much like that show, Daemons of the Shadow Realm is clearly an anime that’s more than meets the eye, with a fascinating and complex world worth exploring.