Heavenly Delusion (TV series)
Two storylines intertwine in a post-apocalyptic search for Heaven.
Heavenly Delusion is a Japanese anime television series based on the manga by Masakazu Ishiguro, produced by Production I.G and directed by Hirotaka Mori. It aired for 13 episodes in 2023 and has been noted for its focus on relationships and gender issues.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Adventure
- Mystery
- Science fiction
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The story follows two parallel narratives. One follows Maru and Kiruko traveling through a post-apocalyptic Japan 15 years after a disaster destroyed civilization. The other focuses on children living in a school facility isolated from the outside world. A girl named Tokio receives a message asking if she wants to go outside, while another girl, Mimihime, predicts two people will come to save her—one with Tokio's face. The school director warns Tokio the outside is Hell. Meanwhile, Maru, who resembles Tokio, travels with Kiruko seeking Heaven.
Production
Director of photography Kentarou Waki appointed Hirotaka Mori as director based on their close relationship. Mori was worried about his performance but was helped by directors Yuji Kaneko and Waki. Animation producer Masashi Ohira motivated Mori to work on the project. Mori felt pressure to meet expectations and was attracted to the dual storylines. Writer Makoto Fukami, who had read And Yet the Town Moves, became interested in Heavenly Delusion. The anime offer came before the fourth manga volume was released, so the staff did not know how to end it. Early chapters were trimmed for a more direct story, but Fukami kept the banter between Kiruko and Maru. Mori noted that 20-minute episodes required balancing screentime between the two narratives. Action scenes, especially man-eaters, were challenging; Maru's sequences were animated by Tetsuya Takeuchi with wuxia-like choreography and active camerawork, assisted by Ryo Araki. Mori added color to the ruined landscape and school to make the world attractive. He described Maru as pure and unaware, gradually gaining ego through travel, while Kiruko has a heavy past and a complex relationship with Maru. Tokio is portrayed as a pure, adolescent character with a different purity than Maru.
Release
The anime adaptation of Heavenly Delusion, produced by Production I.G, aired on Tokyo MX from April 1 to June 24, 2023. Hirotaka Mori directed the series, with scripts by Makoto Fukami and music by Kensuke Ushio. Disney Platform Distribution licensed the show, streaming it on Disney+ globally and on Hulu in the United States under the title Tengoku Daimakyo. Two Blu-ray box sets were released by Avex Pictures on August 30 and September 27, 2023.
Reception
Anime News Network gave the first episode a positive response for its dystopian premise and character designs, comparing it to Blame! and praising the animation. The reviewer noted the series' focus on gender and found Kiruko interesting despite some themes coming across as negative. The relationship between Maru and Kiruko was praised for their mutual care, though a flashback's incestuous angle was seen as possibly sensationalist. Toni Sun Prickett of Anime Feminist enjoyed the animation and the leads' dynamic, noting Maru's resemblance to another character. Prickett mentioned gender-based violence in attacks on the duo and was optimistic about the handling of the revelation that Kiruko is a young man with his brain transplanted into his sister's body, finding Maru's confession likable and not homophobic. However, Prickett was troubled by the twist's implications for Kiruko's earlier scenes appearing incestuous. Alice Gallo of Comic Book Resources noted the series' gender norms due to Maru retaining affection for Kiruko despite knowing he is male, and compared Kiruko to a transgender character accepting a female body.
More in Japanese LGBTQ-related Animated Television Series
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced