Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend, released in 1989, is one of the most notorious of all animes. It was based on a manga series by Toshio Maeda. There were in fact several Urotsukidoji OVAs.
The first thing I want to say is that although it is often described as hentai I think that’s very misleading. There is some reasonably explicit sexual content but the sex is probably the least excessive and outrageous element in a very excessive and outrageous anime. I would certainly not describe this as hentai. And there’s a great deal more to Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend than sex.
There are three separate worlds – the human, beastman and demon worlds. After sleeping for three thousand years the Chojin (or Overfiend as it’s somewhat unfortunately rendered in the English title) is about to awaken. According to legend the Chojin will unite the three worlds. This will be a good thing. Perhaps.
The Chojin will be reborn in human form. Nobody knows the identity of the human in which the Chojin will be reborn. Various factions within the beastman and demon worlds are very anxious to find this human host, although they are not entirely sure what they then intend to do.
It seems likely that the human host is a student at a particular Japanese university. There are at least three students there who are possibilities. One is Nagumo. Nagumo is in love wth a sweet girl named Akemi. A muscle-bound athlete named Ozaki is another possibility, as is the socially inept Niki who is sexually obsessed with Akemi.
Amano and his sister Megumi are from the beastman world. They want to find the Chojin, preferably before the demons find him.
The problem is that the human host has no idea that he is the Chojin. Even when he finds out he still doesn’t know what his purpose is, or what his destiny is. Nobody knows what the Chojin’s destiny is. Nobody knows what will happen when and if he tries to unite the three worlds.
This is not a straightforward good vs evil story. The demon world might be disturbing but that does not necessarily make it evil. The Chojin might be good or evil. You have to bear in mind that Japanese concepts of the supernatural are very different from western Christian concepts.
Amano has been given a glimpse into the future and it worries him.
The rebirth of the Chojin certainly makes an impact, although whether it’s going to be a good thing or a very bad thing remains uncertain. Suffice to say that the Chojin is not what anybody expected. And it appears that whatever forces have been unleashed may be unstoppable.
There’s a weird romance angle which will have strange consequences. There are prophecies to be fulfilled and destinies to be achieved.
Along the way there’s a breathtaking amount of mayhem and carnage.
Amano is as close as this movie comes to having a hero. He and his sister Megumi and their odd little demon pal Kuroko are the good guys. Or at least they think they’re the good guys.
This is a movie in which there are forces that represent pure evil, but perhaps they’re not pure evil. It depends on your point of view, and on the price you consider worth paying to achieve goals that may or may not be desirable.
The violence is extreme but it’s so over-the-top that it’s less disturbing than more realistic violence would have been.
This movie’s reputation would lead one to expect truly shocking sexual content but I really don’t think there’s anything overly shocking here. It’s certainly an anime for grown-ups.
It’s the stylistic excess that is most shocking here. It’s stylistic excess pile upon stylistic excess to the point of madness. There’s a certain appeal to that. This is not an anime constrained by considerations of moderation or good taste.
It’s a wild ride but I enjoyed it. Highly recommended.
The Kitty Media release includes the movie version as well as a slightly different version on DVD. The Blu-Ray offers the option of watching in Japanese with English subtitles. The English dubbed version is included as well but I have no idea why anyone would want to an anime dubbed into English.
