Summary
Similar tothe Big Three of anime, the Dark Trio of anime consists of three shows that began airing around the same time and portray similar mature and gritty themes not typically found in Shonen anime.
Whilethe Dark Triostill has a long way to go before becoming as big as the Big Three, they have each made a name for themselves in theanimangacommunity, and fans have high hopes for what they have to offerin coming manga chapters and anime episodes. Unlike other Shonen anime series, the Dark Trio’s gritty tone has intrigued more fans than it has repulsed. With how easily lives are lost in the various series, the Dark Trio manages to keep fans on the edge of their seats, as no character’s survival is guaranteed.
Gritty Realities
Protagonists With Hard Lives
The Dark Trio consists ofHell’s Paradise,Jujutsu Kaisen, andChainsaw Man. Each one of these series portrays a unique world with mature and gory scenes that do not shy away from what many would call excess blood. Of the Dark Trio,Chainsaw Mancontains many explicitly gory scenes. The series portraysthe life of Denji, a young orphaned boy who is left to fend for himself and pay off his father’s debt to a mob of gangsters. To pay off his debt, Denji begins killingdevils alongside Pochita, the chainsaw devil. After an unfortunate event, Denji ends up being merged with Pochita’s heart, and he becomes a hybrid human and devil.
Apart fromChainsaw Man,Jujutsu KaisenandHell’s Paradisealso show many gory scenes; however, apart from their blood-filled scenes, many of their dark themes come from the psychological effect of fighting for survival and redemption.Jujutsu Kaisenparticularly does this well with Itadori and other characters. At first,Jujutsu Kaisenstarted like it would be like any other Shonen; however, from the Shibuya arc of the series,Gege Akutami, the mangaka of the series, began killing the main and recurring characters, showing that they could easily be replaced as newer and newer characters began appearing. With this move, Gege shows that as long as an absolute evil being exists, then the fighters of humanity could be replaced over and over.
A Case Of Survival Over Justice
Denji, Itadori, And Gabimaru
As shown with dark themes, the protagonists of the Dark Trio portray different values typically not found in Shonen protagonists. Rather than fighting for good and justice, Denji, Itadori, and Gabimaru fight for redemption and survival. Moreover,various Shonen protagonistsoften fight to inspire others to do good, but not the protagonists of the Dark Trio. Gabimaru and Denji, in particular, fight to survive and get the best they can out of a situation.
They are often in morally gray areas where right or wrong means nothing if they won’t get to see the light of the next day. While many shows don’t run away from having characters make morally gray decisions or spill blood, not many are set in worlds where the world itself lacks optimism and seems dead and hopeless. Of the protagonists of the Dark Trio, Itadori gets to experience the most ‘familial’ bond; however, afterthe Shibuya arc of the series, many of his comrades begin to die off, making him feel alone and bleak.
Why The Epithet, The Dark Trio?
Darkness And Its Thematic Importance
Many other shows portray even darker and gorier scenes thanJujutsu Kaisen,Hell’s Paradise, andChainsaw Man. Why, then, is the trio known as the Dark Trio? It’s important to note that the Dark Trio isn’t known as such because they portray the darkest themes in all anime, but because they all portray some degree of darkness, and they all started airing around the same time. Moreover, their dark and gory scenes are all brought to life by Mappa. While shows likeBerserkalso portray very dark themes, they are not included in the Dark Trio because many aired way before the Dark Trio, and they aren’t in the same generation of anime.
Although the Dark Trio doesn’t portray the darkest of themes present in anime, to be considered dark, they portray a certain degree of darkness that few Shonen shows match. Their plots are centered on moral ambiguity, violence, gore, and existential crises. All three protagonists of the Dark Trio have at some point in their lives wondered why they exist,with Itadori even reaching a mental breakdownat one point and Gabimaru being considered a hollow man devoid of all emotions, seeking only slaughter and violence.
Overall Critical Reception And Impact On Anime
What The Future Holds
Perhaps because the age of the average anime and manga fan has grown over the years, the Dark Trio has been found endearing by many fans who find the typical fight for justice in a world where everything goes right a little bit outdated and generic. With shows likeHell’s ParadiseandJujutsu Kaisen, where the lives and deaths of even the main characters are uncertain, fans constantly live in a state of anticipation and uncertainty. The stories portrayed in the Dark Trio have been well received by fans, with many even wanting more. The overall critical reception of the Dark Trio has been well received by fans, as many admireChainsaw Manfor its unique take on dark humor and blend of horror. ForHell’s ParadiseandJujutsu Kaisen, their take on the supernatural genre has left many liking the stories they portray.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Based on Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen manga, Mappa’s battle shonen anime envisions a world where Jujutsu Sorcerers battle against entities born out of Cursed Energy. One day, a teenager named Yuji Itadori is dragged into this conflict when he eats a possessed finger.
