If you're a fan of the horror genre or just craving more death games after Squid Game, Deadman Wonderland might be for you. The series was one of the first anime to explore the story of desperate individuals forced to compete in a deadly battle royale for a chance at survival and fame. This, along with its unique power system, makes Deadman Wonderland stand out among the other manga and anime of its time. Although the anime adaption was only given one season, its vivid animation and gruesome fight scenes managed to thrill audiences. Luckily, the manga was able to complete the story.
The Plot of Deadman Wonderland
This underrated manga and anime focuses on Ganta Igarashi, a Japanese middle schooler, whose entire class is murdered by a mysterious figure called the "Red Man." Ganta is then falsely convicted of the massacre and sent to Deadman Wonderland, a bizarre theme park prison for inmates sentenced to death. Ganta must compete in dangerous games and competitions to win special candies that neutralize the poison constantly being injected into his body.
While trying to survive and prove his innocence, Ganta discovers that he has the power to manipulate his blood and use it as a weapon. Prisoners with this ability are known as "Deadmen" and are forced to participate in death matches called Carnival Corpse. Deadman Wonderland is a story filled with action, horror, graphic violence and mystery.
Where to Read the Deadman Wonderland Manga
The Deadman Wonderland manga was written by Jinsei Kataoka and illustrated by Kazuma Kondou. All thirteen volumes of the digital version of the manga can be purchased from Viz Media, the company that handles its English distribution, for $6.99. Physical copies of the manga can be picked up from sites like Amazon, Book-A-Million and Barnes & Nobles for around $10. Your local Walmart or comics/games shops are also likely to sell volumes.
Where to Watch the Deadman Wonderland Anime
The anime adaption of the series was animated by the studio Manglobe. However, only twelve episodes and an OVA were ever released. Most fans of the series were introduced to Deadman Wonderland when it aired on Toonami in 2012. The anime can now be watched on Funimation's website in both English subbed and dubbed format. The anime is also available on Apple TV for $1.99 per episode or $17.99 for the whole season. Funimation sells a Blu-ray of the complete series on their site for $37.49.
Even though only about a quarter of the manga was adapted for the anime, those few episodes are still a wild and thrilling ride. Because the show flew under most viewers' radar when it originally aired, it didn't get the chance it deserved to make its mark on the anime world. Thanks to Funimation and Viz Media, fans both old and new can still enjoy the bloody fun that is Deadman Wonderland.
