The following content contains spoilers from Heavenly Delusion, Season 1, episode 3, currently streaming on Disney Plus. Heavenly Delusion is far from being an angelic fairytale like Heaven’s Lost Property or Oh My Goddess! Quite the contrary, as this anime series emphasizes the Delusional aspect and shares more commonalities with the traumatic events of Angel Beats or Attack on Titan.
But even then, nothing quite compares to this multifaceted masterpiece that may just be the most underrated anime of the year. Heavenly Delusion is so versatile that categorizing it under a single genre would be a sin, whereas summing up this anime experience into one word is virtually impossible. Unpredictable and thought-provoking are about as close as it gets, and even that doesn't serve Masakazu Ishiguro's magic any justice.
The epic, multifaceted, Hitchcockian narrative of Heavenly Delusion could fit quite comfortably into the following categories (and this is only taking the first three episodes into consideration!)
- Science fiction
- Dystopian
- Fantasy
- Thriller & Suspense
- Horror
- Mystery
- Action
- Adventure
- Tragedy
- Romance
- LGBTQ+ Awareness & Gender issues
- Bildungsromane
- Seinen
Essentially, this covers almost all the bases of archetypal literary and film genres, practically ensuring a well-rounded viewing experience. One could even squeeze comedy into this collection of themes, prompted by the rather innocent interactions between Maru and Kiruko, as well as the youthful 'guinea pigs' tucked away in the nursery. And so, while Heavenly Delusion certainly fits under the seinen umbrella, it ticks multiple other boxes too.
Out Of This World
While the opening scene of Heavenly Delusion's debut depicts a picturesque scenery, the overwhelming dystopian setting of the great big scary world becomes apparent as soon as fans meet Maru and Kiruko. The pair travel through a seemingly post-apocalyptic Japan, and are some of the few survivors of the Calamity; living in this disaster zone is basically all they have ever known. Despite the hardships, the run-down civilization has managed to continue cultivating technology to a certain extent, subsequently keeping the science fiction element alive. Things may not be as futuristic as other shows such as Edens Zero or Cyberpunk; however, not many would scoff at the “Kiru-Beam" ray gun or turn down a chance to ride one of those awesome mini-go-carts. Furthermore, the guys in the nursery are not lacking in technological advancements and are literally surrounded by a variety of AI robotics.
Heavenly Delusion is not solely focused on science, as fantasy plays a large role in the overall narrative. Maru, for instance, relies on his hands as his most effective weapon, and not because he is a martial arts aficionado. By merely touching a monster, this youngster can essentially attack them internally, ultimately causing their hearts to explode. Speaking of monsters, these incredible creatures seem to be plucked straight out of a Giger or Lovecraft masterpiece (although, Kona seems to be the inspiration behind these particular beasts!) To describe them as imaginative would be an awful disservice to these distinctive, sui generis beings. Meanwhile, Mimihime and the other kids seemingly have some supernatural enhancements of their own, such as premonitions, advanced reflexes, and potentially even technokinesis.
Waiting With Bated Breath
Surviving in this post-apocalyptic world does require satisfying basic needs like food and shelter; however, walking away from one of these man-eating monsters has to be the greatest accomplishment in this death-defying landscape. Heavenly Delusion overflows with such memorable nightmare fuel that it could potentially hold its own alongside iconic dark horror anime such as Junji Ito Collection or Made In Abyss, yet while still maintaining its originality. Furthermore, heart palpitations are virtually guaranteed every time anyone faces these horrific Man-Eaters as the senses become overwhelmed with tension and anxiety as the thrilling suspense is amplified with every passing second.
To pinpoint a singular plot of mystery would be impossible, as the whole premise of the storytelling seems to revolve around dropping hints and leaving questions unanswered. Where did the monsters originate from? How do they tie in with Kona? What's up with the doppelgängers and who is Kiruko, really? What's the deal with the school/prison setup and what are Enchou's plans for those kids? The element of uncertainty seems to have tainted every aspect of Heavenly Delusion, where the answers obtained simply lead to further head-scratching.
Adrenalin-fuelled Antics
It's safe to say that the majority of anime content deals with action and adventure in some shape or form, particularly within the seinen genre. So far, viewers have seen a sci-fi western-styled shoot-out in the streets of Japan, an electrifying go-kart race of doom, and a handful of monster battles; and this is just the beginning! Maru and Kiruko's beast-battling duo are certain to have their plates full whilst venturing across the remnants of Japan in search of "Heaven" and Tokio. Furthermore, some of the sheltered kids are likely to become overwhelmed with curiosity and go poking around "outside of the outside," completely unprepared for what they meet (besides perhaps Kona and Mimihime.)
The (current) purity of the compound kids is in strong contrast to the tragedy shrouding Maru and Kiruko's very existence, both past and present. Apart from the expected struggles of living in the aftermath of the Calamity, this pair, and many others, have suffered great losses in life, overwhelmingly heartbreaking ones. As the storyline develops, harrowing situations such as rape, gang violence, and murder are also speckled across the cast, in case viewers need a reminder that, despite how together these kids appear, many (if not all) are deeply traumatized in some way.
Love Knows No Bounds
Although romance is not a dominant feature in this complex narrative, Maru's infatuation with Kiruko is a driving force in their relationship, whether those feelings are reciprocated or not. And while the nursery kids may seem naive and childish, they are clearly not above experimentation. Just ask Tokio, who catches two (female-looking) classmates kissing in the bushes. The whole gender situation at this compound is another intriguing element, as the kids are meant to appear ambiguous and somewhat androgynous, or mislead the audience entirely. Without dropping too many major bombshells, one could say there is more LGBTQ+ awareness going on here than first meets the eye.
When it comes to gender divergence, the elephant in the room is Kiruko and Haruki's mind-boggling situation, whereby her deceased brother's consciousness has apparently taken up residence in this female form. While this plot point falls way outside the transgender norms, it does give the audience some insights as to what it might feel like to be trapped in the wrong body. Maru is just as shocked as the rest of the audience to discover that his "Nee-san" considers himself a boy; however, this seemingly doesn't change a thing. He adores Kiruko, regardless of gender identity, as he is in it for the whole package. Too cute!
Sensational Storytelling
Although Heavenly Delusion is not devoid of adults, as far as the main characters go, Kiruko is the oldest (and even she is uncertain of her age, estimating that twenty sounds about right.) However, considering her younger brother, Haruki, is actually behind the curtain, it's safe to assume all the main characters are around fifteen years old, give or take. So, essentially, this narrative depicts a truly unique bildungsromane tale(which is basically a fancy word for "coming of age"), whereby the characters develop from a rather naive mindset, overcoming trials and tribulations (both physical and psychological) along the way and, in most cases, eventually finding the moral high ground.
However, having a cast full of kids does not automatically make Heavenly Delusion a shonen series, as the content is clearly not family-friendly, as it caters to a more mature audience. While the level of violence is certainly seinen-worthy, the complex plot structure, controversial subject matter, and light nudity were certainly constructed with older viewers in mind. Whether or not the narrative appeals to a specific gender is debatable; however, the anime default setting for instances like this tends to favor seinen over josei (and shonen over shojo), seeing as the anime audience is predominantly male. Regardless of technicalities, Heavenly Delusion is by all accounts worth the watch!