Dead Leaves

About Dead Leaves

Here is what Dead Leaves (デッド リーブス) is about, retold in plain terms: an action, adventure and comedy anime by Production I.G (2004). In short: Pandy and Retro awaken naked on Earth with no recollection of their past. They embark on a devastating crime spree in search of food, clothing and transportation, but are captured by authorities and sent to the infamous lunar penitentiary named Dead Leaves.

Along the way, while incarcerated, they rapidly discover that Dead Leaves is also a top-hidden cloning facility, occupied by villainous guards and deformed genetic experiments. Ultra-manic chaos and hyper-violent bedlam ensue as they organize a prison break with the aid of their fellow mutant inmates.

With action at the core, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Voice work is led by Kappei Yamaguchi as Retro and Takako Honda as Pandy. It will appeal most to viewers who like fast, high-impact fights. At 1 episodes in total, it is easy to plan a viewing schedule.

Production & Appeal

Production I.G is the studio behind Dead Leaves, and its direction shapes everything from character design to motion. Within the action category, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Its 6.9/10 score suggests opinions are split, so it suits viewers who already like the genre. On the casting side, Kappei Yamaguchi voicing Retro gives the lead role a recognizable voice. Released in 2004, it competed with that season's other new series for attention.