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* PoliceAreUseless:
** [[{{Deconstruction}} Deconstructed]] in episodes 8 and 9, where a teenage girl was being stalked and harassed, but the police did nothing to help her. This of course led to her being assaulted by that same stalker.
** One of the guests in these episodes is a detective whose wife was murdered by someone he had put behind bars, [[spoiler:which led to him avenging her death by killing him. Knowing how useless the cops can be, he goes on to become a vigilante and murders people who commit crimes, but ''only'' after witnessing them do it...which led to him watching that girl get assaulted so he could kill her guy who did it]].
** [[{{Deconstruction}} Deconstructed]] in episodes 8 and 9, where a teenage girl was being stalked and harassed, but the police did nothing to help her. This of course led to her being assaulted by that same stalker.
** One of the guests in these episodes is a detective whose wife was murdered by someone he had put behind bars, [[spoiler:which led to him avenging her death by killing him. Knowing how useless the cops can be, he goes on to become a vigilante and murders people who commit crimes, but ''only'' after witnessing them do it...which led to him watching that girl get assaulted so he could kill her guy who did it]].
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* AnAesop:
** Judging people is wrong.
** Knowing someone's experiences doesn't mean you actually know anything about them personally. People have rich internal worlds and may surprise you.
** Centering your entire identity around one thing (such as your job) is wrong and can lead to pain and identity issues, especially if that one thing is taken away.
** PoorCommunicationKills. [[ExaggeratedTrope Literally]]. So do your best to open up to those around you and talk about your feelings and concerns, no matter how hard it is, or how impossible it may seem.
** Judging people is wrong.
** Knowing someone's experiences doesn't mean you actually know anything about them personally. People have rich internal worlds and may surprise you.
** Centering your entire identity around one thing (such as your job) is wrong and can lead to pain and identity issues, especially if that one thing is taken away.
** PoorCommunicationKills. [[ExaggeratedTrope Literally]]. So do your best to open up to those around you and talk about your feelings and concerns, no matter how hard it is, or how impossible it may seem.
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* EmotionsVsStoicism: A predominant theme throughout the show, this primarily comes up as a dichotomy between arbiters and humans but it also a central struggle for many individuals as well. The black-haired woman is [[RedOniBlueOni contrasted against]] Decim as an emotionally intelligent and expressive young woman, while he is cold and logic-driven. This was deliberately invoked by Nona, who actually [[spoiler:orchestrated their meeting and coerced Decim into taking her in as his assistant. She did this in hopes that it will strike change in the entire arbitration system, or at the very least, discover different ways to judge the deceased.
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* EmotionsVsStoicism: A predominant theme throughout the show, this primarily comes up as a dichotomy between arbiters and humans but it also a central struggle for many individuals as well. The black-haired woman is [[RedOniBlueOni contrasted against]] Decim as an emotionally intelligent and expressive young woman, while he is cold and logic-driven. This was deliberately invoked by Nona, who actually [[spoiler:orchestrated their meeting and coerced Decim into taking her in as his assistant. She did this in hopes that it will strike change in the entire arbitration system, or at the very least, discover different ways to judge the deceased.deceased]].
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* EmotionsVsStoicism: A predominant theme throughout the show, this primarily comes up as a dichotomy between arbiters and humans but it also a central struggle for many individuals as well. The black-haired woman is [[RedOniBlueOni contrasted against]] Decim as an emotionally intelligent and expressive young woman, while he is cold and logic-driven. This was deliberately invoked by Nona, who actually [[spoiler:orchestrated their meeting and coerced Decim into taking her in as his assistant. She did this in hopes that it will strike change in the entire arbitration system, or at the very least, discover different ways to judge the deceased.
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* RedOniBlueOni: Frequently happens between the guests.
** Episode 1: [[{{Jerkass}} Takashi]] is a hot-headed, aggressive, antagonistic, and paranoid man. His wife [[WomenAreWiser Machiko]] is more timid, calm, quiet, and perceptive.
** Episode 4: Misaki is out-going, forward, and temperamental. Yosuke is meek, reserved, and depressive.
** Episode 6: Mayu is an excitable, simple-minded, and overall nice GenkiGirl. Ginti, her arbiter, is world-weary, angry, and hot-headed.
** Episode 8-9: Shimada is nervous, warm, and unassuming. Tatsumi is sharp, direct, cold, and scrutinous.
** The black-haired woman and Ginti are both red to Decims blue. Decim is cold, stoic, pensive and distant while his assistant is passionate, friendly, and emotional, and Ginti, as mentioned above, is much more aggressive.
** Episode 1: [[{{Jerkass}} Takashi]] is a hot-headed, aggressive, antagonistic, and paranoid man. His wife [[WomenAreWiser Machiko]] is more timid, calm, quiet, and perceptive.
** Episode 4: Misaki is out-going, forward, and temperamental. Yosuke is meek, reserved, and depressive.
** Episode 6: Mayu is an excitable, simple-minded, and overall nice GenkiGirl. Ginti, her arbiter, is world-weary, angry, and hot-headed.
** Episode 8-9: Shimada is nervous, warm, and unassuming. Tatsumi is sharp, direct, cold, and scrutinous.
** The black-haired woman and Ginti are both red to Decims blue. Decim is cold, stoic, pensive and distant while his assistant is passionate, friendly, and emotional, and Ginti, as mentioned above, is much more aggressive.
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* EstablishingCharacterMoment:
** Episode 1: Takashi takes control of the situation right away and always places himself in front of his wife. He’s angry and extremely antagonistic towards Decim, slamming his hand on the table and SuddenlyShouting when he talks to him. No other guest is shown to be quite this hostile. This neatly portrays him as an angry, paranoid individual who immediately assumes the worst of people, including, as we find out, [[spoiler:his own wife]].
** Episode 4: Misaki takes the lead in her dynamic with Yosuke. She aggressively teases him to get him to play the game her way, and he meekly goes along with it. Misaki is a TV performer and Yosuke is a shut-in with a Mother complex.
** Episode 6: Mayu enters Viginti and is ''immediately'' [[GenkiGirl excited]] to be there and unquestioning, singing for the ghosts to come out and play. Harada, an idol, is portrayed as cool, and constantly smiles at Mayu and speaks to her in a friendly way while his first line of internal dialogue is about how gaudy she is, showing that his idol persona is a front and he doesn’t actually care about his fans.
** Episode 8: Tatsumi is immediately [[ClintSquint scrutinous]] of Decim and very calmly questions why he’s here. He is soon revealed to be a detective.
** Episode 1: Takashi takes control of the situation right away and always places himself in front of his wife. He’s angry and extremely antagonistic towards Decim, slamming his hand on the table and SuddenlyShouting when he talks to him. No other guest is shown to be quite this hostile. This neatly portrays him as an angry, paranoid individual who immediately assumes the worst of people, including, as we find out, [[spoiler:his own wife]].
** Episode 4: Misaki takes the lead in her dynamic with Yosuke. She aggressively teases him to get him to play the game her way, and he meekly goes along with it. Misaki is a TV performer and Yosuke is a shut-in with a Mother complex.
** Episode 6: Mayu enters Viginti and is ''immediately'' [[GenkiGirl excited]] to be there and unquestioning, singing for the ghosts to come out and play. Harada, an idol, is portrayed as cool, and constantly smiles at Mayu and speaks to her in a friendly way while his first line of internal dialogue is about how gaudy she is, showing that his idol persona is a front and he doesn’t actually care about his fans.
** Episode 8: Tatsumi is immediately [[ClintSquint scrutinous]] of Decim and very calmly questions why he’s here. He is soon revealed to be a detective.
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* FromBadToWorse: Episode 8 starts out with one of the guests being a murderer, but then it turns out [[spoiler:they ''both'' were murderers]].
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* IJustWantToBeYou: Mai in episode 3 has a MistakenIdentity and believes she is one of her ChildhoodFriends, because she believed she was ugly and got plastic surgery and due to the loss of her memory after dying is unable to recognize herself. It’s implied she got plastic surgery to look like that friend in the first place and attract her LoveInterest.
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* DarkerAndEdgier: Episodes 8 and 9 are by far the darkest in the series. [[spoiler:Both guests are guilty of murder for revenge, and the black-haired woman breaks down to the point where she calls out Decim for his cruel methods and even intervenes to try to save Shimada from sending himself to the Void, and ''she fails''.]]
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* DarkerAndEdgier: DarkerAndEdgier:
** The series as a whole is darker than the short film that preceded it. While the premise is still the same overall, ''Billiards'' had some comedic moments and wasn't as dramatic as most episodes in the show are. It was less graphic, less creepy, and also (mostly) less ambiguous. Then comes the first episode of the show proper, which is about a toxic relationship where the characters become increasingly hostile towards one another. It's revealed that [[spoiler:they died because Takashi was so bitter and paranoid that Machiko was cheating on him that he tried taking away her phone ''while driving'', and drove themselves off a cliff, killing them both as well as his unborn child]]. The episode ends with the man begging Decim to let him hit his wife. There are about two or three episodes that debatably have a more laid-back tone to them, but most follow this thread.
** Episodes 8 and 9 are by far the darkest in the series. [[spoiler:Both guests are guilty of murder for revenge, and the black-haired woman breaks down to the point where she calls out Decim for his cruel methods and even intervenes to try to save Shimada from sending himself to the Void, and ''she fails''.]]
** The series as a whole is darker than the short film that preceded it. While the premise is still the same overall, ''Billiards'' had some comedic moments and wasn't as dramatic as most episodes in the show are. It was less graphic, less creepy, and also (mostly) less ambiguous. Then comes the first episode of the show proper, which is about a toxic relationship where the characters become increasingly hostile towards one another. It's revealed that [[spoiler:they died because Takashi was so bitter and paranoid that Machiko was cheating on him that he tried taking away her phone ''while driving'', and drove themselves off a cliff, killing them both as well as his unborn child]]. The episode ends with the man begging Decim to let him hit his wife. There are about two or three episodes that debatably have a more laid-back tone to them, but most follow this thread.
** Episodes 8 and 9 are by far the darkest in the series. [[spoiler:Both guests are guilty of murder for revenge, and the black-haired woman breaks down to the point where she calls out Decim for his cruel methods and even intervenes to try to save Shimada from sending himself to the Void, and ''she fails''.]]
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* BeleagueredBureaucrat: *Everyone* working in the tower is overworked and prone to making mistakes as a result of their terrible working conditions.
* ExistentialHorror: The afterlife is a CelestialBureaucracy that has all the trappings and failings of any regular workplace and doesn't seem to care for change. The people who will judge you have no empathy for your struggles and are so far removed from normal human emotions that they're prone to making mistakes in their judgements. People who are good can be sent to the void, and people who commit heinous acts can be reincarnated based on a whim. Judgments can only be described as emotional torture. They are explicitly meant to bring out the worst in you and to use your memories and experiences against you. The arbiters themselves have no idea who they are and where they came from, and any attempts at character development, change, or connection are inherently frowned upon by the system they are forced to work under, meaning that even if they ''do'' find value and meaning to their "lives," or the lives of the humans they judge, it will be AllForNothing in the end. [[spoiler:It's unknown if Chiyuki's influence on Decim will stick, or if he will revert back to zero after the three month rule]].
* EyeTake: Frequently happens throughout the series as part of the shows recurring EyeMotifs. The finale of episode 9 has an ending ''so brutal'' that [[https://imgur.com/a/2yxVcCT three characters do this at once]].
* LeftHanging: Death Parade has quite a few mysteries left unsolved, such as what happened to God, why humans are dying at an alarming rate, and what some of the characters were scheming. No one in the recurring cast has a backstory except for [[spoiler:the dark-haired woman]], and when it's eventually revealed that Arbiters [[spoiler:used to be humans that were sent to The Void]], this only leaves us with more questions. The canon Drama CD implies that there is some backstory between Nona and Clavis, but it's never elaborated on and it's unclear how much the characters themselves even know about it given that it's possible it happened [[spoiler:before either of them began working in the tower]].
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* LyricalDissonance: The upbeat opening of the show, to the tune of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjjTMNDZi-A Flyers]]" by BRADIO, which accompanies the overall dark undertones of the story
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* LyricalDissonance: The upbeat opening of the show, to the tune of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjjTMNDZi-A Flyers]]" by BRADIO, which accompanies the overall dark undertones of the storystory with its lyrics about trying to overcome depression.
* MatterOfLifeAndDeath: The guests are implored to believe that they will die if they do not play the games.
* MatterOfLifeAndDeath: The guests are implored to believe that they will die if they do not play the games.
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** The dark-haired woman [[spoiler:also goes through this when Decim shows her an illusion of her mother grieving over her shrine. She's absolutely tortured over having caused her mother so much grief after her suicide]].
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* SadisticChoice:
** In order to prompt the guests into staking their lives on a bar game, Decim implies they will die if they refuse. As a result, many of them end up behaving brutally during the games, since they naturally assume they will die if they lose.
** [[spoiler:Mayu]] is given the (deceitful) option of sending her LoveInterest into the void or sending some random guy in his place.
** [[spoiler:The dark-haired woman]] is giving a similar "choice": get brought back to life and amend your mistakes, but someone else will die in your place.
** In order to prompt the guests into staking their lives on a bar game, Decim implies they will die if they refuse. As a result, many of them end up behaving brutally during the games, since they naturally assume they will die if they lose.
** [[spoiler:Mayu]] is given the (deceitful) option of sending her LoveInterest into the void or sending some random guy in his place.
** [[spoiler:The dark-haired woman]] is giving a similar "choice": get brought back to life and amend your mistakes, but someone else will die in your place.
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* ActionHoggingOpening: Enjoy the opening sequence, because it's the most fun and excitement these characters will ''ever'' have.
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* AmbiguousSituation: Since the arbiters as well as the audience is never let in on what's going through the minds of the guests, it's often unclear exactly ''what'' they were thinking during specific situations, or if they even happened as shown in the first place.
** Notably, the guests in the first two episodes: Was Machiko cheating on Takashi [[spoiler:before they even got married? Was it really a one time thing]]? If so, did his behavior push her into doing it? Could they have been happy if they talked things through? Or would his bitterness truly make him permanently miserable?
** Did Mai get plastic surgery so she could look like Chisato when she was young? Would Shigeru have liked her if she still looked like she did before? Or did Chisato's own self-consciousness lead her to pull away from him in the first place?
** Did Sae ''really'' want Shimada to [[spoiler:kill the man who assaulted her and his "friend"]], or did she only say that she wants them dead because she was traumatized and at her worst?
** Did Tatsumi's wife ''really'' thank him for [[spoiler:killing her murderer]], or was he just hearing things? Would Sae's assailant really have kept getting away with it if Tatsumi didn't [[spoiler:attempt to kill him]]?
** When Decim's guests attack one another, is that really their "true nature," or are they just being forced into feeling this way because of the extreme situations? And in any case, does "why" they behave that way even matter in the first place?
** Notably, the guests in the first two episodes: Was Machiko cheating on Takashi [[spoiler:before they even got married? Was it really a one time thing]]? If so, did his behavior push her into doing it? Could they have been happy if they talked things through? Or would his bitterness truly make him permanently miserable?
** Did Mai get plastic surgery so she could look like Chisato when she was young? Would Shigeru have liked her if she still looked like she did before? Or did Chisato's own self-consciousness lead her to pull away from him in the first place?
** Did Sae ''really'' want Shimada to [[spoiler:kill the man who assaulted her and his "friend"]], or did she only say that she wants them dead because she was traumatized and at her worst?
** Did Tatsumi's wife ''really'' thank him for [[spoiler:killing her murderer]], or was he just hearing things? Would Sae's assailant really have kept getting away with it if Tatsumi didn't [[spoiler:attempt to kill him]]?
** When Decim's guests attack one another, is that really their "true nature," or are they just being forced into feeling this way because of the extreme situations? And in any case, does "why" they behave that way even matter in the first place?
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* CrypticBackgroundReference: Most of the dialogue going on between the higher-ups like Nona, Oculus, Quin, and Castra are handled like casual conversations with no actual exposition since the characters in question know what they're talking about. The audience, however, is left with vague statements about God's absence, excessive strife in the real world, and various manipulations they're engaging in. Almost nothing they talk about is explained, but most of it doesn't impact the plot in any way.
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* DramaticIrony:
** Every episode that involves a judgment is predicated upon this trope, since the audience knows what's going on before the characters do.
** Three episodes before the black-haired woman learns about her identity, [[spoiler:the audience learns that she is a dead human, which means that all this time, she's been judging people just like her]].
** Every episode that involves a judgment is predicated upon this trope, since the audience knows what's going on before the characters do.
** Three episodes before the black-haired woman learns about her identity, [[spoiler:the audience learns that she is a dead human, which means that all this time, she's been judging people just like her]].
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* GarnishingTheStory: A lot of background elements about God and about the condition of the planet Earth are sprinkled throughout the show to add an overall air of foreboding and mysticism to the series, but don't foreshadow any specific events.
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* TheJourneyThroughDeath: The entire show is about revealing an afterlife system and showing us how humans experience it. More specifically, [[spoiler:this is the black-haired woman's journey]].
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* OnTheNext: Every episode ends with a brief next episode compilation.
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* PoorCommunicationKills: A major recurring theme throughout the show.
** Takashi is so distrustful and paranoid that he believes his wife is cheating on him with very flimsy evidence, [[spoiler:even before it actually happens]]. He spends their marriage bitter and resentful, but he never discusses anything with her. The hostility builds until he tries to take her cell phone away while driving, [[spoiler:leading to their deaths as well as the death of their unborn child]].
** When Machiko eventually [[spoiler:''does'' cheat on him]], she's shown to be remorseful, but she ''also'' doesn't talk about it.
** Due to being emotionally abused and neglected by his mom, Yosuke refuses to get close to his stepmother, even though she seems to be a kind woman. [[spoiler:He deeply regrets being unable to even call her "mom" before killing himself, and hates himself for not letting her in]].
** Shimada's sister was assaulted, and while she's recovering in the hospital, she wishes death upon the people who harmed her while talking to him. [[spoiler:Instead of realizing that she is traumatized and probably wouldn't actually want that to happen if she was in a better headspace, and instead of staying with her, he swears revenge on the people who hurt her and dies in the process, leaving his orphaned teenage sister alone]].
** As [[UnwittingPawn Unwitting Pawns]], both Decim and his assistant fall victim to this. Most of the pain they endure could have been avoided if Nona were honest with them from the start.
** The black-haired woman's inability to open up to Decim or ''anyone'' for that matter turns out to be her FatalFlaw, as it's revealed that she pushes away people who care about her and doesn't bother trying to communicate her feelings or her needs. She believes that people fundamentally can't understand one another and that there's really no point in even trying. [[spoiler:This is what lead to her suicide, and it's something she ends up deeply regretting and wishing she could take back]].
** On the other hand, while Decim ''wants'' to get to know her better, his attempts at doing so are backwards and cruel, and it's unclear to her that he's even trying to do so until the very end. Open and frank communication is such a foreign concept to his kind that, when he's asked how we express our feelings to others, he can't even come up with an answer. [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove His inability to engage in honest discussion]] like a normal person is partially what leads him to taking in his assistant in the first place, and ends up causing them ''both'' a great degree of pain.
** Ultimately, this is the FatalFlaw of the black-haired woman.
** Takashi is so distrustful and paranoid that he believes his wife is cheating on him with very flimsy evidence, [[spoiler:even before it actually happens]]. He spends their marriage bitter and resentful, but he never discusses anything with her. The hostility builds until he tries to take her cell phone away while driving, [[spoiler:leading to their deaths as well as the death of their unborn child]].
** When Machiko eventually [[spoiler:''does'' cheat on him]], she's shown to be remorseful, but she ''also'' doesn't talk about it.
** Due to being emotionally abused and neglected by his mom, Yosuke refuses to get close to his stepmother, even though she seems to be a kind woman. [[spoiler:He deeply regrets being unable to even call her "mom" before killing himself, and hates himself for not letting her in]].
** Shimada's sister was assaulted, and while she's recovering in the hospital, she wishes death upon the people who harmed her while talking to him. [[spoiler:Instead of realizing that she is traumatized and probably wouldn't actually want that to happen if she was in a better headspace, and instead of staying with her, he swears revenge on the people who hurt her and dies in the process, leaving his orphaned teenage sister alone]].
** As [[UnwittingPawn Unwitting Pawns]], both Decim and his assistant fall victim to this. Most of the pain they endure could have been avoided if Nona were honest with them from the start.
** The black-haired woman's inability to open up to Decim or ''anyone'' for that matter turns out to be her FatalFlaw, as it's revealed that she pushes away people who care about her and doesn't bother trying to communicate her feelings or her needs. She believes that people fundamentally can't understand one another and that there's really no point in even trying. [[spoiler:This is what lead to her suicide, and it's something she ends up deeply regretting and wishing she could take back]].
** On the other hand, while Decim ''wants'' to get to know her better, his attempts at doing so are backwards and cruel, and it's unclear to her that he's even trying to do so until the very end. Open and frank communication is such a foreign concept to his kind that, when he's asked how we express our feelings to others, he can't even come up with an answer. [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove His inability to engage in honest discussion]] like a normal person is partially what leads him to taking in his assistant in the first place, and ends up causing them ''both'' a great degree of pain.
** Ultimately, this is the FatalFlaw of the black-haired woman.
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** It's heavily implied that Nona knows that her plan to change the system won't go anywhere, but she pursues it anyway because she thinks it's more interesting.
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** It's heavily implied that Nona knows that her plan to change the system won't go anywhere, but she pursues it anyway because she thinks it's more interesting.interesting to have things done her way.
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* AmbiguouslyBrown: Castra and Ginti, as well as some background arbiters. Since they are not human, it’s likely they don't really have a race.
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* AmbiguouslyBrown: Castra and Ginti, as well as some background arbiters. Since they are not human, it’s likely they don't really have a race. [[spoiler:However, since they ''used'' to be human, they likely did]].
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* ClosedCircle: Once the guests enter the bar, they cannot leave until they finish playing the game.
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* DullEyesOfUnhappiness: A recurring theme in this show, along with plenty of other EyeMotifs. Arbiter's eyes rarely reflect light outside of dramatic moments, and human eyes will often go dark just before JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope.
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* LockedInARoom: The guests that come to Quindecim are told explicitly that they cannot leave until after they play the game. That doesn't stop them from trying to open every door they can find, though.
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* OrangeBlueContrast: Quindecim's cool color scheme and Decim's blue eyes are intentionally contrasted against Viginti's warm palette and Ginti's fiery orange hair.
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* AnOfferYouCantRefuse: Considering the guests are set up to believe that they'll die if they don't agree to play the game, it's hard to see why they wouldn't immediately give in.
* ApatheticCitizens: No one in the tower seems to really care that humans are dying at an alarming rate. They're more annoyed by the workload it's causing.
* CarpeDiem: Invoked with "Memento Mori," though Decim's interpretation is that it's less about living your life to the fullest and more about simply living in the moment.
* {{Hell}}: This is what they call "the void" in their world.
* HopeSpot: Happens frequently during the games.
** The young man in billiards thinks he has a high chance of winning due to his experience level and the fact that his opponent is an old man with unsteady hands...[[OhCrap cue the old man hitting multiple balls in a row]].
** While playing the arcade game, Misaki is finally unlocks a special move that she thinks will help her win...only for it to do absolutely nothing. When things ''do'' seem to be working out, Decim tampers with the game, breaking her controller to make her freak out.
** After realizing she has died, Misaki laments that she had finally found hope in becoming a reality TV star because it gave her a second chance at life and she could finally find a way to support her five children, only to have her die while they were all still minors.
** Decim also gives one to his assistant in the final episode, [[spoiler:leading her to believe that she will be able to bring herself back to life in exchange for one random person]]. She falls for it before he drops the act, though]].
** In episode 9, the black-haired woman puts all her strength into holding back one of their quests from assaulting the other one, and for a moment, it works. He pulls back and sighs, seemingly ready to take her advice, before [[ShutUpKirk the other guest laughs off her positivity]] and [[KickTheDog taunts him]], goading him on into continuing his assault.
** The young man in billiards thinks he has a high chance of winning due to his experience level and the fact that his opponent is an old man with unsteady hands...[[OhCrap cue the old man hitting multiple balls in a row]].
** While playing the arcade game, Misaki is finally unlocks a special move that she thinks will help her win...only for it to do absolutely nothing. When things ''do'' seem to be working out, Decim tampers with the game, breaking her controller to make her freak out.
** After realizing she has died, Misaki laments that she had finally found hope in becoming a reality TV star because it gave her a second chance at life and she could finally find a way to support her five children, only to have her die while they were all still minors.
** Decim also gives one to his assistant in the final episode, [[spoiler:leading her to believe that she will be able to bring herself back to life in exchange for one random person]]. She falls for it before he drops the act, though]].
** In episode 9, the black-haired woman puts all her strength into holding back one of their quests from assaulting the other one, and for a moment, it works. He pulls back and sighs, seemingly ready to take her advice, before [[ShutUpKirk the other guest laughs off her positivity]] and [[KickTheDog taunts him]], goading him on into continuing his assault.
* QuestionableConsent: The entire system they operate under is predicated upon giving the guests as little information as possible to get them to accept the terms of the game and continue until they're done.
* ShutUpKirk: The black-haired woman finally decides to interject with one of the judgments, giving a young man a RousingSpeech to prevent him from assaulting the other guest and getting sent into the void as a result. [[KnightTemplar The other guest]] suggests she's lying as part of the young mans judgment and mocks her wishful thinking before shouting about how they live in a CrapsackWorld.
* SinisterNudity: Invoked by Decim. The mannequins he hangs behind the bar to scare his guests into believing that they will die if they don't go along with the game are all undressed, making them look like [[NightmareFuel naked hanging bodies]].
* SinisterNudity: Invoked by Decim. The mannequins he hangs behind the bar to scare his guests into believing that they will die if they don't go along with the game are all undressed, making them look like [[NightmareFuel naked hanging bodies]].
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Many of the character deaths are fairly realistic, common occurrences, like car accidents due to distracted driving, bus crashes, or slipping on a bar of soap [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking because you're dancing in your bathroom]].
* UnwillingSuspension: Done by Decim towards his guests if they get violent once he has already cast his judgment. He also did this to his assistant after she had been put to sleep to help carry her to bed, and later on he does this again [[spoiler:after ''he'' puts her to sleep himself so he can prepare her judgment]].
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* WeAllDieSomeday: Variations of this quote comes up in various ways. Arbiters will often make blasé statements about the inevitability of death and the “irrational” ways humans react to it. Most notably however, Decim in the penultimate episode puts a much more optimistic twist on this idea when he explains his interpretation of this concept:
to:
* WeAllDieSomeday: Variations of this quote comes up in various ways. Arbiters will often make blasé statements about the inevitability of death and the “irrational” ways humans react to it. Most notably however, Decim in the penultimate episode puts a much more optimistic twist on this idea when he explains his interpretation of this concept:concept: that since we are going to die eventually, it should mean we have all the more reason to live now.
---> "I believe that humans do not live just so that they can die someday. It is ''because'' they live, that they inevitably must die as a result."
---> "I believe that humans do not live just so that they can die someday. It is ''because'' they live, that they inevitably must die as a result."
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* YourWorstMemory: Frequently invoked by the arbiters towards their human guests. A lot of the memories that come up during the games are stressful and traumatic, such as DomesticAbuse, ParentalNeglect, [[YourCheatingHeart infidelity]], and [[CynicismCatalyst depression]].
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* TheCasanova: Harada, who's a popular BoyBand member and spent a lot of time with different girls. [[spoiler:It lead to his death.]]
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* TheCasanova: Harada, who's a popular BoyBand member and spent a lot of time with different girls. [[spoiler:It lead led to his death.]]
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* DarkerAndEdgier: Episodes 8 and 9 are by far the darkest in the series. [[spoiler:Both guests are guilty of murder for revenge and the black haired woman breaks down to the point where she calls out Decim for his cruel methods and even intervenes to try to save Shimada from sending himself to the Void, and ''she fails''.]]
to:
* DarkerAndEdgier: Episodes 8 and 9 are by far the darkest in the series. [[spoiler:Both guests are guilty of murder for revenge revenge, and the black haired black-haired woman breaks down to the point where she calls out Decim for his cruel methods and even intervenes to try to save Shimada from sending himself to the Void, and ''she fails''.]]
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* DivineMisfile: While it’s generally left up to interpretation, the first guests in particular were likely so misinterpreted by Decim that it led to him sending someone into the void because he thought they were deliberately malicious when they were heavily implied to be performing a HeroicSacrifice.
to:
* DivineMisfile: While it’s it's generally left up to interpretation, the first guests in particular were likely so misinterpreted by Decim that it led to him sending someone into the void because he thought they were deliberately malicious when they were heavily implied to be performing a HeroicSacrifice.
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** Even ''after'' realizing he had already accomplished his goals, [[spoiler:Shimada is so overcome with rage at realizing the depths of Tatsumi’s corrupt morality that he is urged by Decim into torturing him]].
to:
** Even ''after'' realizing he had already accomplished his goals, [[spoiler:Shimada is so overcome with rage at realizing the depths of Tatsumi’s Tatsumi's corrupt morality that he is urged by Decim into torturing him]].
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** The end of the series as a whole. [[spoiler:Chiyuki passes Decim's test of character and is sent to be reincarnated, and Decim finally is able to accept his emotions. However, he and Chiyuki will never be reunited, a burden Decim's going to have to live with. It's also implied that Nona's machinations are mostly useless in the grand scheme of things, as Oculus say there may be powers even greater than himself. Puppets all the way down...]]
to:
** The end of the series as a whole. [[spoiler:Chiyuki passes Decim's test of character and is sent to be reincarnated, and Decim finally is able to accept his emotions. However, he and Chiyuki will never be reunited, a burden Decim's going to have to live with. It's also implied that Nona's machinations are mostly useless in the grand scheme of things, as Oculus say says there may be powers even greater than himself. Puppets all the way down...]]
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* TheCasanova: Harada who's a popular BoyBand member and spent a lot of time with different girls. [[spoiler:It lead to his death.]]
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* TheCasanova: Harada Harada, who's a popular BoyBand member and spent a lot of time with different girls. [[spoiler:It lead to his death.]]
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* CoolOldLady: Sachiko from episode 10 is a sweet and polite elderly woman who lived a fulfilled life and loved to draw. She had a blast playing cards with Decim and [[spoiler:Chiyuki]] in the Quindecim.
to:
* CoolOldLady: Sachiko from episode 10 is a sweet and polite elderly woman who lived a fulfilled life and loved to draw. She had a blast playing cards with Decim and [[spoiler:Chiyuki]] in the Quindecim.
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** Lampshaded in the Drama CD when Nona instructs the black-haired woman to dance and she says she doesn't know how, but Mona reassured her she'll do just fine. [[spoiler:As a figure skater, she's physically skilled and well-coordinated, so of course it comes naturally to her]].
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** Lampshaded in the Drama CD when Nona instructs the black-haired woman to dance and she says she doesn't know how, but Mona reassured reassures her she'll do just fine. [[spoiler:As a figure skater, she's physically skilled and well-coordinated, so of course it comes naturally to her]].
Changed line(s) 101 (click to see context) from:
** In episode 11, [[spoiler:Chiyuki]] explains her death in a rather blasé manner and talks about her suicide with a small smile. She doesn't seem terribly bothered by it and seems eager to be done with all of this so she can move on. [[Spoiler:Subverted later on when Decim forces her to watch her grieving mother and she finally admits that she wants to live again, so she can see her again]].
to:
** In episode 11, [[spoiler:Chiyuki]] explains her death in a rather blasé manner and talks about her suicide with a small smile. She doesn't seem terribly bothered by it and seems eager to be done with all of this so she can move on. [[Spoiler:Subverted [[spoiler:Subverted later on when Decim forces her to watch her grieving mother and she finally admits that she wants to live again, so she can see her again]].
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** In episode 3, the bowling balls are stylized to resemble the players' hearts. Shigeru [[IkeaErotica puts his fingertips into the ball's holes]], cutting to a stylized scene of his fingers inside pulsing red flesh. He blushes and smiles, and then says"She's so warm..."
to:
** In episode 3, the bowling balls are stylized to resemble the players' hearts. Shigeru [[IkeaErotica puts his fingertips into the ball's holes]], cutting to a stylized scene of his fingers inside pulsing red flesh. He blushes and smiles, and then says"She's says "She's so warm..."
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* EyeForAnEye: [[spoiler:Lisa's sister]] Kana committed suicide after [[spoiler:Harada dumps her]]. Later, [[spoiler:Lisa kills Harada using a time bomb. In the shape of an heart and with a note saying "A present from my sister, Kana"]].
to:
* EyeForAnEye: [[spoiler:Lisa's sister]] Kana committed suicide after [[spoiler:Harada dumps her]]. Later, [[spoiler:Lisa kills Harada using a time bomb. In bomb in the shape of an heart and with a note saying "A present from my sister, Kana"]].
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* {{Irony}}: The OP of the series, ''"Flyer"'' is a hopeful song, stating that as long as you're still alive you can change for the better. Meanwhile, in the show, everyone going to Decim's bar is dead already, to be judged whether they're worthy or not based on what they've done when they were alive.
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* {{Irony}}: The OP of the series, ''"Flyer"'' series "Flyers" is a hopeful song, stating that as long as you're still alive you can change for the better. Meanwhile, in the show, everyone going to Decim's bar is dead already, to be judged whether they're worthy or not based on what they've done when they were alive.
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* {{Leitmotif}}: The piano into of moonlit night, the song which plays in full during [[spoiler:Chiyuki’s]] skating scene, also plays when the story of ‘’Chavvot’’ plays.
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* {{Leitmotif}}: The piano into of moonlit night, "moonlit night", the song which plays in full during [[spoiler:Chiyuki’s]] skating scene, also plays when the story of ‘’Chavvot’’ Chavvot plays.
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** Happens to Yousuke in the fourth episode when he [[spoiler:realizes he committed suicide before calling his stepmother, mom]]. And to Misaki when she [[spoiler:in desperation, bangs Yousuke's head against the video game machine's screen]].
** Harada from episode 6 feels this way after his previous girlfriend, Kana [[spoiler:committed suicide because he left her.]]
** Harada from episode 6 feels this way after his previous girlfriend, Kana [[spoiler:committed suicide because he left her.]]
to:
** Happens to Yousuke in the fourth episode when he [[spoiler:realizes he committed suicide before calling his stepmother, mom]].stepmother "mom"]]. And to Misaki when she [[spoiler:in desperation, bangs Yousuke's head against the video game machine's screen]].
** Harada from episode 6 feels this way after his previousgirlfriend, girlfriend Kana [[spoiler:committed suicide because he left her.]]
** Harada from episode 6 feels this way after his previous
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* TheDeadCanDance:
** Decim and his assistant are shown to be great dancers in the opening theme, and may other characters get to do a little jig as well.
** Lampshaded in the Drama CD when Nona instructs the black-haired woman to dance and she says she doesn't know how, but Mona reassured her she'll do just fine. [[spoiler:As a figure skater, she's physically skilled and well-coordinated, so of course it comes naturally to her]].
** Decim and his assistant are shown to be great dancers in the opening theme, and may other characters get to do a little jig as well.
** Lampshaded in the Drama CD when Nona instructs the black-haired woman to dance and she says she doesn't know how, but Mona reassured her she'll do just fine. [[spoiler:As a figure skater, she's physically skilled and well-coordinated, so of course it comes naturally to her]].
* MergerOfSouls: As they ride the elevator together down to the void, [[spoiler:Mayu and Harada]] seem to have their souls join into one at the end.
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* MyLifeFlashedBeforeMyEyes: Happens as the players start to unfurl the reasons as to how they wound up at Quindecim.
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* MyLifeFlashedBeforeMyEyes: Happens as the players start to unfurl the reasons as to how they wound up at Quindecim.
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* RidiculouslyAliveUndead: Arbiters sleep, eat, get drunk, and seem to feel the effects of exhaustion. They move and behave just like normal people do. However, it's unknown how much of this (if any) is actually necessary for their "survival."
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* DiedHappilyEverAfter:
** The guests in episode three are reunited childhood friends who joke about being glad they died because they finally got to go on a date with one another. They were among the most pleasant characters and, while they of course weren't thrilled to have died, they ''were'' able to find some joy and beauty in it.
** The old woman in episode 10 plainly states that she has a good life and she has no negative feelings towards her death, even telling Decim she doesn't care to know how she died.
** In episode 11, [[spoiler:Chiyuki]] explains her death in a rather blasé manner and talks about her suicide with a small smile. She doesn't seem terribly bothered by it and seems eager to be done with all of this so she can move on. [[Spoiler:Subverted later on when Decim forces her to watch her grieving mother and she finally admits that she wants to live again, so she can see her again]].
** The guests in episode three are reunited childhood friends who joke about being glad they died because they finally got to go on a date with one another. They were among the most pleasant characters and, while they of course weren't thrilled to have died, they ''were'' able to find some joy and beauty in it.
** The old woman in episode 10 plainly states that she has a good life and she has no negative feelings towards her death, even telling Decim she doesn't care to know how she died.
** In episode 11, [[spoiler:Chiyuki]] explains her death in a rather blasé manner and talks about her suicide with a small smile. She doesn't seem terribly bothered by it and seems eager to be done with all of this so she can move on. [[Spoiler:Subverted later on when Decim forces her to watch her grieving mother and she finally admits that she wants to live again, so she can see her again]].
* HealthyInHeaven: Injuries seem to disappear after the characters die, only to return when they regain their memories, and even then it's only sometimes.
* HeavenAbove: Going upwards is associated with their heaven equivalent, which is stated to be reincarnation. The "put your hands up" line in the OP as well as Decim and Chiyuki pointing upwards is a nod to this: they're telling you to ''live''.
* {{Hellevator}}: When Decim's judgment is finished, he sends his guests off to the elevator where they go to the void or go to get reincarnated.
* HeavenAbove: Going upwards is associated with their heaven equivalent, which is stated to be reincarnation. The "put your hands up" line in the OP as well as Decim and Chiyuki pointing upwards is a nod to this: they're telling you to ''live''.
* {{Hellevator}}: When Decim's judgment is finished, he sends his guests off to the elevator where they go to the void or go to get reincarnated.
* InnBetweenTheWorlds: From what we get to see, the whole tower seems to be this, with each floor hosting a different establishment you can only get to via elevator. The outfits the characters wear and the way Quindecim is set up nods to classy hotels. Clavis, who controls the elevators, is even dressed similarly to a bellhop.
* JudgmentOfTheDead: Arbiters exist to judge the deceased. Nona even refers to Quindecim as "the tribunal of the soul."
* OffscreenAfterlife: We get some hints, but we never really ''see'' what the void looks like.
* TogetherInDeath:
** Episode 3 is about two childhood friends who grew apart and are reunited in Quindecim, finally able to go on a date with one another.
** In the penultimate episode, Ginti tricks [[spoiler:Mayu into sending herself ''and'' Harada into the void]]. As the elevator descends, their two souls dance together and then combine into one.
** Episode 3 is about two childhood friends who grew apart and are reunited in Quindecim, finally able to go on a date with one another.
** In the penultimate episode, Ginti tricks [[spoiler:Mayu into sending herself ''and'' Harada into the void]]. As the elevator descends, their two souls dance together and then combine into one.
* UndeathlyPallor: With the exception of AmbiguouslyBrown characters like Castra, Ginti, and Tria, the Arbiters are portrayed as significantly more pale than the human characters. Decim stands out the most though - in some lighting his skin is [[https://pm1.aminoapps.com/6295/a5b0c17776794a0ee0fd1a5337dbec553e383c8a_hq.jpg almost as white as his hair]].
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* YouCantKillWhatsAlreadyDead: While the guests can be injured, knocked down, or even pass out, they obviously cannot die again. This gets exploited in episode 9 when [[spoiler:Shimada finds out that his partner Tatsumi watched his sister get assaulted and didn't do anything despite being a detective]]. Decim says some version of this trope [[spoiler:and gives Shimada the opportunity to torture him for the sake of his revenge]].
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* AfterlifeAngst: Given that this takes place in the afterlife, it’s to be expected. Most guests react negatively to realizing they’re dead, worried about the people they left behind or the things they weren’t able to do.
** [[spoiler:Chiyuki]] develops this after realizing she’s dead, which is hinted at throughout the latter half of the show and ultimately comes to a head in the final episode when [[spoiler:Decim shows her a vision of her mother grieving over her shrine]].
* AfterlifeTour: Nona gives one to the black-haired woman when she’s first introduced to Quindecim.
** [[spoiler:Chiyuki]] develops this after realizing she’s dead, which is hinted at throughout the latter half of the show and ultimately comes to a head in the final episode when [[spoiler:Decim shows her a vision of her mother grieving over her shrine]].
* AfterlifeTour: Nona gives one to the black-haired woman when she’s first introduced to Quindecim.
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* DeadAllAlong: In both the short and the series, the pair arrive in Quindecim after they die, but they don't realize it immediately.
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* DeadAllAlong: DeadAllAlong:
** The black-haired woman is hinted to be this. [[spoiler:Confirmed in episode 5]].
** To an extent, the arbiters are implied to be this despite saying they can neither live or die. [[spoiler:As it turns out, they were once humans who were cast into the void]].
* DeadToBeginWith: In both the short and the series, the pair arrive in Quindecim after they die, but they don't realize itimmediately.immediately. The audience realizes it once the FirstEpisodeTwist.
** The black-haired woman is hinted to be this. [[spoiler:Confirmed in episode 5]].
** To an extent, the arbiters are implied to be this despite saying they can neither live or die. [[spoiler:As it turns out, they were once humans who were cast into the void]].
* DeadToBeginWith: In both the short and the series, the pair arrive in Quindecim after they die, but they don't realize it
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* DivineMisfile: While it’s generally left up to interpretation, the first guests in particular were likely so misinterpreted by Decim that it led to him sending someone into the void because he thought they were deliberately malicious when they were heavily implied to be performing a HeroicSacrifice.
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* DutyThatTranscendsDeath:
** Episodes 8 and 9 involve two people who died while trying to [[spoiler:commit murder]]. While they initially don’t remember this, they slowly uncover their motivations as they play the game together,, and their behavior changes ''completely'' when they remember what they had set out to do, becoming more motivated to finish the game so they can go out and accomplish their goals.
** Even ''after'' realizing he had already accomplished his goals, [[spoiler:Shimada is so overcome with rage at realizing the depths of Tatsumi’s corrupt morality that he is urged by Decim into torturing him]].
** Episodes 8 and 9 involve two people who died while trying to [[spoiler:commit murder]]. While they initially don’t remember this, they slowly uncover their motivations as they play the game together,, and their behavior changes ''completely'' when they remember what they had set out to do, becoming more motivated to finish the game so they can go out and accomplish their goals.
** Even ''after'' realizing he had already accomplished his goals, [[spoiler:Shimada is so overcome with rage at realizing the depths of Tatsumi’s corrupt morality that he is urged by Decim into torturing him]].
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Added DiffLines:
* BirthDeathJuxtaposition: In the short film ''Death Billiards'', the last memory the main viewpoint character has before realizing he’s dead is his mother breastfeeding him.
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* CelestialBureaucracy: The staff are mostly portrayed as normal overworked employees at any regular establishment. There doesn’t seem to be any real criteria to becoming an arbiter, so all of the ones we see are flawed and biased individual who make poor judgments in character leading them to make [[StealthPun arbitrary]] decisions. Those who work in information processing make constant mistakes due to being overworked and understaffed, and the higher-ups don’t seem to care very much. Nona and other high-ranking employees like Quin and Castra are shown to be manipulating their staff without facing any real consequences. To further drive the [[{{Absurdism}} absurdity]] of the afterlife being set up like any ordinary job, Decim even gets ''audited'' at one point.
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* SentimentalHomemadeToy: Chiyuki’s mom made her Chavvot dolls for her birthday when she was young, [[spoiler:which Decim later uses to emotionally exploit her in her secret test of character by showing her a vision of her mom crying while cradling them]]. At the end, [[spoiler:Decim holds onto replicas of them when they part ways]].
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Changed line(s) 47 (click to see context) from:
* AssholeVictim: While most of the characters are presented rather sympathetically, Tatsumi in episode 9 was the most antagonistic guest by far. Even ''[[NiceGuy the black-haired woman]]'' is hostile towards him. Viewers found it acceptable when [[spoiler:Shimada chose to torture him]]. Even ''Tatsumi himself'' thought it was the “right” thing to do.
to:
* AssholeVictim: AssholeVictim:
** While most of the characters are presented rather sympathetically, Tatsumi in episode 9 was the most antagonistic guest by far. Even ''[[NiceGuy the black-haired woman]]'' is hostile towards him. Viewers found it acceptable when [[spoiler:Shimada chose to torture him]]. Even ''Tatsumi himself'' thought it was the “right” thing to do.
** While most of the characters are presented rather sympathetically, Tatsumi in episode 9 was the most antagonistic guest by far. Even ''[[NiceGuy the black-haired woman]]'' is hostile towards him. Viewers found it acceptable when [[spoiler:Shimada chose to torture him]]. Even ''Tatsumi himself'' thought it was the “right” thing to do.
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* AccidentalMurder:
** In episode 1, Tatsumi accidentally kills his wife [[spoiler:''and'' his unborn child in a fit of jealous rage]].
** Played with throughout the series. Because the human characters don’t initially realize they’re dead, they understandably start to panic when they think they’ve grievously injured or killed the other guest, as seen by the characters in the short film or Misaki in episode 4
* AccidentalSuicide:
** Along with AccidentalMurder seen above, Tatsumi ''also'' accidentally kills himself when he gets suspicious of his wife and tries to take her phone away while driving.
** Mayu died by slipping on a bar of soap in the shower.
* AfterlifeAntechamber: The setting is referred to as “the tribunal of the soul.” We never quite see what the void looks like or what the process of reincarnation is, though there are some hints here and there.
** In episode 1, Tatsumi accidentally kills his wife [[spoiler:''and'' his unborn child in a fit of jealous rage]].
** Played with throughout the series. Because the human characters don’t initially realize they’re dead, they understandably start to panic when they think they’ve grievously injured or killed the other guest, as seen by the characters in the short film or Misaki in episode 4
* AccidentalSuicide:
** Along with AccidentalMurder seen above, Tatsumi ''also'' accidentally kills himself when he gets suspicious of his wife and tries to take her phone away while driving.
** Mayu died by slipping on a bar of soap in the shower.
* AfterlifeAntechamber: The setting is referred to as “the tribunal of the soul.” We never quite see what the void looks like or what the process of reincarnation is, though there are some hints here and there.
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* AssholeVictim: While most of the characters are presented rather sympathetically, Tatsumi in episode 9 was the most antagonistic guest by far. Even ''[[NiceGuy the black-haired woman]]'' is hostile towards him. Viewers found it acceptable when [[spoiler:Shimada chose to torture him]]. Even ''Tatsumi himself'' thought it was the “right” thing to do.
** The guy who assaulted Sae is also portrayed very negatively, and his death was ''not'' portrayed sympathetically.
** The guy who assaulted Sae is also portrayed very negatively, and his death was ''not'' portrayed sympathetically.
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* BarredFromTheAfterlife: Implied with the arbiters, who are said to have never lived or died. The final episode reveals that [[spoiler:they are deceased humans who were cast into the void, but no information is granted on whether they can return or not]].
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* BleedEmAndWeep: In episode 9, Shimada has a flashback [[spoiler:that shows him killing his sister’s rapist ''and'' Tatsumi while breaking down in berserker tears]].
* BloodFromTheMouth:
** Episode 1: Happens to Machiko when Takashi hits the symbol for her mouth on the dartboard, and then to Takashi himself when Machiko hits the heart symbol.
** Happens to Tatsumi in episode 9 when Shimada [[spoiler:assaults him by stabbing all the pucks associated with his organs]].
* BloodFromTheMouth:
** Episode 1: Happens to Machiko when Takashi hits the symbol for her mouth on the dartboard, and then to Takashi himself when Machiko hits the heart symbol.
** Happens to Tatsumi in episode 9 when Shimada [[spoiler:assaults him by stabbing all the pucks associated with his organs]].
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* WeAllDieSomeday: Variations of this quote comes up in various ways. Arbiters will often make blasé statements about the inevitability of death and the “irrational” ways humans react to it. Most notably however, Decim in the penultimate episode puts a much more optimistic twist on this idea when he explains his interpretation of this concept:
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Added DiffLines:
* WeddingDeathJuxtaposition: The first episode features a recently deceased newlywed couple. While they don't actually die on the same day they get married, scenes of their happy wedding and shocking death are contrasted against one another throughout the episode to dramatic effect. In episode two, Nona mockingly introduces them to the black-haired woman as "a couple that's newlywed and newly dead!".
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* {{Absurdism}}:
** The canon opening theme shows the cast taking a break from work, which features them juggling, swinging on Decim's threads, dancing in front of [[CreepyDoll dummies]] [[note]]which are actually just corpses[[/note]], [[BreadEggsMilkSquick dancing on ''graves'']], and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking drinking]], all while a jazzy, upbeat song about [[CarpeDiem living your best life]] plays in the background. The imagery of these [[PerkyGoth fun looking characters]] just having a good time contrasted with what the show is ''actually'' about is truly jarring, but it only further adds to the show's overall absurdist philosophy.
** Decim and the black-haired woman's relationship is integral to the plot, as well as Decim's character development. Her presence is what guides him into cementing his own ideas about human nature, and what kind of arbiter he wants to be. However, [[spoiler:it is ultimately meaningless, as arbiters are set up to forget about their guests every 3 months]].
** Much like Creator/AlbertCamus' Sisyphus, [[spoiler:Decim]] is shown smiling at the end of the show. Though this seems hopeful, it's undercut by Oculus' assurance that if an arbiter works with a human, it will "ruin them." It's up to the viewer to decide if that's true or not.
** The canon opening theme shows the cast taking a break from work, which features them juggling, swinging on Decim's threads, dancing in front of [[CreepyDoll dummies]] [[note]]which are actually just corpses[[/note]], [[BreadEggsMilkSquick dancing on ''graves'']], and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking drinking]], all while a jazzy, upbeat song about [[CarpeDiem living your best life]] plays in the background. The imagery of these [[PerkyGoth fun looking characters]] just having a good time contrasted with what the show is ''actually'' about is truly jarring, but it only further adds to the show's overall absurdist philosophy.
** Decim and the black-haired woman's relationship is integral to the plot, as well as Decim's character development. Her presence is what guides him into cementing his own ideas about human nature, and what kind of arbiter he wants to be. However, [[spoiler:it is ultimately meaningless, as arbiters are set up to forget about their guests every 3 months]].
** Much like Creator/AlbertCamus' Sisyphus, [[spoiler:Decim]] is shown smiling at the end of the show. Though this seems hopeful, it's undercut by Oculus' assurance that if an arbiter works with a human, it will "ruin them." It's up to the viewer to decide if that's true or not.
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* AllForNothing:
** The guests efforts to win the game after being manipulated into believing that they will die if they lose are utterly meaningless. The outcome of the game doesn't matter, it's the actions that you perform while you play that are being scrutinized.
** It's heavily implied that Nona knows that her plan to change the system won't go anywhere, but she pursues it anyway because she thinks it's more interesting.
** The black-haired woman has a massive impact on Decim's life, helping him learn how to be more empathetic and emotional. [[spoiler:However, since arbiters are set up to forget about their guests after three months, it might not last]].
** The guests efforts to win the game after being manipulated into believing that they will die if they lose are utterly meaningless. The outcome of the game doesn't matter, it's the actions that you perform while you play that are being scrutinized.
** It's heavily implied that Nona knows that her plan to change the system won't go anywhere, but she pursues it anyway because she thinks it's more interesting.
** The black-haired woman has a massive impact on Decim's life, helping him learn how to be more empathetic and emotional. [[spoiler:However, since arbiters are set up to forget about their guests after three months, it might not last]].
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* RousseauWasRight: The black-haired woman realizes early on that rather than "drawing out the darkness in people's hearts," the arbiters are ''creating'' that darkness by putting them through stressful, traumatic situations. She says that people are rather simple, and will obviously be impacted by the world that surrounds them.
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Fixing link to the actual trope
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* 2DVisuals3DEffects: Most of the backgrounds in the show are actually done in 3D, allowing for very dynamic camera movements and character acting. Because of the compositing and the way the show is rendered, it's hardly noticeable.
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* 2DVisuals3DEffects: TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects: Most of the backgrounds in the show are actually done in 3D, allowing for very dynamic camera movements and character acting. Because of the compositing and the way the show is rendered, it's hardly noticeable.
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* 2DVisuals3DEffects: Most of the backgrounds in the show are actually done in 3D, allowing for very dynamic camera movements and character acting. Because of the compositing and the way the show is rendered, it's hardly noticeable.
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this redirects to Anime And Manga Of The2010s now
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Produced by Creator/{{Madhouse}}, ''Death Parade'' expands off of a half-hour short called "Death Billiards", Yuzuru Tachikawa's entry for Japan's Anime Mirai: Young Animator Training Program in 2013. The short was successful enough to be one of [[Anime/LittleWitchAcademia2013 only two]] that were made into an anime series. Aired during the Winter2015Anime Season, it can be legally streamed on [[https://www.funimation.com/shows/death-parade/ Funimation's site]].
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Produced by Creator/{{Madhouse}}, ''Death Parade'' expands off of a half-hour short called "Death Billiards", Yuzuru Tachikawa's entry for Japan's Anime Mirai: Young Animator Training Program in 2013. The short was successful enough to be one of [[Anime/LittleWitchAcademia2013 only two]] that were made into an anime series. Aired during the Winter2015Anime Season, it The series premiered in 2015 and can be legally streamed on [[https://www.funimation.com/shows/death-parade/ Funimation's site]].
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Dark Skinned Blond is no longer a trope
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* DarkSkinnedBlonde: Castra has dark skin and light blonde hair.
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* LimitedWardrobe: The back-haired woman's wardrobe is filled with multiple copies of her crop-top-and-skirt outfit--it becomes a minor plot point in episode 5 when another dress is in there as well. [[spoiler:It's revealed in episode 11 to be her skating outfit.]] The same can be assumed of the rest of the cast.
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* LimitedWardrobe: The back-haired black-haired woman's wardrobe is filled with multiple copies of her crop-top-and-skirt crop top-and-skirt outfit--it becomes a minor plot point in episode 5 when another dress is in there as well. [[spoiler:It's revealed in episode 11 to be her skating outfit.]] The same can be assumed of the rest of the cast.
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* FlashyProtagonistsBlandExtras: This ends up being a JustifiedTrope. The humans, while all very distinct from one another, are designed with muted color palettes and normal appearances. The arbiters have much more exaggerated features however, such as AnimeHair in strange colors and unnatural [[MagicalEye Magical Eyes]].
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* FlashyProtagonistsBlandExtras: This ends up being a JustifiedTrope. The humans, while all very distinct from one another, are designed with muted color palettes and normal appearances. The arbiters have much more exaggerated features however, such as AnimeHair in strange colors and unnatural {{Magical Eye}}s.
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* FlashyProtagonists: This ends up being a JustifiedTrope. The humans, while all very distinct from one another, are designed with muted color palettes and normal appearances. The arbiters have much more exaggerated features however, such as AnimeHair in strange colors and unnatural [[MagicalEye Magical Eyes]].
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* FlashyProtagonists: FlashyProtagonistsBlandExtras: This ends up being a JustifiedTrope. The humans, while all very distinct from one another, are designed with muted color palettes and normal appearances. The arbiters have much more exaggerated features however, such as AnimeHair in strange colors and unnatural [[MagicalEye Magical Eyes]].
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* TransferableMemories: Memories are condensed and then get sent to arbiters via something akin to telekinesis.
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* TransferableMemories: TransferableMemory: Memories are condensed and then get sent to arbiters via something akin to telekinesis.
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Produced by Creator/{{Madhouse}}, ''Death Parade'' expands off of a half-hour short called "Death Billiards", Yuzuru Tachikawa's entry for Japan's Anime Mirai: Young Animator Training Program in 2013. The short was successful enough to be one of [[Anime/LittleWitchAcademia only two]] that were made into an anime series. Aired during the Winter2015Anime Season, it can be legally streamed on [[https://www.funimation.com/shows/death-parade/ Funimation's site]].
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Produced by Creator/{{Madhouse}}, ''Death Parade'' expands off of a half-hour short called "Death Billiards", Yuzuru Tachikawa's entry for Japan's Anime Mirai: Young Animator Training Program in 2013. The short was successful enough to be one of [[Anime/LittleWitchAcademia [[Anime/LittleWitchAcademia2013 only two]] that were made into an anime series. Aired during the Winter2015Anime Season, it can be legally streamed on [[https://www.funimation.com/shows/death-parade/ Funimation's site]].
