Ep 17. The story of questions and answers

Dororo is a historical fantasy anime, set in the Sengoku period of Japan. The show follows a young orphan named Hyakkimaru, who was born malformed due to his father's pact with demons. After his father offers Hyakkimaru's organs to the demons in exchange for power, the young boy is saved by a doctor who crafts him prosthetic arms and legs. Years later, Hyakkimaru sets out on a journey to reclaim his stolen body parts and vanquish the demons responsible. Along the way, he meets Dororo, a young thief who becomes his companion and friend.

In season 1 episode 17, titled "The Story of Questions and Answers," Hyakkimaru and Dororo come across a village that has been plagued by unusual weather patterns. The trees have withered and died, the rivers have dried up, and the crops have failed. The villagers blame a local monk named Zenmaru, who they suspect has been performing dark rituals to control the weather. Zenmaru denies these accusations, claiming that he has been praying for rain for weeks without success.

Hyakkimaru and Dororo investigate further and discover that Zenmaru is not responsible for the weather. Instead, they find a group of demons who have been stealing the village's water for their own purposes. Hyakkimaru fights and defeats the demons, restoring the water flow to the village. However, the experience leaves him questioning the morality of his quest to reclaim his stolen body parts.

The episode focuses on the theme of moral ambiguity, as Hyakkimaru begins to question the ways in which he has been obtaining his body parts. Instead of entering into battles blindly, he begins to wonder if there are other ways to achieve his goal without causing harm to innocents. The episode also explores the nature of good and evil, as its characters struggle with the concepts of demonhood and humanity. Zenmaru's character serves as a foil to Hyakkimaru, highlighting the complexities of morality and the quest for power.

The animation and visuals in "The Story of Questions and Answers" are stunning, with lush backgrounds and detailed character designs. The fight scenes are well choreographed, with fluid movements and dynamic camera angles. The voice acting is also excellent, with strong performances from the entire cast.

Overall, "The Story of Questions and Answers" is a thought-provoking episode that delves deep into the show's themes of morality and humanity. It moves the plot forward by showing Hyakkimaru's growing awareness of the nuances of good and evil, and sets the stage for future episodes that will explore the conflict between his quest for power and his desire to do good in the world.