One of the many highlights starting in the Winter season 2026 is the 2nd season of Hell’s Paradise. MeinMMO editor Jasmin was able to watch the first episode in advance and is particularly looking forward to the hellish paradise.
Hell’s Paradise is an anime that I completely read as a manga even before its anime debut. I loved the exciting story, the interesting characters, and the combat principle, which is explained in more detail later in the anime.
Content-wise, it’s about the shinobi Gabimaru, who, like many other criminals, is sent to a special island. The Shogun suspects that the elixir of life is there and wants to claim it for himself. So he sends criminals to the island to retrieve this elixir for him – and to receive absolution for all their misdeeds.
But the island, which initially seems like paradise, harbors numerous dangers. Strangely disfigured beings roam the island, as well as some gods. Over time, you learn what lies behind them and whether the elixir of life actually exists.
The story completely captivated me in the manga. However, I spent more time studying some images and imagining them in the anime. I was able to watch episode 1 of season 2 of Hell’s Paradise and was convinced that the animation team even exceeded my expectations.
Colorful Paradise with Numerous Bloodstains
Hell’s Paradise reveals in its name that it thrives on contrast. The idyllic paradise, which I can’t get enough of, stands in stark contrast to the brutality of the battles.
My biggest highlight in both the manga and season 1 of the anime was every time the plant life of the island or the temple of the gods was shown. You can tell that the mangaka took a lot of time to draw his world. Individual seas of flowers can be seen and various plant species can be admired.
Sometimes I spent a whole minute studying an image in the manga, just because I liked the surroundings so much. I skipped the conversations faster, as there were no pretty flowers here.
I was even more pleased when I saw how beautifully the abode of the gods was implemented in the anime, even in season 2. In episode 1, the deities are seen as they dedicate themselves to their, well, “training”. Everything looks like a colorful spa where the gods can have fun.
I particularly liked the bright colors and the drawing style in this regard. The gods and their abode thus appear as a special world and a higher level that sets them apart from normal humans.
Thanks to the manga, I already know that there will be even more to see of the abode of the gods in the future. I am looking forward to it, as I expect colorful spectacles here as well.
In contrast, however, is how violent Hell’s Paradise is. A scene from episode 1 particularly stuck in my mind: Two of the gods are “training” in bed, everywhere there is exuberance and colorful sheets. But the act takes a bloody end, and the colorful sheets that I just admired are suddenly full of red stains.
The fight between Gabimaru and his opponent, whom he encounters in episode 1, is also extremely brutal. There is a lot of blood visible, and Gabimaru intentionally targets the body’s weak points. But there was also something exciting to see for my color-loving heart: Gabimaru is once again using his fire attacks, which are really beautifully animated with their colors.
The flames are not only in red or yellow, but also have a purple tint. You have to watch the scenes yourself to see how aesthetically a fight for life and death can look.
Even though I personally didn’t need the brutality, it effectively illustrates the contrast between the beautiful paradise and the deadly danger lurking around every corner. It’s not a big problem, as the anime distracts me in any case with its colorful palette and action-packed battles.
I also enjoy such colorful animations in other animes. In One Piece, I also found the experiments that started during the final battles in Wano Kuni really worth watching. By now, almost every fight is a feast for the eyes.
If you want to watch season 2 of Hell’s Paradise yourself, you can start in the coming days. The anime is set to premiere soon on Crunchyroll.
Even in the movie for Chainsaw Man, the fights sometimes had bizarre representations that were artistically very demanding. MeinMMO editor Niko has expressed his opinion on the film and even thinks that it is better than the Chainsaw Man movie: The new Chainsaw Man movie is better than Demon Slayer because it respects its characters
