Death Parade (Japanese: デス・パレード Hepburn: Desu Parēdo) is a 2015 Japanese anime television series created, written, and directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa and produced by Madhouse. The series spawned from a short film, Death Billiards (デス・ビリヤード Desu Biriyādo), which was originally produced by Madhouse for the Young Animator Training Project's Anime Mirai 2013 and released on March 2, 2013. The television series aired in Japan between January 9, 2015 and March 27, 2015. It is licensed in North America by Funimation and in the United Kingdom by Anime Limited, the latter of which was eventually cancelled. The series was obtained by Madman Entertainment for digital distribution in Australia and New Zealand.

Premise

Whenever someone dies, they are sent to a one of many mysterious bars run by bartenders serving as arbiters inside a tower in the afterlife. There, they must participate in Death Games with their souls on the line, the results of which reveal what secrets led them to their situation and what their fate will be afterwards, with the arbiters judging if their souls will either be sent for reincarnation or banished into the void. The series follows Decim, the lone bartender of the bar where people who died at the same time are sent to, known as the Quindecim bar, whose role in judging these souls changes when he meets a curious black-haired woman.

Characters

Main characters

Decim (デキム Dekimu)

    The bartender of the Quindecim bar (located on the 15th floor) who oversees the Death Games. His hobby is making mannequins that resemble guests he had previously judged. It is stated that he has no human emotions; however, he is the first dummy or puppet to be given human emotions for Nona's own reasons.

Chiyuki (知幸 Chiyuki)

    A human who initially has no memory of her life or her real name and is simply referred to as "the black-haired woman" (黒髪の女 kurokami no onna). She works as an assistant at Quindecim, learning the methods that arbiters use to judge human souls.

Arbiters

Decim (デキム Dekimu)

    The bartender of the Quindecim bar (located on the 15th floor) who oversees the Death Games. His hobby is making mannequins that resemble guests he had previously judged. It is stated that he has no human emotions; however, he is the first dummy or puppet to be given human emotions for Nona's own reasons

Nona (ノーナ Nōna)

    Decim's boss, she manages the entire tower, primarily working on the 90th floor and sometimes overseeing the games.

Ginti (ギンティ Ginti)

    Another bartender who runs a bar, Viginti, on the 20th floor. He also oversees Death Games. As of episode 6 Mayu stays with him instead of being judged.

Clavis (クラヴィス Kuravisu)

    An elevator attendant who is always seen smiling.

Quin (クイーン Kuīn)

    A member of the information bureau who ran the Quindecim bar before Decim took her place.

Castra (カストラ Kasutora)

    A woman in a skull helmet who oversees deaths across the world and decides which souls are sent to which arbiters.

Oculus (オクルス Okurusu)

    An alleged god who spends his free time playing galactic pool.