Episode Reaction: Donten ni Warau (曇天に笑う) Episode 1 – The Prison of Hell

NAGISA FROM FREE! IS IN IT, SO I'M HAPPY. FIVE OUT OF FIVE. TEN OUT OF TEN. Ahem! So today I am looking at a historical, sort of fantasy-ish, anime called Donten ni Warau, otherwise known as Laughing Under the Clouds. Some of you may have questioned what significance the "cloud" part has, and while we don't get a complete answer we do learn it has something to do with a legend involving calamity. So. Yeah. Very interested in seeing what other information is in the legend.

Our story focuses on three brothers, from eldest to youngest, Tenka, Soramaru, and Chutarou. (I admit it! I looked up their names, okay?) These three brothers are part of the Kumo family, a family that is responsible for bringing criminals to the Prison of Hell (it has a different name, but it might as well be). However, the Kumo brothers' parents died some years back (apparently when the youngest brother was too young to even remember what they looked like), so that means the head of the family title was given to the eldest brother. While each brother has a considerable age gap between them, they are all skilled in their own ways. Another plus is that, while they all have the same features, they do have enough unique characteristics about them (may they be physically or personality-wise) that you can tell the difference between the trio.

First up, we got the eldest brother, Tenka. While he seems to have a little brother-complex of sorts, he cares deeply about his brothers and has a strong sense of responsibility. He's a powerful swordsman and just entertaining to watch.

I find it pretty funny the whole town's smiling like, "Oh, those cross-dressing brothers? Yeah, it's completely normal; it's an everyday occurrence here!"

Next up, we have Soramaru, the middle child. He's headstrong and fiercely independent, but what he truly wants is to get strong enough that he's at least acknowledged by his older brother.

For some reason, I imagine Soramaru to be a combination of Handa-sensei from Barakamon and Haru from Free!. (Is my sadness of Free! being over apparent yet?)

And last but not least, our youngest brother and mini-Nagisa, Chutarou! Yeah, so much of his personality reminds me of Nagisa: he's childish (but it's excused here: he is a child!) and very playful, but also quick and obedient to his brothers' words. I can understand why some people might find him annoying, but I think he's just cute.

First we have Kohina from Gugure! having Luffy's power of stretching. Next we have Chutarou taking Chopper's giant-ass hat?

This episode wasn't really to introduce the story just yet, but rather establish the characters and their personalities. While we got some foreshadowing (the aforementioned legend that will supposedly bring chaos) and a shrouded figure in the Prison of Hell (seen near the end of the episode), not much really happened. Okay, a criminal escaped the clutches of his escorts and the brothers had to go find and recapture him, but I'm willing to bet this has little to do with the overall plot.

However, I don't really find this to be much of a problem, since this is episode one of a twelve-episode series, so I appreciate they get introductions out of the way in the first episode. Again, you can say this is a filler episode, but at least it was entertaining to watch. Also, I really like the art style in this show, so that's a bonus. As a whole, the first episode of Donten ni Warau was an entertaining watch and I look forward to when the plot and characters' backstories are revealed. And with that, take care, otakus!