Dead Mount Death Play

A once-legendary hero faces an unexpected reversal when his final strike against a necromancer named The Corpse God fails in a way he never imagined. Instead of perishing, the dark sorcerer uses forbidden reincarnation magic, and the hero wakes up not as a warrior but as a teenage boy called Polka Shinoyama, living in a different world and body. The series follows Polka as he tries to reconcile memories of a former life with the limits and relationships of his new one, while old enemies and supernatural forces still cast long shadows. It keeps the central conflict focused on identity and survival, without giving away any major twists.

Released in 2023, the TV anime was created by Ryohgo Narita, Manabu Ono, and Shūhei Yanagidate. The adaptation brings notable voice talent, with Yuki Sakakihara as Polka Shinoyama, Inori Minase as Misaki Sakimiya, and Yuma Uchida as Takumi Kuruya.

The show didn’t land major industry awards in its debut year, so it’s not an awards season standout. Still, it found a foothold among genre fans and got noticed in seasonal roundups and streaming platform listings.

Among anime viewers it generated steady online discussion thanks to its blend of necromancy, urban settings, and dark humor. Fans highlighted the series for stylish character designs and tense set pieces, which led to increased fan art and cosplay activity on social platforms and at conventions.

Critical and audience response has been mixed to moderately positive, reflected in a 6.8/10 average from 56 votes. Many reviewers praised the atmosphere, action scenes, and the oddball chemistry between the amnesiac antihero and the people around him, while some felt pacing and exposition could be uneven. The series focuses on themes of identity, what defines a person beyond memories, and moral ambiguity in a violent, supernatural world.