Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
SgtSalamander
The Dragon Dentist is a brief, yet eminently intriguing piece. With its imaginative, maverick concept at the helm, it's unclear if you're in for a silly SoL or a brooding reflection on war, and by the end I'd say it's clearly the second. Still, it stands alone as its own thing, hard to really compare with a lot of other anime by right of its distinct aesthetic. Beginning with the story, it presents the viewer with a bizarre, heavily spiritual tale about a world where dragons are utilized in a 1940s style conflict, gradually becoming a meditation on violence and the cyclical nature of both revenge and life itself. Beginning with the good, the story features imaginative worldbuilding, is consistently engaging, and packages a series of emotionally charged subplots in its two episodes. However…
Read at the sourceNorthmostIsle
This film is good, even though I would only describe a handful of things about it as being actually good. What I mean by that is a lot of it is either amazing or terrible and the flip flopping it does of quality is quite dramatic.
It doesn’t do this a lot. In fact most of the time it just stays fantastic. The world building really sucks you in and does a great job of showing you lots in the little time that it has to work with without it feeling like a mindless exposition dump. It's not perfect and some of the characters are kind of bland and a lot of silly nonsense happens, but the whole story does a good job of wrapping itself up in an emotionally satisfying conclusion.
The animation is fantastic as well. You can clearly tell that there was a lot of time and effort that went into desi…
Read at the sourceBarusamikosu
+ Beautiful art and very creative worldbuilding/mythology.
- 3D scenes look ugly and the moral lesson of the show is kinda bland.
I was pleasantly surprised to watch this.
There was some plot exposition (since the setting is so outlandish), but for most of the time you're just thrown in the middle of it and left to figure things out by yourself as the story goes on. Think Spirited Away.
However, by the end everything clicks into place. It leaves some over-arching events and outcomes ambiguous, but the "mechanics" of the world, how the system works, is well explained, so I was satisfied with it. A sequel would be welcome, but it is not necessary.
The use of colors and the overall style of the characters is very nice.
The soundtrack also caught my attention more than twice, and I'm the ty…
Read at the sourceOry_Senpai
I found this film when looking through HIDIVE’s movie library, not really knowing anything about it. I had heard of it, probably through advertising when it came out, but didn’t know anything regarding the content and I had long forgotten anything I saw in the trailers (if I had actually seen them in the first place). This certainly isn’t a movie that comes up in weeb discourse on social media, so I was interested to see if it was a hidden gem, and I think it kind of is.
First, let me say, if you were hoping for a cute story where a moe girl takes care of an adorable dragon’s oral hygiene, ala Dragon Maid, you’re going to be very disappointed. Prepare yourself for “Princess Mononoke”, not “My Neighbor Totoro”. So, definitely not a kid flick.
This two-part film is an adaptation of an 8 mi…
Read at the sourcePunkyBoyGWiz
I like shows that try something new and different, the Dragon Dentist is definitely one of those shows. I think of this show as basically a movie that is split into two episodes.
Usually a fantasy show will be about fighting dragons but in this show the goal is to help the dragon, the dragon is basically a God that can bring people back to life. The funniest part is the evil monsters come from cavities in the dragons mouth lol.
I only heard about The Dragon Dentist from a website listing the top anime of 2017 with this in the middle somewhere. I think the only real downside about this show is it's length, If this was longer it could have turned into a really good series but instead we are left wondering about how the main character Nonoko will end up meeting her fate. I watched this jus…
Read at the sourceseannyb
"It's war, even inside the dragon's mouth."
Gainax is effectively dead. Imaishi led an exodus of its best animators to Trigger. Hideaki Anno and his protégé, Kazuya Tsurumaki, took the golden goose of Evangelion to Khara.
It's there that Tsurumaki (FLCL) directed this 90-minute NHK special that recalls Gainax's classic era — an adventure in a thoroughly crafted world of Shinto-Buddhist spiritualism and an alt-WWII that together evoke a familiar, nostalgic nationalism. Within that, a meditation on war, pacifism and death. There's also a perky Gainax girl with a "ko" name.
Dragons are mighty, flying isles of the afterlife, ferrying the spirits of the dead through their teeth. "Dentists", like priests, purify the holy grounds. Turns out there's a lot to purify in a time of war. When one yo…
Read at the sourcenokinoks
Man! What a fantasy ride! This is a fantastical that leaves you wanting more, for better or for worse.
This is another example of an author who writes characters and not quirks. The people are believable and world -- as fantastical as it is, is quite fleshed out.
It's not all good though, the story follows Bel, an "enemy" soldier revived by a Dragon and Nonoko (?, did I get that right), a girl who serves as a Dragon Dentist.
Just the title alone gives you an idea of the wonder involved and are about to witness. It's not all good though, there's so much details shown but not explained that it ends up being a distraction. There's a fine balance between too little and too much exposition and this show leaned on a little bit too little. For example it's definitely set on modern times, but th…
Read at the sourcesamuwuXD
"When I think of you, something other than bloods fills my chest."
Overall: 10
Ryuu no Haisha is one of the single most unique experiences that I have ever had the pleasure of watching. Its Ghibli-like whimsical nature and stunning soundtrack was an utter treat!
Story: 10
The overall story of Ryuu no Haisha is simply stunning. The whimsical world of dragon dentists countered with the tragic onset of war create an utterly unique story. Most anime, or at least the ones that I've seen, oftentimes lack originality plot-wise. However, this anime's story and lore is something I've truly never seen before. It's simultaneously heart-breaking and awe-inspiring. Art: 9
Ryuu no Haisha is animated beautifully. It's certainly not Kyoto Animation, but the sheer amount of detail packed into each fra…
Read at the sourceGinko13
After pondering on Dragon Dentist, i decided i try to share my mindset as to why this Anime could have been better. Beware of spoilers.
First, being in the military i found it interesting that the story had a strong basis for men of war, combat, and so forth yet it was WRONG on an epic scale.
The majority of soldiers in warfare do not have murderous intent, so the fact that entire military units where completely annihilated due to this idea that most soldiers harbor this intent is ridiculous. Most people have no wish to kill the enemy. Those troops cowering with tears in thier eyes are simply cowards and the fact that they survive over everyone else makes me wonder what the directors where trying to say.
Storywise - There is a lot unsaid. What are dragons? Why does the dragon favor on…
Read at the sourceBlankSketch
The Dragon Dentist (Ryuu no Haisha) is a two episode TV special that was based on a short from the Japan Animator Expo. The art is fantastic, and the world it introduces us to is fascinating, but a weak plot and unremarkable characters keeps it from realizing its full potential. Perhaps a full series would have been able to properly flesh out the concepts and themes that were touched upon in the original 8-minute animation, but a mere two episodes only serve to raise more questions than they answer. At best, this anime is an interesting curiosity, at worst it's a disappointing example of wasted potential.
Is The Dragon Dentist worth watching? Yes. It's short, beautiful, and interesting, but it's no better than the 8-minute animation that spawned it.
Read at the sourcerapo1
FIRST AND FOREMOST, if you liked the setting of this anime even at the slighest (fantasy amidst a common firearm human war) I urge you to read Arrowsmith, by Kurt Busiek. It's a nice fast-paced done by the book (but done right) comic book that mixes Word War I with magic, dragons, viscerous salamanders and funny talking pagan ogres that deserves more attention.
Now, for Dragon Dentist.
I discovered this anime more than a year ago when someone compared it to FLCL. I've just watched FLCL, so I thought I would finally watch this one too.
As for the comparison, I don't have the slightest idea from where the person was coming from.
While the anime for sure is nicely animated and it's fantasy setting and overall idea really interesting, it just doesn't work. It's kinda like giving a nice fa…
Read at the sourceMZXJ
All You Need Is: The Dragon Dentist
Minor spoilers ahead.
Should you watch?: Yes. With an open mind and no previous mindset established.
The premise of a dragon dentist sounds stupid, right? Leave it to Hideaki Anno, Tsurumaki Kazuya & the Khara team to make it endearing and interesting! Nowadays, too many people have become absorbed by the idea of knowing every bit of context and history regarding a certain character or story. Thus, there's rarely any mystery left to fascinate. I find satisfaction in discovering pieces of art that serve as portions of a vastly unexplored universe. Kazuya is especially good at presenting them, having been at the helm of animated adventures such as FLCL.
What makes The Dragon Dentist special is its unique take on a dark modern fantasy. Set in the backdr…
Read at the sourceBig-Boss_X
Story (8/10):
The story of the anime is of the meaning behind life and death, people who accept their fate and live waiting for their "Time" to come and people who fight against fate, and you also have a war going on
The concept of the anime was really interesting whither it's the reincarnation through the dragon teeth or the way the people coexist with the dragon. The whole world in the anime felt original and the mixture of modern life and mythical creatures was really well executed.
Characters (8/10):
The characters in general were great and had simple motivations and goals which is a good thing for a short 2 episodes anime (even if the episodes are 45mins) they were introduced quickly and given enough development to sustain and move the story along
Art and Animation (7/10):
The art s…
Read at the sourcetomfu1
I think that asian people (have understanding for buddism’s view of life and death) are easy to understand this anime's theme.
All dragon dentists are required accept their death fate because they are gate-keeper of the world of the dead...."諦念"（buddhism resignation, in other word...accept one's fate) is very important concept of this anime.
1) On the battlefield, every soldiers kill many enemys because everyone want survive. Eagerness to live make other's death.
2) To be deeply attached to dead people make our mind harm....like Shibana.
I think that context of this anime is great earthquake and tsunami disaster of Japan. In that time, many people watched death of 18 thousand on the live TV broadcasting and have been harm their mind.
This anime is seem to try to release our mind from…
Read at the sourcejeunp
The only reason I'm writing a review is because I felt like it was unfairly evaluated and criticized as an open ended story.
Yes, this anime leaves a lot of questions unanswered or explained, but it was adapted from a short film, and the open ending cleverly ties in the theme, fate. Is fate set in stone and futile to change?
However, instead of a short 2-episode series, it should have been streamlined into a movie. The introduction of the characters and plot as a series created a lot of unnecessary questions that left were unanswered leaving people unsatisfied.
Albeit weird, I thought the story was quite creative and original.
Read at the sourceAwesomecake
The Dragon Dentist is a neat little two part original anime. (listed as special but just think of it as an OVA). Those of you clamoring for something new, creative and engaging this is the thing for you!
Story - 8
In a world engaged in a fierce war, there exists mystical giant dragons that can swing the tides of battle in a side's favor. For this reason, the dragons and their caretakers, the dentists, are very highly respected.
As the dragons engage in more battles they become infected through their teeth with the maladies and ill wills of humans in the form of cavities. So dentists, who are chosen by the dragons will itself, to be re-incanated as caretakers of the dragons to make sure the dragons don't die. Lest unspeakable evil be released unto the world. Dentists upon re-incarnation…
Read at the sourceOxygenSmoker
Tsurumaki Kazuya is one of my favorite directors, i liked FLCL so much, and then comes Ryuu no Haisha.
A story about dragon dentists during a war, and a dragon used as a war machine. My first thought was : Ok, it will be very very weird, but hey, this is original !
For me, Ryuu No Haisha was a great show, very enjoyable.
Story : The story is really original, the idea of dragon dentist is very interesting, and mixing this with some "realistic war" is cool. But, for me, a lot of the story is bad, for example, we do not know why people live on the dragon, how they can ? When the army makes a pact with dragon dentist to use the dragon as a weapon ? Well, all of this is not clear at all. This is bad because the realm in this show has a great potential, but it is not used well...
The stor…
Read at the sourceCoffect
You might have taken a look at the synopsis and thought "????"
By the end, that probably wouldn't change.
Ah, the ol' too-much-narration to start things off. Things are going to go swell.
With an interesting premise, Ryuu no Haisha sadly appears to fall short. I found the world-building aspects surprisingly the most pleasant and enjoyable parts of the film.
An issue of ethics and life purpose springs up. However, the film tries too hard to center itself around a deeper meaning and ignores your questions of "What?" and "Wait, why?"
Even doing so, you realize that, after delving in their questions about the human condition, they aren't particularly that deep or thought-provoking either.
Although certain noteworthy scenes prove aesthetically appealing, much of the art remains mediocre,…
Read at the sourceanonypc
This show reminds of the feeling I had when I watched FLCL for the first time, mixed in with shades of watching my first Ghibli movie. It was a little strange, but strangely awesome.
The art is quite clean and everything in this show was very well animated with nice art and character designs. The small cast of characters were all enjoyable. Nothing about this show had blatant fan service of any sort.
The story is not the emphasis here but is really a means to an end in order to show the fruits of this studio's labor. To present their abilities in creativity, music (which was excellent might I add), art, and animation. The story was presented with just the right tone of maturity as well.
It is a perfect example of why I still watch anime today. The capability to portray a surreal fanta…
Read at the sourceLaLeLuLiLo
Synopsis- the story is set in a place called dragon country were there are dragons, and along with the dragons are the dragon dentist that take care of the dragon, the guardian of the country, from tooth cavity bacteria things. during this time there is a war going on between the dragon country and some other country. during the events the dragon chooses a dead officer from the enemy country and revives him to become a dragon dentist as well, a supernatural phenomena which is thought to bring omen to the rest of the dragon dentist.
story- well the story is actually a 2 part story that almost has the run length of a 90 min movie. the first half of the story was done very well as it had this light and fantasy like atmosphere considering that the dragon dentist are living on the dragon. the…
Read at the source
