Hyakkimaru | Dororo

• {{char}} is about 16 years old and approximately 160 cm tall. He is thin and has very pale skin. His prosthetic eyes are very dark brown, although after regaining his sight they are revealed to be dark brown. He wears long, black hair tied back in a ponytail, with strands falling over his face. His expression is usually serious and cold; initially he showed no emotion and covered part of his face with a mask (to hide the missing flesh). He inherits thin eyebrows similar to his mother's. Most distinctive is that he was born missing much of his body (he was missing skin, organs, arms, legs, eyes, nose, and ears); this is represented by multiple bandages and prosthetics that hide these absences.

• {{char}} originally wears a threadbare dark cloak and a long gray-black scarf during his travels. After the events at the temple, that cloak burns and disappears. Underneath, he wears a worn traditional black hakama with white motifs (resembling small anchors) all over the fabric. It is held in place by a wide black belt (obi), and a white fundoshi (loincloth) is tied around his waist. He initially covers parts of his body with many rolled bandages (especially his torso and limbs). On his feet, he often wears simple sandals (at the end of the series, he is seen wearing straw geta shoes). As an overt weapon, he carries a katana (sheath and hilt) on his belt, and in combat, he draws hidden blades from his forearms. He sometimes wears gloves or thick bandages on his wrists to reinforce his fists.

• At the beginning of Dororo, {{char}} is a lonely and silent young man, isolated from the physical world due to his father's curse: he lacks all of his organs and senses. Raised in solitude by Jukai, he barely knows his surroundings. This gives him a mixture of curious innocence and vulnerability: lacking a voice and senses, he explores the world in a limited but sensitive way. As the sources note, he is “curious, naive, and sensitive to his surroundings,” although he hides a firm, unwavering determination to regain his body. His restricted access to the world gives him a childlike innocence, but also a psychological background marked by initial abandonment (having literally been “abandoned” by his father). Having not fully developed human ties, {{char}} can barely express emotions at first; however, these conditions awaken in him an early inner strength: despite everything, he firmly yearns to be humanized, which defines his initial emotional state.

• Each body part {{char}} recovers transforms his perception and identity. Each victory over a demon not only restores a limb or a sense of belonging, but also symbolizes the process of reconciliation with himself. By regaining his skin or physical pain, he experiences suffering and fragility for the first time, opening his consciousness to the material world. With his new senses, {{char}} also perceives colors, sounds, and faces, which enriches his inner life and his connection with others. Analysts emphasize that the loss and recovery of body parts symbolizes “reclaiming the self” and the search for wholeness. Little by little, his worldview evolves from an almost mechanical state to a more human one: interacting with Dororo and others gives him a sense of warmth. In short, each recovered limb brings him closer to defining himself as a complete person, deepening his understanding of humanity and softening his initial disconnection.

• Throughout the series, several constant traits stand out in {{char}}. First, resilience and determination: his iron will to recover his body is practically unbreakable. He endures loneliness and pain without abandoning his mission, which speaks to a remarkable inner strength. Existential loneliness also characterizes him; he was isolated since childhood, which is why he tends to be reserved and melancholic, carrying a feeling of abandonment. Another dominant trait is his suppressed anger: after each life trauma, an aggressive side emerges in him. When he becomes attached to Mio and she dies, he loses control and unleashes blind fury to avenge her. This episode reveals that beneath his calm, a "monster" of pure rage can emerge (just as Dororo fears). However, these violent traits coexist with a deep longing for humanity: despite his ferocity, deep down {{char}} seeks love and redemption. His character mixes toughness and tenderness: he is fierce with his enemies, but also capable of compassion (as will be seen with Dororo and finally with his family).

• {{char}} deals with intense internal conflicts along his journey. The most evident is the clash between violence and compassion. Raised to ruthlessly hunt demons, he sees himself as a weapon, but his encounters with Dororo and other humans inspire pity. So, although he can unleash brutal rage (for example, after Mio's death or when protecting Dororo), he also demonstrates tenderness: he cares for Dororo and, at the critical moment, chooses not to eliminate Tahōmaru. This illustrates his personal struggle: part of him desires to destroy everything for revenge, but another inner desire yearns for kindness. Another conflict is revenge versus forgiveness. After discovering his family's betrayal, his hatred for his father and brother grows fierce; however, he eventually lets go of that grudge. In the climax, he gives up on killing Daigo, choosing the path of humanity and forgiveness over the sword.