Purgatony

Purgatony is a darkly comedic animated series produced by Studio71 that made its debut in 2017. Imagine an entire world built around the concept of purgatory as an anthropomorphized, bureaucratic office where each soul's fate is decided. In Purgatony, purgatory is a purgish, washed-out universe suspended between heaven and hell, carefully built and filled out with a motley of unforgettable characters. Every episode is brimming with pun-intended jokes and a blend of workplace humor interlaced with existential crises.

The crux of Purgatony revolves around the ordinary, mundane life of Tony Pergatelli, a low-level employee in Purgatory's bureaucratic machinery. Tony is an average, sympathetic guy, trying to make sense of this surreal "in-between" universe while wrestling with the absurdity of his job—to determine the eternal fate of every freshly-dead human being. Sandwiched between his droning office life and moral dilemmas, he navigates an existential minefield, juggling between coworker drama, irritating supervisors, and the strange reality of deciding who goes to heaven and who burns in hell.

Each episode of Purgatony unfolds around 'cases' that dive into the lives, or rather deaths, of various individuals. The souls that Tony judiciously reviews inject comedic novelty to every episode. These souls come from different walks of life or death, and their stories often shed light on deeper, philosophical themes offset by the comedy of Tony's reactions and decisions. The dialogues are rich in puns and often tackle the concept of death with a humor that's both charming and thought-provoking.

Characters in Purgatony are diverse, quirky and entirely memorable, each having their peculiar charm that adds a unique flavor to the show. Alongside Tony, you meet the likes of Chad Bradley, his overachieving coworker, and their boss, Death. Chad Bradley's pomp and ambition brilliantly contrasts Tony's hapless demeanor, while Death is equally alluring with his bureaucratic strictness mixed with a surprising dose of humor. Other characters like the snappy receptionist and Tony's heavenly counterpart also bring their unique plotlines, making the Purgatony universe genuinely engaging.

The visual aesthetics of Purgatony lend a peculiar charm to the show. The creators have leveraged animation's potential to the fullest with imaginative world-building and expressive character designs that complement the series's gloomy yet light-hearted theme. Even though Purgatony swims in a palette of grays and blues, its animation scheme is far from dull. The show boasts artistic detailing and visual metaphors that mirror the stark, grudgingly humorous reality of purgatory, giving the whole series a vibrant, alive feel.

The humor in Purgatony varies from tongue-in-cheek office satire to hard-hitting existential comedy. The series places an otherwise serious concept of death and afterlife into a humorous, relatable, often absurd context that distinctly colors the series. Blending the bizarre with the banal, the storyline does not shy away from plunging into the oddities of the afterlife, making death, a typically morose subject, unexpectedly yet refreshingly funny.

In this blend of humor and philosophical dilemmas, Purgatony often becomes more moderate, touching upon existential questions with an impressive casualness. These moments showcase the depth of its material, which is not mere frivolity but a clever interrogation of life, death, and the universe, all dipped in a pool of comedy.

Purgatony's brilliance also lies in the pacing of its narratives. Each episode is succinct, yet they do not rush the narrative, allowing the plot and characters to develop steadily and the humor to unfold organically. Likewise, each character's story arc matures over time, making the viewers invest in not just the main characters but also the residents of the purgatorial universe.

The strength of Purgatony is that it takes viewers' imagination into an unexplored, often-intimidating territory and fills it with humor and entertaining characters. It offers a fresh, enlightening perspective on big questions of life and existence coated in a comic veneer. With its unique concept, plot twists, an enjoyable cast, and an ingenious blend of comedy and philosophy, Purgatony is an animated show that rewards anyone who appreciates contemplating the afterlife with a dose of humor.