ᴅᴇꜱᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴅᴇꜱᴘᴇʀᴀ

Despera (ですぺら) is a planned anime series written by Chiaki J. Konaka that features character designs by Yoshitoshi ABe. It was set to be directed by Ryūtarō Nakamura, but his death in 2013 forced the team to find a new director.

The anime was pitched as a psychological thriller and spiritual sequel to Serial Experiments Lain.


The title Despera derives from a poem of the same title by Japanese Dadaist poet Jun Tsuji (1884 – 1944). Though the title of Tsuji's poem comes from the word "despair" or "desperation."

The official blog states that it can also imply the Spanish word desperado.

In the Taisho era when the brilliant European culture permeated and when the civil rights movement began, the women's social advancement began. Footsteps that rushed toward destruction began to echo in the chaotic Asakusa Jūnikai—an echo depicting a man and a girl looking into the future.

𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 "𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖."

A graphic novel serialization relating to the anime was published in Japanese magazine Animage, beginning from its July 2009 issue.

The serialization was re-published as its own book in April 28, 2011 by Tokuma Shoten as a Roman Album. The complete version added new elements as concept arts, new illustrations, articles and commentaries from the creator but also the revelation of the character of Takeshita who was until then only named as "The Man" with his face always hidden.

𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩 (デスペラント)