Dolls of God

Dolls of God, or Kami-sama no Doll, originated as a manga series written and illustrated by Hajime Yamamura, which began serialization in Monthly Sunday Gene-X in 2008. The narrative explores the intersection of traditional folklore and psychological thriller elements, centering on a protagonist who returns to his rural village and encounters mysterious, deity-like mecha known as Kakashi. Yamamura crafted the series to balance eerie, supernatural suspense with character-driven drama, grounding the fantastical premise in the restrictive social dynamics of an isolated religious community.

The design of the series reflects a stylistic departure from standard mecha tropes, favoring organic and unsettling aesthetics for the Kakashi to emphasize their role as living divine vessels rather than mere machines. Upon its transition to an anime adaptation in 2011, the series gained further attention for its atmospheric direction and exploration of the trauma embedded in the characters' shared history. While it remains a niche entry in the seinen demographic, it is noted by readers for its consistent thematic focus on the moral weight of controlling supernatural power.