If there’s something we love about anime, manga and games is the myriad of stories and concepts that not only push the envelope, but are sometimes so disturbing, dark, or real that we can never forget them.
If Perfect Blue is your idea of a twisted good time, then come look at our psychological anime, manga and game recommendations and reviews!
Parasyte…”What makes a human? What makes a monster? Each of us has a bit of both in us, and it’s up to you which one you want to be“.
I got bored one weekend and decided that I needed to binge-watch an anime that isn’t my typical type. Parasyte or Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu was one of those anime shows I’ve completed in a day. I would have been dying to wait for each episode each week if I watched this when it aired. Now, normally, I would go for the classic romance anime or a slice-of-life but I’ve been trying to branch out and watch other genres…which lead me to this horror anime.
Parasyte: The Maxim (Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu)
When speaking with others online about Parasyte, the most common piece of criticism I hear that keeps people away and those who don’t want to watch is that it’s “not my genre,” it’s “overrated” or “it makes my stomach turn while watching some scenes.” And I agree with two of those things. The first few seconds of ParasyteALMOST had me turning it off and putting on something else. But I don’t agree that it’s overrated. If you like shows like Deadman Wonderland or the non-animated show Squid Game, you’ll probably like this one. It has a morbidly curious inflection on it that makes you want to watch more. I enjoyed both Deadman Wonderland and Squid Game so, despite the gore, I did like the anime.
So…what’s Parasyte actually about? Well, we have a case of alien invasion by mysterious beings who can infect us through parasitic means. No big deal right? Ha, wrong. By inserting themselves into a human’s brain, the parasites can take full control and transform you into a monster, even SPLITTING your head open. Sounds terrifying right? That would have been the fate for our main character named Shinichi until one parasite goofs up and fails his mission. Now they share a single body but with separate personalities. Because of course, they do and I doubt the show would have been as interesting if they would have just kept it at that. Well, okay, maybe it would still have been interesting but I like this direction more.
Anyway! The show decided to have a plot twist and have the organism develop its own intellect in Shinichi’s right arm and is named Migi (which is Japanese for right and is the same voice actress as Lucy from Fairy Tail).
What makes this series’ story stand out quite a bit is that it shows the best and worst of what humans can do while also balancing out how parasites can behave. The parasites don’t just kill without a second thought (though there are a lot who certainly do) but also help the human race. I think it does show that there are good and bad parasites just like there are good and bad humans. It’s just like the quote I put in the beginning…we CHOOSE which we’re going to be.
Back to the story…ahem
Shinichi develops quite a bit throughout this show. And not just in his glow up where he Neville Longbottomed us. Shinichi’s experience of fighting alongside Migi turns him into a warrior beyond someone who just wishes to protect others. His change is reflected physically and also at an interpersonal level as he becomes less and less human himself. From an ordinary kid with a timid personality, in the beginning, Shinchi becomes a changed man who is serious, humorless, and pessimistic.
Also, be aware that the show has tragedy. More than just all the death, Shinchi’s losses in life expands beyond just losing important people around him. It shows that he can’t save everyone. While I hate that it does that (I always want the happy ending) I find it a good thing that the show does do this. It gives it a bit of realism, even being such a sad truth of life. We CAN’T save everyone and there is so much darkness and evil in our world.
It’s interesting at the same time to see how much Migi changes. I enjoyed Migi as a sidekick/other main character and seeing him develop a softer side, which was the total opposite of what he shows in the beginning.
On a lighter side, the show also adds some elements of comedy involving Migi and Shinchi’s relationship. Migi’s particular curiosity leads him to “research” on human sexuality which creates hilariously memorable moments. By presenting such events, it also shows that not all parasites are simply absent-minded for their lust to consume and kill.
While the transition of each episode remains mainly strong, there are some minor changes between the manga and this adaptation. Sadly, both the manga and anime have plot holes that are seemingly never answered. None of which destroys the content of the story but some of it seems a bit odd such as the technology and Shinchi’s original appearance before his blow-up transformation.
But there is some other good things in Parasyte!
There is still some romance in the show that I particularly like. I don’t think I can watch almost any if there isn’t a love interest and Parasyte doesn’t disappoint with that.
His relationships with Murano often have shifting drifts because of the dangers he realizes she may be in if she gets too close to him. Classic and typical hero complex that shows up in anime, but it does add another layer to the show. But I do find it interesting and definitely ship them together.
Overall Parasyte was a great anime to watch. If you’re looking for something that’s out of your comfort zone or just looking for something new to watch, I would recommend this. I promise you that after the first episode, the cliffhangers will reel you in and possibly cause you to watch episode after episode until you’re done. It was good for an afternoon of binge-watching but I did have to put on a slice of life comedy anime afterward.
Have you already seen this anime? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below!
Dark manga for fans? Dark manga can come in a variety of forms, with some being just gory, while others also being deep and psychological, questioning the sanity of its creator and readers. Some notable dark manga like Berserk and Attack on Titan to name a few, that try to depict how people’s lives aren’t always rosy and beautiful.
Today, we will focus on titles that show us a different perspective from the usual themes we grew up watching as kids. Some are gory, some are graphic, and others question man’s true nature without sugarcoating it. In no particular order and with bonus mentions:
Best Dark Manga For Fans
30. Blood on the Tracks
Chi no Wadachi
Mangaka: Shuuzou Oshimi
Genres: Drama, Psychological
Volumes: 12+
Published: Feb 24, 2017 to present
The story begins at a slow pace, centering on 13-year-old Seiichi Osabe and his overprotective mother Seiko Osabe, who after a certain incident shows a terrifying side to her. Fearing what she might do to anyone else he cares about or she sees as a threat, Seiichi slowly unravels as both mother and son continue a facade.
Starting our list of dark manga series is Blood on the Tracks. The series takes the idea of motherly love and twists it, making you experience conflicting emotions and shocking you with a usually wonderful bond turned manipulative and moral decay. Depicting perfectly a broken and unhinged protagonist, unsettled by past incidents even years later.
29. Vagrant Soldier Ares
Mangaka: Geum Chel Ryu
Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama
Volumes: 26
Published: 2001 to 2007
In a world similar to Ancient Rome, protagonist Ares enlists with Temple Mercenaries, one of the most respected soldiers-for-hire groups in Chronos. Now with new comrades Michael, Baroona, Robin, and comic relief Gohu. The young warriors face their past, deadly missions and try to surpass their skills and resolve.
If you are a fan of the dark themes of war and fighting this is another dark manga series, you will like. Vagrant Soldier Ares deals with heavy and sometimes depressing topics, like how war impacts the lives of people. It’s a series that can be raw, merciless, and build up suspense in a strangely refreshing way with its incidents and encounters.
28. Made in Abyss
Mangaka: Akihito Tsukushi
Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Volumes: 10+
Published: Oct 20, 2012 to present
The story of Made in Abyss follows the peculiar robot boy Reg and his human friend Riko as they embark on a perilous journey into the depths of the Abyss in search of Riko’s long-lost mother.
It’s a dark fantasy manga that’s bizarre, beautiful, inventive, painfully emotional, and clarifies that bad things are inevitable. Though overlooked at first because of its cartoonish design, the mystery of what lies at the bottom, the unique and unusual atmosphere, and pretty much everything trying to feed on whoever braves the abyss is unnerving and engaging.
Saying farewell to a classmate is never easy, but it is the reality a group of students at Kisaragi Academy must face. To ease their sadness, they perform a ritual that will bond them all together eternally as friends: the Sachiko-san Ever After charm. But after they complete it, they find themselves in a run-down elementary school.
Based on the game, Corpse Party is dark, gory and keeps you on your toes to see what happens next. It’s a series that takes a fun, harmless game and turns it deadly. Characters race to discover more about the situation they are in before they lose their humanity because of the situation they find themselves in.
Masahiko Murai has the strange ability to notice the odors and smells of various people. When he lies to his classmate about being in a long-distance relationship with his childhood friend. She suddenly transfers to his school, however, known only to him, she died years ago. So who or what is his new girlfriend whose scent isn’t the same?
Scumbag Loser isn’t a happy-go-lucky manga, but a messed-up story that heavily focuses on the protagonist’s state of mind. The series is a rare gem that is noticeably different with its unique style, and with twists and turns in its plot that never loses their intensity.
25. Chainsaw Man
Mangaka: Tatsuki Fujimoto
Genres: Action, Adventure, Demons
Volumes: 11
Published: Dec 3, 2018 to Dec 14, 2020
The story is set in a world where Devils are born from human fears. Devils are usually dangerous and malevolent, their power proportional to the fear they incite. However, humans can form contracts with them to use their power, and there are individuals specializing in hunting and employing them, called Devil hunters.
Chainsaw Man is extremely dark, brutal, and mature, with profound characters, and serious about its chaotic themes, unlike other manga that is friendship-themed. The series gives us a new refreshing style to the dark manga genre. It looks at the idea of how all shonen protagonists that are teenagers go through horrible things, that no one their age should have to.
24. The Most Notorious “Talker”, Run the World’s Greatest Clan
Saikyou no Shienshoku “Wajutsushi” de Aru Ore wa Sekai Saikyou Clan wo Shitagaeru
Mangaka: Yamorichan, Jaki
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Volumes: 4+
Published: Jun 12, 2020 to present
When Noel becomes a support class “Talker,” the job with the weakest individual abilities, that could never become the strongest. To fulfill his ambition, he becomes morally grey, subduing his allies and creating the strongest clan in the world. The story of the evilest Talker begins.
What makes this manga dark is the characters and the personality of the protagonist who doesn’t care what he does with others or who does, all he wants is to achieve his goal so he can be unpredictable with how he deals with situations.
23. Sekai Oni
Mangaka: Uru Okabe
Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Psychological
Volumes: 11
Published: Jul 2, 2012 to Jun 1, 2015
The story follows Azuma Shinonome whose parents are no more and who lives with her uncle’s family. She gets summoned along with several other people to defeat the World Devils that are going to destroy everything.
Sekai Oni is not for the faint of heart, as the plot doesn’t pull its punches. The series focuses on loss, abuse, and the mental psyche of its characters. Who are kept in unfamiliar situations where so much is going on and mysteries are slowly resolved while introducing new ones.
22. The Drifting Classroom
Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu
Mangaka: Kazuo Umezu
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Volumes: 11
Published: 1972 to 1974
When an entire school is transported to a post-apocalyptic future, chaos and madness ensue as they face an immediate crisis of food and water shortage. Sixth-grader Shou Takamatsu and other classmates try to prevent their fellow students from becoming ravenous animals in their new world.
The Drifting Classroom is a dark manga that seems to be filled with things that have terrified readers at some point in their lives. The series feels like the manga version of Lord Of The Flies and is quite an amazing science fiction manga. It explores human nature during apocalyptical situations.
21. I Am a Hero
Mangaka: Kengo Hanazawa
Genres: Drama, Horror, Psychological
Volumes: 22
Published: Apr 20, 2009 to Feb 27, 2017
The story follows 35-year-old Hideo Suzuki, who is forced to work as a mangaka’s assistant after the failure of his serialization. Plagued by hallucinations every day, and an argument with his girlfriend. Hideo’s world turns into a real horrific nightmare on his way to his girlfriend’s house.
I Am a Hero is a dark manga series with a compelling story that keeps you on your toes, characters you can relate with, and an original take on the zombie virus theme. It’s a series that tries to have a realistic telling of the horrors of surviving in a post-apocalyptic world.
20. Goblin Slayer
Mangaka: Kousuke Kurose, Kumo Kagyuu
Genres: Action, Fantasy
Volumes: 12+
Published: May 25, 2016 to present
When newbie priestess Onna Shinkan gets invited to her first adventuring party, they immediately find themselves in distress on their quest to kill goblins. But luckily for only her Goblin Slayer who comes to her rescue—a man whose sole mission in life is to wreak havoc on goblins, murdering as many of them as he possibly can, by any means necessary. And when rumors of his feats begin to circulate, there’s no telling how he, Onna, and the other party members will overcome all the goblins and other massive adventures they are dragged into.
Goblin Slayer tells the tragic and violent story of a man on a quest for revenge in a dark fantasy world that can be very unforgiving. The series is very serious with a realistic physiological take on characters dealing with trauma.
19. Dragon Head
Mangaka: Minetaro Mochizuki
Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological
Volumes: 10
Published: Sep 12, 1994 to Dec 13, 1999
After a gruesome train accident Teru Aoki, Nobuo Takahashi, and Ako Seto realize they must band together to grapple with hunger, loneliness, an overwhelming sense of loss, and their worst impulses that tempt them to madness.
Dragon Head is one of those rare manga that make your heart jump with every turn, with its portrayal of characters trying to survive and find a way out while coming across disturbing obstacles. The series takes a real-life crisis scenario and focuses on all the dark themes that could accompany it.
Andou is a high-schooler who possesses the ability to make anyone within a specific range say whatever he thinks, an ability similar to ventriloquism. And Inukai, a man who commands a vigilante group called Grass Hopper. Become enemies when Andou realizes Inukai uses inhuman methods to control their town.
Maoh is a manga that starts simple enough but quickly evolves as new situations are brought to light. Focusing on whether change can be right or wrong, and looking at the darker side of humanity.
17. Battle Royale
Mangaka: Masayuki Taguchi, Koushun Takami
Genres: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological
Volumes: 15
Published: 2000 to 2005
Battle Royale sees Class 3B involved in a game with life and death stakes until only one is left alive. Will students be able to keep their humanity intact?
The series is famous for its disturbing themes and violence that take you on one of the most extreme thrill rides you can imagine. It brings forth a great deal of intensity and emotional turmoil that can be gut-wrenching most of the time.
16. Brutal: Confessions of a Homicide Investigator
Brutal: Satsujin Keisatsukan no Kokuhaku
Mangaka: Kei Koga, Ryou Izawa
Genres: Drama, Police, Psychological, Josei
Volumes: 5+
Published: Jun 28, 2019 to present
Handsome, successful, and talented, detective Hiroki Dan has it all. Each investigation solved is another good deed to add to his pile of closed cases. However, while his work is fulfilling, there are still times when he becomes frustrated; the police are helpless when vile people are beyond the reach of the law. It is for this very reason that Hiroki takes matters into his own hands.
Confessions of a Homicide Investigator is an unusual manga series that reminded me of Dexter (TV series) when I started reading it. Topics covered can be quite heavy, making you question your opinions of right and wrong. It’s gory and spine-chillingly worth wasting your time on.
15. Satougashi no Dangan wa Uchinukenai: A Lollypop or A Bullet
Mangaka: Kazuki Sakuraba, Iqura Sugimoto
Genres: Drama, School, Psychological
Volumes: 2
Published: Jan 9, 2007 to Jan 9, 2008
The story follows Nagisa who aspires to be a soldier for the Self Defense Force to finance both her and her family’s needs and Mokuzu who claims to be a mermaid. Watching has the pair bond over real-life issues in hopes of a better world.
A Lollypop or A Bullet is a dark manga that might turn off some readers, with its realistic drama in a hopelessly believable style. The series focuses on the fear of loneliness vs. the fear of opening up and just trying to survive the world.
14. Genocyber
Mangaka: Tony Takezaki
Genres: Action, Sci-Fi
Volumes: 1
Published: 1992
As the nations of the world merge, the private armies of individual corporations threaten world peace. Elaine and her twin sister, Diana’s psychic powers may be the key one of these corporations are looking for. Battle erupts in the cyberpunk world of the future.
Genocyber is a manga that though short is extremely fun, focusing on grotesque body horror, humanity’s greed, arrogance, and miscalculation of our intellect, leads to the near destruction of the world. The series is great for fans of the sci-fi genre that want something dark.
13. Life
Mangaka: Keiko Suenobu
Genres: Drama, Slice of Life, School, Psychological
Volumes: 20
Published: Apr 13, 2002 to Feb 13, 2009
Life is the story of a certain girl’s isolation, a tale filled with despair and persecution enough to bring any person to the brink of insanity. Looking at the mind of evil, and why these bad personalities develop.
The series is deep, impactful, emotional, and realistic showing the harsh effects bullying has on a person. As a dark manga, it’s slightly sadistic and heart-crushing focusing on serious issues that can happen during school, especially for girls trying to fit in but yet still heartwarming at times.
12. Drifting Net Café
Hyouryuu Net Cafe
Mangaka: Shuuzou Oshimi
Genres: Action, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi
Volumes: 7
Published: Feb 28, 2009 to Jun 28, 2011
When hardworking husband Toki Kouichi, runs into his first love again after heading to a net cafe. Just as the two are rejoicing over their reunion, the city outside disappears! They are stuck together in the middle of nowhere with some of the sketchiest characters imaginable.
Drifting Net Café is a dark story that focuses on characters who fall to depravity by the hopelessness they feel from being cut off from modern society. The series, though uncomfortable dark looks at the feelings and struggles of nostalgic old crushes.
11. Innocent Rouge
Mangaka: Shinichi Sakamoto
Genres: Drama, Historical
Volumes: 12
Published: May 20, 2015 to Jan 8, 2020
The story centers on the eve of the French revolution, and the siblings of the Sanson family. A family of executioners, Chevalier Charles-Henri and sister Marie-Joseph who live a carefree life in Versailles. Experience events that cause them numerous conflicts, both in their family, moral and personal conflicts that will make both change their worldview: from the rebellious and idealistic to the convinced executor of the will of the King and the people and more.
Innocent Rouge uses a lot of symbolism, depicting a world that is dark, gloomy, and ruthless. The series focuses on the idea of immorality and evil being heart-wrenching, fast-paced and flamboyant.
10. Hoshi no Ponko to Toufuya Reiko
Mangaka: Shinji Ohara, Tony Takezaki
Genres: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Volumes: 1
Published: Aug 24, 2013 to Oct 25, 2013
Hoshi no Ponko to Toufuya Reiko is a weird story about an alien tricking a young girl into giving up her brother’s soul and her subsequent quest to get revenge.
The series starts quite harmless with a cutesy art style but quickly turns into a more brutal and darker storyline. With the focus being on family, revenge, sacrifice, and dealing with loss, it’s a short dark manga everyone can make time to read.
9. Judge
Mangaka: Yoshiki Tonogai
Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological
Volumes: 6
Published: Jan 12, 2010 to Aug 11, 2012
Hiroyuki Sakurai wakes up handcuffed in a pitch-black room, wearing a rabbit mask, with eight other people also in animal masks. They are forced to play a twisted game where they judge each other for their past sins and decide the four who will be spared from death.
Judge is a dark psychological manga that focuses on the punishment of sinning and trust, exploring questions and the morality of the answers provided by characters involved in the plot, we witness how their actions impact those around them.
Devilman starts with our protagonist, Akira Fudou who lends a helping hand to his best friend Ryou Asuka. But events occur and Akira is aware of the existence of demons. With demons out to conquer the world, and a demon inside him that transforms him into Devilman. Will Akira be able to keep the world and his family safe?
Devilman is a series with dark supernatural themes. The series looks at friendship, corruption, betrayal, what humanity is, and the brutality of war. Focusing on the protagonist and villain of the series starting as best friends then to mortal enemies.
7. Jisatsu Circle
Mangaka: Usamaru Furuya
Genres: Horror, Psychological
Volumes: 1
Published: Mar 20, 2002
The story begins with 54 girls from the same club jumping in front of a train. However, one girl survives, Saya Kota, and she starts another club. Her best friend, Kyoko, fears for Saya’s future and searches for the strange secrets surrounding the club to save Saya and the other girls from committing such a tragedy again.
Jisatsu Circle is a gruesome and deeply disturbing manga. It offers a strange experience that questions society and mental health, leaving you with a bitter-sweet enjoyment of witnessing characters’ thoughts, fears, and desires.
6. Dead Tube
Mangaka: Touta Kitakawa, Mikoto Yamaguchi
Genres: Horror, School
Volumes: 17+
Published: Apr 19, 2014 to present
Tomohiro Machiya, a member of the Film Research Club, is asked by Mai Mashiro to film her. Everything seems normal until she kills her boyfriend and uploads the videos to a website called Dead Tube, where users post content and are rewarded with money based on the number of views they get, but there is a catch: the person or people whose video gets the fewest views has to pay for the expenses and the crimes of all the other participants.
Another interestingly dark and edgy manga is Dead Tube, focusing on how crazy humans can get for fame and fortune. Though the series can be very graphic, the questions it asks about morality and if by fighting monsters one also becomes one too is interesting to read.
5. Boy’s Abyss
Shounen no Abyss
Mangaka: Ryou Minenami
Genres: Drama, Psychological
Volumes: 7+
Published: Feb 27, 2020 to present
Reiji Kurose lives a difficult life. Along with his mother, Yuko, they provide for their senile grandmother and shut-in older brother, living in near-constant poverty. But when he encounters Nagi Aoe, one of his favorite idols, he does not expect that it will turn his world upside down.
Boy’s Abyss is an uncomfortable read, in the best possible way, being a melodramatic and beautiful mess of emotions. The series looks at the different reasons for living and being tired of it.
4. King of Thorn
Ibara no Ou
Mangaka: Yuji Iwahara
Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Volumes: 6
Published: Sep 12, 2002 to Sep 12, 2005
After a viral infection known as the Medusa virus lands in Siberia and spreads contagiously throughout Earth, they choose 160 humans as candidates to experiment with a cure against the virus. Except upon waking up from being cryogenically frozen, a post-apocalyptic world covered in thorns filled with savage monsters greets Kasumi Ishiki and the 159 others.
The King of Thorn is a dark science fiction survivor drama that focuses on rather disastrous events, with characters stranded in a world unfamiliar to them and depicting the struggles of characters as they try to survive in their dire situations.
3. The Flowers of Evil
Aku no Hana
Mangaka: Shuuzou Oshimi
Genres: Drama, Romance, School, Psychological
Volumes: 11
Published: Sep 9, 2009 to May 9, 2014
Aku no Hana is a compelling coming-of-age story centered on Takao’s thoughts, feelings, and relationships as he tries to live a normal life with the guilt of his crime after a moment of weakness. However, Sawa who witnessed Takao’s thievery has other plans in store for him.
The Flowers of Evil’s entire story tone can be morbid, ominous, and unsettling. Focusing on the characters gradually developing disturbing psyche, and how people’s interactions with one another rub off on each other’s well being.
Framed and convicted of murder, Yoshiaki is sentenced to Shouran Academy Juvenile Detention Centre. Placed in Cell 4, Yoshiaki shares his current situation with his cellmates Gou, Masafumi, and Mitsuru. But things only get worse, when unknown to inmates and employees a sudden zombie apocalypse that has ravaged the outside world comes to Shouran.
Fort of Apocalypse is a dark manga that has its characters fight for survival against enemies with overwhelming capabilities. With horror after horror experienced by the characters in gory detail. Though starting off showing the hopelessness of the world, watching the developing bromance of cell 4 is well worth it.
1. Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror
Mangaka: Junji Ito
Genres: Drama, Horror, Supernatural
Volumes: 3
Published: Jan 12, 1998 to Aug 30, 1999
Uzumaki follows a high-school teenager, Kirie Goshima; her boyfriend, Shuichi Saito, and the citizens of the small, quiet Japanese town of Kurouzu-cho, which is cursed by supernatural events involving spirals.
And last, but not least on our list of best top dark manga for fans is Uzumaki, the series contains a lot of disturbing images, violence and gore, freakiness, and intense scenes of horror. It’s a series that’s not for the faint of hearts, as it might leave you with a few nightmares after with its look on curses being eternal.
And with that I am done for today, leave us a comment let us know what you think about our list of top dark manga for fans, are there any dark manga you think should have made the list? Give us a piece of your mind down below! If you’re not subscribed now’s the best time to do so. We upload brand new content every Saturday of the week. The best way to see them first is of course to subscribe.
Till next time… Remember to relax and have a lovely weekend, you’ve earned it.
ASPD or antisocial personality disorder…does Rachel Gardner in Angels of Death have this? Let’s do a character analysis!
Symptoms of ASPD
Antisocial personality disorder signs and symptoms may include:
Disregard for right and wrong
Persistent lying or deceit to exploit others
Being callous, cynical and disrespectful of others
Repeatedly violating the rights of others through intimidation and dishonesty
Impulsiveness or failure to plan ahead
Hostility, significant irritability, agitation, aggression or violence
Lack of empathy for others and lack of remorse about harming others
Poor or abusive relationships
Aggression toward people and animals
Destruction of property
Deceitfulness
These are just some of the symptoms that the MAYO clinic says are attributed to ASPD and we can see characteristics of Ray in them. But not all of them. For the most part, she’s calm, not impulsive, and plans ahead. She’s not hostile or aggressive towards others but she does lack empathy and remorse when she goes into “dark” mode. I wonder if that’s what the creators of the show were trying to show.
But Rachel Wasn’t Born Like This…She Was Made
Rachel is originally presented as extremely calm and collected, though this likely stems from her desire to die. The other floor masters say that she is ruthless, selfish, and manipulative, and willing to do anything to get what she wants. However, it is a misnomer to consider her an evil or malicious person, as she does not inherently understand human morality and does not have actual cruel impulses.
She is shown to have issues with empathy and difficulty expressing or understanding emotions, and while she has shown fear, anger, compassion, and happiness, these are rare, fleeting, and moderate. She does not, however, fake emotions, and will not pretend to have feelings that are not present. In the later episodes, though, she appears to become more expressive.
Her Fall Into Madness…How She was MADE into a Sociopath
I thought it was ironically funny that they mentioned poor or abusive relations since people with ASPD or sociopathic tendencies are MADE, not born. We went over this when we tried to decide if Zack was a sociopath or psychopath. Ray was raised by parents that were abusive and narcissistic, oftentimes ignoring her until it suited their own needs. Her dad yells at her and even tried to kill her after stabbing his wife multiple times. He thinks she’s crazy. If anything, HE’s the crazy one. But her mom isn’t that much better. She blames her husband for making her life miserable and for ruining Rachel. He is shown to beat her a lot, so she bought a handgun to protect herself. But she still abuses Ray and doesn’t protect her child. Instead, she gives in to her own selfish nature.
Rachel kills a dog and stitches it up as her first dive into madness. Then after her mother is murdered by her Father, she kills him, then does the same to them as she did to the dog.
After this and being institutionalized she realized how insane she was and became dejected and lifeless (which is why Danny takes such a liking to her). Now she wants to be killed and set free. If Zack kills her, she will be set free from her memories and her twisted mind.
Only until Zack helped her accept her actions that she finally comes to terms with her warped view. Afterward, Rachel started to act like a normal person, particularly in regards to Zack whom she grew to genuinely care for. This is when we start to see genuine emotion from her.
It’s so fascinating to me. The human mind is such an incredible thing and we are all brought up in different lifestyles. Think about it, if you had been brought up in Rachel’s or worse, ZACK’S lifestyle, would you still be the same person? Would you not have become more sociopathic and more devoid of emotion? I think I might have. If anything, just to create a wall or barrier from the outside wall.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Inuyashiki is perfect for Halloween this year…if you’re a fan of morbid things and want to be scarred for life. It really depends on the type of anime you like and prefer to watch.
Since it’s October, I wanted to do a review for an anime that encompassed so many dark and creepy things for Halloween. A good spook (bonus points if you know where that’s from).
“Are my father and little brother dead too?”
“What does that matter? We were talking about One Piece.”
from Inuyashiki: Last Hero
Yup, that’s a direct quote from the anime. We already know that anime is…strange. It can cover a variety of niches and everyone can find a genre that they prefer. Inuyashiki is one of those specific types of anime shows that you watch if you prefer gore, horror, psychological torture, and the like. I made myself watch this anime in the name of wanting to do a review of a creepy anime in time for Halloween. Though I love creepy things like the paranormal and serial killers, this anime was hard to watch.
Trigger warning will be announced as there is a child harmed in this anime.
Episodes: 11
Studios: MAPPA
Aired: Oct 13, 2017 to Dec 22, 2017
Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Psychological
Inuyashiki Ichirou is our main character and protagonist. Aside from looking much older than he actually is, his entire family resents him, for seemingly no reason. He has no affection for his wife, as they sleep in different rooms of the house, and his children also give him no time of day at all. To make matters worse, Inuyashiki receives unfortunate news that he has got terminal cancer, and, feeling that he can’t tell anybody about this, keeps it to himself, suffering in silence all the more than before. After a trip to the park to cry alone, suddenly, ALIENS!
For no reason, and without any explanation at all, aliens accidentally kill both Inuyashiki and a man standing next to him, our main antagonist for this tale, Hiro (who just so happens to be standing next to him for some reason, but whatever).
Realizing their mistake, the aliens then rebuild both men, turning them into cyborgs in the process. Because, obviously, that’s just what you do. Also, if you think that the show will delve more into the aliens and why this all happened, prepare to be disappointed. It just happens and no explanation is given. Because well… anime.
Two Very Different Main Characters
Our main characters are vastly different and show themselves to clearly be the protagonist and antagonist. Ichiro is portrayed as a timid old man who has a hard time making friends. However, it’s shown that he has a heart of gold and works to help others. On the other hand, there’s Hiro. To put it simply, this guy is a sociopath that kills people. He appears to be kind and respectful but, throughout the show, it’s easy to see that he has a God-like complex of himself. He uses his powers to kill others simply for the thrill and because he can. He rivals Richard Ramirez and other notorious serial killers in my opinion, though in anime form.
Honestly, I think Hiro represents the worst of humanity. Through his killings, Hiro confesses that he “never felt so alive” while he does so. In other words, Hiro kills with little reason besides to feel. I really hate his character and the fact that they spend SEVEN episodes of him killing people.
TRIGGER WARNING
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The killing of children comes across as rather tasteless and a pathetic attempt to seem edgier than it actually is; it’s essentially a shock factor, which reminded me a lot of Elfen Lied, albeit nowhere near as extreme as that show or Parasyte that showed a head being cut off. A lot of blood and gore, all for the sake of shock value.
People Just Idolize Hiro Because He’s “Hot” and it makes me barf
Okay, let’s first discuss a side character named Shion, who, after the news is revealed that Hiro is a murderer, and is thus on the run from the police, allows Hiro to stay with her and her Grandmother in her house as a means of protecting and hiding him since she doesn’t believe “he would do such a thing”. But, this makes no sense as there is no reason for Shion to believe that he isn’t a murderer as she knows nothing about him! To her, he is just a fellow classmate, and the only interaction that she has ever had with him was one case where she asked for Hiro to go out with her, confessing her feelings in the process, where he said, “Thanks” and walked away. So?
There is nothing to suggest otherwise that he is not the killer!
It always annoyed me how naïve she was in letting, essentially what is a stranger, inside her home. This isn’t the 60s/70s where serial killers were at an all-time high because people just let absolute strangers into their homes.
Oh, one final thing I want to rant about really quick is how each woman in the show, most particularly teenage girls, refer to Hiro as being “hot” or “cool” so much so that there have been several fan groups made about him, and when one girl, during the massacre of 100 people sees Hiro appear on her phone, she blushes and acts like a dumbass instead of being fearful for her life! Why is Hiro being idolized?
This is the guy who murdered babies for crying out loud! While the show does too seem to question this, as evident by a couple of police officers who are discussing this same fact, this part always bugged me, and I groaned to myself whenever a girl would comment about how “hot” Hiro was.
That final battle lasts 10 minutes.
10 episodes in and we finally have a battle between Hiro (who is NOT a Hero) and Ichirou, with 2 Episodes introducing each character and 7 episodes of the Antagonist killing people. This was too much for me but after each episode, I would watch Disney or a fluffy cartoon to help.
Maybe I am asking too much from an 11 episode series, but I was expecting more of a final battle. I figured there would be more and then out of nowhere the climactic battle between the two is over in a couple of minutes. The battle was lacking as well. They both get knocked out, go into Robo combat mode, and Inuyashiki just wins. We’ve been building up the assumption that Hiro is far more in control of his robotic body but then Inuyashiki doesn’t have any trouble whatsoever defeating him.
While both Hiro and Ichiro uses violence, they use it for completely different reasons. While Hiro feels alive through killing, Ichiro feels alive through saving others.
Psychopaths exist and so do heroes. You probably hear about them on the news every day. However, Hiro makes the news for the wrong reasons and it becomes clear that he wants to experiment with his powers and show off his God complex. While this all seems like nonsensational drama, it does actually does work as the show is able to use its violence to full effect.
From the police massacre to the destruction of aircrafts, it gives his insight on what Hiro is truly capable of and how far he goes to prove his point. My experience from this show made me realize that Hiro and Ichiro really show what humans are capable of when they are given powers beyond the natural law of order.
All in all, this anime was hard to watch. If you want something creepy and gory to watch for Halloween that’s anime-related and not just Texas Chain Saw Massacre, this anime will be for you. But be warned though, it can be triggering for people who don’t like seeing children be harmed or gallons of blood.
Have you seen this anime already? What did you think? What are YOU watching for Halloween? Let us know in the comments below.
Hello! 10 Best Anime Like Squid Game? If like everyone else, you’ve just finished Squid Game on Netflix, you are probably looking for anime similar to the series that has remained on the Netflix Top 10 List for weeks now. And is probably the biggest series ever from the streaming platform so far.
So are there anime shows with high-stakes games? With different games? Last man standing wins? With consequences? Betrayal and lots of gore? Yes yes there is, here are the 10 Best Anime Like Squid Game with honorable mentions in no particular order.
Anime Similar to Squid Game
10. Battle Game in 5 Seconds
Deatte 5-byou de Battle
Episodes: 12
Studios: SynergySP, Vega Entertainment
Aired: Jul 13, 2021 to Sep 28, 2021
Genres: Action, Game, Super Power
At number 10 is Battle Game in 5 Seconds, the series follows high schooler Akira Shiroyanagi who is kidnapped with others, given a secret ability like the others, and forced to take part in trials that can entail anything from battle royales to even one-on-one duels that can lead to death.
Assumed dead like the others but unlike most of them finds the whole situation exciting, Akira decides to outsmart everyone standing in his way and unravel the enigma surrounding this mysterious organization.
Similarity
Battle Game in 5 Seconds like Squid Game has a shady, all-knowing, and mysterious organization. The plot follows a survival style with different challenges, lots of gore, thriller, and mind games where characters need their wit and sometimes pure luck to survive.
The characters in Battle Game in 5 Seconds also have their reasons and issues for wanting to win, and they are also trapped in an unfamiliar environment.
9. King’s Game
Ousama Game The Animation
Episodes: 12
Studios: Seven
Aired: Oct 5, 2017 to Dec 21, 2017
Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural
King’s Game focuses on Nobuaki Kanazawa and his new high school class of 32 students, who all receive a text from someone called “The King” with specific tasks that gradually get more disturbing. With a time limit of 24 hours, and rules that state all students must participate, or be allowed to quit halfway, and the cost of failing death.
Will Nobuaki and his classmates be able to survive this horrific situation? Will it be everyone for themselves? Or will everyone be able to make it out alive?
Similarity
Like Squid Game, King’s Game has deadly games with an emphasis on time and teamwork also. It also has mystery, with the characters trying to figure out who’s behind the games. Both series also excels at showing the evil sadistic side of characters that seem innocent on the outside.
King’s Game is also a death game with gruesome deaths, with a similar atmosphere to Squid Games. Both series also have people forced into a game with rules-based off on a similar game that people are familiar with. And use the last man standing survival troupe, with both repeating the death game cycle over and over again.
No Game, No Life follows two former shut-in NEET siblings, Sora and Shiro that are pulled into a parallel world by Tet, the “One True God” of this world, where everything is decided by games. In this world, humanity is ranked the lowest and least powerful. Will these two genius gamers become humanity’s saviors?
Similarity
Similar to Squid Game No Game, No Life has some very interesting and mysterious characters and involves characters being thrown into another world than what they are used to. Both series also have the main concept which revolves around playing games.
Though No Game, No Life like Squid Game has very smart and devious characters, with both series focusing on overcoming difficult odds and having determined characters, No Game, No Life is not as gory as the Squid Game.
Somewhere in Tokyo is a room. In that room is a black sphere. That seems to randomly transfer people who are close to dying to this room. Once there, words appear on the sphere, Its name… Gantz, saying that everyone’s life there is over, and now everyone must play a game. With points awarded after the successful completion of these missions, to buy all sorts of otherworldly things from Gantz.
The games are always between life or death, becoming more and more tasking each time Gantz calls them back into the room and with no way to escape, will Kei Kurono and the rest of his group make it through these games?
https://youtu.be/vPiCTBE9rRc
Similarity
Similar to Squid Game, Gantz is a psychological thriller that focuses on human nature and violence. It puts characters into situations that test their morality to survive. Both series revolve around shock value and how it can be turned into a narrative device making you feel the character’s dread. Both series hardly pull their punches managing to horrify and move you at the same time.
Danganronpa: Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei The Animation
Episodes: 13
Studios: Lerche
Aired: Jul 5, 2013 to Sep 27, 2013
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Psychological, School
Danganronpa follows Makoto Naegi and his 15 classmates of the prestigious Hope’s Peak Academy, an elite high school that accepts only the most talented students. Students who successfully enroll receive their own unique titles, that suitably reflect their skills and traits. Makoto, an ordinary person with no special talents to speak of, gets the title “Super High School-Level Luck” after luckily getting admitted in.
Their first day at the school doesn’t go as planned though, they are trapped inside the school by Monokuma, the principal and literal bear of the school. The only way to escape is to play a game, they must all try killing one another without being discovered by their peers. However, if the other discovers the identity of the killer, he or she will be executed, and the game will continue till there is a victor.
Similarity
Danganronpa like Squid Games, is also a death game with gruesome deaths, with a similar atmosphere. Both series also have characters forced into a game with simple rules. Both series center on a set number of people being pushed to their absolute limit and a grand prize for the victor that will change their life for good.
“Careless Monday” is a terrorist attack that saw ten missiles hit Japan, without harming anyone. Three months later Saki Morimi, a young woman currently in the USA on vacation meets Akira Takizawa, who has lost his memory during a misunderstanding. Only Akira is naked with a gun in one hand and a mobile phone in the other with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash!
Will the two be able to unravel the mystery behind Akira and survive the death game against other individuals with similar cell phones to Akira they are forced into?
Similarity
Another anime series like Squid Game is Eden of The East. Both series start with a phone, with both of them having this mysterious feel around the plot and characters, with both working behind the scenes for a larger vision. Both series also share the same theme: money and conspiracies involving shadowy organizations.
4. Btooom!
Episodes: 12
Studios: Madhouse
Aired: Oct 4, 2012 to Dec 20, 2012
Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Psychological
Ryouta Sakamoto is an unemployed NEET whose only real skill seems to be playing Btooom!, an online death game that involves bomb-throwing. On achieving 10th in the global ranking, he and others are kidnapped.
Ryouta finds himself stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere, with a small green crystal embedded in his left hand and no memory of how he got there. To his shock, someone or someones has decided to recreate the game Btooom! in real life, with the stakes being life or death. Will he be able to survive with Himiko and his other allies?
Similarity
Another anime show like Squid Game is Btooom! Both series have a character that is forced to play a game risking their lives together with other people. To escape the game, they have to beat the game following the rules they were given. Both main characters are incredibly dumb, with the setting of both series being the same having the players trapped on an island.
Yukiteru Amano is a high school student that has problems making friends, he copes by making himself a bystander in life and writing down everything he sees in his phone diary. He also creates an imaginary friend, Deus Ex Machina, the Lord of Time and Space.
Except Deus is real, and he’s forcing Yukiteru and 11 others to take part in a death game, with the last person standing becoming the new god of time and space. Will Yukiteru and his obsessive stalker and ally Yuno be able to survive the game?
https://youtu.be/cOmW9c43QkA
Similarity
Similar to Squid Game, The Future Diary both series are gory and have great female characters. Both series center around a group of people who are forced to play a game of killing one another to win a life-changing grand prize. Both series also feature a cast of diverse characters each with their own set of skills and personalities.
2. Kakegurui
Episodes: 12
Studios: MAPPA
Aired: Jul 1, 2017 to Sep 23, 2017
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Game, Psychological, School
Hyakkaou Private Academy is a usual school for the rich, instead of priding itself purely on academic achievements, valuing strategic prowess and the ability to read people. Students gamble against each other for rank, money, and more.
The series follows Yumeko Jabami, a compulsive gambler, and Ryouta Suzui, a student ranked in the bottom one hundred, forced to serve his peers. Kakegurui is borderline insane with its take on gambling, bringing too many new cards to the table.
Similarity
Like Squid Game, Kakegurui also paints an environment where power and position are determined by a person’s sheer will to control fate with crazy gambling. Both have plenty of mind games and plots where people get themselves into situations where losing is not an option. Both series also covers similar themes of morality and contemplation of mental stability.
1. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
Episodes: 26
Studios: Madhouse
Aired: Oct 3, 2007 to Apr 2, 2008
Genres: Game, Suspense, Psychological
Kaiji Itou is a good-for-nothing bum who steals hubcaps and drinks all day, that is until he meets Endou, a debt collector who claims Kaiji owes him 3,850,000 yen for a loan he cosigned for. Endou gives Kaiji two options – either spend years repaying the debt, or board a boat for one night to clear the debt.
On the boat players have to gamble with loaned money, which either ends with them winning, or getting into deeper debt and having to work to pay off their debts.
Similarity
Similar to Squid Game, Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor has a similar down on their luck protagonist. Both series have an amazing storyline, that keeps you guessing until the very end. Both series also put their main characters in psychologically distressing situations, and with their characters having to rise above the challenges and owning their fates. Plus, both can be very emotional.
That’s my 10 best anime like Squid Game with honorable mentions. Did you think I missed one? Have you seen any of them yet? Did you like any of them? What did you think of Squid Game? Talk to me down below. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Till next time…Remember you are the best, you can be right now, today, tomorrow, and the day after.
Top 25 Detective Manga of All Time We Love? Mysteries will always attract us and where there is a mystery detectives are trying to investigate, unraveling and solve these cases to discover who did what, and how.
Investigating mysteries, analyzing evidence, and using logic to close cases are the backbone of detective manga, and it has always been a popular genre for manga enthusiasts who love mystery or the curious reader. But what is the best detective manga of all time? Well, We tried to find the best detective manga!
Get ready to be pulled into a world of characters, with some of the best stories told, where you will analyze and deduce clues along with our protagonist(s). Something is afoot in this 25 detective mystery manga!
In no particular order here are the best detective manga of all time
25. Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective
Kamonohashi Ron no Kindan Suiri
Mangaka: Amano Akira
Genres: Mystery, Shounen, Police
Volumes: 2+
Published: Oct 11, 2020 to present
Number 25 on our list of best detective manga is Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective from the creator of the manga Hitman Reborn! Some have even compared the protagonist of the series to Lelouch’s Geass of Code Geass.
Plot Summary
Despite lacking the skills suited for his role on the Metropolitan Police Department investigative team, Totomaru Isshiki wants to solve murders and help people. Following the advice of one of his seniors, he ventures out to enlist the aid of the reclusive Ron Kamonohashi. Five years ago, Ron was the most promising detective from the illustrious Detective Training Academy Blue; yet for reasons unknown to the public, he sank into obscurity.
Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective is a more light-hearted take on the detective genre where the story’s mysteries are relatively simple and easy to solve, but where the series shine is the humor and characters. Characters and personalities are reminiscent of the casts of Reborn. It is a fun read, you can pick up and just laugh without having to immerse yourself in a deep plot.
24. Kemono Jihen
Mangaka: Shou Aimoto
Genres: Action, Shounen, Supernatural
Volumes: 14+
Published: Dec 2, 2016 to present
Kemono Jihen is a detective manga with an interesting plot, with many things going on, which makes reading this manga very enjoyable, it covers dark topics as well as somewhat heartwarming ones as well.
Plot Summary
When dead animals mysteriously start appearing in a remote village, a detective from Tokyo named Kohachi Inugami is brought in to investigate the cause. Upon arriving, Inugami finds a young boy named Kabane working in the fields and quickly befriends him, eventually bringing him on to help solve the case.
Kemono Jihen is a detective manga that handles character development and design well. None of the characters seemed like an afterthought and their unique designs and personalities help make them recognizable. Detective manga readers who love supernatural elements, especially urban myths should definitely give Kemono Jihen a try.
23. Keishichou Tokuhanka 007
Mangaka: Eiri Kaji
Genres: Shoujo, Supernatural, Police
Volumes: 11
Published: Oct 20, 2006 to Mar 20, 2012
Keishichou Tokuhanka 007 is a detective manga with shoujo elements and a 90s art-style vibe. It has a very sweet story where our two protagonists’ interactions were always comedic and heart-warming.
Plot Summary
The “Special crime investigation department 007” includes the most capable and extraordinary investigators and Fuyuki, who also becomes one of its members, is very capable, too. And they paired her with Kuze, a cool and very handsome detective. Their combination proves to be the most dangerous one the police headquarters had ever seen!
Keishichou Tokuhanka 007 is definitely a detective manga that seems to be made especially for fans of the genre that also want shoujo with their mystery. Overall, it was a really enjoyable manga that took a little getting used to for me, but it was a good read after a few chapters.
22. Sherlock Holmes no Chousen
Mangaka: Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, Haruka Komusubi
Genres: Mystery, Historical
Volumes: 1
Published: Dec 20, 2011
At number 22 is a cast of legendary detectives, Sherlock Holmes no Chousen. They made the manga up of 5 short stories, telling the story of how Dr. Watson and Holmes meet and so on.
Plot Summary
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are solving many criminal cases but one thing is weird: All the cases are verly likely to each other. So who is the mastermind of all these cases?
Sherlock Holmes no Chousen is a really short and interesting read for mystery and detective fans or for introducing someone to the genre who doesn’t want to read a long detective manga for the first time and is still easily familiar to people that are not fans of the detective genre. Give it a read!
21. Sakura’s Best
Sakura no Ichiban!
Mangaka: Yuna Kagesaki
Genres: Action, Mystery, Martial Arts, Romance, School, Slice of Life
Volumes: 5
Published: 2001 to 2003
Sakura’s Best interestingly combines the romance, detective genre, history, and many funny manga tropes we are used to reading. It is a detective manga for the shoujo reader.
Plot Summary
A young girl named Hinomori Asami starts her studies at the Sakura Hill School for Girls in Tokyo, but the capital is a dangerous place, and mysteries abound.
Sakura’s Best is not too long that it becomes boring, they take you on a quick fun-filled adventure with mystery and cuteness overload! and has just as quick as it all starts you reach the end right on time to leave the story feeling memorable instead of drawn out.
What do you get when you add a bunch of kids and mysteries? Detective School Q! It is a series that knows exactly what it is and runs with it, no action or unnecessary ecchi scenes, just good old fashion brainpower. It is a must-read for detective manga fans.
Plot Summary
Detective School Q is the story of a group of young students from Class Q of Dan Detective School (DDS), a renowned detective academy founded by Morihiko Dan, the most famous detective in Japan, and the adventures and mysteries they unfold and solve together. They eventually work against Pluto, a mysterious organization which creates almost fool-proof plans that only a handful of detectives can solve.
If you have already watched Detective School Q the anime, you should know how unique and well-written the story is. It is a detective manga series with a bit for everyone even if you aren’t a detective genre fan the story keeps you well entertained.
Arisa is a mystery manga that I like to think of like a detective manga that got my attention after seeing various recommendations of it online. It feels very tele novella like sometimes because of its plot twists. Which felt like a change of pace to what I am used to reading.
Plot Summary
Tsubasa and Arisa are twin sisters who haven’t seen each other for three years because of their parents’ divorce. They have communicated through letters, but finally decide to meet each other again. Arisa, the more gentle of the twins, suggests that Tsubasa take her place at school for a day, just for fun. However, there are things about Arisa and her school that she hasn’t mentioned to Tsubasa — dangerous things.
Arisa is a detective manga for fans of mystery, shoujo, and psychological thrillers that balances the lighter tone and darker tones of the series amazingly well. It is a detective manga for the little girl manga reader in all of us.
18. Bungo Stray Dogs
Bungou Stray Dogs
Mangaka: Kafka Asagiri, Harukawa35
Genres: Action, Supernatural, Seinen
Volumes: 21+
Published: Dec 4, 2012 to present
Bungo Stray Dogs is a detective manga that incorporates a lot of unfamiliar elements into itself but strangely enough, it works, creating a beautifully crafted plot, art, and memorable characters.
Plot Summary
Atsushi Nakajima is on the brink of death after being kicked out of his orphanage. With no food and nowhere to go, all hope seems lost—until he saves a mysterious man called Osamu Dazai from drowning. Much to his partner Doppo Kunikida’s irritation, Dazai offers Atsushi a meal and reveals they work for the Armed Detective Agency, an organization of gifted individuals who take care of criminal cases the authorities cannot. He offers him a position in the agency.
As a detective manga, Bungo Stray Dogs has captured a spot in many readers’ top 10, even fans that are not fans of the detective manga series, find it has a lot of potentials. Even if you don’t find it exceptional, it definitely has a lot going on to at the least be a good time-passer.
17. Moriarty the Patriot
Yuukoku no Moriarty
Mangaka: Ryousuke Takeuchi, Hikaru Miyoshi
Genres: Mystery, Shounen, Psychological
Volumes: 15+
Published: Aug 4, 2016 to present
Moriarty the Patriot is an interesting detective manga that takes an interesting perspective on a story that has been told a thousand times by trying to humanize our antihero, showing life and motivation of why he does what he does.
Plot Summary
In the late 19th century, the British Empire has become a global power. Because of the strict class stratification, the average citizen has little chance of successfully rising to the top, where the despicable nobility rules over them all. Moriarty the Patriot puts a new spin on Arthur Conan Doyle’s original work by putting the spotlight on its main antagonist and exploring how he came to be the first and only “criminal consultant.”
For avid fans of detective manga and Sherlock Holmes fans, Moriarty the Patriot is definitely a breath of fresh air. The art is good, characters feel genuinely real. I grew attached to some of them and with a series usually focused on seriousness, there was humor now and then. Try it.
16. Book Girl and the Suicidal Mime
“Bungaku Shoujo” Series
Mangaka: Mizuki Nomura, Rito Kōsaka
Genres: Mystery, Drama, Romance
Volumes: 3
Published: August 2008 to November 2010
Book Girl and the Suicidal Mime is a detective manga that should remind some of its lucky readers of being in high school. And going on this mystery-driven quirky plot with its memorable character is one detective manga series fans of the genre shouldn’t miss.
Plot Summary
Konoha Inoue lives out his days as a normal high schooler, hiding his dark past as a best-selling author who wrote under the guise of a 14-year-old girl. A member of the literature club, he writes improv stories that serve as snacks for third-year student Tooko Amano, the only other member of the club and a self-styled “book girl” who literally eats written words. Konoha is forced to tag along with Tooko as she seeks strange, literature-filled cases to investigate.
Book Girl and the Suicidal Mime is a beautiful and well-written detective manga series by Mizuki Nomura. The series felt reminiscent of Spice and Wolf or Your lie in April, calm and sweet even though it could be dark and depressing sometimes.
15. Kechonpa
Mangaka: Chiaki Hijiri
Genres: Drama, Josei, Mystery, Police
Volumes: 3
Published: 2009 to 2012
Kechonpa is a real hidden gem detective manga with a little for everyone slice of life, gyaru, light romance, comedy, mystery, a strong female lead, and well-done dialogue. I really don’t know why more people are not talking about it.
Plot Summary
Stylish Charisma Gal Ririko becomes an amateur detective on the streets of Shibuya to impress police detective Nii, a man she’s adored since childhood and regards as her fiance. However, Nii frowns upon the excesses of gal style, so Ririko has to quickly transform herself into a demure uni student each time she sees him.
Kechonpa may seem unusual at first glance for a detective manga, but it’s definitely worth your time. It had a lot of josei-style comedy that I thought was a delightful change of pace, double identities, and the plot interestingly combined fashion and detective themes.
Usotoki Rhetoric is a manga that has a lot to offer detective mystery lovers and historical-based manga readers with its nicely flowing slow-burn plot.
Plot Summary
Sixteen-year-old Kanoko Urabe knows that someone is lying if she can hear the strange, echoing sound of clanging metal in their voice. As a young and overly honest child, she would point out the lies of other villagers, and was ostracized as a result. In a chance encounter, Kanoko meets Souma Iwai, a gifted but penniless detective. After she is forced to demonstrate her ability, he expresses appreciation for what she can do and agrees to take her in, asking the girl to be his assistant.
If you are looking for a detective manga that is light-hearted with adorable characters and a realistic take on shoujo, Usotoki Rhetoric is a good detective manga to waste your time with.
13. Ms. Rinna’s Lovesickness!
Rinna Keibu wa Iki ga Dekinai
Mangaka: Ayune Araragi
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Shounen, Police
Volumes: 3
Published: Oct 27, 2016 to Dec 27, 2017
Ms. Rinna’s Lovesickness! is a simple and fun-to-read detective manga that I am not sure many might have heard of.
Plot Summary
Rinna, the top-class inspector of the London Police Department, and Meishi, the clumsy private detective. This is the love story between the two of them…
It’s an episodic, slice of life, mystery, ecchi, boy meet girl detective manga that I found really enjoyable. Every theme or troupe didn’t feel forced, Ms. Rinna’s Lovesickness! is a quick short, and fun read. Try this especially for newbie detective readers or veterans of the genre looking for a fun little read.
12. Young Miss Holmes
Christie: High Tension
Mangaka: Kaoru Shintani
Genres: Mystery, Historical, Seinen
Volumes: 7
Published: Aug 5, 2006 to Sep 5, 2011
Young Miss Holmes is a detective manga series that follows the classic style of creating mysteries, suspense, and having companions to follow along to solve the mysteries with.
Plot Summary
Christie Holmes is a prodigy. At ten years old, she’s as familiar with the sciences and classics as any older student at Cambridge or Oxford. And her facility with logic is reminiscent of her uncle, the eminent Sherlock Holmes himself. So, what’s a brilliant young girl to do when her parents are away in India, leaving her behind in the care of maids and servants? Solve mysteries, of course.
Young Miss Holmes is a manga series I would recommend especially for readers who love Detective Conan and want to see a young blonde female lead with amazing problem-solving skills and a lot of mysteries.
11. Gosick
Mangaka: Kazuki Sakuraba, Sakuya Amano
Genres: Mystery, Historical, Shounen
Volumes: 8
Published: Dec 8, 2007 to Apr 9, 2012
Gosick is another detective manga series I love reading and favorite of a lot of old readers of this genre. The two protagonists’ chemistry really gives me a Sherlock and Watson vibe that just feels so natural and not forced at all.
Plot Summary
Kujo Kazuya is studying abroad in Sovuria (a fictional country in Europe), where he meets the mysterious Victorique. Possessing a brilliant mind, which she calls “fountain of wisdom,” she seems to know everything, although she never attends classes and is restricted to her room and the school’s library.
Gosick is a detective manga series for readers that love characters that feel real, suspense, and complex cases that will have you guessing. If you are really into mysteries and haven’t read this yet, try it.
10. Mystery for My Dear A
Shinainaru A-jou e no Mystery
Mangaka: Satoshi Morie
Genres: Mystery, Josei
Volumes: 3
Published: Oct 7, 2016 to Apr 7, 2018
At number 10 on my list is another obscure detective manga, Mystery for My Dear A that seems to be made for book lovers. It has an interesting plot and the dynamic between the two characters I absolutely loved.
Plot Summary
Ayano is a girl with her head in the clouds: she loves reading so much that she scarcely pays attention to the real world. Hoping to bring her back to reality, Ayano’s mother sends her to Noumi Takayuki, a onetime author who now works as a consulting detective. As Takayuki’s assistant, will Ayano find a reason to love the world around her? And will she be able to help Takayuki fight his inner sorrows?
Mystery for My Dear A is a detective manga that shows the mangaka love for books through its lots and lots of book references and with an easily relatable main protagonist there is a lot to love about this manga series, even though it feels rushed at some points.
9. Brutal: Confessions of a Homicide Investigator
Brutal: Satsujin Keisatsukan no Kokuhaku
Mangaka: Kei Koga, Ryou Izawa
Genres: Drama, Police, Psychological, Josei
Volumes: 5+
Published: Jun 28, 2019 to present
Brutal: Confessions of a Homicide Investigator is an unusual detective manga series that reminded me of Dexter (TV series) when I started reading it. Topics covered can be quite heavy but there is a lot of comedic relief from our protagonist.
Plot Summary
Handsome, successful, and talented, detective Hiroki Dan has it all. Each investigation solved is another good deed to add to his pile of closed cases. However, while his work is fulfilling, there are still times when he becomes frustrated; the police are helpless when vile people are beyond the reach of the law. It is for this very reason that Hiroki takes matters into his own hands.
While Brutal: Confessions of a Homicide Investigator might not be a well-known detective manga it is still a very good one, that really made me question my opinions of right and wrong. It’s gory and spine-chillingly worth wasting your time on.
Bloody Monday is a manga series with a lot of plot twists, suspense, and exaggerated heroes. That tries to take a more down-to-earth approach to tell its story.
Plot Summary
When a KGB agent is murdered in Japan, the only clue to his death is a memory chip found at the scene of the crime. Fujimaru is recruited by Third-I to decode the chip, which contains a video file of an event called the “Christmas Massacre.” Investigating the incident further, Fujimaru’s father uncovers more information about the homicide and a mysterious code, “Bloody Monday,” before being framed for the murder of his superior. Now, it is up to the hacker Fujimaru to utilize his expertise to help Third-I prevent the spread of terror and destruction in Japan, while attempting to clear his father’s name.
Bloody Monday is a series that is meant for detective manga readers that love the idea of hacking and is good enough to keep you just interested enough to see where the story is heading. It would be nice to see it as an anime someday, maybe.
7. Neuro: Supernatural Detective
Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro
Mangaka: Yuusei Matsui
Genres: Mystery, Shounen, Supernatural
Volumes: 23
Published: Feb 21, 2005 to Apr 20, 2009
If you are looking for a detective manga that is different, unique, bizarre, and unconventional, try Neuro: Supernatural Detective.
Plot Summary
The Demon Neuro has a raging hunger for “enigmas.” Being dissatisfied with his current regime in hell, he comes to the mortal realm in order to satiate his ever-growing appetite. The murder case of a young girl’s father seems to be sufficiently enticing for the Demon’s needs… But what else might happen between these two?
Neuro: Supernatural Detective is a pleasant story to read regardless if you are not looking for anything I mentioned above. It has a lot of elements added into it but the series prominent one is the psychological theme, figuring out the motivations behind the crime.
6. Heaven’s Memo Pad
Kamisama no Memochou
Mangaka: Hikaru Sugii, Tiv
Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
Volumes: 3
Published: August 2010 to September 2012
Heaven’s Memo Pad is an interesting detective manga that seems to follow a bit of the same ideas as manga like Death Note and Gosick.
Plot Summary
Narumi is an assistant to detective Alice, a NEET teenage girl who stays in her pajamas and operates within her bedroom. She uses her vast network of people and the internet to solve cases. Will Alice be able to solve them in her PJs?
Heaven’s Memo Pad is a series with some dark themes and starts slow but picks up if you stick it out, becoming more entertaining and charming. It’s a series that made me try to figure out the who, what, why, when, and how.
5. Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka
Pluto
Mangaka: Naoki Urasawa, Osamu Tezuka
Genres: Action, Mystery, Mecha, Sci-Fi, Psychological, Seinen
Volumes: 8
Published: Sep 9, 2003 to Apr 1, 2009
Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka is an emotionally powerful detective manga series created with Naoki Urasawa, the man that gave us Monster and 20th Century Boys.
Plot Summary
After the death of the world-famous Swiss robot Montblanc. Robotic Europol detective and war veteran Gesicht is sent to investigate Montblanc’s tragic demise. Gesicht uncovers evidence of a mysterious entity known only as “Pluto.” Along with this, he learns of a plot to dismantle the eight specialized robots from around the world who took part in the war. Racing against time to save those who remain, Gesicht grapples with his memory, morality, and a world full of hate, desperately attempting to defend the fragile coexistence of man and machine.
Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka is a manga series with plenty of well-done cliffhangers and a great future-retro setting I would love to live in. It’s a masterpiece.
The Kindaichi Case Files is a classic detective murder mystery manga, with a lot of misdirection and red herrings that keep you guessing and turning page after page.
Plot Summary
Kindaichi and his best-bud, Miyuki travels to various places where a murder has taken place, typically involving ghosts, curses, myths and folklore of significant events from the distant past, and solves the mystery using ingenious deductions of curious clues and his cool magic.
The Kindaichi Case Files is a brilliant series and I highly recommend it to detective manga fans that love locked-room murder mysteries.
Honourable Mentions
Q.E.D.: Shoumei Shuuryou
Mangaka: Motohiro Katou
Genres: Mystery, Shounen
Volumes: 50
Published: Jun 20, 1997 to Feb 17, 2015
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch)
Death Note is a series with a lot of hype about it, it is a perfect detective manga of suspense and thriller. And I am sure a lot of you have read it by now or heard about it.
Plot Summary
Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects–and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal… or his life?
Death Note is a detective series anyone can enjoy and should always be in your first recommendations for people not familiar with the genre. It is a series that had me guessing till the very end and rooting for our evil protagonist at the very end.
2. Monster
Mangaka: Naoki Urasawa
Genres: Mystery, Drama, Psychological, Seinen
Volumes: 18
Published: Dec 5, 1994 to Dec 20, 2001
At number 2 is Monster, an intense and well-written page-turner manga that is also well known and well-liked by fans of the detective manga genre.
Plot Summary
Kenzou Tenma, a renowned Japanese neurosurgeon working in post-war Germany, faces a difficult choice: to operate on Johan Liebert, an orphan boy on the verge of death, or on the mayor of Düsseldorf. In the end, Tenma decides to gamble his reputation by saving Johan, effectively leaving the mayor for dead. Nine years later, Tenma is the head of the surgical department and close to becoming the director himself. Soon he becomes entangled in a chain of gruesome murders that have taken place throughout Germany. The culprit is a monster—the same one that Tenma saved on that fateful day nine years ago.
Monster is one of the best psychological thrillers with an intelligent plot and unpredictable plot twists, memorable and deep characters. It is a manga series I recommend you finally find time to read.
Case Closed, or Detective Conan is a detective manga that has really grown on me and many readers. It’s a manga every fan of the genre should read even a bit of.
Plot Summary
Kudo Shinichi is a high school detective who was poisoned during a confrontation with suspicious criminals, and was transformed to look like a child! Now he staying with the Mouri family and secretly continuing to solve cases while investigating the organization who put him in this situation. Hailed as the savior of the Japanese Police Department, he uses a combination of observational skills, critical thinking, and all-around knowledge to solve cases that leave the police stumped.
Detective Conan is a series I feel that really knows how to balance out the funny hilarious moments with the seriousness of the manga. And I like how for me I can leave it for a while and jump right into a new chapter again with a new case and be able to still follow the plot easily without having to back track.
We finally reached the end, if you made it this far woow. What do you think of detective manga? Do you think there is one I missed? or Which are your favourite ones? What did you think of my list? Have you read one of them? What did you think? Give me a piece of your mind in the comment section below.
There has been controversies about the ship regarding Rachel and Zack’s age gap (~7 years, Rachel is 13 and Zack is assumed to be about 20), particularly when the ship is shipped romantically or even just platonically. Most fans compensate by aging up the characters in fanworks to prevent arguments or drama.
I’ve mentioned this before regarding Zack and Rachel’s relationship but I feel this needs repeating. As for now, where their relationship is, is strictly platonic. Do I ship them? Heck yes, I do. BUT ONLY after they’ve both grown up. I don’t see it as grooming either since anything romantic is the furthest things from BOTH of their minds. They’ve been dealt a hard hand at life and only know survival. They would both need therapy and serious help but I do believe that these two help each other and have that trust there that could make a beautiful relationship.
For context, the husband and I are also 7 years apart. So the age difference definitely could work. But not yet. That’s why fanfictions almost always show an aged up version, which is good. If she was still 13, it would be weird. But Zack doesn’t show interest of any kind to her then. We can see that there’s the POTENTIAL for it to grow into something more as they age, which is totally fine.
Rachel is the first person that Zack has come to trust and he is the first person to see and accept the darker parts of her. They both have to come to terms with their past and who they are. They would make a cute couple and it’s an anime anyway.
From the onset of this anime, Rachel and Zack bind themselves with a promise. If she helps him get out of the building, then he has to kill her, but Zack has a stipulation of his own. Rachel’s eyes need to change, or in a sense, become more human before he’ll take her life.
This promise between them becomes the sole purpose of their goals. Rachel seeks constant affirmation that Zack is going to hold to the promise and stay by her side until their time of reckoning comes. She does this by asking if she’s been useful to him each time they struggle through an obstacle.
Once they make it to Eddie’s floor, they find a grave that’s been specifically prepared for Rachel. It’s the largest in the plot, and seeing it instantly pisses off Zack to the point where he wants to destroy it. Rachel stops him, feeling sentimental about the resting place that’s been thoroughly prepared for her benefit.
It’s one of the first gestures from Zack that shows that he cares about Rachel’s words. Up to this point, he’s been rude towards her and could care less about what she wishes, but he concedes on this point. He even fondly touches the headstone with his hand for a brief moment.
His emotions come across even more so when Zack shoots himself in the arm with both of the drugs Cathy provides. In the wake of him losing his mind, Rachel is able to find a bit of clarity wherein Zack tells her not to let him kill her just yet. Even though he speaks harshly, Zack continues to protect Rachel from harm as much as possible.
At this moment, Cathy has pitted Zack and Rachel against each other where only one of them will survive. Zack decides that he will not be used as a tool and slices himself with his scythe. This speaks to Zack’s intrinsic desire to protect Rachel in dangerous situations. When she proposes a harmful solution to any of their obstacles, Zack takes it upon himself to gain control of the situation, so that the danger passes. It shows that he cares more than he lets on.
As they search for their final destination, Zack gifts Rachel his most precious knife. When breaking through iron bars, Zack loses his strength of will while Rachel resolves to get the bars open no matter what. When Zack notices that she’s trying to do so with the knife he gave her, he brings her up short.
He mentions that she’s the first person he’s ever given anything to and that it’s not for keeps, but so that she could keep herself safe. If this doesn’t scream love and care for Rachel’s well-being, then we don’t know what does.
So could they/should they be in a relationship? Only after they’ve grown more. But yes. Right now it’s more of a best friend type of thing. I for one will keep reading the aged up fanfictions and shipping them always.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Anxiety is never fun. The world is a scary place right now. It’s not in just one place or country, it’s basically on every continent.
It’s scary when we don’t know when it’ll end. When hundreds of thousands of people have died. I’m in the USA and in my state, we’re in lockdown still. It’s terrifying seeing usually busy streets so empty and quiet. It’s unsettling in a way.
As of this writing, the CDC has confirmed over 41,000 deaths directly from COVID, and that’s not even close to the real toll. It doesn’t include all the false negatives from unreliable tests, all the people who couldn’t get tests, all the people who died of COVID at home trying to stay out of the ER, and all the people having heart attacks and strokes and perforated ulcers who died at home trying to tough it out because they figured their chances were better with their age and commodities staying away from the plague sanitariums that our hospitals have been forced to become.
So this is a simple guide to help navigate the scary and unknown times, and how to live with the anxiety that some of us (including myself) might have during the pandemic.
Watch the News LESS
This is important. If you’re constantly watching the news and scrolling through Reddit and other social media types, you can find yourself with all the fear-mongering public and just make yourself more panicked and anxious than needed. This will make your anxiety even worse. STOP checking the coronavirus map every hour, or reading the news every hour. Maybe check it ONCE a day but be careful with your sources. There are so many sites that just have clickbait titles with almost no information about the title itself!
Don’t Forget Your Self-Care
Just because there’s a lockdown in place doesn’t mean your mental health has to suffer! Open those windows to let in the fresh air and take vitamin d3 if you’re in a cloudy area. Open those windows and curtains to let the light in. I sat in the house for 2 weeks without opening the blinds and the difference in my moods was surprising! Sunlight can help with anxiety and make you feel better.
I should also mention baths! They are heavenly and one of the best things in the world. I love soaking in a bubble bath of super warm, almost too hot water. I light candles and put on an audiobook while relaxing and it just takes the stress and anxiety away. Bath bombs are some of the best things ever and I highly recommend them.
Connect with People SAFELY
You can still stay connected with friends and family. Have an online video chat or bring a chair to sit outside someone’s window and talk. This virus can spread if we’re too close together so it’s better to be safe than sorry. YOU might not get sick and die but you could be carrying it and passing it onto someone who COULD. That’s the worst part. You don’t want to change that.
Find New Ways to Have Fun
Drive-in Movies have come back where I’m at and I’m loving it! No one is near each other, we bring our own snacks and drinks and still get to be outside. There are TONS of ideas for home activities on Pinterest and other online sources that show fun ideas and things to do while at home.
Most of us anime fans are already pretty introverted(at least the ones I’ve met) and we’re totally okay with staying home and just watching anime all day. Nothing wrong with that! Find a new series to watch or rewatch old favorites. I’m currently introducing the hubby to Inuyasha since he’s never seen it and we’ve been binge-watching A Silent Voice, Your Lie in April and other make you cry anime movies.
Take a deep breath. Feel that pumping in your chest? It’s your heart. You’re still here. You still have a purpose.
I know it’s scary. Some of us have lost jobs or been furloughed and don’t know when we’ll get back to normal. Or even if we will. All we can do is take it day by day, hour by hour and do the best that we can. We here at MyAnimeGo are still here, we’re rooting for you and will keep updating as much as we can.
How has the pandemic affected you? What are you doing during this lockdown? Let us know in the comments below!
Let’s Play Webtoon has been a fan favorite for a while. It’s become so popular that there’s even becoming an anime. One thing that I love so much about this webtoon though, is that the creator chose to get real with mental health(a topic we all know that I’m passionate about).
(warning: this article contains mentions of mental health topics such as depression and mentions abuse)
If you haven’t already heard of it, Let’s Play webtoon is a featured Romance Webtoon created by Mongie. It updates every Tuesday. This let’s play webtoon is about a young woman named Sam Young whose dream is to become a game developer. Her dream was soon crushed when a popular “Viewtuber” reviewed her game and gave it a bad review, causing all his fans to spiral into a hatred of her. To make things worse, she soon discovers he is moving into the apartment next door.
Depression has a way of sucking the life out of you. It mentally and physically drains you – every bit of you; every bit that’s left of you. And when you try to pull yourself back, when you try to stand up, it has the power to pull and drag you back down.
Depression is the moment you wake up and open your eyes then realize that you are living a never-ending nightmare.
Depression is realizing that death no longer scares you. I know how difficult it is to go through this every single day. And there are days when you just want to curl up in bed and just hope that everything will be over.
And Sam had the right idea with this. You might have heard of it being called depersonalization
I’m slow to get started, I’m slow with getting things done. I have tried to explain to friends, partners, and family that I’m always in fright mode, and it takes nearly all my energy. I don’t think they believe it. Why would they, I have a comfortable life except that I have depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more. For the most part, I just feel empty.
It’s hard to explain to people why I feel chronically empty when I have so much to be grateful for.
But the fear is so much stronger. How am I supposed to go about my day, EVERY SINGLE DAY, and be a person? That’s one reason I loved reading this webcomic. It got real when it came to emotions and the realities that so many of us are failing in self-esteem/confidence.
Even with this blog, though I love it dearly, causes my anxiety to rise. Will it ever be enough to make a difference? Can my words and writing actually reach someone and help…
…Will I ever actually be enough?
This type of thinking follows me everywhere. It’s there when I wake up and lay in bed, trying to find the motivation to get out of bed. It’s there when I avoid the mirrors so I don’t have to see my reflection. When I go to my job that I can barely keep, already fighting the fight or flight response, avoiding people so they don’t get the chance to see.
Anytime I’m around people, especially strangers, I clam up. I somehow always manage to say the wrong things and come off wrong. With this new job I’ve come into, someone even let me know that they first thought I was snobby because I wouldn’t talk to them. They just didn’t know. It’s not that I wouldn’t, but I physically couldn’t.
I have a call center type of job and there are moments I have to take an extra break to go hide away in the bathroom and breathe. To escape. But the fear of not being accepted, of being rejected is stronger. So I keep quiet. I don’t look like them, with my sallow pale skin, my unmade up skin, my stringy hair. They all have tans with straight white teeth and are loud and make people laugh. I’m ugly and need to not be seen.
I know that most people would say that I would just need to build confidence, but I’ve been in this world a long time. There are moments (bipolar tendency, almost) where I feel like a princess and confident, but that shield is always broken and I come crashing back to reality. Why should I matter? Why should they care about me?
Than the depression sets in…Let’s Play Webtoon Actually Talks about this
The second main character for the let’s play webtoon, Marshall Law, has depression following him and only one person has noticed so far (Vicky). He games and it starts to fade but it’s obvious to the readers that he craves human connection and has major separation anxiety. I can understand this. My entire life, people have left. No family and my friends are online, at an arms reach. Though I’m happily married, I still struggle with the emotion that one day, he too might leave me once he realizes how much of a mistake I am. How broken and how I can’t be fixed.
I was abused as a child, a teen, and an adult. It made intimacy very difficult for me. My husband is my safe person and the only one I fully trust. I can’t let anyone get close enough to hurt me like that again. When it first happened, I spoke out, and nobody believed me. I learned quickly that silence was the key to survival. I just had to keep my mouth shut and I would be okay.
But I wasn’t okay. My identity quickly became lost in the image I was trying so hard to present to the world. I had to show the world the girl that I needed them to see, not who I was. I was a chameleon, my personality changing depending on who I was around. The depression was heavy, and the grief came in waves.
I was drowning and no one could tell.
Marshall games, and for me, I blog. This blog became a part of me, an easier escape than the reality that I was facing. Though it brings a LOT of stress at times, it also gives me hope. It keeps the depression at bay. That one day I can defeat it.
I’ll be the first to admit that I know I’m not okay. And guess what? It’s OKAY to not be okay. I’ve held on for this long, I might as well keep holding on. I do have things in life that keep me fighting. My husband and our furbaby, for one. This blog and all the wonderful people I’ve met through it. Webtoons (especially the let’s play webtoon) and the next chapter have kept me looking forward to something. And it’s no shame to admit that.
Have you already read the Let’s Play Webtoon? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below.
As always,
Keep Smiling!
P.S if ANY of ya’ll are struggling with mental health stuff, please reach out to someone you can trust. Heck, you can message YumDeku or me anytime. We’re here to help or at least let you know that you are not alone in this insane world.
Hey everyone, it’s the 11th OWLS tour for the year. Thank for following us through out the months reading and contributing your thoughts on our thoughts.
It’s been an amazing year, definitely a roller coaster both good and bad. And it’s coming to an end.
End of the year parties……..
We have been busy reorganizing the blog and getting everything better, hope you are liking our new look by the way but I saw the topic for this month and I just had to take time for this one. Plus it’s my birthday today so wanted to write a post for all of you and what better than an OWL post.
The topic we have been talking about this month is something we have all been through and it is “Failure“.
One of the best ways we can learn is through failure. This month we will be talking about the failures of our favorite characters in pop culture media and what we can learn from them. We will also reflect on our own mistakes and failures and how those experiences have allowed us to grow as human beings.
It’s something I personally have gone through a lot of especially in my earlier life. Failure is hard and painful, it can happen at any point as you aim for something you want.
For me, I think the hard part about failure is the doubt it gives you. The hopelessness that maybe you are just not good enough.
Instant failure just add water (how I use to feel)
Failure can define you, destroy you or strengthen you and for me, a character that goes through each of these is;
Subaru Natsuki
17-year-old Subaru Natsuki a shut-in and gamer. Whose transported to a fantasy world has he leaves a convenience store.
Where he meets the beautiful Emilia, whose in search of her stolen possession and saves him from some hoodlums. The two hit it off after that and to thank her, he decides to help her look for her missing possession.
During their search for it, they are murdered. Subaru Natsuki wakes up to the moment of being harassed by the hoodlums and Emilia saving him, realising he has the ability he calls “Returns By Death” -the ability to resurrect after death.
Meeting Emilia changes Subaru Natsuki from a guy who takes the easy way out of things to a loyal person who is always willing to help the people he cares about.
Helping the people he cares about sometimes forces him to take the path that’s not easy and filled with failure after failure. Some failures he’s able to reset sometimes while others he has to learn to live with no matter how hard. This really tests his resolve to always get back up no matter how many times he fails.
Comical way of showing the trial Subaru goes through
He learns that even if you are blessed with a magnificent power, sometimes you still need to put in a lot of hard work and sometimes even then it’s not about being a one-man army, you still need the support of others to try to avoid failure.
And even then failure might still happen but the work done in self-improvement is something failure can never take away. The fear of failure or failure it’s self is really what pushes us to be better than what we currently are. So maybe failure is not so bad.
He realizes no matter where you are, failure is a thing in any world even a fantasy world. As long as you aim for a dream – resolve, support and just realizing that failure is not necessarily a bad thing but a stage of growth, learning and humbleness are one of the things we must learn to have, as we work to make a dream reality.
I really feel the way Subaru acts in his earlier life before being transported to the fantasy world was a safety mechanism, I mean you can never fail if you never try at anything. Failure is a hard pill to swallow, most of us can end up choking on it sometimes.
Failure has friends and comes with a lot of emotions that make you really feel less than. But under all this, if we can look really close it’s also a learning stage a place for growth which Subaru eventually realizes and truly becoming Emilia’s knight.
When is the second season of Re:ZERO – Starting Life in Another World coming out you asked?
For all of us, that love Re:ZERO – Starting Life in Another World, the second season should start beginning of 2020 maybe debuting Winter 2020 season.
Thank you so much for reading, sticking around to the end of my ramblings and thoughts on failure. Leave comments I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic.
Be sure to read Lyn’s post on this topic. Also if you haven’t already check out Pinkie’s post Never a failure. Always a Lesson. You should. They are amazing bloggers who’s thoughts on the topic failure will be an interesting read.
When it comes to romantic relationships, what do we look for in a partner? What core values do we seek when it comes to building a healthy and loving relationship? For this topic, we will be discussing some of our favourite couples in pop culture and what they have taught us about love and relationships, the good and the bad.
Hello everyone, it’s been a while. This is our topic for the OWLS this month of September titled “Lover”. We all have our thoughts of what we want and look for in a partner or i.e lover, but I think there are some fundamental things we all look for, so I wanted to try to identify some of those traits. I had so many ideas for this topic but I really thought Mirai Nikki also know as The Future Diary was what really fit for this topic.
The Future Diary is an iconic show and cultural phenomenon, that I felt really popularized the “yandere” female character in anime. It explores human nature, how we relate and what drives us. And most especially to me puts a spotlight on relationships and the ups and downs that come with it.
Even though everything is cranked up to 11. The Future Diary is really unique to me because of its large cast and its ability to show us views from the perspective of each character, showing us everyone has a story to tell, “even the devil was once an angel” is the best way to describe it I think.
Yukiteru Amano and Yuno Gasai from Mirai Nikki are definitely not your average anime couple. I think Yuno describes them well with a quote she uses to describe herself;
A half-moon. A bright half and a dark half. Just like me. – Yuno Gasai
I just had to use this cause I thought they looked cute in this…
Yukiteru the bright half and Yuno the dark half, both not completely whole without the other. The show examines normal issues we all have even though it’s in a much darker tone, its in a subtle way, it has lessons to teach us about how a healthy relationship should be. Like;
Seeing the cracks
No one is completely perfect, so learning to accept and love the person despite their faults is part of the whole process of love. And it’s something I think we all have to learn.
Just like Yukiteru learns to with Yuno personality of being overprotective and Yuno with Yukiteru indecisiveness. They can both be seen as polar opposite in the way they reason and think but they learn to love each other.
Trust
Yuno might have an “interesting” way of showing her love for Yukiteru but no one can doubt her unwavering complete love to him. She trusts him, and that’s an important pillar for the foundation of any relationship.
Trust is the number one thing I think we all search for and value most. Which can be formed from a deeper understanding of knowing each other like the back of your own hand, knowing what the other can or can’t do.
Teamwork
Adapted from the Roman god Jupiter, who hates direct confrontation and his wife Juno who is warlike, Yukiteru and Yuno also make up for each others shortcomings. Working together during the survival game and showing how teamwork in a relationship is important.
Never a piece of cake
After getting together once, breaking up, being kidnapped by Yuno, and all the hurled they go through. He goes through a lot to save his Princess.
Somehow they both come through the fire that is their life stronger and all relationships go through this not as twisted as the plot of The Future Diary but all relationship have their hurdles.
Once in a while, it’s worth holding onto someone, even if it makes your arms hurt.
If you are still here thank you for sticking around to the end of my ramblings. Leave me a comment on your views, I would love to hear them. Till next time keep showing that special someone you really care.
Also hope you have read Lyn post over at lynlynsays with her own take on Lover and tomorrow you should definitely not miss Takuto’s OWLS post over at Takuto’s Anime Cafe.
So 6 anime that are similar to Dororo?, hello everyone. So you want to watch another anime with a moody dark tone about love, greed, revenge and betrayal.
Dororo was produced by Tezuka Productions and MAPPA, and is the brainchild of Osamu Tezuka- who is considered “the father of manga”. For creation of classics like Astro Boy.
And for those not familiar with Dororo yet;
Dororo is an anime that follows the story of Hyakkimaru, whose greedy and selfish father Kagemitsu Daigo, sacrifices his body to demons to gain power (yes he won’t be winning any father of the year awards). We Follow Hyakkimaru has he defeats demons to regain his body with a mischievous child Dororo. Now back to the main topic:
So with Dororo over, what can you use to fill that space, you asked and I answered;
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
Episodes 26| Aired April 2007 | Produced by Production I.G
Moribito is an anime series that like Dororo follows two strangers who meet by chance, Prince Chagum– the emperor’s son and whose also thought to be the reincarnation of a water demon that is causing drought to their empire, so therefore most be sacrificed. And Balsa– the kick butt heroine who saves the prince’s life during an assassination attempt and later begged by his mother to keep him safe.
The same themes are present as in Dororo from the emphasis on the beauty of life, nature, family and the bonds that can be fromed by two strangers who embark on this journey together.
Katanagatari
Episodes 12| Aired January 2010 | Produced by White Fox
Katanagatari is set in the edo period Japan, where the Shogunate and samurai are still very active and ruling. And there are many different sword-fighting techniques.
We follow Shichika Yasuri–a wielder of a sword technique that uses his own body as a blade. He is also the seventh head of the Kyotouryuu school, living quietly with his sister Nanami.
Until he meets ths strategist Togame, who he falls for. She has been sent by the Shogunate to retrieve 12 unique swords called “Deviant Blades”, he accept to help her on her mission because he likes her. So their dangerous adventure beings.
Katanagatari similarities to Dororo is in it historic setting and our two characters, Shichika and Togame whose continued association on their journey to retrieve the 12 swords, causes major developmental growth in both characters. Making them both better and more relatable.
Afro Samurai
Episodes 5| Aired May 2007 | Produced by Gonzo
Afro after witnessing the death of his father in a dual with a man named Justice for the Number One headband. Afro vows revenge against Justice who killed his father for the Number One headband.
But there is a catchy on his path to vengeance he has to possess the Number Two headband, if he wishes to fight the new Number One. And even after possessing the Number Two headband, he will have to fight pretty much everyone in the world people to get to the Number One. Because unlike the Number One, the Number Two can be challenged by anyone.
Afro Samurai to me is similar to Dororo in it’s setting of samurai and the moral lessons, it constantly resounds in us that “how far is too far?” on our path to revenge. Is revenge really done for what is lost to us? or really more for us to find a way to cope with our loss. Are we really hurting anyone but ourselves has we chase revenge? and What remains after, of us when we have carried out our revenge?
Samurai Champloo
Episodes 26| Aired May 2004 | Produced by Manglobe
Samurai Champloo follows three unlikely pair Fuu, Jin and Mugen. Brought together by chance but stuck together by choice or blackmail?, out of a debt to pay to Fuu after saving them from being executed.
They follow her on a wild adventure to different places in their search for the samurai that smells of sunflowers.
Samurai Champloo and Dororo are similar in the delight you will get in watching them on their journey, it really makes you feel like you are setting out on an adventure. Characters having both minor and major goals they wish to accomplish, which make them more relatable. Both animes have an historical setting and many interesting characters they meet along the way, also with their minor or major goals that make them very human like instead of just 2 dimensional characters.
Stranger: Mukou Hadan (Sword of the Stranger)
Episodes 1| Aired September 2007 | Produced by Bones
We follow the story of an orphan boy named Kotarou, his dog Tobimaru and Nanashi a ronin. Having a random encounter in a small temple, where they are attacked by assassins sent by the China’s Ming Dynasty to kill Kotarou but the two are saved by Nanashi.
After Kotarou offers Nanashi a gem in exchange for his continued protection and escort to their destination, he agrees and dangerous journey with many twists and turns begins.
Sword of the Stranger shares similarities to Dororo with it’s historical setting, main characters being similar in both series are young, orphaned and streetwise youth, with a strong and older brotherly figure. Growth for both character, happen also from having the other at their side. The duo feed of each others being, making them become more relatable characters.
Berserk
Episodes 49+Movies| Aired October 1997 | Produced by OLM / Millepensee, GEMBA
Berserk is an amazing story that is hard to know where to begin from explaining it, like Dororo it’s a story filled with love, loss, greed, betrayal, revenge and so much more, just with the story more gritty, darker and mature.
We meet Guts a mercenary with an horrible childhood, who finds some one he respects and trusts, only to be betrayed and have everything taken from him right in front of his eyes by the person he thought was a friend, in the most gruesome way possible.
So that’s my top 6 animes similar to Dororo, is there one you think should be on the list, leave it in the comment section below we are always glad to hear from our readers. Till next time continue to watch anime……
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