Gokicha is trying to find her way in the world, but the world itself is against her.
She politely and gently clings to hope, while food and compassion always seem out of reach.
When humankind repeats its cycles of fear, hate and violence, it's the kinder souls like Gokicha who suffer the most.
Chaba, on the other hand, chooses to indulge in the chaos, and finds thrills in risk and danger. This feels like a coping mechanism.
Many choose to 'live fast and die young' when trapped in an environment that has been cruel to them.
This series explores hardship and tragedy, and forces the viewer to confront their own
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Jan 28, 2025
Shimeji Simulation
(Manga)
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Hidamari Sketch on mushrooms (on head).
It's cozy, silly and surreal. There's also an ominous atmosphere, like something bigger is happening, something special and strange. I love that feeling, especially when told in Tsukumizu's style of depression-infused optimism. The low-effort panels are charming and great, and the high-effort panels are so wild and creative that it's worth buying the Japanese manga volumes to appreciate the artwork, even if you can't read it (like I did). The odd moments we spend in the town of West Yomogi would be worth reading 49 chapters on their own, but there's an actual story as well, and it's so good. There's a big ... 
Dec 7, 2024
A fleeting 3-volume series, charming and occasionally profound.
The manga presents short, touching character vignettes that slowly lead us to a bigger concluding thread. Death, human purpose and loneliness are in focus, but it's a soft focus. I love the art style and want to own the physical volumes. The mangaka has a lovely way of stripping away the text during important emotional moments, letting a few beautiful panels convey a specific feeling or message. There's an effort to deepen the setting, but the world remains a little vague throughout. It's a beautiful and tasteful manga, maybe too tasteful? There was an opportunity to push the darker, edgier aspects of this ... |