Anime and manga are unique mediums of storytelling, offering uplifting stories of triumph, invigorating action or epic adventures. with which one learns important life lessons. Many of these stories have gained massive amounts of popularity and critical acclaim, eventually becoming household names around the world. And as we fans progress through our lives, so many of our favorite characters and stories stay close, reminding us of the positive lessons we’ve learned. Inyo Asano S Goodnight Punpun is not one of the stories.
This is not to say that the story of Punpun Onodera is none of these things. actually, Goodnight Punpun is one of those The most popular and critically acclaimed cine manga series To have ever been released, received nominations for several awards worldwide. Author Inio Asano has recently adapted another of his works into an anime, which may bring more curious eyes Goodnight Punpun But potential readers must be warned. Lessons are taught in its pages, but they are not uplifting or empowering.
I went into the series with very limited knowledge of its events, expecting an emotional, moving story that would leave me with a bittersweet sadness, like so many of my favorite series. But Punpun Only destruction and despair offered in its pages, and when I finished it, I hated it. Over time, however, I found the events of the story constantly penetrating my psyche, and before long, It was all I could think about. Goodnight Punpun Taught me lessons I never wanted to learn.
Goodnight Punpun is a story of innocent lost
Punpun’s childhood trauma shapes him into adulthood
One of the most common traps in manga and anime is the tragic backstory. So often a character will experience some sort of traumatic event in their childhood, which instills important core values and beliefs that Act as pillars of the protagonist’s characterization. Whatever hardships suffered will act as fuel to the character’s main goal, pushing them forward while leaving their mark on whomever they come into contact with.
These characters are often inspirational, ideal heroes. Goodnight PunpunHowever, his main character does not provide any rescue. There is no great power to strive for, no shoulders of friends to stand on. instead, Goodnight Punpun Offers only a Cold, unrelenting, realistic vision of the world we live in. A poignant section that still haunts me today is when Punpun and a childhood friend got lost, playing as children do. What should have been a fun, innocent memory was painted with distress when the friend was hit by a car.
Coming-of-age stories often play on the nostalgia of their readers. As we watch our favorite characters grow up, we are reminded of our own formative years, the memories we made and the people who shaped us. Punpun Is like a nostalgia trip for all the negative experiences of childhood. Instead of warm memories of the past, I was met only with events that once made me sad. Unfortunately, tragedy isn’t always a springboard for success, and Punpun’s story shines a bright light on the nasty effects of childhood trauma.
Punpun is a warning against falling into cycles of abuse
The Onodera family has a habit of trading scars
What really blindsided me during my reading was just how horrible everyone in the titular character’s life was over Goodnight PunpunEventually including Punpun himself. His home life is a wreck; His mother is abusive, his father is absent, and his uncle is constantly trying, but failing to get out of his way. Every person in the Onodera household is Both a victim of abuse, and a bully himself.
Author Inio Asano walks a very thin line Goodnight PunpunPainting his characters as monsters who are able to make others’ lives a living hell, while trying to make us, the audience, empathize with them. It’s hard to see this dysfunctional family consistently tear each other apart, only to turn the page and find the same people experiencing some of the absolute worst that life has to offer. Each of them faces their own unspeakable trauma, And then turns around and passes it to the next person.
Punpun’s father abandons his family, and so his mother often takes out her frustration on Punpun. His uncle is tired, and passes his warped worldview to Punpun when he is still much too young to understand it. His uncle’s girlfriend is distraught when he disappears out of the blue, and she proceeds to abuse Punpun in unspeakable ways. Trauma, when not dealt with healthily, manifests itself in dire ways, and The Onodera’s household was built on his habit of trading scars.
Punpun’s story is worth reading, despite how difficult it can be to get through
When I finally crossed the finish line of Goodnight PunpunI was exhausted and to be honest, also a little upset. I have nothing more than to put the last book on the shelf and forget all about it. I’ve always wondered why a story that serves little purpose other than to torture its own characters is so famous. Goodnight Punpun It’s ugly, and I hate it, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.
There are lessons to be learned Punpuns leavesHow dark and heavy they may be. Life isn’t always a pretty battle series or a rosy rom-com, sometimes it’s really hard. And though Goodnight Punpun Taking the difficulties of life to an extreme, the story is not so unrealistic, with the strange, semi-supernatural cult storyline. This story reminded me that dangers exist all around, and if we are not careful, it can be easy to fall into the many terrible decisions seen in Goodnight Punpun.
With a heavy content warning attached, I’ve finally come around to thinking this series is worth a read. Stories like these exist largely to remind their readers not to become anything like their characters, and Inio Asano is able to convey this masterfully while forcing some sympathy from his audience. Goodnight Punpun It may not be an enjoyable read in any sense, but it is one that is sure to stick with audiences in the same way it has for me, and for a long time at that.