Manga 104894 25-ji No Vacances

I really think this author has mastered the short story format. This collection has similar themes to Mushi to Uta with a more explicitly optimistic tone. The stories hold together well without sacrificing their individual charms, making for an engaging, thought-provoking collection. I feel that the order also suits this well, with the first story’s scientific fascination with the Other setting the stage for the later stories as well as the back half of its own.

The plots focus largely around the relationships between characters and their finding roles within a larger world. The author regards the characters with an almost scientific distance, allowing them ... to reveal themselves as the story progresses. I think the diversity of characters is a strength of this manga, though the author certainly has some recurring types.

The blend of fantasy and realism works well with the simplistic art style. The art is nothing special but does a good job of playing up the themes. Some panels are difficult to parse, but it typically suits the story when that is the case. The “weirdness” also helps to set these stories apart from the basic short story, while still working within that format. None of these stories would work well in long form, because the ephemerality is the point they make. You encounter this new world, study it for a bit, discover what makes it special, and then it’s gone.

Science Fiction in manga never disappoints. These 3 short stories masterfully build in a few 50 pages each, a slightly different world, complex characters, and a narrative scheme that includes a dramatic change in perspective. The author, most know for Houseki no Kuni, develop short stories with their absolutely personal way to combine storyline, character development, mystery and powerful visuals. No one else could have created it. This is what fascinates me about art: something absolutely personnal. But I digress.

The thing I will admire more than anything, is the way that the author leads the story. First, the characters are established. Nothing is simple about ... them, we perceive that there are things we do not know. Then, as we get to a conversation that delves deeper, a dramatic element is shown. The mood stays contemplative and introspective, but the tension developed and the visuals create a shock. Once, I could feel the violence of the situation, of the conflicting feelings.

The science fiction is good too. It focuses on one specific element, and develops it well. Above all, the element is not just thrown to the reader for exoticism, but is perfectly integrated into the character development.

The art has to be mentioned. After all, without art, manga loses its most powerful medium. Here, the way the drawing has simple shapes and plays well with the balances of black and white delivers very well the feeling of the characters. For instance, the last page of the first story, 25-ji no Vacances.

For those reasons, it is a solid 9 for me.