Goodnight Punpun
When you are a child, you feel like the main character in a movie. You live adventures based on your imagination and many of your challenges involve battles with the fiercest villains of the universe. The villains are often huge fire-breathing dragons or humanoids with special powers like teleportation, energy slingshots, or mimicry.
However, when you grow up and begin to see the world through adult eyes, these villains gradually disappear and transform. This time of transition from childhood to adulthood confronts you with situations in which you have to make important decisions about family, love, and friends.
All these themes are featured in the manga called Goodnight Punpun by Asano Inio. The protagonist starts to doubt his existence by asking one question that all of us try to answer at some point: What is life?
Punpun Onodera is an 11-year-old Japanese boy who lives in a dysfunctional family. All of its members are depicted as birds. At home he has to deal with the constant arguing of his parents, while at school he must face challenges such as making friends or falling in love for the first time. His romantic interest likes him back, so their relationship begins to blossom, but Punpun slowly realizes how difficult it can be to maintain it.
Questioning the values of love and friendship, Punpun begins to doubt the meaning of him being alive. Moreover, his parents separate, so he gets even more lost in life and his own thoughts. As Punpun matures and faces the hardships of everyday adult life, he loses touch with his friends from high school, but also makes some new ones. Nevertheless, his mind is overwhelmed by negative thoughts, making it hard for him to find the motivation to keep living.
The work created by Asano Inio has won the hearts of many, as it not only reflects the fears and anxieties that we all experience but also because it gives a voice to a generation that is unable to find its place in the world. The readers can easily connect with Punpun, who keeps overthinking and suffers from paranoia. The abstract yet realistic drawings additionally immerse you in the story. The artist includes drawings with objects and symbols from daily life, but also makes use of abstractions that attract your attention, like the depiction of God who appears and talks to Punpun in his times of need.
Every chapter gives you a chance for a different perspective. Life has its ups and downs, but overcoming the negative experiences makes you realize that happiness lies where you least expect it. Enjoying and appreciating love, family, and friendships is just the other side of the coin of life.
Written by Manuel Jose Flores Aguilar