#ajin review

[aliensupersyn]

An Ajin Manga Review: Discussing the Art

Part 1: Art Style in Relation to Storytelling

I entered this manga not knowing the first thing about it. I was scrolling through Manga4life after catching up on Hunter x Hunter and came across Ajin on the highest rated filter. I read through the comments and saw the praises for the story. I was collecting a number of different titles to read through and chose Ajin to begin my series of readings.

Why did I choose Ajin as a starter? What stood out to me about Ajin was its art. For many mangaka, the art begins somewhat immature and the artist hones their skills throughout the serialization. For example, there's a noticeable change in Tokyo Ghoul, Bleach, Naruto, HxH, etc. Ajin began with a recognizably polished art style thanks to Gamon Sakurai. The lines were confident and the scenes were already challenging in a way a veteran artist might be expected to execute. I was grabbed immediately!

These two pages are both from the first chapter. Note the details on the folds of clothes, the sneakers, the officer's ear, and his uniform even. I have not come across many manga who's art begins with dramatic detail in the most mundane things such as clothing, at least not in such a way. I'm reminded of how in sports manga, the mangakas take a lot of time to detail a player's shoes, because those have importance to the sport itself.

To clarify, Ajin still went through a maturity in its art. Obviously, there was a change when the original writer Tsuina Miura left. With Sakurai having more control over the story, it's clear his change in story affected the characters and art style as well. For example, Kei Nagai goes from a rounder more doe-like appearance to sharper and straighter lines. His original design fit alongside his character portrayal as an innocent kid unfit for the severity of the story's premise; Kei was perhaps meant to be pitied in the original story.

After Sakurai became the writer, Kei changed into an untrustworthy character who could shift personalities, utilizing both the younger look of the first volume, and the more confident and mature appearance Sakurai had created. Sakurai says that after volume 1, he "tried to move the art gradually closer to [his] own style" (ch.83, pg. 82). I recognize Kei's purposeful tonal changes as a creative method to transition the manga into Sakurai's own style and design changes that he had decided for the story.

Below, this series of pages illustrate first the differences between Kei in volume one and two. Then, the ways Sakurai uses both the softer and sharper designs to convey a transition of his character.

Finally, in chapter seventeen, page seven, Sakurai commits to the shift and reveals this new design and characterization to be the "real" Kei all along. Nakano comes to the same realization as the reader.

Sakurai used Kei's earlier more pitiful appearance to show Kei's softer mask that he wore to hide his true, more cold and calculative nature. After the moment between Nakano and Kei, the later design remains more consistent and total. Personally, I enjoy the later design more than the first and what it implied for the story. Along with a change in Kei's character was a change to the story's tone as well. Sato became more devious, and so did Kei. These character changes, in a way, foreshadowed the extremes in which the plot would take as well.

Though, still I would have enjoyed the closer relationship that was foreshadowed for Kei and Kai. I mean, look at these pages and tell me you don't see a budding homoerotic romance on the rise!

To round out my thoughts, I enjoyed the first premise, but overall enjoyed the second premise even more. In the next review, I'll dissect Sato's character and how he was handled from an authorial point of view. I just needed to discuss the art style change and what it implied for the story, especially Kei, as he plays an important role for the overall tone of the story.

[kostektyw]

im bored so here's some of my favorite anime soundtracks + a favorite song from them

Parasyte: The Maxim OST – Ken Arai Favorite track: I AM (not an easy choice tho, bc there's so many bangers on that soundtrack... except bliss and next to you, theyre overrated)

Hellsing OST – Yasushi Ishii Favorite track: Gypsy of Atonement (also not an easy choice, put both these albums on shuffle and i can listen to it the whole days)

Ajin OST – Yugo Kanno Favorite track: Hunted down

Mushishi OST – Toshio Masuda Favorite track: Shinen

Monogatari Series OST – Satoru Kousaki Favorite track: Kizuna

[deltastra]

Ajin: Demi-Human (Manga) Review

The manga follows the story of Nagai Kei, a highschooler, that comes back to life after dying from being hit by a truck. Through this, he discovered that he's an Ajin, a demi-human incapable of dying. Throughout the story, Nagai Kei will have to evade being captured by the authorities, as well as take down an Ajin terrorist called Satō.

Ajin: Demi-Human dances a fine line between its supernatural and realistic aspects, and yet, the story perfectly balances both. It provides an almost realistic portrayal of what it would be like to have beings that cannot die roam around the earth today. The characters also have their fair share of issues that many may even find relatable.

Gamon Sakurai's art greatly developed throughout the story and it is spectacular, but his art shines the most when depicting expressions. It feels like watching a movie with how expressive the characters look.

Unfortunately, due to the story's focus on the antagonist, many promising characters felt like wasted potential. The whole manga felt rushed near the end because of this.

Regardless of its flaws, Ajin: Demi-Human still delivers the message it intended to deliver. Despite the violence and serious moments, at its core, the story is about having empathy for others. Highly recommended!

I take my life seriously.

[originaljiraiyan]

Kagurabachi Chapter 2 Review: Unbreakable Bonds and Unquenchable Thirst for Revenge

Shiba unties the victim, then he and Chihiro questioned the Yakuza boss about the Hishaku. Apparently, they first emerged four years prior and they engage in “small scale witchcraft.” When the Yakuza boss tries to tell Chihiro what he knows about the Hishaku his head and body explode after branches rip through him. Shiba uses some kind of spell to avoid harm, while saving the victim once…

[origami10]

I posted 14,168 times in 2022

That's 3,862 more posts than 2021!

294 posts created (2%)

13,874 posts reblogged (98%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@tenorswift

@maximum-ride

@ssunshin3

@peasantpizza

@huginsmemory

I tagged 12,873 of my posts in 2022

Only 9% of my posts had no tags

#? - 535 posts

#art - 333 posts

#tumblr - 285 posts

#wow - 273 posts

#memes - 249 posts

#cats - 242 posts

#things - 232 posts

#ajin - 221 posts

#watch - 217 posts

#dad - 211 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#or we’ll get posts that have the cumulation of everyone’s tags that have previously reblogged it because people don’t want to bother deletin

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

See the full post

81 notes - Posted May 23, 2022

#4

I’m sure this has been done but

84 notes - Posted July 7, 2022

#3

impossible to predict what’s gonna be a meme someday

97 notes - Posted September 5, 2022

#2

See the full post

108 notes - Posted May 23, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

322 notes - Posted March 17, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[mytastessuck]

Fonzi M: Yoru Wa Nemureru Kai

I have, however, both read and seen Ajin in its entirety and if there's a hole in your life for supernatural action political thrillers with sympathetic scum as the leads, you're missing out by not reading/watching it. The opening is dark but keeps a poppy beat, preparing you for the just bleak enough nature of the setting. Also, gaspy singing. Very good.

Song Score: 12/10

[i-read-shitty-comics]

Ajin

Genres:

Action, Supernatural, Thriller

Content Warnings:

Gore, self-harm, suicide

Average Rating: 7.97

Synopsis:

Seventeen years ago, mysterious immortal soldiers known as "divine warriors" appeared on the battlefields of Africa. These life forms later became known as "Ajin," or demi-humans, and were considered to be one of the greatest discoveries of mankind. The government declared their existence to be compatible with humans; however, it is rumored that they instead offer bounties for captured Ajin to secretly perform inhumane experiments on these rare beings.

Kei Nagai, an apathetic high school student, is studying to become a doctor and only wishes to live a normal life. However, this simple dream is shattered after he suddenly gets into a deadly traffic accident. Reviving at the scene, he is immediately labeled as an Ajin by bounty-hungry witnesses. Unable to understand his immortality or prove his innocence, he starts to live his life on the run and fights for survival. He barely escapes the government's reach when a group of anarchistic Ajin contacts Kei, asking him to join their forces to retaliate against the government. But who is Kei's real enemy, and which side will he take when it comes down to humans versus Ajin?

My Rating: 7

My Opinion:

Is this a deep and thought provoking story about immortality? No.

Is it a really damn fun popcorn read with some clever uses of the immortality gimmick? Absolutely.

I’m usually not one for action stories. It is just not really my thing and I often get bored by it really quickly. Ajin however does a really good job of making you enjoy the action scenes even if you aren’t a big action fan. Reading the manga feels so fluid as if you were watching a movie, thanks to the really well done paneling and layout of the pages. 

I’d actually highly recommend that you read it physically if that is something you can afford and are interested in. That is how I read most of it and the few times I read it digitally the paneling didn’t have quite the same effect as when you read it physically.

The action also never outstayed its welcome and has a good amount of breathing moments in between that don’t last too long either.

The characters are also pretty fun and serve their role in the narrative pretty well, even if they aren’t the most interesting characters ever.

Recommended to:

People who want a fun, easily digestible, quickly paced popcorn read that keeps them engaged in the action. If you are a big fan of action in general, go for Ajin. An action hater like me liking it should be enough of a rec to those who actually do like action and gore.

[ravens-recs]

Ajin: Demi-Human

Alt: Ajin

Art: 7/10 Story: 9/10 Characters: 8/10

Genres: action, fantasy.

Ajin follows Nagai Kei, a regular human who discovers he’s an “Ajin” after surviving a fatal accident. This causes a host of issues, as he’s hunted down to be experimented on due to the fantasy-like abilities Ajin possess.

I really liked this manga. I started it twice, because on my first read I gave it up as a cliché action survival manga, but I’m glad I went back to it because it ended up being so much more than that. While it does have a lot of action survival, the true beauty of Ajin lies in the clash between Kei and the main villain, Satou, as they’re both strategists that play well off each other. The mind games in this manga are brilliant and the plot twists had me on the edge of my seat more often than not. For fans of Death Note, I think Ajin would be right up your alley.

It’s also one of those mangas where the art improves as you read. As of the time it ended i would have rated it a solid 8.

Similar manga:

Can You Just Die, My Darling? (Alt title: Konya wa Tsuki ga Kirei desu ga, Toriaezu Shine)

[the-gaping-wound-of-christ]

this is a bit of deviantart journal esque post but its just for me, its smth id like to keep track of on my eventual geocities so ill write it down here so i cant forget !!

2022 in review favourite show watched: fairy ranmaru favourite manga read: dungeon meshi favourite game played: fate extra (maybe i should take note of everything ive done though in general......)

the plan for 2023: anime: code geass (rewatch) (on it with my friend already ^__^), death note (this one is long overdue for a rewatch!!!), card captor sakura and hellsing (already doing this with friends <3), mob psycho 100 season 2 and 3, KYOUSOGIGA IS STILL ON MY LIST.... manga: hellsing, kamikaze kaitou jeanne, ajin (again) (maybe), bleach, one piece (thin smile) real books: i need to finish howls moving castle, and theres a book about jeanne darc id like to borrow from my friend, paradise lost, jennette mccurdys memoir visual novels: tsukihime, i never got to finish it and lost my save so id really like to get back to it video games: baroque if i can acquire it, i need to finish soul reaver and fate extra..... oh, death mark is high up on the list because chip will kill me if i dont play it

i know im forgetting some stuff but this concludes the list for now...

[aliensupersyn]

An Ajin Manga Review: Sato Was Never Defeated

Gamon Sakurai's weakest point in writing Ajin was that Sato was never defeated by Kei, but instead gave up in the end. Sakurai explains Sato as one who allows his sense of entertainment to lead his life. Sakurai demonstrates Sato's need for a stimulating challenge in chapter thirty when he endangers his extremely important rescue mission for the sake of fun.

He endangers all of his teammates as well as the rescued prisoner. The stakes that Sakurai has set here, which include multiple lives and Sato's career, encompass the sacrifices Sato will make to entertain himself. As a person, he will readily enter the most dangerous fires if it means he will have fun. Sakurai reiterates my observations with the final pages of chapter thirty, when Sato's dad reprimands him and tells him that life should not be treated as a game, or something trivial and taken lightly.

Sato's nature, to see life as a game, and his use of his own and others' to violently entertain himself, leads his motivations throughout the story. I argue that Sato only used the Demi-Human crisis as a conduit for his bloodlust. While such a point seems obvious on the surface, I mean to expel any possibility that he cares even a small bit for Demi-Humans and the growing violence against them. Sato, as a villain, has only one role to play within Ajin: to be the foil of Kei Nagai. Foil here means that both Sato and Kei lack empathy for other people, but they both presents this trait in different ways. Often times, foils are opposite of one another. The narrative focuses around Sakurai's exploration of a moral battle about human empathy. He uses the DH crises as a backdrop of the moral battle occurring between the two. Therefore, I argue that Sakurai uses Sato and Kei Nagai to demonstrate how human rights crises can often be used as covers for battles between powerful individuals' egos.

Throughout the narrative, Sakurai places the general public and the government's focus directly on the Demi-Human humanitarian crisis in Japan. Journalists and political activists argue about the violent extent of anti-DH laws. In online forums, regular people react to the news and viral videos about DHs; some joke, but most refute the idea that DHs face any sort of violence while within government custody. Actual government officials take Sato at face value and argue to ignore Sato's demands and focus on continuing their cruel behavior. The government then aims to more harshly punish and violate DHs in reaction to Sato's crimes and demands.

Through pages such as the ones provided, Sakurai demonstrates that Sato nor Kei act as the government and public's main concerns. Instead, Sato nearly single-handedly fuels Japan's arguments and attitudes about the DHs. Sato's claims of the government torturing DHs, his terrorist attacks, and his online uploads only inspire Japan to focus on DHs, not himself, as a subject of discussion. The discourse hinges on the questions: what does Japan do about the DHs?; are they allowed to live fulfilling lives?; should the government more viciously hunt DHs down? Sakurai depicts a Japan that says yes. The DH Control Bill represents an oppressive government's readiness to punish all those who they feel do not belong in their society. Sakurai also heavily criticizes governments' ties to corporations and the greed that prospers between these institutions. While the government denies that DHs were ever tortured, they also expeditiously pass laws that punish any and all DHs in reaction to one person's terrorism.

Despite his blatant commentary on the ways a society can trample on the human rights of oppressed groups, Sakurai focuses Ajin's narrative on Sato and Kei more than anything. All the details expressed above occur in the background of the narrative.

Japan denies that a DH human rights violation has occurred, while simultaneously denying DHs humanism. Throughout the narrative, the government takes egregious actions against DHs. Sakurai rarely shows any DHs beyond the main cast that suffer from these laws. Kei’s death in the first volume and Izumi’s backstory does show the reader the public’s general knowledge that DHs can be turned in for a ransom. Yet, beyond Izumi and Kei, Sakurai does not depict any other DHs fleeing or suffering from the violent laws being passed in the background of the narrative.

Sakurai has no need to show any background stories of DHs suffering. The story focuses on the battle between Sato and Kei most of all. Each story arc revolves around conflict between Sato and Kei. Every other character involved may be seen as simply being collateral damage in the battle between the two of them. Sakurai does not need to depict any other DHs suffering from the aggressive and violent laws made to oppress them, because that's not the point. Sakurai purposely depicts a society caught in the midst of an ego battle between two people. Chapter thirty-one begins with a neat illustration of my argument. The DH rights crisis appears in the literal middle of illustrations of Kei and Sato's battle of egos.

Sato's terrorist attacks act as nothing more than extensions of his own ego. As argued above, Sato does not care even a little about DH rights. He uses the DH humanitarian issue as a catalyst to fuel his need for bloody entertainment. Sakurai overtly depicts Sato as a character with no regard to the importance of life at any capacity.

Sato's bloodthirst and role as an aggravator for a humanitarian crises sets him up to be a morally bankrupt symbol of militaristic power. He pretends to act in the interest of an oppressed minority group while actually only satisfying his bloodlust. Sato's defeat therefore represents a victory in favor of the defense of life and its importance. Also, an expulsion of false actors in the fight for oppressed peoples' freedom from oppressive governments. More on the implications of Sakurai's ending later.

Sakurai uses Kei to depict his idea of what a struggle between an emotional and purely "rational/logical" perspective of the world looks like. I place rational and logical in quotations because even in-narrative, this terms takes on different meanings. At one point, a rational decision means acting in one's most favorable odds of success. In another moment, Kei breaks this rule and declares it to mean acting in a way to gain more favorable odds for one's goals. Instead, I will refer to the "logical" side of Kei as lacking empathy, because that's what Kei's attitude actually demonstrates.

Kei wants to be cold and distant. He feels life would be easier if he could be aloof and above any emotional issues that naturally occur in relationships with other people. He pretends to be above emotional responses to other's pain. In a way, Nakano acts as Kei's foil just as much as Sato. If Sato represents Kei's inability to completely detach himself from his natural empathy, Nakano represents Kei's inability to fully tap into his those feelings. While Kei lacks empathy, he does not see life as a game like Sato does. Kei still believes in an inherent value in life or being alive. Kei still goes out of his way to help others, even when it inconveniences him and his plans. For example, Kei returns to save the grandma who he stayed with, even though he was ready to escape with Nakano and leave the countryside behind. He refuses to explain his actions to Nakano, or even show himself to the grandma, revealing the selfness nature that he shares with Nakano.

Nakano consistently commits to selfless acts in the name of simply helping people. He expects nothing in return for his deeds, nor does he ever express a desire to be seen as a hero. Nakano cries for the sake of the others who have died, and who will die, declaring that he will always give his life to those who need him, no matter what.

Nakano represents Sakurai's idea of an extreme empathy for other people. He seriously considered Sato's proposal to improve the lives of other DHs, and once that was proven false, he committed himself to stopping Sato's terrorism, exemplifying his highly empathetic nature for other humans. Kei rests at the center of extremes that Sato and Nakano represent. Sakurai uses Kei's mother to demonstrate Kei's personal conflict between a cold demeaner and empathetic reasonings. In the second panel in page twenty-eight, Kei's mother even directly rebuffs Nakano's desire to care for everyone. Sakurai purposely places Kei in the middle of Sato and Nakano's empathetic extremes.

Instead of focusing on Kei as Sakurai's exploration of a balanced moral code, I want to shift focus back to Sato's end. I have thus far agued that Sato never cared about any other DH while he committed terrorist attacks. To reiterate my argument, I have shown evidence that Sakurai's depiction of the DH humanitarian issue plays a background role, while Ajin's narrative instead focuses on the battle between Sato and Kei. Sato's attacks only end on one condition: once he gets bored. He does not complete the hit list because he gets bored of it, same with the suicide plane attacks in the last arc. His motivations center around his need for violent entertainment, which Kei's challenges stimulate. In the end, when Sato is stopped, it's only after he's done doing everything he wants. Essentially, Sato does not lose, he simply satisfies himself. He reaches game over of his terrorist attack speedrun.

Sato's self-inflicted game over does not meet the stakes Sakurai set for Sato as a villain. As I argued above, Sato's defeat represented a victory in favor of the defense of life, and an expulsion of false actors in the fight for oppressed minorities against oppressive governments.

Given that Sato represents the worst of humanity, a powerful being with zero empathy for others, I find it distasteful for him to be allowed to commit egregious acts of terrorism on a whim and hardly suffer any consequences. Sato's unconscious body only receives an indefinite prison sentence. Because Kei simply knocked him out, Sakurai alleviates Sato of having to directly face any moral judgements from other characters. The rest of the cast do not get to voice their grievances directly to him. Honestly, it's not like he would care one way or another anyway. Sato reads to me as a power fantasy character. Not to say that he's Sakurai's power fantasy, or a projection. Just that he fits the model of one (extremely capable and undefeatable). Sato doesn't care about laws or consequences of his actions, and instead solely cares about his own entertainment. Not his own well-being, or anyone else's.

Sato allowed Kei to rush him into the river and possibly knock him unconscious. In the end, it was his decision to be caught. He was never defeated. He simply gave Kei the chance to win on the foundation of a desperate wager.

What does it mean for Sakurai to create a story in which the morally bankrupt type of human never loses? Ajin depicts a small group of humans attempting to save Japan from a crazed terrorist desperate to make the entire country his bloody playground. Sato spits in the face of people who genuinely care about the DH crises around the world. Sakurai criticizes Japanese media and government as immoral and corrupt institutions throughout the entire story. Finally, he depicts their violent murders at Sato's hands.

I do not have any extreme take to attach Sato's non-defeat too, and I won't make any wild arguments about Sakurai's politics considering the unserious and exaggerated tone of Ajin. But I will say that as a reader, Sato's non-defeat weakened the story for me. Sato's ending weakens every other character's, especially Kei's. They appear to me as people who luckily maintained some semblance of dignity instead of triumphant warriors who took down a morally bankrupt mastermind who unnecessarily endangered a minority group of humans.

I enjoyed Ajin, but I would not read it again. I personally do not find enjoyment rooting for Sato, but instead against him. When the stakes for his death were so thoroughly raised, Sakurai's decision for Sato to never actually be defeated spoiled those expectations I had for a narrative about the importance of human empathy.

Officially, I give Ajin a 6/10. Hope you enjoyed reading!

[kostektyw]

two things i appreciate the most about ajin anime:

absolute banger of a soundtrack

the delightful way they animated body language

[arataka-reigen]

I must know what mangas you're looking at the reviews for because just by your comments it's still a guessing game. (Which is sad how many times these things have happened but also incredibly funny to watch as an outside party.)

Some of them were: Ajin, Shokugeki no Soma, Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii

And the one where the author was arrested is Act Age

[unqompleted]

I posted 284 times in 2022

That's 284 more posts than 2021!

109 posts created (38%)

175 posts reblogged (62%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@fanficmemes

@dear-ao3

@manga-and-stuff

@unqompleted (LMAO)

@cashmoneychiyo

I tagged 278 of my posts in 2022

Only 2% of my posts had no tags

#chainsaw man - 59 posts (ayyy)

#personal - 48 posts (shsdhsh i rant a lot am i)

#thoughts - 25 posts

#ajin - 23 posts

#natsuyuu - 21 posts

#spy x family - 9 posts

#hikaru ga shinda natsu - 9 posts

#chainsaw man spoiler - 9 posts

#lmao - 7 posts

#natsume yuujinchou - 6 posts

Longest Tag: 136 characters

#oh also my sister's cats are gremlin 😭 i don't hate cats but i think it would be more peaceful at home if we didnt have. like. six cats

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

yoshiden tag on twitter is......... wow.

23 notes - Posted November 6, 2022

#4

hikaru ga shinda natsu will get an official english translation omggggggg hgsn enjoyer lets goooo

24 notes - Posted August 13, 2022

#3

my review on hirano to kagiura ch 16c and 17:

JUST FUCKING GET TOGETHER YOU TWO ASDDFHNF PLEASE

also my fav panel:

25 notes - Posted September 20, 2022

#2

yes i want yoshiki to be happy

no i don't want hgsn to have a happy ending

46 notes - Posted June 16, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Loid with au writer energy:

76 notes - Posted October 3, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[tinylasagna]

Anime Review

Ajin begins with Kei Nagai, a normal boy in high school, that after a serious accident finds out that he’s an Ajin (mysterious immortal humans), changing his life completely.

The story of Ajin, is a dark and interesting story that explores the evil side of humans. The story can keep the consistence, showing the main message from beginning until the end and where every episode expands more on the story, while focusing on the most important elements.

Despite Kei Nagai being the main character, Satou, the antagonist, becomes the most important character in the story by making himself the villain of every ordinal human and some ajins who didn’t side with him, like Nagai.

The animation was good and different than usual, using 3D technology. The adaptation was from a manhwa explaining the difference in other action animes.

The voice actors performed their roles very well, particularly the Satou’s voice that was excellent, sounding like a sadist with a sarcastic personality. The IBM (Invisible Black Matter) voices were also top-notch.

Overall, Ajin it’s a good horror story, that keep us attracted to the story from beginning.

Animation: 8

Voice actors: 9

Soundtrack: 8

Overall: 8  

Genres: Action, Mystery, Horror, Supernatural, Seinen

[everythingyaattlls]

Action Manga Reviews!

Want to start some new manga series? Check out Dabney’s action manga recommendations: My Hero Academia, Deadman Wonderland, Tokyo Ghoul, Ajin, All You Need is Kill, and Darker Than Black