MONSTER｜Anime

2022.11.04

MONSTER is a suspense manga series set in Germany and the Czech Republic by manga artist Naoki Urasawa, serialised from 1994 to 2001. The manga is in 18 volumes.
In 1997, it won the Excellence Award in the Manga Division of the 1st Japan Media Arts Festival; in 1999, it won the 3rd Osamu Tezuka Cultural Award Manga Grand Prize; in 2000, it won the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in the general youth category; from spring 2004, an animation series was broadcast. It is a masterpiece of Japanese TV animation that has set a milestone in the world of comics and has been called ‘the greatest work of mystery’.
Directed by Masayuki Kojima, character design and chief animation director is Shigeru Fujita, and series composition is by Tatsuhiko Urahata. The series is produced by a staff representing Japan.

Synopsis

In 1986, Kenzo Tenma, a genius Japanese neurosurgeon working at a German hospital, was on the verge of a career path that would eventually see him rise from chief of surgery to director of the hospital. Although he felt a vague dilemma as a doctor, he was performing surgeries and devoting himself to research without thinking too much about it.
One day, he operated on one of his twins, Johan Liebert, who was mortally wounded, saving his life.
Nine years later, Kenzo Tenma’s favourable situation changes and he falls down the career ladder due to the political dynamics within the hospital. In the meantime, the murders of the hospital director, the chief of surgery and others occur. Tenma is wanted by the police as a serial killer, but the culprit is Johan Liebert, a man with a terrifying monster in his heart.
Kenzo Tenma tracks Johan Liebert while on the run in Germany and evading the police.

MONSTER | Recommendations

The anime version of MONSTER is faithfully and carefully drawn from the original manga, and although it is a long anime with 74 episodes, it can be summed up in one word: a “mystery epic”.
Those who enjoy mystery, suspense and human drama will find it a highly satisfying and immersive experience. It is probably rare to find an anime that allows you to become so emotionally involved in each and every character’s situation.
The quality is very high throughout the story, the way of life of the various characters is fascinating, and the historical background and message included must be called monstrous.
As the title MONSTER suggests, the story follows an enemy who commits inhuman crimes, and the mysterious charm and mystery of this enemy makes it an anime that you cannot stop watching.