Anonymous
There is a special organization known as "anonymous" which takes children and raises them without names, without feelings, without souls. Then it sends them out to kill. Can emotions get through to these cold-hearted killers?
Author and Artist: Imamura Yoko | Volumes: 1 volume | Year: 2006
Genre: Action, Mystery, Psychological | Demographics: Shoujo
Original Publisher: ASCII Media Works | Serialized in: Sylph
[ OVERALL IMPRESSIONS ]
Anonymous is an impressive collection of stories involving assassins belonging to a special organization. Being nameless and supposedly emotionless, the characters face identity conflicts. It also deals about humanity: on how the characters struggle to keep the humanity that's left in them or how others try to return that side to them.
This series explores human thoughts, behavior, and emotions; so it's more of a psychological series; though it's not as incredibly deep as other psychological series out there. It has assassing missions so there are fight scenes, but I've got to admit that the illustration on the action scenes weren't that well-drawn. (Well, generally the art isn't that great, but not really bad either.) Most stories had been sad or bittersweet, so expect a lot of drama and tragedy . . . but they had been dramas and tragedies that are done well. Though the theme seemed very serious, there are also light moments in this series because of its comedy and romance.
I like all the characters that have played a big role in this story. I didn't find any of them stereotypical (or at least, not very stereotypical). They had been fun, cool, and interesting in their own way. Not all of them had enough or appropriate development, but they had played their roles in the story well. My only problem with the characters I guess is . . .err . . . the character design. They look so alike. I find it difficult which is which (Well, maybe they don't look alike in one story, but there are instances wherein the main character of one story looks too similar to the main character of another story). Or maybe it's just me.
Each story had been good and interesting, but I have to admit some felt sugar-coated or too rushed. I can't pick a story that stood out the most, because each had been great in their own way, and also did a bad job on a certain part. But if I have to pick a favorite, then it's defnitely the first one. It . . . blew me away. It was so wonderful that it made me get hooked to this manga. Hehe.
Overall, though this manga seemed average (because of the art style and the shortness of the stories), it had still been pretty impressive and enjoyable; a worthy read.
This series explores human thoughts, behavior, and emotions; so it's more of a psychological series; though it's not as incredibly deep as other psychological series out there. It has assassing missions so there are fight scenes, but I've got to admit that the illustration on the action scenes weren't that well-drawn. (Well, generally the art isn't that great, but not really bad either.) Most stories had been sad or bittersweet, so expect a lot of drama and tragedy . . . but they had been dramas and tragedies that are done well. Though the theme seemed very serious, there are also light moments in this series because of its comedy and romance.
I like all the characters that have played a big role in this story. I didn't find any of them stereotypical (or at least, not very stereotypical). They had been fun, cool, and interesting in their own way. Not all of them had enough or appropriate development, but they had played their roles in the story well. My only problem with the characters I guess is . . .err . . . the character design. They look so alike. I find it difficult which is which (Well, maybe they don't look alike in one story, but there are instances wherein the main character of one story looks too similar to the main character of another story). Or maybe it's just me.
Each story had been good and interesting, but I have to admit some felt sugar-coated or too rushed. I can't pick a story that stood out the most, because each had been great in their own way, and also did a bad job on a certain part. But if I have to pick a favorite, then it's defnitely the first one. It . . . blew me away. It was so wonderful that it made me get hooked to this manga. Hehe.
Overall, though this manga seemed average (because of the art style and the shortness of the stories), it had still been pretty impressive and enjoyable; a worthy read.
Source: Baka-Updates
