Summary
Naoki Urasawa’sMonsteris a true classic in the milieu of psychological thriller anime. The manga holds the honor of being an all-time bestseller. Until recently, however, it was notoriously difficult to find a legitimate place to watch its masterpiece adaptation. For years, the anime was only available on DVD. That problem is a thing of the pastnow that Netflix is streaming it. Curious anime fans have a legal means to binge the legendary series, which had previously eluded the world of streaming content for so long.
Monster’s adaptation emerged during thegolden age of Madhouse, which also gave classics likeTrigun,Death Note, andNana. Its subdued colors and careful animation are hallmarks of this period of Madhouse production, and they bring a remarkable life to the meticulous art of Urasawa’s original work. Everything, from the faithful script to the eerie genre-spanning soundtrack, works in ensembleto elevate the tension of the final product.Monsterhas earned a deeply dedicated following because of how every element of the work coheres. All anime fans should give it a try.
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What IsMonsterAbout?
The Entrancing Thriller Follows the Tracks of an Innocent Surgeon-Turned-Fugitive
From the very beginning,Monsterhardly offers a chance to breathe witha great episode 1 twist. “Herr Dr. Tenma” features a dilemma for Dr. Kenzo Tenma, the Head of Neurosurgery at a hospital in Düsseldorf: a bullet-wounded boy named Johan needs an emergency operation at the same time as the mayor, a generous donor to the hospital. Tenma goes against the wishes of his director, operating on Johan. Years later, Johan becomes an elusive serial murderer stalking Tenma. An encounter with Johan in episode 4, “The Night of Execution”, leaves Tenma distraughtafter Johan executes someone in front of him, sparing Tenma himself.
After Tenma explains the encounter to Inspector Lunge of the German police, the Inspector becomes suspicious of him. Over the next few episodes, Tenma attempts to uncover more about Johan, but a necktie of Tenma’s at the scene of a murder avalanches into Inspector Lunge’s obsession with his arrest. Tenma flees in response, with a mission tofind Johan and clear his own name. As murders continue in the background, he tries to stay one step ahead of the law while pushing past violent interventions, ever-diverging lines of inquiry, andJohan’s flawless manipulation.
Why IsMonsterSo Beloved?
Between and Beyond Tenma and Johan, Monster Has Incomparable Depth
At the simplest level,Monsteris interesting thematically. It involves Dr. Tenma being punished for what would seem to be moral: saving Johan. YetMonsteralso intrigues on another level:the world Tenma inhabits responds to him. Lovable characters like Grimmer latch onto Tenma, sometimes taking center stage with their own intricate stories. Other characters appear only briefly to cross paths with Tenma then disappear. Such instances blur genre distinctions with slice-of-life elements, with a prime example being episode 20, “Journey to Freiham”. In turn, these chance meetings contrast with the otherwise oppressive atmosphere of the series.
On yet another level, the mystery at the core ofMonsteris simply riveting. Johan is consideredone of the best anime antagonists of all time. The way the origin of multiple characters weave together to yield a biography of the shadowy killer is ingenious writing, culminating in a breathtaking finale arc. With constant twists and unexpected moments, the story regularly reminds the viewernot to take any part of its narrative for granted. At the same time, whileMonsteris exhilarating, it’s also strangely serene. It’s these plays of contrast that make the series so irresistible.
What Makes Monster Worth the Watch?
Few Anime Can Test Viewers’ Convictions Like Monster
It’s crushingly human and unbearably realistic; it’s only as “dark” as one finds the world itself.
Among psychological thrillers, it’s one of a kind.Monsteris often called a “dark anime”, but it’sbetter described as “heavy”. It does center around a serial killer, and later plot developments involve very challenging themes. Despite that,Monsterisn’t gruesome, nor does it take joy in its characters' misfortunes. It’s crushingly human and unbearably realistic; it’s only as “dark” as one finds the world itself. At every moment, there’s a foreboding uncertainty. It’s always unclear who is a friend or an enemy, whether someone is who they claim to be, and what waits behind the door.
Tenma is an idealistic protagonist navigating a new world of uncertainty where his ideals betray him. Subtly, the seriesasks viewers to ask themselvesabout their ideals.Monsteris amazing because the viewer becomes entangled with the story. They connect with its characters yet are forced in the meantime to mull over questions of morality, family, and belonging. The narrative is so commanding, and Madhouse’s presentation so arresting, that these questions are worked out alongside the viewer, almost in conversation. That is exactly what makesMonstera once-in-a-lifetime series.
Monster
Cast
Monster is an animated psychological thriller series directed by Masayuki Kojima, based on the manga by Naoki Urasawa. The story follows Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a Japanese brain surgeon working in Germany, who saves the life of a young boy destined to become a notorious serial killer. As Tenma seeks to rectify his actions and uncover the truth, he becomes entangled in a complex web of moral dilemmas and dark secrets.
