Ano Ko no Ie

It's beautiful. There's a tone of sadness in it yet the character's witty introspection will keep you feel good all throughout - the allure of slice of life manga direct from a 'not-so' kid's perspective.

Story
The story was told in a coalesce of monologue and introspection on a kid's perspective. No plot devices, no unnecessary drama, and almost no impact at all - not that it's a bad thing though considering if you don't take it at face value. There's something about the simplicity of the story that begs your inner self to "please delve in deeper and reflect" and that's what I exactly did halfway through.

Art
Art is simple which fits the plot perfectly.

Character
There are only a few key characters in this manga, where a kid protagonist have set the tone of the story. The kid is lively, witty, a dreamer, serious at times and thoughtful.

Enjoyment
For a manga that's only 5 chapters long, enjoyment is easy to tell since there's not that much to explore. I enjoyed this manga because it made me self-reflect and think maybe a bit too much to even bother making a review for it.

Overall
This narrative, in my conclusion, is about people who wants to break free from their societal (predestined) roles but just can't because everyone tells them to just suck it up. The desire to break free from expectations is there, but self-preservation is much stronger to ignore. The kid (and the other key character) is like an embodiment those people. That's slice of life for you. Maybe I got too involved while reading this manga and made too much sense to something that is not really there. Yet, think about it - that maybe one of the conclusion the mangaka wants to deliver: to suck it up altogether.

Ano Ko no Ie is a beautifully told coming of age story. While it may seem directionless at first, understanding the character's motives is the real story and what their choices mean tells the real story.

It's difficult to take the story at face value and a lot goes unsaid, but the MC's introspection provides the reader with the context to understand and empathize with her.

Story

The story is rather direct, but that suits its narrative style just fine. For a short manga it can be frustrating for stories and characters to seem irrelevant but nothing goes to waste in the manga's narrative. Everything has purpose and meaning to it.

At the risk of sounding so vague as to be meaningless, the ending may or may not be satisfying. It's all about how you take the overall message of the final chapter.

Art

The art style is simplistic and some characters are deformed stylistically. This suits the manga just fine.

The art does a fantastic job of setting the tone, almost moreso than the character's expressions do. Whether it's a sleepy village or an overwhelming and stressful forest.

Character

The characters are relatable and enjoyable with the MCs introspection providing narration for their personality.

Enjoyment

This manga was incredibly enjoyable for me. It's an introspective piece about aging and the anxieties that come with it. Each of the characters seems to represent a different manner of anxiety that comes with living. Whether it's maturity, loneliness, or being relied upon. I feel like that's the overall message of the series, what it means to really interact with people at different stages of maturity and how to be mature yourself.

Manga and anime mean different things to different people. Some see them as an escape from difficult lives, some see them as a way to make friends and find things in common with people, and so many more things. To me, manga and anime are a medium where some of the best stories can be told. As a writer myself, seeing these beautiful things and reading/watching these incredible stories and following along on fantastical journeys is magical. In this medium of fiction, anything is possible.

Ano Ko no Ie is an example of that. With such a simple premise, this manga still manages to convey so much. While some of the child's inner monologues were unrealistic for a child to have, this is an interesting look into the mind of a child. Depending on what you take out of it, the story can be confusing, nonsensical, or very tragic.

The characters are simple, yet incredibly charming. Without telling us anything straight, the author manages to show us who these characters are and how they think.

The art is also simple, but considering the perspective we are shown, it fits incredibly well.

This may not be a masterpiece, but things like this are the reason that as I get older and start thinking of my future, I know that I won't ever "grow out" of manga and anime. There's just too much to see.