Bokurano

The usual complaints I see are that characters have a lack of "emotion" and 'reaction". Subtle facial features and pent up emotions do not mean there is a lack of emotion.

In real life, when someone is happy they do not jump around in joy and their faces do not suddenly get larger with a gigantic smile. These are over exaggerated emotions. When someone is angry or upset, not all people just collapse in tears or pop blood vessels. Most pent this emotion up and most people do not notice it unless they are looking very closely.

Though Bokurano's premise is out of this world, everything is rather human.
This manga is fantastic, placing the characters in a hopeless and desperate situations. It forces the raw emotions out of each character and the reader themselves.

If you are into deep stories that challenge the fundamental nature of life and humans, please read this. Do not read this if you are looking for a funny or happy go lucky story. You will not find it here.

a thoroughly moving read. it oscillates between seinen and shounen at times, but honestly it thrives on borrowing from the sensibilities of each at different times. an absolutely excellent blend of serious reflections on life and boyish flights of fancy. and, as it progresses, a truly harrowing read. an experience i'm all the better for.

I love this Manga. I really really do. I think about each character's indvidual experience a lot. I've read this manga twice, the last time was about 5 year ago. Every now an then I see a chair that has been lived in and can't help but to think about Bokurano. I know a lot of sci-fi stories have similar plots but this was the first sci-fi story that had known like this.

That being said, I have never reached the last chapter of the manga. The story drags on a little bit too much and I always find myself just a few chapters away from the climax before I get antsy and just end up looking it up. I know that the anime and manga end very different and I very much prefer the manga ending.

Spoiler alert: people have interesting thoughts and motivations and live/fight/die for different things.

Spoiler alert 2: shit happens, people die.

Um...that's literally the entire manga. I can't even make this shit up if I wanted to. I cannot understand how this received such high scores.

Sure, the characters were pretty interesting, and the premise of the story was pretty fresh, but the entire story was overwhelmingly repetitive. All the manga ever did was to repeatedly drill the 2 above spoilers into the reader's head over and over again using different characters as it killed them off one by one in predictable fashion (seriously I've never seen so many obvious death flags used in any manga ever). The plot was pretty much the most linear and predictable I've ever read, I pretty much saw the ending coming from a mile away.

If you understand the 2 spoilers I've provided above, then this manga has absolutely nothing more to offer you and I recommend you spend your valuable time elsewhere. This was 66 frigging chapters long and was an absolute waste of time.

Bokurano is something that probably initially misled a lot of people. Nowadays it has a pretty infamous reputation, but if you were to see or read it when it first came out, or nowadays if you somehow go into it knowing nothing about it, it might seem like a pretty innocent and generic premise: a bunch of kids get signed into a contract where they have to pilot a giant robot and save the earth from aliens. It seems like something that has been done a thousand times before, but if you are perceptive you might notice that there is something...off about it all.

And then you keep reading and realize just what it is that you've stumbled into.

The twist comes with the knowledge that the robot will kill the pilot after a battle is over to fuel itself. Meaning that all of the children who entered the contract effectively exchanged their lives for the sake of saving the world. And there is nothing anyone anywhere can do to change that fact, these children are dead no matter what they do.

Before each battle, we get a bit of insight into every single child and find out who they are, what they're struggling with, and what motivates them.

It is in these stories that Bokurano shows just how bleak and dark it is. The stories vary in their exact tone, but they all carry an inherent despair and sentimentality because the child is eventually going to die. Some of the stories are REALLY dark, with one in particular that I think most people will definitely remember. What's most interesting is that some of these stories seem to have points of their own, usually to espouse some very unusual and cynical messages that you really don't see that often, such as a discussion about the whole "one death is a tragedy, one million is a statistic" concept that ends nothing like you'd expect it to.

Even though this manga is so oppressive, and seems to border on being dark for darkness' own sake at times, it is incredibly gripping and powerful. All of the children's stories are heartbreaking in their own way and none of them are bad. The side characters like the army guys and Koyemshi are also pretty memorable in their own right. The ending to this series is also brilliantly done.

Kitoh's art is actually kind of strange. Normally I dislike the kind of stylistic decisions Kitoh makes; his characters have pretty generic, simplified facial features common to a lot of manga, and his characters are mostly pretty skinny and have very subdued facial expressions. But he obviously knows a thing or two about drawing, his scene composition, perspective, grasp of form, etc, are all clearly displayed in the manga and help elevate the storytelling of the manga. His design sense is also quite unique; his robots look nothing like what you'd see in most mech shows, many of them are very bizarre and abstract and don't really resemble anything in particular. The end result meaning that even though Kitoh is not necessarily one of my favorite artists in the industry, I do like his style all the same and I feel that it is more than adequate to telling this story.

At the end of the day, Bokurano is probably a manga that many will find is just trying way too hard to be edgy. But if you are like me you will probably find that the execution of the heavy content is more than satisfactory and makes the story more powerful most of the time. If you want something that will give you intense feels and is unlike anything you have seen in the robot genre, this is for you. It is a pretty different work altogether from Evangelion despite some superficial similarities, so you wouldn't necessarily dislike it if you're not an Evangelion fan.

Simply put, 'Bokurano' is about a group of children who are deceived into signing contracts which will see them pilot a giant robot, Zearth, in a deadly fight for survival against alien invaders. The catch, however, is that the robot is powered by the pilot's life energy. Regardless of the outcome, win or lose, the pilot is guaranteed to die and nothing can be done to change that. The inevitability of the characters' fates makes for a difficult and oft heart-wrenching read but one which will reward those few brave enough to see it through.

'Bokurano' can essentially be broken down into a series of story arcs which each focus on the child next chosen to pilot Zearth. They all follow a formula: the reader is shown a little of the characters' backstories, their motivations, how they prepare themselves during their final days and finally the fight itself. Considering there are 15 children, it would be easy for the series to fall into the trap of becoming dull and repetitive, but this is never the case with 'Bokurano'. The series does an exceptional job of developing its core cast and making each child unique from one an other. Some may be more likeable than others but all are sympathetic. Successful characterisation is achieved through a balanced mix of introspection and dialogue, effectively helping to further the impact of each character's death. The pilots aside, the most significant character is Dung Beetle, a mysterious being that first summoned the children to Zearth. Dung Beetle can almost be thought of as a guide or narrator for the series, throwing in little titbits of information throughout the series to help explain some of the sci-fi elements. Fortunately, there is enough intrigue and mystery surrounding his character that he never feels like a mouthpiece for the author. The supporting cast was largely comprised of national defence personnel and relatives of the children, and they all perfectly compliment the core cast of characters. Moreover, the role of parents in 'Bokurano' was beyond tragic. For a parent to have to stand idly by and see their children die, completely helpless to influence the outcome, is one of the most heartbreaking things you could ever see. All-in-all, 'Bokurano' should be commended for creating such a diverse and memorable cast of characters.

Just as 'Narutaru' - another good manga from Kitou - was a deconstruction of the pet monster genre, 'Bokurano' is a deconstruction of the mecha genre. That is, it looks at the practical problems that would arise from having to pilot a super robot in real life. The high chances of mass civilian casualties, the terrifying implications of failure and the massive pressure and stresses placed on the pilots are all shown as harsh truths with zero sugar-coating or beating around the bush. Most significantly, there is absolutely no plot armour. Typical mecha series leads are protected by the fact that their character is integral to the plot of the series, but this is not the case in 'Bokurano'. Anyone can die at any moment, so you are always on the edge of your seat. Now, the words “deconstruction” and “mecha” may lead some to assume that 'Bokurano' is yet another series that aimed to cash in on the success of 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' during the late 90s and early 2000s, but it must be stressed that the similarities here are superficial at best. Thematically speaking the two are worlds apart, which leads us to our next point: its themes.

One of the most famous quotes of all time, oft attributed to Joseph Stalin, is, “one death is a tragedy, a million is a statistic”. Whether it was actually Stalin who said it and whether it was in those exact words is a topic for another day, what matters is the sentiment behind those words and how the idea is explored in-depth in 'Bokurano'. Death is a regular occurrence in 'Bokurano', often on a large scale, and every pilot has their own take on it. Some of the children will aim to minimise casualties by delaying the fight until everyone is safely evacuated, others pay no mind to the surrounding population and consequently cause major collateral damage. It is an interesting play on the trope, to say the least. 'Bokurano' could also be seen as a series about accepting and coming to terms with one's own death. Each child knows that they are unable to alter their fate and how they all react to this knowledge is very different. Some try to live out their last days as happily and peacefully as they can, others mentally break down and cut themselves off from society. The themes in 'Bokurano' may be heavy but they are explored naturally over the course of the series. The pacing is excellent and allows the reader enough time to take everything in before moving on. The story never feels rushed or inorganic and it culminates in the most fitting conclusion the series could possibly ask for.

The super robot fights are secondary to the ideas of the manga itself. Just as Kitou used monsters (or “Dragons”) in 'Narutaru' to tell a coming-of-age story, super robot fights are simply the vehicle through which the themes of 'Bokurano' are explored. That said, the action sequences are still very good and fans of the mecha genre will not be left disappointed. The fights take place in a variety of locations, from city environments to military bases. The enemies themselves come in a variety of forms, from humanoid and insectoid designs to even weapons such as cannons. There are a wide array of attacks, all coming from different angles and ranges. Best of all, the strategies involved are all vastly different. Some fights are over almost instantaneously while some can go on for close to two full days, playing out almost like a game of high-stakes chess. While the super robot fights were never the focus of 'Bokurano', that they remain fresh and thrilling over the entire course of the manga is impressive all the same.

The art is generally solid. The super robots are one of the highlights of the series, varied in design and drawn on a massive scale. The designs are more abstract than your typical mecha series, resembling something closer to 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' than 'Gundam', but suit the atmosphere of 'Bokurano' perfectly. Also of note are the aircraft designs. Kitoh has something of a reputation for his detailed vehicle designs and his passion for aviation shows through with some very meticulous work. Shading, in particular, was used to great effect to create depth. Backgrounds are also well done and scene composition in general is sound. Where the art falls a little short, however, is in its human character designs. There are few distinguishing characteristics that set the core cast apart, so the characters can appear a little “samey”, for lack of a better word. Most are drawn with thin bodies and the same subdued expressions, so it takes a bit of time before one can discern between the cast. Ultimately, the artwork in 'Bokurano' may not be as awe-inspiring or detailed as what you would find in a Kentarou Miura or Hiroya Oku manga, but it perfectly compliments the mood that Kitoh was trying to achieve with 'Bokurano'.

Overall, 'Bokurano' is not a manga that I could readily recommend to anyone. It depicts a cruel, nihilistic world where children are at the forefront. It is a tragic story with some shocking content yet, unlike 'Narutaru', it never felt gratuitous. In the wrong hands 'Bokurano' easily could have been passed off as edgy trash but Kitoh handles it with a level of maturity which hadn't yet been displayed in any of his previous works. 'Bokurano' is and will likely remain Kitoh's magnum opus, his crowning achievement in an impressive catalogue of work. If you are looking for a darker take on the mecha genre then you could certainly do a lot worse than 'Bokurano'.

One word : Excellence

well I can try to sum up my week long encounter with Bokurano(Ours). Well i just want to warn all who read this that this is a very depressing manga, it's hard to explain...

Well the story is truly amazing, do not let the giant robot fool you this is by no means a traditional Mecha Manga. It is it's own story and not just another dime a dozen gundam clone. well the story itself revolves around 15 midde school kids at a summer camp, they get bored of collecting sea-shells and go explore the nearby cave. in the cave they meet a strange man named Kokopelli, who asks the kids if they want to try a new game he made where you pilot a giant robot against 15 alien invaders...
they all except one agree to play and sign a "contract" by touching a strange rock-like object, after they sign they all wake up on the beach and see a giant robot that they get teleportrd into and kokopelli teaches them how to control it, this is no game...

The most depressing part about this manga is that in the begining chapters they are all told that they will inevitably die after piloting the robot(Which they named Zearth)

The Characters are another key aspect in this story, there are no 2 dimensional characters here they are all unique and all have interesting backstories and battles.
The Art is great in it's own way...
and it's just a great manga.

just be warned as i said before this is a very depressing manga and the ending almost left me in tears! but that's the sign of good storytelling if a story can touch you that much...

this is one series you do not want to miss.

No reviews for this? You're killing me.

Bokurano is probably the most nihilistic thing ever written. In essence, it's a series of 15 short stories about these 15 kids who are trapped in a competition where they gotta pilot a 500m tall robot. If they lose, the world is screwed. Gradually, through a series of well written and shocking twists, everything about their mission ends up being bad for them and pretty much everyone around them. It's a brutally realistic depiction of what you'd get if you actually did put a bunch of middle schoolers in charge of this sort of thing. Some are wannabe heroes, others have mental breakdowns, at least one goes on a murdering rampage, and a few just don't care. It also turns out that people don't like it when you fight in the middle of a city and cause 10,000 casualties.

How tragic is this series? Well, sometimes you can actually hear the author chuckling in the background as one of these kids gets their lives or minds completely destroyed. On occasion a few of these tales end on a heartwarming or content note, but I suspect that's only because Kitoh had stomach worms at the time or something.

But the thing is, even though this story is soul crushing, it's continuously gripping. I read the whole thing over the course of a weekend in a feverish marathon, something I never do for anything. Each child's story is unique and interesting, and every time one ended and another one came up, my reaction would be "I don't care about this kid, that last one was so good how can this one compare?" and every time without fail, I would be blown away.That kid's unique struggle and subsequent battle would set them totally apart from everyone else, and be good enough to stand as its own story. Kitoh is that good of an author, and even though he's royally screwed up in the head(as shown by this, Narutaru, His Murder Plan, and everything else he's ever written) he knows how to put a method into his madness. The guy is a genius, but I don't think I'd ever want to meet him.

In terms of art, all the human characters are wirey and lacking in detail. Backgrounds are elaborate, but sharp and have a sort of blank feeling to them. Objects like vehicles are interesting and futuristic without being outlandish. The art style is perfect for Kitoh's style of writing, honestly. The main attraction is the "mecha" designs though. These things are not Gundams. They absolutely enormous, with styles varying between vaguely insectoid and completely abstract. Kitoh's mind is not limited to his eccentric writing, it caries over into his artwork. You generally do not see anything as weird as this guy's stuff in any comic.

Now let's talk about the anime for a sec. The anime version of Bokurano sucks. The director hated the manga's story because it was too bleak, and tried to rewrite it himself. It turns out that that guy did not have the ability to outdo our mildly psychotic author here. The result was a pretty show with an amazing OP, but a sucky story and a lame ending. Speaking of endings, the manga ending is incredible. It's not awe inspiring or anything like that, it's just a beautiful ending that completely fit the story.

In terms of being a realistic deconstruction of the mecha genre, this series completely stomps Evangelion through and through. And most other giant robot series for that matter. You actually might not be able to enjoy robot stories after this, since Bokurano turns them completely inside-out. It's almost the polar opposite of Gurren Lagann, but somehow just as awesome.

Viz is publishing this in the US starting in February 2010. I'm totally picking it up.

Bokurano is a depressing manga that just uses mecha as it's excuse for a premise which is completely filled with psychological trauma.

The mecha battles are not the main focus in here. Don't be fooled by the cover. For what anyone could care, the mecha could have been a space ship or a magical uniform and it wouldn't make as much of a difference.

While the manga is surprisingly good in the psychological analysis department, it is however not as good in the mecha fighting and the sci-fi department. The fights lose their touch when you know that they are, as shown by the synopsis of the manga, a doomed battle with no hopes of selfish victory. Rather, it feels like a Mayan ritual where people are made to be sacrificed in order for the continued survival of their race.

While this does bring a good view into questions of life and death when one is confronted with the same and the nature of the human soul, it can make one feel alienated with the plot. There is nothing to root for and the stakes are worthless from the very start. There is no glimmer of hope, no light at the end of the tunnel, so as to speak. While the mecha in question is being powered by the human will, there is not a real great display of where human will actually matters to change the status quo.
While it's true most characters display a good amount of human will, it is simply not enough to make a difference in the universal scale of things. By the end, everyone is a plaything of fate and nothing ever matters.

However, in spite of it flaws, I would agree that the manga did atleast the psychological aspect right. This manga can be heavily divisive depending upon the nature of the reader and hence you may or you may not appreciate it. You will of course, definitely not enjoy it given its depressive premise and the nihilistic aspect where nothing truly matters.

There are many other similarly depressive works, which however don't revolve around a world ending crisis and only revolve around the horrors of everyday life like domestic abuse, bullying, etc. There is not much difference between bokurano and them and bokurano isn't good enough to make a mark when compared to these.

TLDR:Read it if you like similarly depressive works like madoka magica for instance. Don't read it if you want some good mecha action or some plot resolution.

7/10

This may well be my favorite manga, and I have read a LOT of manga. The best thing about this manga is the characters, and the plot primarily serves as a way to learn about the characters. The main cast is made up of middle school students who have been tasked with piloting a giant mech called "Zearth", and after each one pilots the mech, they die. The pilot is chosen at random from those contracted to pilot it, but they are told in advance. The story is structured around each pilot's last days on earth before they fight to save it. None of the characters are ignored, and all of them get some nice development through the story.

Altogether, I think that the characters in this story are all written well, and resemble real people quite closely. Through the main cast, we see the world through many lenses, as they live very different lives, and we get commentary on society and on varying types of people within it. It is interesting.

One thing about this manga that is particularly stand-out is how the author handles death, in that the characters react in very real and visceral ways.