Review of Monster

The anime masterpiece "Monster" is most interesting for its psychological components, often eerily close to reality, and its amazing characters, such as the enigmatic, charismatic, and utterly unforgettable Johan Leibert. If you like dark series, mystery, mindgames, creepy children, historical dramas, and/or debates about ethics, conditioning, children's rights, psychology, crime, killing, and justice, you will thoroughly enjoy "Monster" for having all of these motifs. Without a doubt it's one of the most psychological anime in existence. There's no need to be put off by the length of the series either, because even the slightly less consequential arcs can be thrilling, the characters are always welldeveloped, and the various arcs all tie in neatly with the central story. Since new twists are revealed right up to the very last episode, be sure to watch the whole series if you watch any of it. Otherwise you may not be able to appreciate the depth of "Monster" 's story or its notable characters.

Without a doubt, my favorite thing about "Monster" is the unique relationship between Johan and his sister Anna/Nina. You'll see what I mean if you watch it. I also love this show's portrayal of what society now largely considers mental illness. The illnesses portrayed include Sociopathy and/or Antisocial Personality Disorder, Dissociative Amnesia, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Addiction/Substance Abuse, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. If you or someone you know suffers from any of these disorders, like me, you may appreciate "Monster" all the more for it.

The only downsides I might mention is that, for better or worse, not everything in "Monster" is explained. Much is open to interpretation. This bothers some anime fans, but to me it's a positive aspect of the series. I also would warn potential viewers that this is a very dark anime, so don't go into it blindly. In addition to murders, debates of justice, and discussion of dark psychology, this series includes characters suffering from child abuse, identity confusion, the aftereffects of war, and various other types of trauma. I recommend viewers to be cautious of any triggers, and I personally do not recommend the show for people under sixteen. As long as you are fully prepared, however, then by all means check out "Monster"! It just may be the most psychologically interesting series you ever watch.