Review of Monster

“If you don’t want to be betrayed anymore… then start doubting the person you want to doubt the least.” Monster is a fierce, gripping show that grabs you by the arm and transports you through 74 episodes of mind-bending plot, engaging characters and possibly the best villain in anime history. I had to wait about a week after finishing this series before making my attempt at a review due to the sheer amount of things I wanted to say at its conclusion. It’s quite difficult to put into words how much I enjoyed Monster’s unique storyline. Not only is it realistic, but itkeeps a steady pace for the entire 74 episodes while focusing entirely on a single story arc. It’s an incredible feat to see in an anime. Adapted from the highly revered manga by Naoki Urasawa, viewers follow the main protagonist, Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a prodigal Japanese neurosurgeon. Dr. Tenma is working abroad in post segregated Germany, engaged to the daughter of the hospital’s director and is genuinely living the “good life”. That is, until a certain patient arrives in his care. Dr. Tenma is faced with a difficult decision when he has to choose between performing an operation on the mayor or a young boy shot in the head that he was already in surgery with. With a strong sense of morality on his side, he chooses the boy and his life literally comes crashing down around him. He is stripped of his head neurosurgeon title, accused of murder on several accounts and left by his fiancée, and this is within the first five episodes!

The rest of the series follows Tenma as he is on the run, trying to track down the Monster that ruined his life. It’s a constant game of cat and mouse, filled with death and drama, and focusing strongly on character development and well paced plotlines. The writing in Monster is absolutely fantastic. It is both medically and geographically accurate, and the dialogue between the characters is top notch. There are almost no filler episodes, and each chapter is meticulously laid out to aid the viewer in solving the mystery of the “monster” for themselves. I mostly enjoyed the sequences between Tenma and the infamous BKA Inspector Lunge, as well as the interactions Tenma has with the Monster himself. The action sequences were also well orchestrated, leaving that appropriate amount of suspense when you knew the killer was right around the corner, or Tenma himself was just moments from being caught. It’s moments like that which are missing from most animes in the genre, and Monster executed them perfectly.

Social issues and corruption are prominent throughout the series as well, buffing the realism factor exponentially. There are gangs, exposed destitute orphanages, and red light districts in post-segregated Germany which showcase the disparities that still exist even today. All the side stories are interwoven into one infernal beast of a storyline. No characters are disposed for the sake of fan service, no dialogues is squandered and most of all, the feeling you get at the end of this series is pure satisfaction.

The cast of this anime is just too damn good. Plenty of characters to love, and those you love to hate. Tenma is the moral pillar inside all of us. He is an honest and logical man who is trying to right the wrongs that have occurred within his life. His decisions are always calculated, never rash, and if it comes down to saving someone’s life over his own personal gain… he will always make the right choice. His friends along the way could always sense his genuinely good character, and would stick by Tenma’s side, come what may. The “Monster” was brilliantly sinister throughout the series, and I often found myself somewhat scared when he appeared on screen. His elusiveness and charisma added to his complexity as a character and made it all the more terrifying. He will go down as perhaps the greatest villain in anime history.

The comparison of the main antagonist to Hitler is also interesting. The way that the “Monster” manipulates the minds of the individuals he befriends is frighteningly realistic. He brings them to the lowest point, lower than death, and when the suffering appears to be too much he offers them a hand in return for performing his dirty work. I can imagine people like that existing in the world today, and the fact that the government and certain masochistic individuals were attempting to recreate Hitler using experiments done on children was appalling in nature.

The rest of the supporting characters were great in their own rights. I enjoyed the background of Wolfgang Grimmer, the prior orphan turned freelance journalist, who was trying to uncover his own past while helping to unravel pieces of the overarching mystery. I quickly grew attached to his side arch and how he intertwined with Tenma. Deiter and Nina were also great aids to Tenma, as well as Dr. Reichwein and Gillen. But perhaps my favorite character of all was that of Inspector Lunge. He was a brilliant detective who grew obsessed with the cases he couldn’t solve. Even at the cost of his own family and career. The way he was so systematic in filing information into his “hard drive” screamed OCD and reminded me loosely of L from Deathnote.

For what it is, I love the animation style from the early to mid 2000’s. Monster especially made realistic looking characters, and did a great job of illustrating Germany and the Czech Republic’s land/cityscapes. None of the characters seemed dull, and even maintained a highly detailed level of animation through long dialogue sequences. The transformation of Tenma over the series is also evident in the character model; going from young and clean cut to tattered and worn. The soundtrack was suspenseful at the necessary times, and I never found it to be overused or tacky. The opening didn’t change over the course of the show, which was great. Sometimes I feel that anime openings have become less and less to do with the anime itself and more about showcasing artists that make them. The ending song was the creepiest I’ve ever seen, and fit so well with the ominous vibe the series was trying to convey. The English voice acting was extremely good, and I actually found that I liked it more than the Japanese.

There isn’t any logical way I can give anything but a 10 to this anime. Not just based on average score, but the overall effect that Monster had on me was tremendous. It is a show that I will not soon forget, and certainly one I could recommend to any suspense/thriller fan… even those who don’t enjoy anime. It has been rumored that legendary horror director Guillermo Del Toro has worked with HBO to bring us a live action iteration of this masterpiece, so I hope to continue my love for the series in the future. Monster is a hard hitting, life changing anime that will go down in history as one of my all time favorites.