Annarasumanara

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." –Pablo Picasso

Is life a free reality, or a fated game? What happens if you don’t fit into the mold that society wants you to fit in? Can you keep those crazy dreams and beliefs that you had as a child when you move onto adulthood? What's the different between being a child and being an adult? Is great success the most important thing in life? Can you force yourself to just not grow up? What is happiness?

This is the very first manhwa (Korean Manga) that I've ever read, and I was very impressed; not like a "that was pretty good", but like a "this changed my life". Although I was reluctant to actually read something when I didn't have to, I gave Annarasumanara a try, and now I'm dying to read other manhwas. Annarasumanara makes my English class' "deep" books seem silly and pointless. The story of Annarasumanara was quite straightforward, yet had a mysterious, genius and very touching aspect to it. Although the main synopsis of the manhwa may turn you off because of the "magic", I assure you that the manhwa doesn't have any supernatural magic powers in it. Annarasumanara is truly a heartwarming story about what it means to be an adult and what must (or must not) change when growing up. It also touches on issues like bullying, social expectations, parental pressure, truly understanding yourself, what you want in life, and what you are willing to/should give up or put up with to be your own form of happy. The magic of growing up.

Background Info: There are rumors about a mysterious magician; one that can make people disappear and change people's lives forever. They say that if you go to the old carnival, you'd see a dashing young man wearing a magician's hat — a man who can perform the greatest magic, but before he does any magic, he will look you in the eye, stare at your deep soul with his grey eyes and ask, "Do you believe in magic?"

So now I ask you, do you believe in magic? If so, What kind of magic? Is magic worth believing in? Could one claim that our lives and this world that we live in are magical as well? If you had one wish, what would it be? The beauty of "magic", is that people can perceive what's truly magical in their own terms; and this "magic" can be the brightest, most happy thing in a person's life, but it can also be what horrors, and misfortunes of a person's life. Perhaps people refuse to believe in anything supernatural, but are supernatural things the only things that are considered "magical"?

The story revolves around Yoon Ai, a very smart girl in her class who struggles to feed herself and her sister everyday. She just wants to become an adult faster so that she can get a job and escape from the poverty and the reality of her current situation. That all changes when she meets the rumored magician, Lee Eul who asks her, "Do you believe in magic." The story then proceeds to show Yoon Ai's develop in behavior and attitude towards living life. Lee Eul reminds Yoon Ai of her of innocent childhood, and of her memories and dreams that she had as a child. But the harshness of reality never lets her go and the story moves forward, showing Yoon Ai's hard choices in life that decide her fate. The plot also delves into Lee's childhood past and his refusal to grow up/failure as an adult, thus creating his isolation from society. Lee Eul and Yoon Ai's perspectives of the world and their fates intertwine with one another, creating the ideal story about poverty as a child, struggle to find a place in society, making friends, and growing up while trying to find your own happiness in this unfortunate world. Whenever you think the story is trying to set a positive tone, you get heartbroken by the tragic events that follow afterwards. Whenever you think that there really is "magic", it gets crushed by reality. It's a deep, dark, emotionally gripping manhwa that has sort of made me depressed with the truth about our society today, in the end of the manhwa, it ambiguously emphasizes that there will be a "light at the end of the tunnel". The ending was absolutely perfect; it left me crying. Every aspect of this manhwa deserves a 10/10, but I'd say the plot deserves an 11/10; easily the best, most interesting and touching story I've ever read about.

The plot itself is ambiguous as well. What is the truth in life, and what is the right way to live life? What each character believes is the "truth" is never fully revealed in the manhwa, despite them choosing their own paths, if that makes sense. The themes presented in the manhwa, are pretty blatantly presented though, which I liked; better than trying to be all confusing and deep. The magic in this story is also a little ambiguous. You are never for certain if the magician really turned Ai’s holey tights into pretty polka-dotted ones (bad, harsh past -> moving on into a "better" life, nor are you for sure if the magician is really has a mailbox that sends a letter to anyone, no matter what. The magic in Annarasumanara is something that you have to believe in yourself, and that only helps send the message of "believing" even further.

There are basically only 3 (main) characters in the entire manhwa. First, Yoon Ai, whose development through her encounter with the mysterious yet childish magician is the entire story. Yoon Ai's past is filled with hardship. Her mom is dead, her father ran away from home,causing her to have to work on part time jobs & deal with the debt collectors who are looking for her dad while looking after her younger sister and keeping her in school. Then there's the magician, Lee Eul whose character is unveiled gradually in an artistic fashion. And finally, Na Il-Deong, Yoon Ai's classmate who seems to have everything, yet there's something important missing in his life. Il-Deong's interactions with Yoon Ai and Lee Eul, open him up into a "new world" in which he finds the missing piece of his life. No other character's were developed in depth, but it really wasn't necessary either, since the entire plot worked perfectly with just these 3 characters; an impressive feat. The characters were very realistic in their own sense. All 3 of them has had a different childhood, from poverty to average to rich, yet all of them are related in a way. The readers can easily connect to each one of the characters. As a child, what did we want to become? When we grow up, did it stay the same? What kind of hardships did you have to go through to go from a child to an adult? Looking back on your past, do you regret the choices you made?

The art was stunningly magnificent. The manhwa has pages without words which still manage to say a lot of things through the beauty of the art. The facial expressions portrayed by the characters express their emotions exquisitely. Furthermore the background is also very detailed and has the unique ability to draw attention to the stunning bits of details. Visually Mesmerizing!

Annarasumanara was needless to say, absolutely enjoyable. There's nothing to not like about the manhwa: the plot was touching, creative, genius and well executed; the characters were interesting, thoroughly developed, and relatable. As a growing teenager myself, I often scoff at and enjoy my present, reminisce about my past, and dream about my future. The art in the manhwa was so beautiful, how can people be so artistic?! And do I believe in magic? I don't believe in the magic powers, but I believe in magical things: family, friends, miracles, and memorable moments that I cherish or immensely regret. I recommend this manhwa to everyone, and I can promise you that none of you will be left disappointed. Perhaps the greatest piece of writing I've ever read. Thank you Ha, Il-Kwon for creating Annarasumanara, for allowing me the chance to read such an excellent piece of writing, and changing my life forever. Truly a magical story.

Do you believe in Magic?

As I write this, we are almost 4 hours into the year 2021. I was thinking about my goals, my plans for the years, what I want to do, what I have to do, and what I am obliged to do.

Everyone does that from time to time.

In the middle of this dilemma, I stumbled onto this manhwa again, it had been in my list for a while, I wonder why I never got around to reading it, even though it's only 27 chapters long.

I loved the concept and gave it a shot.

It's deep, yet wholesome. It explores human desires in a subtle manner and also sheds light on society's stereotypes.

You are living? But are you truly living?

The art is remarkable, and while the story itself doesn't have complicated so people might argue why I am considering this a masterpiece.

Well, you see. This story shines in its simplicity.

It seems like it is romanticized but it's not. It introduces fresh perspectives and makes us see the beauty in something as underrated as the art of magic.

I loved the metaphors they used in the dialogues.

Honestly, I loved everything about it.

It's the perfect story to binge read on a fresh yet chilly night, and I am so glad that I read it today.

I know, my review is going to be overshadowed by all of the other reviews that have been around for quite some time. That's why I am just sharing my
thoughts without being overly critical.

But if you somehow came across this review, you should definitely give this one a shot.

With that said, "Happy New Year" (It's January 1st, 2021; 3:53 am)

UWhen I saw the swarths of 10/10 reviews for this comic I knew it would be worth checking out. And it was. It was an entertaining read, and was told in a pretty interesting way sometimes. But at the same time I'm a little let down cause that's about all I'm gonna be able to take away from it. So as nearly all of the reviews are hugely positive I'll be focusing more on my problems with it.

This story has some interesting concepts, but honestly nothing revolutionary to say about them. I suppose the major theme of this story is that it's important to hold onto your childhood dreams, even if you have to learn to be more practical about it. That's a good message, and I can see why this comic made a lot of people so emotional. It's got some other themes too, themes about what it means to grow up and the limits of our control over our own lives. The latter I thought was the most well executed and there were some pretty poignant statements about growing up in different financial classes. But for the most part I thought the concepts expressed in this series ranged from good to a bit corny.

And that kind of ties in with my feelings about the characters. And I think one of my main problems with this comic is that I honestly just didn't really buy the magician. I guess he's supposed to represent the innocence and purity of childhood by being someone who never grew up himself. Or so that's what the comic tells me. But he didn't really act like a child. He was mostly like calm and mysterious. Not really a childlike personality. So that kind of broke the metaphor for me. Honestly felt like the story was trying a bit too hard to make him seem cool. I found his dialogue corny at times. He was taken a bit too seriously and in the end just comes off as completely unrelatable. Though I will say, I thought that other two characters had pretty good arcs. Ildeungs in particular. But I'm focusing on my criticisms.

The story functions as an interesting metaphor. In the end the most major thing you're supposed to take away seems to be that you shouldn't turn your back on your childhood self. Pretty cool message. I just thought the way it was written was a bit eyeroll inducing at time. That's really all the negative things I could say about it. It's pretty good. Im not sure it's deserving of such overwhelmingly positive reviews though, I didn't love it and I imagine there are others who felt the same.,

Story:
"Do you believe in magic?" The catchphrase at first would seem clique and cheesy but as the story progresses, it begins to hold a deeper meaning. The plot twists were unpredictable. The ending was also done so well that it made me left wanting for more.

Art:
The art is really captivating. It being monochrome and only having color on those that needed emphasis sets in the mysterious mood of the story. This type of art is fitted the story well as I can feel and emphasize the emotions of the characters.

Enjoyment:
Annasumanara, being a short manhwa, met my expectations. The way it portrayed the problems in the society in real life and viewed the perspective of someone towards education is truly unique.

Do you believe in magic? This manhwa is truly a splendid package of entertainment, perseverance, and beauty. Children tend to believe magic easily as they perceive it as something amazing. Once they grow up, they start realizing how silly they were for thinking that. Believing in yourself, and trying not to fit into the typical "stereotype," is pretty much the main moral/theme of this wonderful manwha.

Story: A cursed child who has to work day and night simply to pay off the debts of her father, and to pretty much survive through the darkness of life. Her name is Ai meaning "child," in Korean. She works hard, also trying to care for her little sister. Sooner or later, she meets the person who truly causes her life to take a toll. Not only in a negative way, but also in a wonderful way. Together, they go through the adventures of "magic," along with Il-Deung who conveys affection towards Ai throughout the story. The magician was somewhat infamous outside of his little tent, but he never let society lead his way. He stayed true to who he was, and what he wanted. That's exactly what Ai, and Il-Deung did with their lives, except they continued to pursue their education but with a hint of fun.

Art: Let me tell you something about the art of this manwha. So far, this manwhaga's art is the best I've ever seen in any comic book ALIVE The art is just extremely creative! The detailed parts, the shaded times, the illusional moments, they all take you to a different world! As you're observing this manwhaga's art, you're being sucked into a portal which leads to your perfect world! The world where you're calm, and happy not facing any stress or annoyance. Not worrying what others care about you. You're just sitting there calmly enjoying the beauty and truth of the manwhaga's art.

Character: The character development was certainly beyond amazing. It's ironic to say this, but each character had chemistry! Even the enemies in this story were quite enjoyable! Usually the ominous characters tend to be quite annoying, but in this manwha they weren't that infuriating! For a manwhaga to create something like that, that definitely takes a lot of talent. I thought Ai, and the magician aka "Lee," had tons of good chemistry! *Spoiler Alert* The cutest moment in this manhwa that enables you to realize that Ai is the perfect female protagonist that I've ever seen in a shoujo series before is when she's displayed to be quite jealous but in a cute way. You see a pregnant woman (companion of Lee in school) who comes to visit Lee in the aloof amusement park; Ai of course sees her, and postulates start entering her mind. She starts assuming that she might be his wife, or something. As she's hiding behind the tent, she convinces herself that none of this involves her, and she continues to move on with her life until the moment of truth strikes her, and she decides to go back and check the incident out. Quite cute, don't you think! I thought Lee was extremely bizarre, yet tender. Overall, the characters were just tremendous.

Enjoyment: I can't begin to describe how much I've enjoyed this manwha! It's amazing! Nothing else to be mentioned! YOU MUST READ THIS MANWHA. The art was magnificent. The plot is very realistic yet creative. It's the enjoyment of this manwha that will make you read the story within seconds. The pages will pass very quickly as the life span of a typical human being.

Overall: The manwha delivered tons of stuff beyond my expectations. Is it unique? YES! This manwha is a masterpiece. It's one of a kind. You don't often go by on the internet and observe something amazing as this! I actually found this manwha by someone else's recommendation online on some random thread! So I thank that person for recommending it wherever you are! This is definitely a must read for any COMIC BOOK READER, whether you adore shoujo, shounen, josei, ANYTHING! Take the chance and patience to read this! I guarantee you you will not be disappointed at all! By all means GO READ IT NOW. Hopefully, one day this will be turned into a wonderful movie. I hope there's an animated version of the story even though the story itself already felt like an animation as you flip through the pages. Are you that type of teenager who has a hard time fitting into the typical image of society? Are you constantly worried about what others will perceive you as? Are you sick, and tired of the constant drama and tension? Do not fear, for this manwha is here! It will save you from all the intricacies of life, and will allow you to blossom and convey your true image towards it! Never back down, surely someone out there will be waiting for you! And when you meet them, you will not only go through magic. But you will believe it. Good luck, and I respect the manwhaga for creating such a deep and truthful masterpiece. No, a unique diversion for all the misunderstood aka the unique people out there. Thank you!

We are brought into a world where the main characters each have their own problem. Problems that are serious yet common around the world. There will be at least one point in the story, where you feel as if the story is about you. Instead of trying to create completely unique and fresh back-stories, they made relatable ones. Ones that made you think about your own life and what you want.

The story really is a journey of self-discovery for us and the characters. What is that YOU want? As the chapters progress, over and over, we are taught that it is okay to be selfish every once in a while and no one is going to blame you for doing what you want to do. Life isn't all about pleasing others. You must pursue your own dreams even if that's not what people expect from you. Living up to each and every expectation will only make it harder to keep up.

At first, the characters struggle to comprehend these concepts. They can't understand why they would do something that would only benefit them and not their parents, teachers, etc. However, they slowly come to understand that freedom is the best joy of all. The freedom to do what they desire. For their whole lives, the path to the future was cold and dark. Now, as they find things that make their heart race, they feel genuine happiness. They encounter an abundance of obstacles along the way, but they know that's a small price to pay for individualism and happiness. We see them doing whatever it takes to get on the path they deem right. No longer will they let themselves be told what they should do and shouldn't do. Even if means going against their parents and teachers, they will continue to run full steam ahead to their future, not anyone else's.

The art is stunning and absolutely unique. The characters and backgrounds alike are neatly drawn. For the most part, everything is in black and white, but there are instances where there are colored drawings such as a flower or money. The flower being the sole colored drawing makes it stand out. You see that it's something beautiful in an otherwise heavy atmosphere. More often than not, the colored drawings appear to be very realistic.

What's really unique about the art is how Il-Deung Na is drawn. His initial design is supposed to make you see what kind of person he is. Being the only one who's so weirdly drawn, you realize the art has a correlation with his personality. He looks that way because of how he acts. Eventually, we have fluctuations in his design as a result of him changing who he is on the inside.

We have 3 main characters Lee Eul, Il-Deung Na, & Ah-ee Yoon. None of them are one-dimensional or cardboard cut-outs. They feel like actual people. Like of all us, they have their own problems and flaws. They're not perfect, but they don't come off as unlikable people. Them and their problems are so relate-able that you just can't help, but feel sympathy and care for them. Lee Eul and Ah-ee each have a substantial amount of development, but the character I really want to talk about is Il-Deung Na. I believe he goes through the most character development.

In the beginning, I had nothing, but hate for this guy. Then, we got to see his problem and how he begins to change. He goes from an insufferable jerk to a jerk with problems of his own to an all around good guy. We see that even if your whole life consisted of living in darkness, it's not too late to change yourself. Il-Deung was able to realize that those who did want they wanted to do had the most fun and that having a well-paying job isn't everything. Yeah, you need to be able to take care of yourself in the future, but you also need to live your life to the fullest and not have any regrets. By noticing this, Il-Deung learns not to judge others and gives himself a future where he can support himself while smiling everyday.

You know, I found out about this manhwa by checking the top-rated romance manga. I'm the type of person to drop points if the ending isn't romantically conclusive or sweet, yet I gave this manhwa a 10. Never in a million years, did I think I would be completely satisfied with a bittersweet ending. From beginning to end, the story had me in the palm of its hand. I was so into the story that I didn't even care about romance anymore. The story was just so enticing. The characters and their problems felt real to the point where it felt like I was narrating or actually listening to someone's problems. If you want a good coming-of-age story, then I highly recommend Annarasumanara.