We’re discussing a series we both read over a decade ago and have revisited for this discussion: Goodnight Punpun by Inio Asano - a manga we both love, but have our feelings on this ultra-depressing tale changed or waned years later? Listen to find out.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction - getting ready for depression
3:59 Our general feelings about Goodnight Punpun, apprehensive to re-experiencing the series
10:09 Does Punpun’s story resonate with men in particular?
14:05 Does it ever it ever go into torture porn territory?
17:08 Some of our other favourite characters: Shimizu, Seki, Sachi, Harumi
21:42 Why did Asano depict Punpun as a non-human and does it work?
24:19 The complications with a possible anime adaptation
27:32 Inio Asano’s shift in tone and content in his recent series since Goodnight Punpun
30:26 Spoiler discussion begins
30:38 Yuuichi’s storyline - mirroring Punpun’s journey, continuing their tragic cycle
33:49 Sachi and Aiko - did either/both of them Punpun and did he love either of them?
37:43 “Love itself is unhealthy” as the series message?
39:41 The dramatic third act and final message - was it good or bad for Punpun’s character?
46:16 Did we want to see Punpun’s face in the end?
47:52 Was “Goodnight Punpun” Sachi’s manga - was she exploiting him?
49:34 The ending mirroring the beginning - the cycle of life goes on
50:19 Samu’s Recommendation: The Flowers of Evil by Shuuzou Oshimi
54:27 Enzo’s Recommendation: The Climber by Shin-ichi Sakamoto and Yoshiro Nabeda
56:22 Overview and final scores
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