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