Nano List

Artificial Intelligence or AI is a topic that is becoming more relevant and interesting each year. The currently existing AI is not as exciting as one would like it to be, but that doesn't stop us from imagining what the future could hold. There are many ways to approach the topic making for exciting plotlines. Some works like Pluto require more attention to appreciate the story, but I was looking for something more laidback. I accidentally stumbled on Nano List, which piqued my interest despite knowing almost nothing about the manhwa.

Nano List takes place in a world where androids (humanoid robots) coexist with humans in society. Androids serve different purposes, ranging from Bodyguard Androids to Maid Androids. Most androids possess emotions and look human, making it difficult to distinguish them from regular people. If it were not for the fact that they cant disobey orders from their owners. Lastly and above all, androids can not hurt humans, allegedly. The story follows Do-Jin Ahn, the brother of a genius leading expert in Android Productions, Do-Hwa Ahn, that passed away when he was younger. Do-Jin lives with San, an android made by his sister that has been with him almost his entire life. Before passing away, his sister left a gift that he would receive when he turned seventeen. To his surprise, the present turned out to be a very expensive and unique android called Nano that is now in his possession. However, owning a one-of-a-kind android can bring trouble when many seek to have it, which results in some action-packed moments. The plot is easy to follow and does not try to introduce too many plotlines by establishing certain things about the world early on. The overarching positive attitude toward androids is an example of this, even though it could have been a point of contention. Sadly the story got progressively weaker towards the end. Some parts could have been carried out better or perhaps even excluded.

Even though the story revolves around androids, the decision to make them have human emotions allows for a diverse cast of characters. The interactions between Ahn, San, and Nano are genuinely fun to watch, making even the less significant moments equally entertaining. The author has a good balance between the serious and light-hearted moments while constantly progressing the story at a good pace. I found the androids San and Nano to be compelling characters in contrast to the main protagonist that needed some more distinct features. The author emphasizes that he is supposed to be a regular guy, unlike his emotionally stunted sister. However, it becomes difficult to get attached to him when there is nothing particularly engaging about him. There was an attempt to give him some relevance with his nano constitution, but I didn't find it sufficient to make him stand out. The main antagonist ChaCha was more of a driving force than the protagonist. It was interesting to observe her development while figuring out what she truly seeks. Ultimately most of the characters were dynamic and multidimensional. Decisions weren't made just for the sake of doing good or evil. They had a clear correlation with the personality and intention of the character.

Song-A Min's art excels when it comes to female character design. It was a wise decision to make most of the relevant characters female since it plays to her strengths. She complements these beautiful characters with excellent emotional expressions. The characters elevate various panels with animated facial expressions, most notably when they blush. The colors used are bright and varied without being oversaturated. An area where the art is lacking is the action scenes. They are usually simple and don't bring out the excitement in the reader. That could be due to the short length of the fights instead of the art. Nevertheless, there was potential to make some insane-looking fights between the androids.

It is hard to claim that Nano List is some genre-changing masterpiece, yet it deserves more attention than it has currently. It's a relaxing read with an intriguing storyline and many charming characters. I would argue that there is more to explore within this genre in the anime/manga sphere. There have been some recent works dipping the toe like Viviy or Eighty-Six. However, it's still on the lower end even compared to mainstream media. Hopefully, there will be more authors looking into it. Until then, we can enjoy the robot waifus in Nano List.