While LGBTQ+ themes are becoming increasingly more represented in anime and manga in recent years, the typical “yaoi” and “yuri'' tropes don’t do them justice at all. In fact, those ideas are exactly why the LGBTQ+ community is so sexualized. Our Dreams At Dusk provides a quiet yet groundbreaking look into growing up misunderstood because of sexual orientation and gender identity.
As for the actual content itself, lots of different kinds of identities and sexual orientations are portrayed, including a non-binary and asexual character, a transgender character, a genderqueer character, gay characters, and lesbian characters. (Although this story has many characters representing different identities, each one is thoroughly developed and not just added as some sort of filler!!!)
The story follows the main character, Tasuku, throughout his journey in discovering his sexuality and coming to terms with what that means for him. He faces struggles like being publicly outed, but he rises above it all and stays true to himself. We also get to see Tasuku’s ideas evolve throughout the story through his interactions with the aforementioned characters. Common ideas of having to come out to parents and being worried about rejection/ disapproval are also very clearly portrayed. The story between Tasuku and Touma made me cry so much, it’s so well-written. Slight spoiler:
Saki and Haru, the featured lesbian couple, are also extremely cute together. The development of Saki’s feelings and acceptance of who she is is so beautiful, and I love how Haru stuck beside her!
Slight spoiler panels:
Tchaiko’s relationship was so beautiful as well, every single character is amazingly written.
If you’re on the fence about reading this manga, I say to do it. The art is absolutely stunning and the strong emotions that just about every other panel evokes are incredible.Every character has an intense backstory, each one being just as thought-provoking as the next. This manga really makes you think about just how normalized homophobia, transphobia, etc. are in today’s society, and how your words and actions can really affect someone else. This story, while short, is enough to change your life if you let it.
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