When I first became an active seasonal watcher in 2017, this was one of the first series that I watched and really liked. Since that time, I followed the manga with its yearly volume release and loved it more and more. Now that it’s finished, I can conclude this series is a masterpiece.
This series is very special in its execution of the typical monsters vs. humans plot. The story is a slice-of-life centering on the protagonist Tetsuo Takahashi, a high school teacher who is tasked by his school to guiding, teaching, and interviewing demi-humans, people with monster-like characteristics that adapted to modern human society. Demi-humans are a minority within the population who face their own issues interacting with other humans because of their monster-like traits, and it’s up to Mr. Takahashi to learn and understand these demi-humans and guide them to improving themselves so that they can get along with humans and other demis.
The exploration of these demi-humans is excellent. Through Takahashi’s demi-human interactions, we get to see him interview and guide these demis on a biological and emotional level. These explorations is simultaneously digestible, fun, and intriguing. More than just a typical mentor, over time, Takahashi becomes a father figure of sorts to these demis that makes him all the more endearing. The author is able to balance the demi-human exploration, slice-of-life moments, and emotional scenes very well to create a story formula that is executed better with each volume. Almost every demi gets thoroughly explored and developed, each with their own standout moments and fun bonds with other demis. I got to be attached to every single demi-human by the end of the story.
A huge, fundamental part that makes this story so good is the author’s brilliant panelling and art. I can’t explain it too well, but there is this special finesse in Petos’ art that is able to fully express character emotions through their expressions, motions, and the visual background that surrounds them that gets me as a reader to feel things. This author really understands art and uses that skill to his advantage to create some of the most powerful moments in the series that tugged at my heartstrings. By the end of the story, I was satisfied, unbelievably happy to see how much the demis and Mr. Takahashi have grown to better live their lives in modern human society.
Having binged this series in full many times, I could not find a noticeable flaw. The story was the perfect length and the characters were developed very well. Only the inner demand of me wanting to see these characters more lingers. The one and only minor gripe is there being one demi that isn’t as explored as the other demi-humans, as that character really never got the interview treatment nor character growth. Otherwise, I think this series is phenomenal.
Interviews with Monster Girls was overall outstanding. It’s an ingenious, creative slice of life that does the themes of coming-of-age and monsters-getting-along-with-humans so well. I’ll never forget the characters and the moments that hit me hard. Bless Petos for creating this story. 10/10 series.
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