The World is yours
The story? Well, it's here. And there. And also way over there, too. But it's also not here, either.
Ashizuri Zuizokukan is an episodic saga of a mob blob's life. What accentuates it, however, is the mélange of lucid reality and dreamy imagination. Despite going off on mundane strolls and excursions, such as grocery errands and museum trips, our anonymous blob is slowly lulled into a surreal world filled with peculiar creatures and phenomenon.
These short stories are less anecdotal and more presentative of its quaint quirkiness. The main heroine is one such driving force. Nameless, monochrome, blobby, dull and unfazed; her curiosity often gets the better of her and quietly observes and accepts the all encompassing peculiarities in her daily life. Without any personality, conflict, particular quirks or even a distinct design, there's no need for characterization or development. As she starkly contrasts against the heavily vivid and creative world surrounding her, the audience can relish in the world-building.
It was all a dream
The other distinct aspect of Ashizuri Zuizokukan is its art. Exemplary art, at that.
Don't let the heroine's blobby design fool you, panpanya has a beautiful artistic repertoire. Nodding in response to the surreal world of Ashizuri Zuizokukan, the art often takes form in surrealism. Often employing abstract shapes and unorthodox positioning, it's difficult to not be reminded of those Salvador Dali paintings you saw in high-school art classes. Though, panpanya's surrealism is much less flamboyant and more quaint, scratching my denpa itch until blood and puss oozes out in puddles. The art is less of an attempt to psychoanalyze panpanya's mind, than to present the flourishment of their brilliant and zany imagination.
Though the art is minimalist in nature, the straight-up beautiful crosshatching breathes, exhales and vomits detail into its background art. I mean, seriously. Please just look at the panels I provided below. These subtle shadings provide the buildings, objects and creatures character and a sense of surrealism that depicts the heroine as an anomaly in their outlandish world.
Speaking more of subtleties, I additionally appreciate the paneling in this series. panpanya was thoughtful in regard to representing the overwhelming and mystifying stature of the world by positioning the blobby heroine to give a sense of faraway distance. Other times, the positioning can be particularly wonky and unorthodox to truly exude that unnerving sense of disassociation.
Design-wise. Well, just like the characters' roles in the story, there's not much to speak on. The lazy, chibi character designs serve to accent the surreal art and they do it perfectly. Not to mention, they're quite cute.
Conclusion
Ashizuri Suizokukan ditches concrete characters, story and themes in favor of a minimalist coupling of highly-compatible art and world-building. Without a clear boundary of real and imaginative, the audience is free to explore the world however they please, just like the story's nameless blob protagonist. Accompanying its quaintness is a prominent sense of surrealism. panpanya's overflowing artistic repository is its foundation, extending from peculiar paneling, abstract shapes, creative creatures and a range of artistic techniques often unorthodox in manga.
Ashizuri Zuizokukan depicts the enigma of mundanity and the mundanity of enigma through the quietly observing eyes of its heroine. Bizarre as her daily life may be, perhaps we all can find our own quaint, illusory world present anywhere and at anytime.
