Jan 22, 2021
(TLDR Review at the bottom, as always, thanks for reading in advance.)
Going to answer some questions quickly. A lot of talking around this manga, at least here on MAL as of this post date, is based solely on the one chapter "Shiroi Kumo"/"White Clouds", from reviews telling you that, to discussions discussing on the one chapter. However, there are legitimately 14 chapters to be read.
Going to make this slightly short, and I will be referring to the entire manga as "White Clouds"
Stroy - 8
Art - 8
Character - 7
Enjoyment - 8
...
White Clouds is a manga that would undoubtedly fit the suitcase full of hidden gems. Not much attention to it though it is a piece that doesn't deserve to be brushed over. The manga revolves around surreal and quite dark natures of life. It genuinely feels like it has a sole purpose to simply leap into the human psyche, nature, ego, and just question or varnish the irrational actions of man all onto the page of a manga. One of the deepest things I have seen in a while. With the medium, be it manga or anime, also riding the horde that is the outlook of human life, White Clouds still manages to elevate its amplitude far up, it is no dime in a dozen. It also has a unique selling point. Ties in with its art, its collection of stories, and themes it tries to reach out or query. It does pretty well with the psychology grasping of us as people.
With all the stories of White Clouds, I think the logistics of the manga is one to not forget, as I have explained so with the story, the characters tail a path similar. Characters in this manga, however, tend to be more attentive to how we act, and how we shouldn't. As I went on with before about the surrealism and the dark natures. The hand-in-hand synergy between the story and the characters starring each seem to spring off an ironic realism regardless of what breaks what galactic convention. We have a real-life example of a story, and we have the people that react to it accordingly, and not accordingly. This may be true for pretty much every story you come across though Shiroi Kumo seems to have utilized this function in a much better way, showing the two sides of what is to be expected and what is not to be. Basically, some really well thought out characters.
Despite it being part of a horde of what the psychology, drama, fantasy, whatever you may call it genres offers, it is a manga that I would say is allowed to walk the red carpet, though chooses not to. As for how a hidden gem should be.
Art-wise is where I really thought that manga could emphasise everything before you could even read it. The first chapter "Once Upon a Time" radiates these eldritch particles for the atmosphere, setting up slightly more and less dark chapters for later on. Kinda like those dementia anime with complete neglection of logic and order, though White Clouds retains a remnant of the matter. The art comes off as quite child-like too as if it were a children's picture book, an art style I will never get tired of. Simple, and slightly illusive, to immerse into.
I really enjoyed the manga and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who comes along to read it. I have talked about psychological aspects are psychological, though I would say that there is the odd one chapter, namely "Hoppie's Bear" that is quite happy, it is one of my favourite chapters along with "Grape Picking/Harvesting". So there is a bit for everyone that White Clouds give. Quite short too, so if you are getting into manga or want something small to read. White Clouds is a great option to choose from.
Overall - 7.75 (8)
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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