Oyasumi PunpunGoodnight Punpun Edit What would you like to edit? SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links   5q1s3a

Well, after finishing the manga, I absolutely have to leave a review.
As a fan of psychological and dark manga, what drew me in at first was precisely the psychological aspect that someone had praised to me, along with several recommendations from people who spoke very highly of it. I was even warned that it was very dark. And on that point, I can’t argue: the manga is indeed dark deeply so.

But after finishing it, I must say I wouldn’t go as far as to categorize it strictly as “psychological.” To me, a truly psychological manga is a story where characters constantly engage in mental strategies, ... deep thinking, and mind games—like in Death Note, Monster, Moriarty the Patriot, or even Kaiji. But here, it’s not so much about intellect or manipulation, but rather about the depth of emotions, trauma, and existential reflections.

So, I’d say the word that fits it best is more “philosophical.” Goodnight Punpun is about life, its absurdities, its cruelty at times, but also its rare moments of light. It questions our relationship with God, with existence, with the meaning we give to our actions. Every character seems to carry a deep wound, and you can feel how depression, loneliness, and misunderstanding weigh heavily on them. I was especially moved by the monologues of Yūichi, Punpun’s uncle. What he says, what he thinks—it’s exactly the kind of thoughts I’ve often had myself.

There were moments when some characters irritated me so much that I thought I hated the manga. And that’s precisely its strength. These characters are too human. They are flawed, selfish, lost, sometimes cowardly… and it’s this unsettling realism that kept me going. It almost feels like the mangaka, Inio Asano, didn’t “create” a story but simply illustrated the real lives of broken human beings in fictional form.

I have to say, I really liked Yūichi and Sachi—two incredibly well-written characters. And Aiko… especially toward the end, she left a big impact on me. She almost made me reassess my entire judgment of the rest. The artwork, meanwhile, is sublime. The contrast between the sometimes minimalist style (with Punpun portrayed in an abstract way) and the richly detailed, hyper-realistic backgrounds works beautifully to blur the line between fiction and reality.

In conclusion, I’d say some characters resemble us. At least, I saw myself in their shadows. That’s also what made me angry, disturbed, doubtful—but also moved. I hesitated between giving it a 9 or a 10, especially because of certain elements that bothered me: sometimes the depiction of sex, the childish or toxic behaviors of some characters. But thinking about it… human beings are like that. This manga doesn’t sugarcoat it—it shows us as we really are, raw, crude, unfiltered. And that’s rare.

So yes, Goodnight Punpun is a masterpiece a manga that feels too real, that disturbs you, shakes you, but one you won’t forget. For that, I’m giving it a 10/10 without hesitation.

Thank you, Inio Asano, for this manga. Honestly, I won’t be forgetting this read any time soon.

whether you have old unresolved young love, or dealt with retroactive jealousy, the entire manga is trying to pull on your trauma strings and attempts to hit as many as possible, making some of the story unrelatable and unbearable to read ( e.g the good vibrations cult did not resonate with me whatsoever, it felt like hell, might be a major issue in japan tho so idk)

Will come back to it when more mature. it'll probably hit harder.
unique story, the sytle fits the story

One arc in particular—the "Good Vibrations" cult storyline—felt especially dissonant. Personally, it didn’t connect with me at all. Instead of feeling intrigued ... or moved, it felt like a descent into a kind of psychological hell that was more exhausting than enlightening. Perhaps it reflects a real social issue in Japan, but as an outsider, it felt out of place and made the story harder to engage with.

That said, the story is undeniably unique. It dares to explore uncomfortable emotional terrain in ways most manga don't, and there's something irable about that. The art style—raw, occasionally surreal—complements the tone of the story well. It's not pretty for the sake of aesthetics; it fits the atmosphere, amplifying the emotional unease.

I might return to this series when I’m a little older, a little more grounded. There’s a good chance it’ll hit harder with time and life experience. For now, though, it’s a mixed experience—ambitious and affecting, but sometimes too much to bear.

It's a Masterpiece. Read at your own discretion.

I was gonna post only the above review, but MAL wants me to write more so here I am. I'll just state where 'Goodnight Punpun' peaks and why I'm not recommending it.

Goodnight Punpun's peaks:
1. Story
... 2. Character writing and development
3. Art (Both goofy and realistic at the same time)
4. Themes

Now why am I not recommending this? Because this manga is VERY DIFFICULT to understand, there are chapters upon chapters with literally zero dialogues and just random ahh drawings (mostly depicting Punpun's inner state of mind). If you've read and understood Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue, you might understand what's happening in the story. The bigger issue arises when you understand it, because you'd be depressed as hell and suicidal. I'm getting PTSD as I write this review.