Pandemonium: Majutsushi no Mura

„Pandemonium” is a series about anthropomorfic animals living in apocalyptic world. The series focus on Zipher’s journey trough the hidden city of magic hybrids in order to save his loved one. In the city he meets Domika, who show newcomer kindness in this strange place. Art style is very cute, yet untypical, more in the moe style than realistic. Altrought it’s very fitting for the story. Characters are likeable and understandable in their motives. Overall, the series is very short but well written. If you like stories about mystery and magic, Im sure it will be a pleasant read for you.

Shou Shibamoto's beautiful, intricate and completely singular artstyle should be reason enough to give Pandemonium a read, but if it isn't, it's far from the only thing that makes it a masterpiece in my eyes. The post-apocalyptic setting is bleak, bizarre and hauntingly beautiful, and every single character's personality and design ("variant" or otherwise) is equally unique and compelling even down to the dozens of background variant villagers that make the world feel real and alive. But more than that, Pandemonium tells a timeless love story of two complex characters in complex situations gradually becoming drawn together despite the societal barriers, distrust and ulterior motivesstanding in their way. Domika and Zipher's relationship builds so gradually and so tentatively, as both are hesitant to make first contact for their own reasons, that you can't help but be drawn in yourself. The only real complaint I can make is that I wish there were more of it, as there are only two volumes, but that's not an issue of pacing-- I just enjoyed it so much that I'm sad I'm done with it.