''ANIMUS'' is a
graphic novel
A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...
written and illustrated by French cartoonist
Antoine Revoy. Part ghost story, part detective-fiction, it was published by
First Second Books
First Second Books is an American publisher of graphic novels. An imprint of Roaring Brook Press, part of Holtzbrinck Publishers, First Second publishes fiction, biographies, personal memoirs, history, visual essays, and comics journalism. It als ...
on 8 May 2018.
Story
The novel is set in a quiet neighborhood in
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the city ...
where, unbeknownst to the general public, children are mysteriously disappearing.
Two elementary school friends, Sayuri and Hisao, slowly come to realize that inauspicious, paranormal forces are at play in the most unlikely of places: the local playground. This playground is haunted by a trapped, snaggled-tooth ghost named Toothless, whose body was buried and never recovered. As Toothless reveals the playground's secrets, Sayuri and Hisao slowly come to realize that the tragic events in their hometown are connected to its supernatural powers. When one of their friends gets hurt, they resolve to exorcise the playground's evil. They set out on a search for Toothless's missing body, in hopes of releasing his spirit.
Themes and motifs
Inspired by Revoy's childhood in Japan, ''ANIMUS'' muses upon themes of fear, captivity,
animism
Animism (from Latin: ' meaning 'breath, Soul, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct Spirituality, spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things—Animal, animals, Plant, plants, Ro ...
, and the old and the new.
Revoy stated in a podcast interview that ''ANIMUS'' is designed as a puzzle.
Reception
''ANIMUS'' has received high praise for the quality of its black and white artwork, originality and thematic depth.
However, some critics found the plot convoluted and its signature twist perplexing. Paste Magazine highlighted ''ANIMUS'' as "
a must-read for anyone invested in the next generation of horror hounds" while Kirkus Reviews deemed it "an eerie graphic novel mystery that is bewildering and unnerving in the best way possible." ''ANIMUS'' was distinguished as one of the 20 Best Kids Comics of 2018 and one of the 31 Best Scary Comics For Kids by Paste Magazine. The following year, it was selected by
YALSA
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), established in 1957, is a division of the American Library Association. YALSA is a national association of librarians, library workers and advocates whose mission is to expand the capacity of l ...
, a division of the
American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members a ...
, as one of the 2019 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.
References
External links
''ANIMUS'' official site''ANIMUS'' on publisher Macmillan's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Animus
2018 graphic novels
First Second Books books
Ghost stories
Comics set in Japan
Japan in non-Japanese culture