Alert: This article contains spoilers for the first chapter of Taika’s Reason. Paru Itagaki is widely recognized as the genius behind the beloved manga series Beastars and the recently concluded Sanda, which is set to receive an anime adaptation from Science Saru this coming fall. Itagaki’s work is characterized by surreal human-centric drama, often intertwining themes that challenge societal norms, which has undeniably positioned her as one of the most distinctive creators in the manga industry over the past decade.
Known for pushing boundaries, Paru Itagaki’s latest endeavor is Taika’s Reason, a serialization that debuted in Weekly Shonen Champion barely a year after Sanda‘s finale. True to form, this new work promises to deliver the same level of eccentricity that fans have come to expect from her portfolio. Those who appreciate Itagaki’s unique storytelling style will find themselves on another bizarre journey, making it essential reading for enthusiasts of her previous works.
Unraveling the Plot of Taika’s Reason
All You Need to Know About Taika’s Reason
The story of Taika’s Reason revolves around Ao, a girl shrouded in cynicism who finds solace only in her relationship with her father and their family pitbull, Taika. Her mundane life is abruptly shattered when she returns home to discover that Taika has savagely attacked her father. With her mother away, Ao makes a desperate choice; she disposes of her father’s remains in a river, determined to protect Taika from being euthanized.
As time passes, Ao struggles to cope with the tragedy of her father’s death, exacerbated by her mother’s decision to put Taika through a controversial procedure known as pet-humanization. This process endows animals with human-like attributes and has been introduced in Japan as a response to declining birth rates. Towards the story’s climax, Taika, initially seeming oblivious, reveals a surprising depth of understanding as he urges Ao that they must turn themselves in.
Is Taika’s Reason Paru Itagaki’s Strangest Work Yet?
Although only the first chapter of Taika’s Reason has been released, it is already making a strong case as Paru Itagaki’s most unconventional work. Notably, Itagaki is known for integrating provocative and surreal themes into her narratives, and with its combination of anthropomorphic characters and human interactions, Taika’s Reason sets the stage for a potentially even more provocative exploration than Beastars.
This new series does not merely rely on its surreal aesthetic; it delves deeper into human emotions filtered through a bizarre and absurd lens. While Taika’s Reason exhibits a seriousness absent in some of Itagaki’s previous creations, it intriguingly juxtaposes everyday human experiences against an outlandish backdrop. Although it remains too early for definitive conclusions, there is ample reason to suspect that Taika’s Reason could offer fans an experience as intriguing and chaotic as that of Beastars.
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