Glitch’ imbibes the viewer with a unique perspective fomented by Shinya and amalgamates the fantastical with nature. Merging the elements of drama and supernatural, Glitch weaves magic through an inflow of various fantasies and renders a new angle on the semi cliché narrative of a family shifting to a new city and settling there. As a genre that can be monotonous, manga stories require a unique engaging hook and this is how Glitch stands out.
I am sure as the story proceeds, a plot will emerge that explains the town lore, and I am particularly intrigued about the town’s peculiar citizens likely having a lifetime of experiences to share regarding the ethereal creatures that hijack reality. Embedded in a sense of danger towards those that can see the glitches, it feels very much more of an amalgamation of youth’s imagination. Additionally, Minato and Akira Lee being siblings and childhood friends with the odd creatures serve as the perfect new friend to cement the plots and unravel any lore there is to have. Exploring a new strange environment while slowly learning about the lore equals this friendship to have eternal potential.
The series started in 2021 and concluded in 2023 ending with the release of four volumes published by Yen Press. This is commendable, as the story line of a three volume series raises questions about its conclusion and its a short story. Although this is yet to say, “Glitch” is indeed a fondly carved out imagination in favor of bouncing the readers with thick pages covering the plot in a nutshell during its run time as readers can visualize “shocking alterations”.
In the view of the economic and social conveniences of the release, the short span time, and the efficient writing that welcomes classic narrating styles–yet giving its importance to Shinya’s perspective, one would expect the series to be ‘all good’ writing. Borrowing from Shinya, one would argue, it very much feels like taking a safe step away from craziness and falls into the category of ‘for all ages’, distancing the more adult themes and spells. Even then, this is before taking into consideration the style of Shima Shinya.
Shima Shinya, like in the series “Lost Lad London”, has difficulty integrating his visuals into his story, as the styles he applies tend to clash with the focal point of his setting. he always tend to have an overly detached commercial aesthetic to him and in Glich, there are hints of a softer disney aesthetic to me, which still adheres to the modernization and replacing the traditional. In contrast, the setting of the Glich family is balanced out by the characters, being assisted in part by some elements of surrealism. The ‘glitch’ aka the creatures, regardless of whether they are small in stature or hail large above the horizon overrun, leave a mark.
Their hands and feet for instance tend to be vilified when considering specificity, yet for a series that is based on the follies of youth this too appears to be less of a restriction, since it appears that Shinya customizes his visuals, simply to the ebullience of the ebullient. I for instance, find the first few panels, colored were far more appealing. Speaking of Shima Shinya I’d further argue he would have an incredible ease towards resolving colored shading as well would tend to do wonders with a wide color spectrum but considering the fact that monochromes tend to shift color sides would most likely be delved deeper into only in the future.
Having browsed two English titles published by Shinya Shiima and that is Kodocha and Breaker, I can conclude that the artist is not my cup of tea expanding on that visual aspect and content wise even though the story within the maiden volume is beautifully crafted. Nonetheless, “Glitch” offers slightly more beneficial depiction of Shinya’s abilities thus making the piece more enjoyable to watch. Without a doubt there exists demographic of admirers of the extraordinary stories Shima Shinya makes. In the case you like the style, try it out for sure.
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