A new short film honors the legacy of manga artist Kiriko Nananan

A posthumous tribute to the late manga artist Kiriko Nananan has resulted in a new film adaptation of her work. The artist, who passed away on December 25, 2024, at the age of 52, was particularly appreciated for her sensitive josei works. The announcement of her death came only a year later, in accordance with the wishes of the deceased and her family.

Her well-known work "blue" (English title: Blue), which has now been reinterpreted as a short film, was originally published in 1997. The story, set in a girls' boarding school on the coast, deals with interpersonal relationships and adolescent emotional worlds. The story was first adapted into a feature film in 2002.

Kiriko Nananan, whose legal name was Kiriko Nananan, began her career in 1993 with the publication of "Hole" in the magazine Garo. She became known for her realistic and restrained drawing style, which was often accompanied by an emotional distance. Her other significant works, which were also adapted into films, include "Strawberry Shortcakes" and "Kabocha to Mayonnaise" (English: Pumpkin and Mayonnaise). She was also associated with the artistic movement "La nouvelle manga," which combines stylistic elements of Franco-Belgian comics with manga.

Her work reached an international audience; "Blue" was published in English by publishers such as Fanfare and Ponent Mon.

The release of the new short film underscores the enduring resonance of Nananan's work. Her stories, characterized by psychological depth and artistic attention to detail, deal with universal themes such as loneliness, longing, and the complexity of human connections. This reinterpretation of her most famous work thus not only serves as a memorial to the artist but also introduces new generations of readers and viewers to her sensitive and memorable narrative legacy.