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Monster, by Naoki Urasawa, is certainly a landmark in the history of Seinen anime. One can argue there’s nothing else that has managed to surpass its intricate storytelling and psychological depth yet. Set against the dark backdrop of post-WWII Germany, the very well-entwined and torn themes of trauma, and horror make it a must-watch.
Yet this revolutionary series had quite an unexpected origin, which one could never expect. In a resurfaced interview, author Naoki Urasawa himself shed light on what exactly inspired him to come up with this all-time masterpiece. This revelation that he made in the past, will leave even the die-hard fans shocked.
A Certain TV Show Directly Inspired The Thrilling Storyline ofMonster
During a2019 interview, with the world-class mangaka, Naoki Urasawa, fans got to know some of the most exciting details about what madeMonstercome to life. Among the several revelations though one that strikes significantly than the others was when he talked about his direct inspiration for the narrative ofMonster.
“That really wasn’t what I was interested in”: Naoki Urasawa was a Manga Prodigy Decades Before Monster or Pluto were Even Created
It was from an old American TV series calledThe Fugitivethat Urasawa drew his inspiration to create his legendary work,Monster.The Fugitiveaired in the 1960s and had many fans in Japan, even including a young Urasawa, who was just eight years old then. In case you don’t know, this TV show was also the inspiration behind the famousHarrison Fordfilm,The Fugitive, carrying the same title.
It was the American TV series The Fugitive – not the film. I watched it when I was about eight.
Urasawa creditsThe Fugitive’ssuspenseful storyline and themes of pursuit and survival. Well, unsurprisingly, the show also tells the story of a wrongly accused doctor on the run from the law. Urasawa’sMonsterquite significantly probes similar tensions and moral complexities, weaving a thrilling narrative that searches the boundaries of justice, identity, and humanity.
The Striking Similarities BetweenThe Fugitive& Naoki Urasawa’sMonster
The 1960s TV series,The FugitiveandNaoki Urasawa’smasterpiece,Monster, bear a striking narrative similarity. Dr. Richard Kimble (fromThe Fugitive) and Dr. Kenzo Tenma (fromMonster) find themselves in the same boat, as they get falsely accused of murder and attempt to chase after the real criminal behind their crimes. Both follow the storytelling trope of “hunter and hunted”, resulting in a cat-and-mouse game. Urasawa himself shed light on this in the same interview, saying,
The story is that a doctor is accused of murder, the detectives are chasing him and he must run away. That storyline really had an impact on me, and that’s the original that I was trying to depict in Monster.
Kimble pursues the one-armed man inThe Fugitive, while, inMonster, Tenma has to chase after Johan Liebert, the mastermind behind the various murders he had been framed for. Similarly, Lieutenant Gerard chases Kimble, while Police Inspector Heinrich Lunge is in a never-ending pursuit of Tenma.
Naoki Urasawa’s Editor Saved Him from Crashing Monster After His Previous Manga’s Limited Demographic Targetted Only “Male aged 40 and more”
Although on a plot thread,Monsteris quite similar to its parent story, Urasawa’s work is much more intricate and layered in terms of including themes like identity, morality, and human relationships. From the foundations given byThe Fugitive,Monsterwas able to expand and form one of the most excellent and suspenseful plots on a new thought-provoking level. No other mangaka has ever reached the heights that Urasawa managed to conquer with his works. And it’s not justMonster!
All 74 episodes ofMonsterare available to stream onCrunchyroll.
Diganta Mondal
Anime Content Writer
Articles Published :741
Diganta Mondal is an avid Content Writer at Fandomwire, specializing in anime and pop culture-related stuff. With over 600 published articles, he boasts his knowledge on this beloved media and strives to connect with fellow anime enthusiasts all across the globe.Despite having a non-journalism educational background, his love for shows like Vinland Saga, Violet Evergarden, and other Naoki Urasawa works constantly inspires him to share informative news, theories, and recommendations on almost all anime genres, aiming to create a shared platform for nerdy discussions.
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Harrison FordNaoki UrasawaThe Fugitive
