Feb 26, 2023
Art is to create meaning and emotion, to impose questions, and to provide answers. How can art flourish when it's only ever expected to meet the status quo, and never allowed to ask new questions, provide different answers, or impose unique meaning and emotions? This is the question that PPPPPP, or P6, both asks and seeks to answer, though, in the end, it sadly fell victim to the expectations it tried to surpass.
I'd say overall that P6 is a good manga. It's by no means a masterpiece, but it was unique. Being part of Shonen Jump, a magazine that's constantly overflowing with battle manga, aiming
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to be the next big hit with their large sprawling fights and set pieces, P6 stood out by focusing its grandiosity onto the piano and the worlds created from its sound. While in contrast to its simplicity, the art runs strong with a sense of distortion in both the way the characters are drawn and how the "miracles" performed throughout the story are depicted. Each character is given a selfish sense of purpose, with each of their journeys setting them out on the path to self-discovery in a world that wants conformity and structure.
While P6's themes of individuality are presented strongly in its core message and art, they are never fully realized. While some part of this is due to the fact that P6 was unfortunately canceled rather abruptly, it still fails to fully deliver its themes through the needlessly convoluted dialogue which is ultimately the main downfall of P6. Characters spend a lot of time either being extremely vague or going into far too much detail to explain things which causes a lot of confusion, something I felt often during my time with this manga. The emotions and dilemmas that characters experience just are not explained in a manner that was easily digestible, and it really brought down my experience at times, as I was constantly having to divert my focus from the narrative to try and find an answer to the constant barrage of questions, leaving me far too overwhelmed to try and immerse myself in the story.
Moving on from the overly confusing dialogue, I think now it's important to talk about the ending of P6, or rather the cause of the ending, and the main reason why I think some people won't be satisfied with this manga. P6 as I briefly mentioned earlier, was abruptly canceled leaving many plot lines unresolved. This manga continues to build on its stories and characters until it doesn't. No satisfying resolution for our protagonist, and unfulfilled wishes for all of the people we met along the way. All we get is a fade to black. When I called this manga a victim of expectations, I meant it in the sense of its cancelation. P6 starts and ends being itself. It doesn't try to blend in with its peers, but it's because P6 had this individuality that its fate was sealed. Its ratings and sales were not enough for the staff at Shonen Jump to justify keeping such a non-standard manga around any longer. Even if the end was close, and even if there are no plans to replace it soon. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough.
Despite the sudden ending and the issues with its dialogue, the manga kept me captivated and I'm glad it was able to last as long as it did. If you enjoy the piano and classical music, or if you don't mind an abrupt and unsatisfying ending, then I'd say give PPPPPP a read. Otherwise, it'd be best to skip this one.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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