“Tadashi Endou is visited by his classmate, Sumida, every day to hand him class printouts after a traumatic experience forces him to shut himself in his own room. And within his confines, walls are lined end-to-end with mysterious photographs that he cannot remember taking. The scene – an alleyway bathed in the colors of sunset. The mysteries come to a breaking point when Endou discovers that Sumida isn't an actual person in his class; and so begins a surreal journey to recover memories once lost in a supernatural mystery drama by the author of Raincoat Kids.” (Irodori Aqua)
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The doujinshi format, which sees artists' self publishing their own work in shorter segmented work, forces the creator to present an intriguing scenario and protagonist in a few panels (around 50 for each volume). Meme is able to accomplish this by introducing Tadashi as someone already withdrawn from society and obsessed with the one girl who visits him. Little hints as to what pushes his self isolation come to the surface, giving a rational reason for the protagonist to disconnect from society.
Undeniably, Meme thrives within the confides of a shorter release to create an endearing narrative about disenfranchised youth. The story is fast paced but also contemplative, and the touches of surrealism are grounded by manifesting from Tadashi's personal struggles. The second volume introduces elements of fantasy, but it offers a natural transition by staying tied to the protagonist's desires, such as wanting to lose his painful memories and finding himself in a world where he can do just that. In this regard, the series does a good job of blurring the lines of reality with Tadashi's trip to another world feeling willed into existence as opposed to discovered. Overall, “Riverbed Projector” dances nicely between abstract and realism in a wonderfully contemplative style.
The artistic style of Meme can, at times, come across as messy and frantic with an aesthetic of textures and forms made through scribbled lines. Though appearing disorderly, the art really comes together to create a lovely aesthetic when exploring the urban landscape of Japan with the free flowing lines mimicking the energy of the big city. In addition, the style plays well on Tadashi's own mental struggles and the sense of being overwhelmed by people. Overall, Yoimachi Meme's unorthodox approach captures both the mental anguish and landscapes (both grounded and surreal) with stunning conviction.
The digital release from Irodori Aqua meshes well with the original work in the sense that Tim Sun (lettering) and Zhuchka (formatting) keep a complimentary flow with Meme's art. A reflection of the benefit of working closely with the original creator, the text and sound effects for the English release transition seamlessly.
Doujinshi has proven to be a great outlet for independent voices in manga to exercise both ingenuity and creativity and “Riverbed Projector” is a shining example in the format showcasing that creators can make content that is both profound and attention worthy. Fitting perfectly with Irodori Aqua standout Isaki Uta (“Mermaid in the Bottle“, “Leaper“), Yoimachi Meme deserves a wider audience.
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