Naoki Urasawa’s Editor Saved Him from Crashing Monster After His Previous Manga’s Limited Demographic Targetted Only “Male aged 40 and more”

Monster, by Naoki Urasawa, is certainly a landmark in the history of seinen anime because nothing else has really 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 very gripping watch.

A still featuring Johan Liebert on the right | Credits: Madhouse Studio

Yet, thanks to Urasawa’s editor, Monster went from just an engaging story into a revolutionary work of genius. He contributed much to the basic premise of this series so that Monster has become such a masterpiece of an art form, which continues to resonate with audiences even years later, setting new standards for seinen anime.

Monster Wasn’t Originally Planned to be Set in Europe!

A still from Monster featuring kid Johan | Credits: Madhouse Studio

Although the setting of Monster is European, it wasn’t what Naoki Urasawa initially planned. He had the story set in New York and was going to do the same thing as he did with his other work named Pineapple Army. But, his editor convinced him otherwise because, around that time, the magazine’s audience was mostly males around the age of 40 and up. In an exclusive interview, Urasawa himself said,

But my editor at the time felt that the reader demographic for this particular magazine was males aged 40 and over, and they’re probably more likely to be engaged by stories set in Europe.

This demographic was said to be highly interested in stories that spoke in a European setting, thus bringing about a drastic change in the story’s background.

After this, Urasawa’s plot took on a European setting, which eventually transferred the story to England, a location that also played a key role in another of Urasawa’s series, Master Keaton. This editorial direction changed not only the geography of Monster but also introduced historical and cultural depth that became a core part of its themes.

The context of rebuilding the past that Germany had after WWII gave a fantastic backdrop for the themes related to child abuse, orphans, and the trauma surrounding it. Around that time, people got curious about some complex matters after WWII, especially human experimentation and its effect on survivors, which added a richer depth and darkness to the show’s contents as well.

The Historical Connection Between Japan And Germany in Medicinal Fields Made The Plot More Enticing

Dr. Kenzo Tenma | Credits: Madhouse Studio

A historical connection between Japan and Germany in the medicinal field deeply enriched the plot of Monster. When Urasawa learned about the influence of Germany’s advanced medical technology on Japan’s own medical industry, he became quite fascinated. This historical link created a natural association between Japanese doctors and Germans, making the setting of Monster in Germany a good choice for the story.

I think in Japan, our medical industry was influenced by a lot of German technology at the time, so when we think of medicine in Japan, a natural association is Germany. So when I began to write Monster, the protagonist is a doctor and setting the story in Germany seemed natural.

Centering Dr. Kenzo Tenma, was a nod to that historical connection but also a way to get deeper into the narrative. It made it possible for Urasawa to run through complex medical, ethical, and even psychological ideas within a culturally and historically significant setting by placing the story in such a rich European context.

Situating in post-war Germany allowed the Neo-Nazi movements to entwine itself into Monster’s storyline and thereby enrich the narrative further with more socio-political commentary. The setting really sparked a gripping portrayal of how the most intense and monstrous traumas in history are expressed with extremist beliefs, blended together in a personal and professional problem for the characters.

All 74 episodes of Monster are available to stream on Crunchyroll.