Do you believe in magic?

“Annarasumanara”

When she was little, Yun Ai dreamed of becoming a magician. But in reality, she’s just a high school student who can’t even afford new stockings. Since the day she met a mysterious magician at a fair, she desperately wants to follow her dream.

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There are basically only 3 (main) characters in the entire webtoon.

Yoon Ah-ee is a girl struggling through life, forced to grow up prematurely due unfortunate circumstances. She’s left in charge of her little sister. Her mom has left when their father’s business failed, without turning back.

Then there’s the magician, Lee Eul whose character is unveiled gradually in an artistic fashion. And finally, Na Il-Deong, Yoon Ai’s classmate who seems to have everything, yet there’s something important missing in his life. Il-Deong’s interactions with Yoon Ai and Lee Eul, open him up into a “new world” in which he finds the missing piece of his life.

Annarasumanara is Unique, Exquisite, Confrontational. To simply put it hits right in the feels.

The story really is a journey of self-discovery for us and the characters. What is that YOU want? As the chapters progress, over and over, we are taught that it is okay to be selfish every once in a while and no one is going to blame you for doing what you want to do. Life isn’t all about pleasing others. You must pursue your own dreams even if that’s not what people expect from you. Living up to each and every expectation will only make it harder to keep up.

The art is stunning and absolutely unique. The characters and backgrounds alike are neatly drawn. For the most part, everything is in black and white, but there are instances where there are colored drawings such as a flower or money. The flower being the sole colored drawing makes it stand out. You see that it’s something beautiful in an otherwise heavy atmosphere. More often than not, the colored drawings appear to be very realistic.

There’s always really bright colorful art sometimes.

The plot itself is ambiguous as well. What is the truth in life, and what is the right way to live life? What each character believes is the “truth” is never fully revealed in the webtoon, despite them choosing their own paths, if that makes sense. This manhwa need more appreciation truly. I wanted it more long because it was so great and beautiful.

Maybe he’s a true magician because he can change others life, open hearts and give happiness maybe it’s that true magic ?

Annarasumanara may seem like a typical story at first, but as reality seeps into the fantastic, dream like world, the plot becomes amazing and almost painfully realistic at times. It’s beautiful, strange, unique, sad, and overall, magical. Annarasumanara is a story that questions its readers. Are you doing what you really want to do? Are you making excuses? Has society scared you into fitting in, suppressing your own desires?

Perhaps the greatest piece of writing I’ve ever read. Thank you Ha, Il-Kwon for creating Annarasumanara, for allowing me the chance to read such an excellent piece of writing, and changing my life forever. Truly a magical story.

The more I read this webtoon the more I felt painful. Adult life can be really difficult and this story shows it in a bitterweet way.

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School life is boring when you have no dreams or vision, and your only duty is to hit the books to enter college. A rumor goes around school about an abandoned amusement park and a magician who lives there that can make someone disappear for good. Yoon Ai, a girl struggling to feed her sister and herself everyday will experience her life change as she meets a childish magician.

So let me ask you, do you believe in magic?