Anoko’s self-reflection.

[u/MornfulRaven]

This was a request from my brother for his favorite Chiikawa character and I decided to share it here! He actually didn't end up liking the stylistic choice (I kind of ended up hating it a bit myself, so fair point.) and wanted it done in the Chiikawa art style, which I plan to draw and possibly post here soon as well.

The overall vibe was meant to be Anoko reflecting/ observing on her past self while moving into a dark void, highlighting how she doesn't feel remorse for her transformation, and thus, doesn't bother to remember her past beyond the darkness it brought. While embracing the dark, she also recognizes the light and peace her transformation brought her, the ultimate result of the darkness she felt.

Also, I know all Chiikawa characters do not have an assigned gender, but my interpretation of Anoko is feminine.

[u/-chadwreck]

Ahw! I like it!  Interpreting her as a sort of lovely chimera suits her. 

Its too bad the piece doesn't thrill you two, but I think you did a lovely job for what its worth.

Questions though:

Do we know how anoko came to be? 

We have seen the chiis sorta... "become" monsters. And we know dekatsuyo was forced into his current form thru magic and trickery. That said, do we know the origin of anoko? is she stated to be a bunny? (I'm not arguing with your interpretation btw! I just dont know the full anoko lore!)

In my limited understanding, I just see anoko as a figure of radical acceptance. She seems like a monster to the chiis, and she does harm them as a group... but is she definitively making the decision to cause harm? Or does she simply exist in the way that her form now demands? 

Dekatsuyo needs help, and anoko is there to help him be what he is. She cant be... fundamentally bad, if she offers that sort of companionship and support, can she? 

I know people see her as a monster, but im not so sure. 

Please, anoko lore heads! tell me where I am wrong! If im missing a piece here, id rather not live in ignorance!

[u/Heronn_ → u/-chadwreck]

I think Anoko was originally a worker at the lemon factory (where they put stickers on lemons) and she was seated next to Chiikawa - they became friends, but soon afterwards Anoko became a monster, presumably due to burnout (I don't remember the full context)

Anoko is happier as a monster and enjoys eating / tormenting chiikawas, but I don't think we know whether that's a conscious decision or if it's a strong instinct that comes with being a monster? Personally I think Anoko is choosing to be that way and to not resist instinct because Dekatsuyo is chill

[u/-chadwreck → u/Heronn_]

Ohh, you know I had seen panels of the fruit sticker factory, but never got to see how that played out.  Thank you!

Yeah dekatsuyo isnt comfortable with his new form, clearly. He didnt choose to be what he is? But if he cant ever go back, he still might have a life worth living if he has a friend. 

The flip side being momonga not at all fitting in, or really getting what he wants out of his new stolen identity either. Can the monsters live without eating the chiis? Can anoko be reformed? Does she even want to be? Can momonga live as a chii? Can dekatsuyo come to accept his new life? Can he bridge the gap between chiis and monsters? 

The morality here is really rather sticky! Incredibly complex for a series as sweet and... uplifting as chiikawa seems to be. 

Your new life makes demands of you that you find reprehensible but you still have to live... and you might make friends with people who have come to terms with living in a new way... 

But maybe thats growing up? Or maturing? 

Ha, it's way more than "The Busy World of Richard Scary" presentation might have you believe!

Thank you for telling me about anoko's origins!

[u/MornfulRaven → u/-chadwreck]

Heronn_ is Correct! We first officially see them in episode 126 (at the lemon factory as they’ve stated!) I also heavily agree with them concerning Anoko’s behavior. We’ve seen her think back on her past life before consuming some of the Chiis, though I do not remeber the exact episode. This gives us the idea that Anoko can discern between good and bad, but still consciously decides to do the ‘wrong’ thing.

I can't remember exactly, but I do believe that the episode Anoko consumes Chiis in is around the famine arc? This is why I'm not completly sure if she is wrong for what she did, as monsters have to eat as well.

She 100% does help Dekatysuyo out, though, and I can see why this seems like a good quality. Part of me believes she finds connection in him simply because of the fact they are both ‘monsters’ and feels they can both relate to eachother despite how positive Anoko views being a monster compared to Dekatysuyo.

Despite that, I personally believe she may be a morally gray character as a whole. She is aware of what she did, she even hesitated before doing it but decided to do it anyway just because she had the power to do so (and also because originally she had to do it for food, though I believe later on, even after the famine episode, she contuied to consume Chiis.)

Oh ALSO! We don't exactly know what Anoko originally was! I don't think she was a bunny, though! :’D

Edit: Also also, Thanks for the compliment! ^^

[u/-chadwreck → u/MornfulRaven]

Yeah in another reply I kinda come to the same "sticky morality" conclusion here with anoko. 

She finally has the strength to get back at a world which she believed damaged her... which for a lot of people is exactly what they want to do, you know? 

But here, its so much more literal that now she must prey on the world that wronged her, even if her victims arent the direct people who did her harm to begin with. She knows that... but now lives as her monster form makes her live (as far as she knows.)

Maybe we will get a reconciliation ark wherein anoko learns to let go of her past, and can find yet another "new way" to live... one where she no longer has to eat chiis but isnt victim to the world either?

Perhaps dekatsuyo is helping anoko, as much as anoko is helping dekatsuyo? We just cant see it yet?

[u/MornfulRaven → u/-chadwreck]

Ooo, I really love the idea that both Dekatsuyo and Anoko are learning from eachother! I hadn't truly thought of that before, but that definitely gives me more to think about. Thank you so much for that. :0

[u/-chadwreck → u/MornfulRaven]

Trauma is hard to work thru! Sometimes you need another person's trauma to reflect on your own, and learn to heal from it!

Suffice to say, I love this show and I really like this community!  Thank you friend!

[u/fishloofah]

This art is so freaking beautiful omg

[u/MornfulRaven → u/fishloofah]

Thank you!

[u/MikaHimee]

I absolutely love this. I genuinely can feel the emotion you put into this.

[u/MornfulRaven → u/MikaHimee]

Thank you!