In the utopia of Pirito, only Kai can hear the ever-present song of Marie, the giant mechanical goddess who protects the town. He finds himself utterly infatuated with her, and he soon comes to find that the fate of humanity rests in his hands. The Music of Marie by Usamaru Furuya is a poigna ntly beautiful and bittersweet manga that explores the nature of love, technology, and free will. I think one of the first things that jumped out to me about this manga was its creative worldbuilding. It’s set in a post-apocalyptic future where there’s a robot-worshiping religion, a giant walking fungi forest, and a trio of metal sages. This manga transports readers to a colorful and richly-imagined world that feels reminiscent of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind . It even thematically reminds of Nausicaä as well. It’s also important to note that this is not an action-oriented manga. It’s more of a contemplative, introspective piece that focuses on the characters, their relationships, and ...