Short doesn’t mean bad.
Sometimes you don’t have all day to read a manga, and let’s be honest, sometimes you do, but you just don’t want to spend this much time on it.
And when that time comes, there’s a simple lifehack that can save you: you can read one-shots. So here’s a small list of some really great ones for you.
1. Goodbye, Eri by Tatsuki Fujimoto
Fujimoto actually has two wonderful one-shots, but Look Back is getting a movie adaptation this summer, so you might want to wait a bit and experience this story as an anime.
Goodbye, Eri follows Yuta, who receives a smartphone for his birthday. His mom is terminally ill and she wants her son to record the last moments of her life. Yuta complies and makes a movie out of the footage.
But when he shows the movie to his classmates, everyone is disturbed. Yuta is so frustrated that he wants to commit suicide. And this is when he meets Eri, the girl who’s about to change his life.
2. Monsters by Eiichiro Oda
You’ll definitely love this one if you’re a fan of One Piece since this one-shot is set in the same universe, and features Ryuma.
Years ago, a terrifying dragon slaughtered an entire village, leaving just a little girl Flare and her savior Cyrano alive. But Ryuma is about to learn that this story isn’t as simple as it sounds when a mysterious lost artifact said to be capable of controlling dragons reappears.
3. Three Days of Happiness by Sugaru Miaki
This manga will make you understand that a work doesn’t have to be long to surprise you with deep drama.
Kusunoki struggles with making ends meet, so when he learns about a place where he can sell his lifespan for money, he decides to go for it. However, he finds out that his life is not worth much. Kusunoki sells it anyway, leaving only three months for himself.
4. A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Ooima
Did you know that one of the best anime movies used to be a one-shot manga before it was serialized and received an adaptation? Although it might be a bit longer than the previous one-shots on our list, you can still finish it pretty quickly.
Shouko is a hearing-impaired girl, but instead of getting some support from her classmates, she’s bullied by them. Shouya Ishida is one of these classmates, but he’s about to learn the consequences of his behavior and deal with a lot of guilt.
5. Sekai no Owari to Yoakemae by Inio Asano
We have to admit, we sneaked not just one, but several stories into our #5, but trust us, they’re all worth it.
Sekai no Owari to Yoakemae is a compilation of one-shots, and each of them will surprise you with depth and even horrify you with cruelty. Inio Asano is notorious for having a very peculiar style that’s not for everyone, but it might be just for you, so give it a try.