Genkaku Picasso
| Company type | Manga series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manga publishing |
| Founded | September 4, 2008 |
| Founder | Usamaru Furuya |
| Defunct | April 3, 2010 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Manga volumes |
Genkaku Picasso is a Japanese manga series created by Usamaru Furuya, which was serialized in Shueisha's Jump Square from September 2008 until April 2010. The narrative is compiled into three volumes. In North America, Viz Media holds the licensing rights and distributes the series through its Shonen Jump imprint, primarily aimed at the shōnen audience.
Plot
The narrative centers on Hikari Hamura, a 17-year-old high schooler known by the nickname "Picasso" due to his exceptional drawing skills. After surviving a helicopter accident that claims the life of his sole friend, Chiaki Yamamoto, she reappears as a tiny winged figure residing in his pocket. Chiaki informs Hikari that to avoid physical decay, he must employ his artistic abilities to sketch the "hearts" of others. Initially hesitant, Hikari becomes driven to assist his peers confronting personal challenges when he notices signs of deterioration on his arm. Each chapter delves into a classmate’s emotional struggles through surreal artwork that Hikari and Chiaki enter to analyze and help resolve their difficulties.
Publication
Genkaku Picasso, both written and illustrated by Usamaru Furuya, who modeled the protagonist after himself, ran in Shueisha's shōnen magazine Jump Square from September 4, 2008, through April 3, 2010. The chapters were later compiled into three tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, released between February 4, 2009, and June 4, 2010.
In North America, Viz Media translated and published all three volumes under its Shonen Jump label from November 2, 2010, to May 3, 2011. Subsequently, on March 27, 2012, Viz Media made the series available digitally via its VizManga.com platform and the Viz Manga App for iOS. Additionally, Australian publisher Madman Entertainment issued an English edition.
Reception
Genkaku Picasso was nominated as one of four manga for the Young Adult Library Services Association’s 2012 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list but did not advance to the final selection.
Lissa Pattillo of Anime News Network commended the visual design and artwork of the initial volume but raised concerns about potential narrative repetition. Chris Kirby from Mania.com praised the artistic quality and metaphorical portrayal of internal states but criticized the limited development of Hikari and Chiaki, viewing them primarily as narrative tools. Scott Green of Ain't It Cool News recognized Furuya’s talent for depicting surreal and provocative themes but felt that the characters’ issues lacked sufficient peculiarity to fully enhance the surreal atmosphere.
Carlo Santos at ANN described the opening volume’s stories as gimmicky but valued Furuya’s diverse artistic styles, surreal elements, and humor; however, he found later stories increasingly repetitive and unoriginal. Despite these critiques, Santos listed it among the top manga released in the United States in 2011. Leroy Douresseaux also highlighted the striking surreal illustrations representing characters’ inner emotions and later praised Furuya’s sharp dialogue and visual storytelling in the second volume.