Ana Satsujin is a manga that after losing its initial shock value becomes a rather convoluted and prolonged experience that loses its lustre the longer it goes on. While there were glimpses of potential throughout the course of its story the author never really explores the themes that would have elevated this manga in terms of its storytelling impact. While not every manga or anime has to be deep or profound it does need to at least be engaging enough to be worth the time. Taking that into account it is debatable whether Ana Satsujin is worth the time at all. The story is centred around protagonist Etsurou Kurosu who is a suicidal loner who sees no purpose in the world. During one of his suicide attempts he inadvertently damages his apartments wall and finds a peephole where he is able to spy into the life of his next door female neighbor. Aroused by this sudden opening Kurosu becomes a voyeur and watches eagerly noting that this one event gave him the will to live. All that changes when he one day witnesses a brutal murder committed by his neighbor. Through a series of bizarre and surprising events that follow Kurosu not only meets his murderous neighbor who later introduces herself as Rio Miyaichi but also falls in love with her. This dangerous and twisted relationship begins to unravel as the two have to struggle against police officers vengeful family members and bizarre cults. While there are problems with execution this mangas premise is actually extremely interesting and filled with potential. Had it been pulled off well Ana Satsujin would have been an amazing series that would have appealed to audiences looking for an unorthodox antihero to root for. Kurosus obsession with dying and Miyaichis obsession with taking the lives of others is a complex dynamic that really drives this bizarre romance throughout the manga. Their love is one of destruction yet it is this dream of destruction that really makes them feel together. If theres one thing that this manga pulls off its this twisted dichotomy that really steals the show. However as mentioned before Ana Satsujin is not very good overall. Side characters that appear have little to no depth and it is completely unclear what their purpose is. For instance audiences are introduced to police officer Jun Schneider who is driven to uncover evidence linking Miyaichi to the string of boxcutter murders that have been happening around the area as of late. However even until the end of the manga she serves no purpose aside from acting as a rather weak obstacle for the protagonists. Not only is she underdeveloped but she is also completely useless and achieves almost nothing aside from being a nuisance. While most manga have their own fair share of useless characters Ana Satsujin manages to make her uselessness more obnoxious since she is given a great deal of focus throughout the manga. The following contain major spoilers. Please skip ahead to the conclusion. All in all Ana Satsujin is a mediocre manga. It has an amazing premise that seemingly promises an interesting exploration into the psyche of a serial killer and her lover but ends up being a mediocre thriller that is powered by tired shock value and overly convenient twists that end up diluting the story as a whole. While the earlier parts of the manga are decent on their own the second half of the story falls apart as the author attempts to continue after a relatively conclusive first arc. Ana Satsujin isnt a waste of time but its also not a particularly good use of it either.