Nisio Isin

Nisio Isin

Nisio Isin (西尾維新 Nishio Ishin?, born 1981), frequently written as NisiOisiN to emphasize that his pen name is a palindrome, is a Japanese novelist and manga writer. He attended and left Ritsumeikan University without graduating.[1] In 2002, he debuted with the novel The Beheading Cycle (クビキリサイクル Kubikiri Saikuru?), which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Award at twenty years of age.[2] He currently works with Kodansha on Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture, and Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher. His Bakemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime.[5][6] The Bakemonogatari prequel (Kizumonogatari) and sequel (Nisemonogatari) novels are also to be adapted as a movie and an anime, respectively.[7][8] Recently another of his works, Medaka Box, is also being adapted into an anime series.

Style

Nisio's work is characterized by references to other novels, as well as parodies of famous manga series. Among these, Hellsing and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure[9] references are particularly common. He is well regarded as an author who has blended the conventions of mystery novels and character-driven light novels.

As well as stepping on the conventions and stereotypes of anime and light novels, he is known for creating characters with unusual features, such as extremely strange names which are word play, such as Nanananami Nanami, Shikigishi Kishiki, Backyard Bottomslash, Quarter Queen, Sagano Usagi, Byōinzaka Kuroneko (which translates roughly as "Black Cat of Hospital Hill") And shikizaki kiki.

Other works:

Katanagatari

Medaka Box