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{{Short description|Chinese manhua written by Weidong Chen and illustrated by Chao Peng}}
{{Infobox manhua
<!-- | name            = An Ideal World -->
| image           = Ideal World.jpg
| imagesize       = <!-- default 250 -->
| caption         = Yen Press edition of ''An Ideal World''
| alt             = The cover of ''An Ideal World'', showing the main character A You and his friends from Abi Port jumping from a rooftop above Abi Port
| zh_hanzi        = 尋找自我的世界
| romanized       = Seek Self's World
| multigenre      = y
| Adventure       = y
| Fantasy         = y
| author          = [[Weidong Chen]]
| illustrator     = [[Chao Peng]]
| publisher       = Tian Jin Creator World Comic Co. 
| publisher_en    = {{English anime licensee
| NA = [[Yen Press]]
}}
| publisher_other = TriWorks (China)<br />Zhiyin Magazine (China)<br />[[Xiao Pan]] (France)<br />[[Cambridge University Press]] (South Korea)<br />Shenjie (Taiwan)
| demographic     = <!-- Do not use Japanese terms -->
| magazine        = 
| first           = 2006
| last            = 2007
| volumes         = 5 (original) <br />1 (English release)
| chapter_list    = 
| related         = 
| content         = 
| subcat          = Yen Press
| altcat          = 
| addpubcat#      = 
| zh              = Y
}}
'''''An Ideal World''''' ({{zh|t=尋找自我的世界|s=寻找自我的世界|p=xún zhǎo zì wǒ de shì jiè}} "Seek Self's World") is a full-color Chinese [[manhua]] authored by Weidong Chen and illustrated by Chao Peng. The series was released in five volumes and published in China by Tian Jin Creator World Comic Company ({{zh|t=天津神界漫畫公司|s=天津神界漫画公司|p=Tiān jīn shén jiè màn huà gōng sī}}) under the title ''Seek Self's World'' and as part of the Cunren Fairy Tale series. ''An Ideal World'' was licensed by various other companies and released simultaneously with the original publisher between 2006 and 2007. The French manhua-publishing company [[Xiao Pan]] licensed the series as "''Un Monde Idéal''" ("An Ideal World") and [[Yen Press]] later announced at the [[New York Comic Con]] that they had licensed the series from Xiao Pan. Yen Press released it in [[North America]] as one volume called ''An Ideal World''.

''An Ideal World'' follows the struggles of A You, a young man who, believing he has no luck, does not attempt to succeed in life even though others advise him to make his own luck. When he accidentally gets on the wrong bus, A You finds himself in the suburbs, where he takes shelter from the rain in a large tree and takes a nap. After waking up, A You happens upon the house of an old man, who sends him to an alternate world so that he may resolve his troubles.  A You grows to enjoy the fantasy world and does not wish to return to his harsh reality. ''An Ideal World'' garnered mixed reception from Western critics, who objected mainly to the  beginning and praised the overall story, artwork and themes.

==Plot==
A You is a troubled 19-year-old who dislikes his life; he feels that his entire life is unlucky, yet he avoids hard work  and prefers to be lazy. He is encouraged by the people around him to work harder and told that he can change his life if he takes control of it, but A You refuses to accept these notions. One day, he accidentally takes the wrong bus and finds himself in the suburbs of his city. A You enjoys his time away and takes shelter inside of a large, hollow tree when it begins to rain. After taking a nap and waking up, he wanders until he comes across a small, green old man referred to as Grandpa Beard. Grandpa Beard decides to help A You with his problems and transports him to a "utopia" called Abi Port in an alternate world.

Abi Port is home to several humans, [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] beings, and other creatures, some of which look similar to people A You knows in his world. A You is found by members of a circus, who invite him to join them in their act. Although he lacks experience, he finds that he can perform well and begins to develop feelings for a young performer named Anan. He meets others who give him advice on enjoying work and life, particularly the "Master of Universal Love", an anthropomorphic zebra who toiled to earn his position and helps others free of charge.

After A You spends time in this world, Grandpa Beard decides that his problems are solved and returns to take him away from the imaginary world. A You protests, not wanting to return to the cold reality, but Grandpa Beard captures him and tells him that he must change that reality if he dislikes it. Returned to his own world, A You awakens in the tree he had taken shelter in and heads back to his house, where he finds his worried friends and family waiting for him. A You's experiences at Abi Port inspire him to work harder, and he eventually marries his co-worker and friend Su Fei. The two are shown years later at the grand opening of Grandpa Beard's Fun House, a restaurant themed after Grandpa Beard, where A You sees he will accomplish his dream and spread happiness.

==Release==
''An Ideal World'', authored by Weidong Chen and illustrated by Chao Peng,<ref name="yen"/> was originally published in China by the Tian Jin Creator World Comic Company and entitled ''Seek Self's World''.<ref name="frch">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721195826/http://s267687808.e-shop.info/shop/article_129/Un-monde-id%C3%A9al---%C3%A9dition-chinoise.html?shop_param=cid=1&aid=129& |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |url=http://s267687808.e-shop.info/shop/article_129/Un-monde-id%C3%A9al---%C3%A9dition-chinoise.html?shop_param=cid%3D1%26aid%3D129%26 |title=Un monde idéal – édition chinoise |publisher=[[Xiao Pan]] |language=French |access-date=February 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="idealworld">{{cite book |title=An Ideal World |first1=Chao |last1=Peng |first2=Weidong |last2=Chen |publisher=[[Yen Press]] |date=March 2008 |location=New York|isbn=978-0-7595-2942-7|page=176 }}</ref><ref name="creator">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623061649/http://www.cunrentj.com/shenjie/lianzai/comic_05xunzhao.asp |archive-date=2010-06-23 |url=http://www.cunrentj.com/shenjie/lianzai/comic_05xunzhao.asp |script-title=zh:您的位置：首页>漫画连载>寻找自我的世界 |publisher=Tian Jin Creator World Comic Company |language=Chinese |access-date=February 13, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is part of the company's Cunren Fairy Tale series.<ref name="heng">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503064243/http://comic.zongheng.com/series/469.html |archive-date=May 3, 2010 |url=http://comic.zongheng.com/series/469.html |script-title=zh:寻找自我的世界 |publisher=Zongheng |language=Chinese |access-date=February 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> ''An Ideal World'' was licensed by the French manhua company [[Xiao Pan]], as well as several other companies, which released it in five volumes entitled ''Un Monde Idéal'' ("An Ideal World") from September 15, 2006<ref name="franceama">{{cite book |date= |title=MUn monde idéal, Tome 1 : L'usine (Album) |first= |last= |language=French|id= {{ASIN|2940380120|country=fr}}}}</ref> to March 14, 2007.<ref name="idealworld"/><ref name="france5">{{cite web | url=http://s267687808.e-shop.info/shop/article_162/Monde-id%C3%A9al-%28Un%29-T5_5.html?shop_param=cid%3D1%26aid%3D162%26 |date= |title=Monde idéal (Un) T5/5 |first= |last= | publisher=[[Xiao Pan]]|language=French| access-date=February 13, 2010 }} {{Dead link|date=April 2012|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name="ama5">{{cite book |date= |title=Un monde idéal, Tome 5 : La Porte (Album) |first= |last= |language=French|id= {{ASIN|2940380384|country=fr}}}}</ref> Contracts were made that allowed for the French, South Korean, Taiwanese, and Mainland Chinese companies to release the five volumes at the same time as the original company;<ref name="frch"/><ref name="arting265">{{cite web | url=http://www.arting365.com/books/newbooks/2006-02-27/1141005392d117707.html |script-title=zh:新书介绍：《村人童话》之《寻找自我的世界》作品概况(图)| publisher=Arting365|language=Chinese| access-date=February 13, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100104140140/http://www.arting365.com/books/newbooks/2006-02-27/1141005392d117707.html| archive-date= 4 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="zoh">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716102516/http://dm.sohu.com/20090901/n266373033.shtml |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url=http://dm.sohu.com/20090901/n266373033.shtml |script-title=zh:天津神界漫画公司高薪招聘漫画人才！ |publisher=Sohu.com |language=Chinese |access-date=August 5, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> French, Chinese, and Korean language editions were published through a partnership with Beijing Total Vision Culture Spreads.<ref name="amafrread">{{cite book | url=https://www.amazon.fr/gp/reader/2940380120 |date= 17 August 2006|title=Amazon Reader (FR) |first= |last= | publisher=Amazon.fr |isbn= 978-2-940380-12-1|language=French| access-date=February 14, 2010 }}</ref><ref name="spreads">{{cite web |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240524235942/https://www.webcitation.org/5rjXrlWJk?url=http://www.bj-totalvision.com.cn/EN/Content/Production/ProductionContent.aspx%3FNumber=Seek+Self's+World-1 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |url=http://www.bj-totalvision.com.cn/EN/Content/Production/ProductionContent.aspx?Number=Seek+Self%27s+World-1 |title=Seek Self's World-1/5 |publisher=Beijing Total Vision Culture Spreads |access-date=February 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> ''An Ideal World'''s global release was meant to aid in the development of the Chinese comic industry and create a new business model,<ref name="romania"/><ref name="mainland"/> and its release marked the first simultaneous global release for a comic.<ref name="zoh"/> Xiao Pan also made an [[Anthology|omnibus]] of the original Chinese version available for purchase.<ref name="frch"/>

At the 2008 [[New York Comic Con]], American-based graphic novel publisher [[Yen Press]] announced that they had acquired the rights to publish ''An Ideal World'' and would release it in full color.<ref name="about">{{cite web |url=http://manga.about.com/b/2008/04/21/ny-comic-con-yen-press-scores-haruhi-square-enix-manga.htm |date=April 21, 2008 |title=NY Comic-Con: Yen Press Gets Haruhi, Square Enix Manga |first=Deb |last=Aoki |publisher=[[About.com]] |access-date=February 13, 2010 |archive-date=February 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209105014/http://manga.about.com/b/2008/04/21/ny-comic-con-yen-press-scores-haruhi-square-enix-manga.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ANN">{{cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2008/new-york-comic-con/yen-press |date=April 20, 2008 |title=New York Comic Con Yen Press|first=Mikhail |last=Koulikov | publisher=[[Anime News Network]]| access-date=February 13, 2010 }}</ref> Rights were acquired from Xiao Pan, rather than Tian Jin Creator World Comic Co.<ref name="yen">{{cite web | url=http://yenpress.us/?page_id=459 |title=Ideal World story by Weidong Chen, art by Chao Peng| publisher=[[Yen Press]]| access-date=February 13, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100118121005/http://yenpress.us/?page_id=459| archive-date= 18 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="ANN"/> On March 24, 2009, Yen Press released ''An Ideal World'' in North America as a single volume;<ref name="amazon">{{cite book |date= 24 March 2009|title=An Ideal World (Tales of the Villagers) (Paperback) |isbn= 978-0759529427|last1= Chen|first1= Weidong|publisher=Yen Press }}</ref> at 176&nbsp;pages long, the volume also includes character sketches, the additional French covers, and information on the author, illustrator, and Chinese publisher.<ref name="idealworld2">{{cite book |title=An Ideal World |first1=Chao |last1=Peng |first2=Weidong |last2=Chen |publisher=[[Yen Press]] |date=March 2008 |location=New York|isbn=978-0-7595-2942-7|pages=164–173 }}</ref>

''An Ideal World'' was licensed for release in [[Mainland China]] by TriWorks and Zhiyin Magazine and in [[South Korea]] by the South Korean branch of [[Cambridge University Press]].<ref name="romania">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725164126/http://ro.china-embassy.org/chn/whjy/t238570.htm |archive-date=2011-07-25 |url=http://ro.china-embassy.org/chn/whjy/t238570.htm |script-title=zh:中国原创漫画首次全球同步出版 |publisher=Amabasada Republicii Populare Chineze în Romania |language=Chinese |access-date=February 14, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="mainland">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707032445/http://www.cnci.gov.cn/news/comic/news_1398.htm |archive-date=2011-07-07 |url=http://www.cnci.gov.cn/news/comic/news_1398.htm |script-title=zh:中国漫画将首次全球多语种跨媒介同步出版 |publisher=CNCI.gov.cn |language=Chinese |access-date=February 14, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="cambridge">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715132716/http://www.cunrentj.com/detail.asp?n_ID=175 |archive-date=2010-07-15 |url=http://www.cunrentj.com/detail.asp?n_ID=175 |script-title=zh:中国原创漫画国际巨现《寻找自我的世界》热销 |publisher=Tian Jin Creator World Comic Company |language=Chinese |access-date=August 5, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shenjie published the series in [[Taiwan]].<ref name="zoh"/> At a conference held in February 2006, Tian Jin Creator World Comic Company announced that negotiations were being made to release ''An Ideal World'' in other European countries, [[Japan]], and with [[traditional Chinese characters]] in Taiwan.<ref name="romania"/><ref name="mainland"/>

==Reception==
''An Ideal World'' has received mixed reviews from Western critics, who generally praised the book's artwork and second half but did not like the beginning. [[School Library Journal]]'s Lori Henderson reviewed ''An Ideal World'' positively; she praised the "Wizard of Oz feel" ending and the message that A You "controls his life, and he has the power to change it".<ref name="school">{{cite web |url=http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/goodcomicsforkids/2009/06/29/review-an-ideal-world/ |date=June 29, 2009 |title=Review: An Ideal World |first=Lori |last=Henderson |publisher=[[School Library Journal]] |access-date=February 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726084346/http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/goodcomicsforkids/2009/06/29/review-an-ideal-world/ |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Henderson called the characters "great" and the world "fantastic", also noting that the "cartoonish" and "exaggerated" artwork worked with the story. However, she remarked that the beginning of ''An Ideal World'' was "slow and plodding" and could "leave you wondering if it's ever going to go anywhere".<ref name="school"/> Another School Library Journal critic, Joanna Fabicon, felt that the lessons and themes were "unimaginative", which made the artwork "a waste of visual whimsy".<ref name="lib">{{cite web | url=http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6685843.html |date=September 1, 2009 |title=Graphic Novels – School Library Journal, 9/1/2009 |first=Joanna |last=Fabicon | publisher=[[School Library Journal]] | access-date=February 14, 2010 }}</ref>

Sam Kusek of PopCulture Shock also reviewed ''An Ideal World'' positively, grading it as a B+.<ref name="pop">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418181941/http://www.popcultureshock.com/manga/index.php/reviews/manga-reviews/ideal-world/ |archive-date=April 18, 2009 |url=http://www.popcultureshock.com/manga/index.php/reviews/manga-reviews/ideal-world/ |date=April 13, 2008 |title=An Ideal World |first=Sam |last=Kusek |publisher=PopCulture Shock |url-status=usurped |access-date=February 13, 2010 }}</ref> Kusek applauded the artwork, saying that "colors really jump out" and set "the mood of the scene well, while keeping the backgrounds alive", and that character designs enhance "the mystical and magical elements of the story". Kusek liked the plot, but felt it was predictable; however, he noted that the main element and focus was the "philosophy of life" and that, overall, ''An Ideal World'' "flows really well".<ref name="pop"/>  Writing for Comics Worth Reading, Ed Sizemore gave the book a mixed review.<ref name="worth">{{cite web |url=http://comicsworthreading.com/2010/01/02/an-ideal-world/ |date=January 2, 2010 |title=An Ideal World |first=Edl |last=Sizemore |publisher=Comics Worth Reading |access-date=February 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108205417/http://comicsworthreading.com/2010/01/02/an-ideal-world/ |archive-date=2010-01-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Sizemore wrote that he wished the message was conveyed "more [subtly]" and criticized the beginning of the book as "the toughest to get through", but felt the "pace and readability improve" afterwards. He praised the art as "gorgeous" with "lots of eye candy" for those who enjoy fantasy artwork. Overall, Sizemore thought ''An Ideal World'' was "wasted potential", with too much emphasis placed on the message, detracting from the storytelling.<ref name="worth"/>

[[Publishers Weekly]] praised ''An Ideal World'' for its message and art, but criticized how "the book gets bogged down in talky heavy-handedness, as if someone put nice fantasy illustrations into a business self-help book".<ref name="weekly">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205202246/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/1-legacy/16-all-book-reviews/article/9797-fiction-book-reviews-.html |archive-date=December 5, 2010 |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/1-legacy/16-all-book-reviews/article/9797-fiction-book-reviews-.html |date=March 23, 2009 |title=Fiction Book Reviews - Mar 23, 2009 |publisher=[[Publishers Weekly]] |access-date=February 14, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> R. Bézard, a French critic for BD Gest, rated the first volume of the Xiao Pan edition of ''An Ideal World'' with two out of five stars.<ref name="gest">{{cite web | url=http://www.bdgest.com/chronique-1675-BD-Un-monde-ideal-Les-contes-du-villageois-Cycle-1-L-usine.html |date=September 11, 2006 |title=Chronique : Un monde idéal |first=R. |last=Bézard | publisher=BD Gest|language=French| access-date=July 27, 2010 }}</ref> Bézard stated that the volume did not draw in the reader or give any indication of A You's future adventure. However, Bézard  praised the artwork  as  expressive and called it a cross between ''[[Dragon Ball#Dragon Ball Z|Dragon Ball Z]]'' and ''[[Fruits Basket]]''.<ref name="gest"/>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{good article}}

==External links==
*[http://yenpress.us/?page_id=459 Yen Press' ''An Ideal World'' page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118121005/http://yenpress.us/?page_id=459 |date=2010-01-18 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100310014103/http://www.xiaopan.com/francais/ Xiao Pan official site]
*[http://www.cunrentj.com/shenjie/lianzai/comic_05xunzhao.asp Creator World Comic Publication portfolio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623061649/http://www.cunrentj.com/shenjie/lianzai/comic_05xunzhao.asp |date=2010-06-23 }}
*[http://www.zhiyin.com.cn/ Zhiyin Magazine official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100114113954/http://www.triworks.com.cn/html/ TriWorks official website]
*[http://www.cambridge.org/contacts/south_korea/ Cambridge University page on South Korean branch]
*[http://comic.qq.com/z/shenjie/ Shenjie official website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ideal World}}
[[Category:Action-adventure comics]]
[[Category:Fantasy comics]]
[[Category:Manhua titles]]
[[Category:Yen Press titles]]
[[Category:2006 comics debuts]]