Shoujo Manga Done Right

The only thing that’s missing are some sparkles. . . wait a minute. . .

I have a love hate relationship with Shoujo manga. At times it pushes all the rights buttons and I’m gooier than a school girl with her first crush, but then there are times when it makes me want to claw my hair out at the state of young women in manga today. I mean, could they be any stupider, clingier, and lack any more self confidence that they’d seek solace in a guy who clearly doesn’t deserve the time of day? Then there are girls who get life handed to them on a silver platter, complete with Mr. Popular as arm candy, without having to do squat. Lastly, there’s the art, which consists of (more often then not) big bug eyed people that look like they haven’t had a decent meal in about two years. It’s aggravating, like watching Guilty Crown with rose-colored glasses. However, once in a while you get something great. It may not do everything right but, man, does it know what it wants to accomplish. So, in this post I’ve compiled a few key components that I look for in shoujo, which are exemplified in these three manga:

The Sleepy Residents of Birdcage Manor

Shoujou Component Done Right: Main Character

I was first introduced to The Sleepy Residents of Birdcage Manor quite some time ago. I had stumbled across some promotional art and was immediately taken in by its fairy tale like atmosphere. However, what really kept me coming back was the main character. Etou Kizuna (the red head in the picture on the left) is not your typical Shoujo heroine. She’s brash, almost tomboyish, but not to the point where she’s completely oblivious to her surroundings. She is well aware that her actions will have consequences, and it’s in this that we see the actual beauty of her character shine. She’s a breath of fresh air when it comes to Shoujo Heroines and I hope to see more like her in the future.

Hibi ChouChou

Shoujo Component Done Right: Main Couple

Hibi ChouChou is a rather new short manga series that follows two unlikely people: one shy girl and one shy boy. Normally this would have a rather high probability of aggravating me. Usually when someone is shy that means they have absolutely no self confidence. In Hibi ChouChou the main couple may be shy, but that doesn’t mean they are unable to take action when it actually means something. It makes they’re (soon to be) relationship unique and interesting. Sure, being shy will certainly slow down the pace a bit but they’re not so stupid as to completely disregard their own feelings because they don’t want to acknowledge them. In fact, I’d have to say, for a shy girl our main heroine is quite take charge on certain occasions and I applaud her for that. It’s also nice to see a couple that’s on a very equal playing field. The girl isn’t feeling down on herself and looking for a guy to help her stand on her socially awkward feet. They’re both stumbling through this awkward moment in their lives together and what’s better than that?

Ao Haru Ride  

Shoujo Component Done Right: The Whole Shebang

Looking for an awesome female lead? Check. Looking for a charismatic couple? Check. Gorgeous artwork? Check plus. Really if you have time to kill and your not too adverse to shoujo manga, then you really should check this out. It’s not as perfect as I might like but when you take into account the stuff it does right, which is just about everything, the minor issues are not worth missing out on this. The lead is charming and while she may not know how to be true to herself, she makes up for it with pluck and determination and the main couple is refreshing even though the love interest can be annoying at times.

And there you have it. I bet I have a long time to wait for my dream Shoujo (a post for another time maybe) but until then I’ll stick with these three awesome manga. Hopefully they continue to deliver.

Quick First Impressions: Hyouka

I’m blinded by the gorgeousness, despite how unsanitary this is.

Wow, this is incredibly late. . . Damn you college! Who needs you anyway. . .

So, Hyouka. Kyoani’s latest endeavor. As you well know, Hyouka (along with Eureka Seven) was my most anticipated of the spring 2012 season. Did it live up to those rather high expectations? Well, I can’t quite say at this point. Honestly, while I did feel a bit underwhelmed by the first episode (and to some extent the second) I find myself wholly intrigued. I couldn’t tell you exactly why, though I think the blinding animation may have something to do with it.

While I found it to be a bit to talky at times, the fluidity of the animation still made it interesting to watch. This is KyoAni after all, if the animation wasn’t mind numbingly awesome I’d demand a refund. Though I found it kind of funny that I wasn’t the only one who thought that the lens for the piano mystery looked like the watercolor effect out of a movie making software.

I’m not a fan of the main character yet, he’s just a bit too laid back to be interesting. I’m happy that Chitanda (whom I find to be quite the catch. Do I see romance on the horizon? Nah, I shouldn’t get my hopes up)  seems to be just the person to bring him out of that rut so to speak. After all, I’ve never heard of a teenager who does nothing just to save some ‘energy.’ It just seems kind of odd is all. I mean, he’s gotta be saving that energy for something right? So, I’m hoping for some burst of energy from him sometime in the near future. You know, preferably a confession of some sort, though I’ll take Chitanda dragging him around everywhere. She’s just a joy to watch. I find her natural curiosity for just about anything refreshing. She’d be a fun friend to have.

Well, with the cliffhanger ending to episode 2, I can safely say that despite my minor disappointment, I enjoyed it and I can’t wait to see how everything plays out.

Sakamichi no Apollon and how it tore the Spectrum of Love in anime to shreds

Or a simpler more straight to the point title would be:

I effin’ Love This Show

So, not too long ago I wrote a post about the stages of love in Anime. Sometimes it moves to fast, others it moves to slow, and then there are even less that get it just right. Last season we had a show called Ano Nastu de Matteru that developed our main romance at a reasonably fast rate compared to some other shows, but even then it took eight episodes for them to finally let the cat out of the bag. It was humorous, so I wasn’t all that mad about the main relationship moving at the pace it did, it felt realistic and natural to the point one can expect from a show about aliens. However, Sakamichi No Apollon just tore up that love story and threw it to the curb.

I’m mean, whoa, we’re only on episode 3. . . Let me repeat that for you: all this awesomeness happened in episode three, not eight or the second to last episode building up for the finale. We still have eight more episodes for this beautiful mess of love to sort itself out, and I’m absolutely enjoying the heck out of it. Sure, some might complain that it’s happen a bit to quickly, but to those naysayers I say (in an accent that lies somewhere on the cusp between French and Jamaican), “feel the love, man.”

At first I was a bit cautious when the story seemed like it would head down the road of miscommunication and misunderstandings, but thank god for Kaoru.  I vote him for male character of the year.

Two things that stood out to the romantic in me was the inclusion of “Someday My Prince Will Come” by Bill Evans and Koaru’s last statement to Ritsuko. For those of you that remember my second post ever, I talked about a bit about myself. I was never a girly girl, playing with dolls or wearing all those princess dresses. You were more likely o find me playing football with the boys or kicking some ass in kenpo (just kidding, I was never really one for fighting, though I did take martial arts and still do today). The funny thing was, as I grew up the boyish side of me faded. It never did disappear but the romantic in me was slowly developing.  While I believe that a woman doesn’t need a man to live a fulfilling life,  I like the idea that the song ”Someday My Prince Will Come” portrays. To me it’s not so much about waiting idly for someone to save you, but more along the lines that there’s someone out there just for you.

Secondly there’s Kaoru’s line: “I just wanted to let you know that there’s somebody here who’s in love with you.” It kind of reiterates my previous statement. However, switch around the words a bit and you get: “…there’s somebody here who loves you.” It changes the meaning slightly (and leaves how its interpreted to the receiver), but I like the message. It’s a comforting statement at the heart, after all. Yeah, Ritsuko’s going to have quite a bit of trouble figuring this out, but knowing that someone does care has got to count for something.

Don't give up Kaoru, I'm rootin' for ya!

Quick First Impressions: Eureka Seven AO

Do I smell Turkey Bacon?

Here we are, probably my most anticipated show this season (tied with Hyouka for first if we’re being technical). I wouldn’t label myself as a rabid fan of Eureka Seven, but it did more good than bad in my opinion. It also contains one of my favorite couples in anime (Anemone and Dominic). So, will AO be able to rise above it’s predecessor? Well, it’s still too early to tell but I’m excited.

First off, I love the two main characters, Naru and Ao. They’ve got spunk but not too much of it where it becomes annoying and obnoxious (something which hindered Renton).  They sound and act like real friends too, and that makes them a blast to watch. I’ll certainly miss seeing Anemone kick the snot out of poor Dominic, but if the relationship between these two new young kids is anywhere near as awesome as they were, then I’ve got nothing to worry about.

On a darker note, this first episode wasn’t all roses and dandies. I felt at some points it was moving just a bit too fast. I heard many compare it to the first episode of Xam’d (an episode that will always be among my favorites) and while I can see the similarities, Eureka Seven’s pacing felt fast and uneven, like it wanted to get too much done in the time allotted. It didn’t make the episode not enjoyable or anything, it just didn’t create a nice flow between the scenes. Anyway, I’m quite sure this won’t be a reoccuring problem. Hopefully now that the ball is rolling, they’ll slow it down to a more manageable pace.

And finally, on a somewhat unrelated note:

Himari. . . 2.0?

Pretend that the sloth is a penguin in a costume and the resemblance is uncanny. Well, at least Naru didn’t have to suffer through mental trauma as a child (or did she? . . . dun dun dunnn). All she’s has to deal with is quite the nasty sickness and that rather large forehead of hers.

Quick First Impressions: Sakamichi no Apollon

Who put zombies in my jazz show?

I’m going to like this one, I can tell. The music is great, the characters are interesting, and the art is gorgeous. I also love the fact that its set in the 1960′s, which I hope puts a different spin on high school life that we’re not used to seeing. It’s quite refreshing, actually.

Of course I can’t go through this whole post without mentioning the potential romance. Yes, I don’t expect it will have that much of the focus as say Eureka Seven Ao, but anything is better than nothing. The character interactions, romance implied or not, will end up making or breaking this show. After all, there’s no magical elements to take the viewers mind off of the characters, so they really need to shine here. The first episode shows that Apollon certainly does have the potential, and with the praise that the manga has received, I think it might be safe to say that it will continue to do so.

In a way this show reminds me of Chihayafuru, and considering how much I loved that show, it’s certainly a good sign. It could actually turn out quite like it, if they focus almost entirely on building up the jazz aspects of the story by focusing on the characters, much like how Karuta helped the viewer better understand the characters in Chihayafuru.

Now, a lot of people are looking forward to this one because of its rather high pedigree. I’ve said before that I’ve always had little interest in Cowboy Bebop but I do recognize that many people consider it to be one of the best shows anime has to offer. I may not agree but  that doesn’t mean I don’t see Watanabe as a great director, it’s just his main work never clicked with me. However, Sakamichi no Apollon did, and I’m incredibly excited.

With no information yet on how long this series will run, it’s hard to tell where their going to take this story, but despite that this show gets a thumbs up from me. Hopefully I’ll be able to enjoy it for the weeks to come.

Quick First Impressions: Tsuritama and Jormungand

Sakana, sakana, sakana!

Where do I start with this one. . . Hmm, well first off, it’s visually gorgeous. The colors are vibrant, the music is captivating, and the characters are interesting, so what could possibly go wrong? That annoying blond kid with the squirt gun, that’s what. Honestly, if I was that red head and I kept getting shot in the face with a squirt gun, that little liver licken’ blond squirt would have a fat lip the size of Texas. Yeah, yeah, I need to control my temper and blah blah, but he just rubbed me the wrong way. He’s Chizuru from Kimi to Boku but only ten times worse. I’ll give it a few more episodes, since Chizuru eventually grew on me (though I still have the urge to deck him every now and again), but that kid is seriously making me consider putting this off until further notice.

This is Koko, she is loco. . . OH NO!

I can sum up my first impressions of Jormungand with one word: entertaining. It wasn’t jaw dropping but neither was it bad. It had a great balance between humor, drama and the tension near the end of the episode was rather well played. As for the characters, Koko is simply a blast to watch.  She’s overflowing with charisma and her voice actor does an excellent job of pulling it off realistically. The other characters have yet to leave an impression, Johan came close, but that’s to be expected when Koko basically steals the show. The real question, however, is: Will I continue to watch this? As of right now the answer is most likely not right now. That doesn’t mean though that I never will. It’s just at the moment I feel like I’m watching too much stuff and Hyouka, one of my most anticipated this season, hasn’t even aired yet. Though who knows, when the second episode airs tomorrow I may end up watching it anyway.

Quick First Impressions: Accel World

*Starts singing the opening to the Lion King*

So, where do I begin? Well, first off, Accel World was one of my most anticipated shows for the spring season, thanks to a rather spiffy preview, but after viewing, my interest in it has dwindled a little. Here’s why:

I’m all for flawed main characters, and like many other bloggers, seeing a rather pudgy little guy as our main protagonist is interesting to say the least. However, my gripe with him has to do more with his attitude. I know its a bit unrealistic of me to think he would be comfortable in his current situation as a wimpy little guy, but I think it would be more interesting if he was comfortable in his own skin despite being picked on. After all, I can’t feel sorry for him unless he’s tried to fix his situation and he hasn’t, he’s avoiding it. It also would make more sense why Miss Popular chose him and not somebody else who had more pluck, since I highly doubt it’s not because he’s good at virtual squash. Not to mention it already seems like he has a harem brewing despite his flimsiness as human being. I wouldn’t mind if it was actually believable, but at this point it’s anything but. I guess women in anime like instability in a man.

As for the other character, Miss Butterfly Girl or Kuroyukihime, my gripe with her is the fact that she the popular pretty one, ’cause we all know that climbing the social ladder means getting yourself some arm candy. She’s got a interesting past it seems, but they better execute it well for it to have any meaning at all. Yeah, she’s got the looks (butterfly wings make everything prettier), but just look what happened to poor Inori from Guilty Crown. She’s got to evolve as a character just has much as Haruyuki does.

Anyway, I’m still interested enough to keep going and if I get to a certain point I’ll see it through to the end no matter what. As long as it doesn’t delve into unnecessary tropes that make me roll my eyes. Until then, however, I’m going to stick with it.