“One-Eyed Man Is King” – Land of the Blindfolded (Manga) – 9/10 Pumpkin Pies

Every closed eye is not sleeping, and every open eye is not seeing. ~Bill Cosby

Mangaka: Sakura Tsukuba

Genre: Romance/Drama/Supernatural/School

Review Status: Complete (9 Volumes/9 Volumes)

Licensed: This was formerly licensed by CMX manga. They have gone under.

Art: It’s shoujo. Very typical shoujo art.

Summary: Kanade believes that most people go through life seeing with blindfolds on- they cannot see what will happen in the future or the past. Occasionally, her blindfold slips, allowing her to see somebody’s future. One day, she meets someone who’s blindfold came off long ago, who sees the past. Can their love work out, or do they see too much?

Review: You would think that seeing the future or the past would be a good thing, right? You could see what the answers to a test were, or what had happened at great battles… but this manga shows that it comes with a downside. Kanade is scolded for getting in people’s ways (trying to keep them from getting run over), Arou is shunned for knowing things there’s no way he could have… She manages to keep a happy outlook on life while his has been one of sadness and misery. But when they meet, they connect over their abilities, and life gets better for both of them.

This manages to keep from being too outrageous. There’s no flying from buildings, no feats of astonishing foresight, these characters only see things that really could happen, from torn-up plants from a jealous friend, to a dog dying because it has been abandoned. Throw a third member in the mix that can see the future better than Kanade, and things get interesting!

I really like that they avoid the stereotypical love triangle. The main couple is the main couple, and while their relationship grows and matures, so does their friendships and other relationships. The revelation of their secrets brings about several awkward moments and misunderstandings, brilliantly told in how it’s not immediately accepted, and how it can go wrong when someone knows.

It does happen to go off the deep end at the end, with Arou’s power becoming so powerful that his life and existence is put at risk. Aside from that particular qualm, this is a sweet, lovely story about people who are a little different, but just want to help.

Overall, this is a great romance title, and definitely a good read.

Recommended: 12+. There is one scene where Arou sees back to Kanade undressing (by accident!) but you see nothing but her back. There is some innuendo, with words that sidestep around sex but never mention it, in one section of a later chapter. It will probably go over the heads of younger readers. Perhaps one use of the d-word. Arou’s mother falls off a cliff with another boy, but they are uninjured. The pasts and futures that they see are sometimes violent, even deadly, but these are only talked about.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Fruits Basket (manga)

“Being Schooled” – CLAMP School Detectives (manga) – 6/10 Pumpkin Pies

You send your child to the schoolmaster, but 'tis the schoolboys who educate him. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mangaka: CLAMP

Genre: Comedy/Mystery/Scool/Shoujo/Kids

Review Status: Complete (3 Volumes/3 Volumes)

Licensed: No. It was formerly licensed by Tokyopop but has not been re-released.

Art: This was done in the 90’s, and it shows in the hairstyles and clothing styles. Sometimes they’re downright ugly, and not even CLAMP’s wonderful art style can save it. It’s rarely that bad, though. For the most part, it just looks dated, but isn’t bad. The character designs for the main three guys are virtually identical.

Summary: Welcome to the CLAMP School, Japan’s most prestigious place of learning- home to prodigies, wunderkinds and young geniuses of every make and model. In a world where the average student is smarter than the teachers, how then can the top students challenge their intellects? Why, by creating a detective service, of course! Meet the CLAMP School Detectives: Nokoru Imonoyama, the world’s smartest kid, who can detect a woman in distress from two kilometers awat; Suoh Takamura, a martial arts master who’s cool as ice; Akira Ijyuin, detective by day, master theif by night. Wherever there’s a young lady in distress, they’ll be there. After all, when you’re as smart as they are, you don’t have to study. (Back cover of 1st volume)

Review: The best way to describe this is proto-Ouran. This takes three rich boys, puts them at the service of lovely young ladies, and has fun with it. They proceed to solve very shallow mysteries that highlight how frivolous both they and everyone in the school is. They find missing peacocks, discover the owner of a silk stocking, and the like. None of the mysteries end up being very interesting, or even really mysteries.

The characters aren’t really that interesting, either. They’re as one-dimensional as pancakes, with very few defining characteristics. Two of them I couldn’t tell apart except for one’s love of cooking! The virtually identical character designs don’t help. It almost seems pointless to have those traits in some situations, since at times they show that they have the same skills at the others. You never get any background on one of them, making him perhaps the least important or memorable of the three. This might have been better off as a story about one character rather than three, in order for him to make some impression on the reader.

However, uninteresting doesn’t mean bad. The situations and jokes can make you chuckle at times. They bring this from an average to a slightly above average manga, even if it utterly fails to be a memorable one.

Overall, this would be great for younger girls that aren’t ready for Ouran’s awesomeness and PG-13 rating, but if you’re older, you should just go straight to Ouran.

Recommended: Any. There’s no language, no nudity, no violence except for some things you’d find in Saturday morning cartoons…

Other titles you might enjoy:
Ouran Host Club (anime and manga)
Arisu (manga)
Detective Conan (anime and manga)
Detective Academy Q (anime and manga)
Sket Dance (anime and manga)

“Dream A Little Dream Of Me” – After School Nightmare (manga) – 9/10 Black Cats

People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates. ~Thomas Szasz

Mangaka: Setona Mizushiro

Genre: Romance/Mystery/Drama/School/Supernatural/Psychological/Gender Bender/Fantasy

Review Status: Complete (10 Volumes/10 Volumes)

Licensed: Yes, this manga is licensed in the US.

Art: Lovely. The art is reminiscent of CLAMP’s style, with elongated limbs and some gorgeous bishies. The panels are clean and easy to read (the flow is great, too). Some of the choices in

Summary: You have just awakened to find your darkest secret revealed to a group of people who would do anything to destroy you: your classmates! That’s what happens to Ichijo Mashiro, whose elite school education turns into the most horrifying experience of his life when he’s enlisted to participate in an after-hours class. The only way for Mashiro to graduate is to enter into a nightmare world where his body and soul will be at the mercy of his worst enemies. Can Mashiro keep the life-long secret that he is not truly a “he” nor entirely a “she” – or will he finally be “outted” in the most humiliating way possible?

Review: First impressions are everything in the world, and Ichijo does the best to keep his the way he wants it- as a guy. This is harder than it seems when his top half is definitely masculine, but his bottom half is most definitely not! However, when he’s entered into a class where nightmares become reality and he must face the inner selves of himself and his classmates. The thing is, his inner fear/self happens to be himself… but with a girl’s uniform on, making him instantly recognizable to those who cross his path.

His classmates take an immediate interest- a girl that’s been broken by her abusive father and a rapist, a playboy that thinks Ichijo is the prettiest thing that he’s laid his eyes on but has inextricable ties to his sister, others that would use him as they saw fit. They all have their own demons to fight. Others come and go as they ‘graduate’, disappearing from the hearts and minds of their classmates. Some are unable to overcome their issues and merely disappear.

Watching Ichijo desperately try to figure out the feelings he has about his own identity and the romantic struggles and drama that occur while it happens is interesting, if slightly obvious by the third or fourth volume. I think most people will be able to guess what’s going to happen, and while that disappointed me because of how one of the wheels gets shunted aside, the fact that they’re able to overcome that and still be good friends who care for each other is something unique and wonderful in this genre. It also plays into them finding themselves and their inner strength.

The meaning behind needing to discover themselves and their strengths, as well as what’s happening in the school, managed to be a wonderful surprise twist. The inner struggle Ichijo goes through takes on a far greater significance, with the two sides to him perhaps not being as philosophical as suspected, and the need to graduate being more than just graduation. It all snowballs into one of the best romance/mysteries that I’ve come across in quite a while.

Overall, this was a very interesting look at the psyche and had a great twist I hadn’t expected!

Recommended: 18+. There is incest (blatantly stated but the act is merely implied). Sex is mentioned (and occurs. Genitalia is not shown and the few sections it was in were *brief* and I didn't think it was happening until I read comments that happened later. Kissing and the leadup to sex does occur. There is violence- people get slashed with swords, torn apart, dug into- but there is no gore and it's not graphic, though blood is shown. There are also a handful of minor swears.

Other titles you might enjoy:
I.S. Intersexuality (manga)
Wandering Son (anime and manga)
Revolutionary Girl Utena (anime)
Hour of the Mice (manga)
Arisa (manga)

“For Love Or…” – Kimi Ga Suki (manga) – 4/10 Black Cats

Love is friendship set on fire. ~Jeremy Taylor

Mangaka: Ayu Watanabe

Genre: Romance/School/Shoujo

Review Status: Complete (3 Volumes/3 Volumes)

Licensed: No, this manga is not licensed in the US

Art: Pretty typically shoujo. Big eyes, lots of toner. Little to no detail in the backgrounds. The character designs are unremarkable. The panels are uncluttered and flow well.

Summary: Aki and Mase have always played basketball together, and their feelings have blossomed into those of love. Before she can confess, Aki gets a confession from a boy from a rival school. An unfortunate accident throws a wrench into everything, as Aki finds herself riddled with guilt and needing to make up what happened somehow. Her feelings end up mixed up, and she can’t decide what to do.

Review: This is definitely one of the poorer romance manga I have read. When you have characters that are only recognizable for their hair, and can’t be remembered a few hours after reading the manga, there’s a problem. Why should I care about their romance when I can’t care about the characters themselves?

I can think of one reason: Aki pity-dates the guy who’s injured on their date and tries to convince herself that it’s love. That’s the crux of the relationship- she’s guilty, and forces herself into an unfulfilling relationship because of it. What makes this doubly terrible is that he really likes her! Aki lies repeatedly, to herself, to the guy, to her friend, to Mase about her feelings.

Mase isn’t much better, using another girl in order to get over Maki. Quite frankly, that’s not cool.

Both need a firm slap over the heads, and they get them. They get broken up with so that they can be together. A happy ending that they went through a whole lot of shallow drama for.

Overall, this wasn’t worth my time to read. Pass!

Recommended: No. 13+, though, since the scanlations did have two swears. One instance of the a-word, and the word for illegitimate child. No fanservice, no violence except for a scene where the guy gets hit with a car. This isn’t graphic or lingered on at all. The worst he gets is a broken leg.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Fruits Basket (manga)
NANA (manga and anime)
Moe Kare!! (manga)
Kimi ni Todoke (manga and anime)

“Something Borrowed, Something Blue” – Pig Bride (manhwa) – 10/10 Black Cats

Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. ~Simone Signoret

Genre: School/Comedy/Romance/Supernatural/Shoujo

Review Status: Complete (5 Volumes/5 Volumes)

Licensed: Yes, this manhwa is licensed in the US

Art: Lovely. More detailed than the usual shoujo, with very lovely character designs and little things that make the art stand out. The color inserts are fabulously bright and colorful, a treat for the eyes. It adds a detail that makes me smile- the guy has pink hair and eyes!

Summary: Lost in the mountains on a trip to summer camp, eight-year-old Si-Joon fears he'll never make it out alive. When a strange girl in a pig mask appears before him, he follows her to a house deep in the woods, where he is told that he must marry the pig-faced girl to atone for the sins of their ancestors. Si-Joon's not too keen on getting married, but that wedding feast looks so delicious! It's only afterward that he realizes what he's done and...wakes up. Now in high school, Si-Joon Lee has been dreaming about the pig bride for as long as he can remember. But it's all just a dream, right? (Amazon.com)

Review: This is a modern-day fairytale. A boy, lost in the woods, finds himself the unwitting husband of a girl in a pig mask. She finds him when he turns 16, determined to make him fall in love with her and break the curse that’s upon her- a curse that she brought upon herself many hundreds of years ago. She must also prove herself worthy to his family, and maybe…. Just maybe, then they can have a happy ending.

This had some wonderful twists on the standard take. The ‘prince’ is lazy and somewhat selfish, and not at all pleased with the girl he’s stuck with! In love with another, he finds that Mu-Yeon may not be the most up to date girl, a ‘country bumpkin’ in the truest of ways, but she’s sweet and genuine. Mu-Yeon herself is a lovely character, wild over Si-Joon and really wants to win him over. Even if she comes off a little strongly… and a little odd (almost every night she asks him to consummate the marriage with her), she has strength of character- when her old rival from her past life tries to get revenge, Mu-Yeon isn’t afraid to fight fire with fire.

What’s really nice is the relationships between the side characters are just as entertaining and interesting as the main couple. They aren’t just background noise and character foils. I have to admit- one thing that drives me up a wall is that those relationships aren’t quite as resolved as I normally would like them to be. Regardless, I was still highly entertained.

This puts together a great story. Not only are the characters immensely likeable- even Si-Joon’s other love interest Doe-Doe- but the story flows well and has some great moments. From Doe-Doe’s misadventures with Mu-Yeon’s mask, to attempting to pick between Mu-Yeon and “Princess”, there were a few times I nearly laughed out loud or was surprised by the twists that this took!

Overall, this was an adorable and funny manhwa that definitely deserves a little more attention!

Recommended: 10+. There are two swears in this manga, the b-word and d-word. Mu-Yeon does proposition Si-Joon a few times, but it’s not aggressive or offensive. Si-Joon also walks in on Mu-Yeon changing, but you only see her back. He walks in on her rival in the bath, but you only see her shoulders and below the knee. There is some comedy violence, but in a flashback you do see Mu-Yeon’s rival die (this isn’t graphic or lingered on- surprisingly, it manages to be funny, but not dark-humored).

Other titles you might enjoy:
Gakuen Alice (manga)
Bride of the Water God (manhwa)
NG Life (manga)
½ Prince (manhua)
Mixed Vegetables (manga)
Kuragehime (anime and manga)

“I, Android” – Karakuri Odette (manga) – 10/10 Notebooks

I believe that at the end of the century the use of words and the general educated opinion will have altered so much that one will be able to speak of machines thinking without expecting to be contradicted. ~Alan Turing, 1937

Genre: Sci-fi/School/Drama/Romance

Review Status: Complete (6 Volumes/6 Volumes)

Licensed: Not currently. It was formerly licensed by Tokyopop.

Art: For a shoujo, the art is surprisingly plain. Backgrounds of any sort are minimal. The characters can look awkward and gangly at times.

Summary: Odette is an android created by the young talented scientist Dr. Yoshizawa. Wanting to find the ultimate difference between humans and his android, Odette decides to persuade Dr. Yoshizawa to enroll her in a local high school. Follow Odette's adventures as she ventures through high school, in search of the true meaning of being a human. (amazon.com)

Review: The idea of an android wanting to be recognized or wanting to be like humans is a common one in science fiction. Manga isn’t very different. This shoujo takes advantage of the idea to approach the subject from the emotional standpoint of the android.

After watching a tv show, she gets the idea that it would be interesting to go to her high school and study humans. She makes friends by obeying her first directive- never to hurt a human. Odette is unusual in that she picks up most social cues very easily, figuring out what friends are and being accepting of everyone. This lands her in interesting situations, such as being a best friend (and potential love interest) of the school delinquent, and befriending other androids that weren’t made with the best of intentions.

Some of the interesting things are comparing how Odette grows and changes through the series in comparison to her companion android Chris. He ends up disappearing for a volume or two, and they are in such contrast with each other that it’s hard to believe that she was like he was a short while ago, or how ingrained she has become with her human friends. Of course, her uniqueness isn’t unnoticed by others.

A protective human guy friend (and potential love interest- but those who are going in for just that might be a tad disappointed by the ambiguous ending), an android that wants to marry her and have their parts mended, a jealous love triangle, and a scientist that only wants and values the best all end up complicating her life. Even so, friendship and family win the day. I think this ended exactly where it should have- a good note.

Overall, this was a sweet story about an android slowly becoming human.

Recommended: 10+. There was one swear in the volumes I read, the d-word. Some of the robots are assassination robots, and in two chapters you see people disappear in a flash of light. Unless the idea of seeing robot parts scattered over the floor at other parts disturbs you, then this is a very safe read.

Other Titles You Might Enjoy:
Time of Eve (OVA and Movie)
Chobits (manga)
Absolute Boyfriend (manga)
Lovers Doll (manga)

“The Good Life” – NG Life (manga) – 10/10 Apples

The past is our definition. We may strive, with good reason, to escape it, or to escape what is bad in it, but we will escape it only by adding something better to it. ~Wendell Berry

Genre: Comedy/Romance/Spiritual/Drama/School/Gender-bender

Review Status: Complete (9 Volumes/9 Volumes)

Licensed: Formerly licensed by Tokyopop- has yet to be relicensed

Art: Clean, distinctive, nicely detailed. Expressions are clear, as are actions, and the panel flow is very nice and easily followed.

Summary: Kedai Saeki is a high school student who remembers his past life in Pompeii, living as the Italian warrior Sirix… His friends around him are all also reincarnated- although they don’t quite remember things the way he does. Kedai’s wife from the past? She’s now a middle school boy- while his best male friend is now a cute girl?! Throw in a case of love at first sight, and you have a new look at romance- manga-style!

Review: The past affects us in more ways than we can ever realize. Sometimes we remember what it was that has changed us, sometimes we don’t. NG Life explores that theme in one of the most literal ways- by Kedai remembering his past life, while almost no one around him does. He clings to the memories where he had a wife who loved him, a friend that was the best, most loyal guy around, and where he abandoned those he loved the most to die as he did his duty to someone he deeply honored.

This is one of the funniest manga I’ve read in a while. There can’t be anything more awkward and uncomfortable than dealing with two genderswitched people that you adore! Sirix loved Serena back when she was a woman… but Kedai isn’t gay in the modern world! His mother used to be his younger sister, and his father was his most hated rival, which bugs him to no end. And though it’s rare, he isn’t the only one who retains his memories of the past.

NG Life isn’t only sunshine and awkward moments, though. Many of his friends don’t remember the past- and when another suddenly forgets her past memories, Kedai is desperate to know why. He carries deep guilt from the destruction of Pompeii. He had abandoned his wife for reasons that are slowly revealed through the story, and the circumstances are as tragic as they are unchangeable. The past weaves in and out of the present seamlessly, tying the people and incidents together in an incredible way.

This is a story about coming to terms with the past. Kedai must forgive himself for what happened, realize that he is no longer Sirix, and find peace with the life that he has. The way that this is told and brought about is slow, steady, unstoppable, and beautifully done. It’s one thing for others to forgive you- it’s another to forgive yourself. Nothing feels out of place, no strings left hanging. And that makes this a manga worth reading.

Overall, this is one of the most touching (and funny) manga I’ve ever read- check it out ASAP!

Recommended: 12+. I don’t remember any swearing. There’s no nudity, though when recalling the past-life of one of his friends one person only recalls big boobs (these are focused on perhaps twice, and no nudity in them). One guy is a bit of a playboy but is only shown flirting. There’s occasional cross-dressing (mostly to psych out Kedai).There is violence, which ranges from comedic exaggeration (a woman standing over Sirix with a whip) to the serious (his friend getting stabbed). Only the comedic is shown on the page. There is death.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Please Save My Earth (manga)
Yukari Zumu (manga)
Oyayubihime Infinity (manga)
Fruits Basket (manga)
Red River (manga)
½ Prince (manga)

“Just A Drop” – Chibi Vampire (manga) – 8/10 Notebooks

“All changes are more or less tinged with melancholy, for what we are leaving behind is part of ourselves.” ~ Amelia Barr

Genre: Romance/Comedy/Supernatural/Drama/School

Review Status: Complete (14 Volumes/14 Volumes)

Licensed: This manga was previously licensed by Tokyopop. As they have gone under and no one has yet picked it up again, it is currently unlicensed.

Art: Nice, clean, bold lines. It reminds me a bit of Toradora!, but the art tends to be sharper than that for Toradora! All the characters are distinct and memorable, while the backgrounds can be terrifically detailed.

Summary: Karin is a cute little girl who also happens to be a vampire… with a twist. Once a month she experiences intense bleeding from her nose- we’re talking gushers! In other words, she’s a vamp with blood to spare, so rather than stealing blood from humans she actually gives her blood to them. If done right this can be an extremely positive experience that benefits the ‘victim’ as much as the vampire. The problem is that Karin can never seem to do things right! (Tokyopop)

Review: Because this is the first manga I ever read, I definitely had some nostalgia filters on my memories of it. Thankfully, since I own it I was able to go back and re-read it to see whether it was as good as I remembered it to be. While it wasn’t the 10/10 I remembered it to be, this is still a solid romcom manga.

Karin has known she was different for a long time- she didn’t really ever want to leave the human world, and when the time passed when she should have managed to get her vampire powers, disaster struck- she had a massive nosebleed that showed that she would never be a normal vampire. When you’re in a family where the oldest is most definitely a vampire and the youngest is a vampire prodigy and turning to a full vampire early means that the rest of the family worries for her. Things escalate as they discover that there is more to her than the fact that she’s giving blood- like the fact that he little quirk could kill her.

At the same time the family realizes they can no longer protect her from the sun, so they leave her daily care in the hands of Kanta Usui, a classmate that witnesses one of her nosebleeds and nearly is bitten himself. They share what’s wrong with her and he volunteers to be bitten when she needs it- if only he can actually get her to bite him! However, Karin’s growing feelings for him make her nervous and unsure about doing it, since it does affect and change the person who’s bitten for a temporary time.

This manages to mix interpersonal drama- between Karin and her family, between Karin and Kenta, between Kenta and his family- with a rather good overarching story. Karin is drawn into a problem the vampires have with reproducing, which is key to her own strangeness. And while she’s at it, she must deal with balancing school, work, her budding romance, and one interesting family. I love the characters in this manga, from Karin who’s not always bright and perky like most shoujo heroines, to her little sister who’s collection of possessed dolls is a scream, to her parents and grandmother that have quite an interesting dynamic between them. Kenta is also a charmer. He’s hardworking and determined, and really very smart. I also feel so bad for his mom, who’s past history with men is full of misery, but still manages to provide a warm and loving home for her son. While some of the problems that they all encounter border on unbelievable, most of it I’ve seen happen to various degrees, adding a feel of realism to this story that I can enjoy and empathize with the characters.

It’s not perfect-score material, though. The jokes can fall a little flat, and it can fall into ‘silly’ and ‘melodramatic’ at times. Certain parts of the story can feel stupid, like Kenta’s mom fooling the police into closing down a prostitution ring. That wasn’t the bad part, but the execution felt very off. However, the ending seemed fitting, since Karin was never able to live in both worlds.

Overall, this was a sweet romance that had a somewhat bittersweet ending.

Recommended: 16+ is what they have on the back, and I think that’s about right. There’s an instance or two of Barbie-doll nudity, or where the genitals have been covered up. There is a handful of rough language, from the d-word to the b-word. Karin’s older brother is also a playboy, and while it’s never explicitly stated it’s clear he’s both draining blood from and having sex with the girls he picks up. And the fanservice never crosses the line into ecchi, though there are a few boob-grabs and mentions of how jealous someone is/how big they are.

Other titles you might enjoy:
NG Life (manga)
Hana to Akuma (manga)
Vampire Game (manga)
Tsukiyomi: Moon Phase (anime and manga)
Tsukihime (Visual Novel)

“Getting To Know You” – Kimi ni Todoke (Season 2) (anime) – 8/10 Pools

Love has no desire but to fulfill itself. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving. ~Kahlil Gibran

Genre: Romance/Slice-of-Life/School

Review Status: Complete (12 Episodes/12 Episodes)

Licensed: No, this anime is not licensed in the US

Art/Animation: There really isn’t anything unique about the character designs, but the colors are bright and lovely, and the backgrounds are mainly lovely watercolors. The animation is sub-par for a slice-of-life anime. It tends to be on the rough side, surprising since there isn’t a whole lot of movement and there is no action per say.

Dub Vs. Sub: There is no dub for this anime.

Summary: The continuation of the first season. Sawako Kuronuma and her friends have just begun their second year of high school and they are in the same class together again. To make matters more interesting a male student newly transferred into their class is seated right next to Kuronuma and has taken an interest in her. What hurdles will Sawako and Kazehaya face next? (from MAL.net)

Review: While I wasn’t impressed by the pacing in the first season, this second one took it up a notch. It started off with a bang- a new guy transferring in, and he’s not impressed by the main couple’s dithering around! So of course he offers to help Sawako and be her friend. Quite a few episodes are spent building up the tension as Kazehaya watches them get close and is infuriated by it.

This plays around with some of the things that often show up in shoujo romances- for instance, it’s Kazehaya that gets up in arms when he sees Sawako getting close to the new guy. The really nice thing about this is that he neither sees the need to get ‘revenge’ or behave like Sawako is his property during it. He doesn’t have that personality, and the author stays true to it.

The second season is also where The Confession happens. Finally! The ball gets moving between our main protagonists. What was also very pleasant about this story is that it’s not all ‘I love you everything’s good and we can live happily ever after’. There is no way that the story could end up like that! The mangaka kept in mind that Sawako is the most feared, avoided girl in the school, and that there would be little to no chance people would accept their relationship right off the bat. So while the confession does happen, they spend a few episodes going through people’s reactions to their relationship.

Why am I not as impressed by this as I could be? The love triangle. I’m very, very tired of this particular shoujo cliché. I’m just glad that it acted as an immediate catalyst for the confession. Sawako had to be particularly clueless for a few minutes after, but within the next episode everything was back to rights, and the main couple was official. The other thing that I was disappointed in was how the last episode ended. Yes, they’re together, but there was a clear cliffhanger for a potential third season. I should expect it within the next few years. Until then, you might want to pick up the manga if you need to see their relationship grow and solidify before then.

Overall, if you liked the first season, you’ll love the second!

Recommended: Yes! 10+, this is a very family-friendly romance. Pin (one of the teachers) is a little perverted, but most of what he says will go over the heads of younger kids. No fanservice, no language, the ‘scary’ scenes of Sawako being the town ghost aren’t scary since you know how sweet she is and it’s not presented in a frightening way… This season is almost as clean as a whistle.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Kimi ni Todoke (Season 1 and the manga)
Train Man (manga)
Princess Jellyfish (anime)
Emma: A Victorian Romance (anime and manga)
Lovely Complex (anime and manga)
Ouran Host Club (anime and manga)
Clannad and Clannad Afterstory (anime)
Ah! My Goddess (anime and manga)
Fruits Basket (manga)

"Rose-Colored Glasses" - Tatami Galaxy (anime) - 9/10 Thunderstorms

"A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes." ~Mark Twain

Genre: Comedy/Romance/Psychological/Mystery/School

Review Status: Complete (11 Episodes/ 11 Episodes)

Licensed: Yes, this anime is licensed in the US

Art/Animation: It can be a little odd to look at, but the animation is fabulous, and the quirky story and storytelling perfectly matches that art style.

Summary: The story follows a nameless protagnist as he, in a Groundhogs Day-style twist of fate, tries to find the 'Rose-Colored Campus Life that he's dreamed about. Can he find it? And how do his choices play out?

Review: What is you're Rose-Colored life? How can you reach it? Our nameless protagonist, a new student in college, has decided that the best way to to his dreams is to do... a little bit of everything! This anime explores the ways small decisions can change the course of your life, while sending our protagonist on wild goose-chases to discover the name of his penpal, the girl that he's fallen in love with.

As he enters college, our hero of sorts is innundated with innumerable choices for clubs and after-school activities. Which one shall he choose to gain popularity and the girl of his dreams? Each episode, it's something different, from the biking club, to the film club, to his fellow resident's prankster society. And from there on, you see our protagonist working hard, trying to reach his dreams, and all the while, getting distracted from what he really should be doing.

Returning a little bookbag charm to his senior.

What is great about this anime is how each story ties together. Little things from one episode carry into another- for instance, a pink kimono briefly mentioned and seen in one episode comes back two later as a fairly important object. Neko Ramen gets a particularly big spotlight. And a random appearance early on becomes key in the climax of the show.

The climax of it all turns out to be hilarious, fairly gripping, and almost cathartic as you finally see our protagonist battle with his demons of time and inactivity- to do what he should have been doing from the beginning, and get the girl that he should have been with all along. Like the viewer may be, he was too blind to see it, and that it was there in front of him all along.

The only thing that brings down the score for me was the unnecessary crudity in episode 4. It really could have been done without it, or kept it to a minimum. As it was, I think that those who aren't interested in dealing with breats all episode long can skip it. Thankfully, the fifth episode brought the absudity and hilarity back to its former levels.

Overall, this was a hilarious anime that is definitely one of the best rom-coms I've seen in a while!

Recommended: Yes. 18+, though, since this does end up having enough sexual innuendo to make quite a few uncomfortable. In fact, this is taken to an almost embarassing extreme in the fourth episode, where the story centers around our protagonist as he deals with a guy that has a breast fetish. Thankfully, it goes back to fairly low levels, the fetish barely mentioned or dealt with. It does get a bit sketchy when dealing with other things, such as a guy who's in love with a life-size doll, and there is almost some sexual activity (he chickens out before they kiss) that is mentioned/thought about by the protagonist.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Durarara!! (anime)
Baccano! (anime)
Trapeze (anime)
School Rumble (anime or manga)

"The Tall And Short Of It" - Lovely Complex (manga) - 10/10 Leprechauns

Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length. ~Robert Frost

Genre: Comedy/Romance/School/Shoujo

Review Status: Complete (16 Volumes/16 Volumes, + 1/1 extras volume)

Licensed: Yes, this manga is licensed in the US

Art/Animation: It's fairly recognizeable as shoujo, but it's not deeply toned or dramatically shaded. It also looks very pretty in general.

Summary: Risa and Otani are in a similar predicament. Neither is dating anyone, they are both continually being laughed at as a comedy duo (courtesy of their loving sensei), and they both have height problems! Risa is taller than the average girl, and Otani is shorter than the average guy!

Determined to be in a relationship, they both decide to cheer each other on in the war of love. However, along the way, Risa begins to develop feelings for Otani... are these feelings mutual? Can love win, no matter what the height? (Source: Manga-Updates)

Review: Can someone who seems so wrong, be so right? This si the question explored when Riza and Ootani come together. They start off as awesome friends- they love the same obscure singer, adore ordering fruity, exotic-sounding drinks, and have a chemistry that sets their classmates into riots of laughter.

So it comes as a total surprise when Riza finds that her feeling for Ootani may be a bit deeper than she had suspected

Height is something that people who date are very aware of. Guys are afraid of being too short, girls are afraid of being too tall. And so when you have a tall girlfriend and a short boyfriend, there's going to be a lot of tension and misunderstandings when navigating that relationship.

You do have some typical shoujo situations- childhood friends that want to come between them, and crushes that are into eachother instead of the mains. But then you have atypical shoujo situations, such as a former love rival not only turning out to be a guy, but becoming one of their strongest supporters! And the humor and wit turns this into a riot to read.

What I loved was being able to see their relationship go from the awkward first stages into a lovely, steady and stable relationship as they grew up and became people in their own right. While the relationship continues to have issues throughout the series, they are ones that come from growing up and the security issues that come with going from the safety of high school into the world of college and being in different schools, with different dreams.

And even though there does end up with some dramatics, it does it with a humor that is uplifting.

Overall, this is a hilarious look at an unusual problem- that has a happy ending.

Recommended: YES! Um... 14+, as one of the girls is actually a cross-dressing boy. You do see some shirtless guys. There is some slightly sexual content in the last two volumes, as they go on a trip and rooming together (girls with boyfriends) comes up. It's only hinted at, though, and if anything sexual happens, then it isn't shown. There is also some comedic violence (cheek-pinching, one or two punches thrown).

Other titles you might enjoy:
Lovely Complex (anime)
High School Debut (manga)
Kimi ni Todoke (anime and manga)
Toradora! (anime)
Special A (manga)
Ouran Host Club (anime and manga)

“A Touch Of Makeup” – Beauty Pop (manga) – 5/10 Disco Balls

No one ever told me I was pretty when I was a little girl. All little girls should be told they're pretty, even if they aren't. ~Marilyn Monroe

Genre: Comedy/School/Romance/Shoujo

Review Status: Complete (10 Volumes/10 Volumes)

Licensed: This manga is licensed in the US

Art/Animation: Typical shoujo, with large eyes and sparkles. Nice to look at but nothing special.

Summary: Although a truly gifted hairstylist, Kiri Koshiba has no interest in using her talent to pursue fame and fortune, unlike the three popular boys in the "Scissors Project" at school. Determined to become the best makeover team in Japan, they give showy makeovers to handpicked girls. As much as Kiri tries to shy away from the Scissors Project spotlight, she finds herself responding to beauty's call... (MAL.net)

Review: What can a haircut do for you? A good haircut can make you feel better about yourself by revealing your best features. Kiri knows the power of a good haircut, and discreetly offers to give makeovers to girls that need a boost of self-confidence.

That’s how she comes to the attention of the Scissors Project- a group of boys at school who are style all-stars, choosing only the girls with the most promise to make over. They feel that only girls with promise can be made beautiful- and Kiri shows them up. And so goes a rivalry that turns into a reluctant alliance when they go into a national styling competition. Kiri manages to find friends, win the competition, and find love within this story.

I have to say, overall this isn’t too bad. You do have your typical shoujo clichés- the five boys of scissors project are total shoujo stereotypes- and the storyline is fairly predictable. All the same, this does have some good points. I did like Kiri’s personality, which reminded me a lot of one of my other favorite shoujo leads. Kiri also isn’t the only one to find love. Her best friend does too, which is somewhat rare.

My rating reflects how I overall felt about it. There were some things that I liked (the competition and Kiri’s past were pretty interesting), others that didn’t strike as much of a chord with me (unresolved relationships and some plot points), but on the whole, the whole story was just… okay. Nothing particularly special.

Overall, this was a decent title, but for a younger age set- it would make a great starter manga for a younger sister.

Recommended: 7+. This has some bullying in it that’s resolved very quickly. One of the boys is “allergic” to girls and breaks out in hives when he’s touched by one. There is a slap or two that occurs during the course of the story when something really mean is said.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Ouran Host Club (manga and anime)
Lovely Complex (anime and manga)
Skip Beat (manga)
High School Debut (manga)

“Nothing As Scary As Love” – Kimi ni Todoke (anime) – 7/10 Sugar Cubes

"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed." ~Carl Jung

Genre: Romance/ Shoujo/ School/ Comedy

Review Status: Full (25 Episodes/ 25 Episodes)

Licensed: As of the beginning of July 2011, this anime is licensed in the US

Art: Most of the time it looks nice, sometimes it’s a bit shoddy. Occasionally there are weird/odd character designs that are put in places where they’re not needed. The colors are bright, though, and the animation tends to be pretty smooth.

Summary: Kuronuma Sawako is nicknamed Sadako due to her resemblance to the girl from the Japanese horror movies "The Ring". Shunned by her classmates, her life starts to change as she befriends Shōta Kazehaya, a very popular boy in her class.

Kuronuma Sawako’s one wish in life is to make friends. That’s a difficult proposition when everyone who meets her cowers in terror. She admires her classmate, Kazehaya-kun, a popular, easygoing and 100% refreshing guy who is nice with everyone, even with her. (from ANN.com)

Review: I picked this up not expecting to be impressed. After all, what could this offer but more schoolgirl shenanigans, fanservice, and a bit of a harem romance?

As it turns out, a lot more.

For one, from the start you know that the main characters are really into each other. There’s no playing around with that- in fact, the whole story centers around waiting for them to get up the gumption to realize that the other feels the same way and get together. Along the way Sada Sawako learns how to make friends, keep friends, interact with people socially (which she is thrilled by, even if they’re telling her that they’re her rival in love), and just goes around being a nice person who wants to please others.

No fanservice here, except for a brief shot of a guy’s back. That’s it. No boob comedy, no bloody noses- nothing! It’s also the farthest thing from a harem that you could get. Not only do Sawako’s friends have no interest in her crush, they have their own, separate love lives with different men! Woot! And even those relationships are kept reasonable- Chizuru with a childhood friend, Ayane with… well, that’s only suggested at, but even that’s not particularly disturbing given the girls’ ages. Beyond that, it’s technically the second relationship Ayane has in the anime- she breaks off the first one because her boyfriend gets abusive. Yeah, you heard me right, they use her relationship to give a dose of Girl Power! Not only does she break it off with him (permanently), but when she does, she’s SO over it! No weeping over jerks like that! To give a supporting character that kind of limelight and power in a relationship is, unfortunately, rather rare and impressed me a lot.

There are some things that left me wanting, though, and why I’m only rating it an 7. First would be the art/animation factor. The next would be the minor logic fail that happens rather early on, when they introduce one of Sawako’s friends from junior high. A friend she technically shouldn’t have, and is erased from her memory within the next episode, and is never brought up again. And thirdly, I’m so sick of the cliché of a girl with long black hair being scary, when all it takes is a little makeup, a hairpin, and a smile to make her a socially acceptable, pretty being. I’ll bet you that if you look at a bunch of pictures of Asian models, many of them will have long hair and a lot of them won’t be smiling. Are they considered scary? Maybe to some, but let’s be serious here. And double points off for needing to buy the manga to see when/how everyone gets together- you’re left with a solid groundwork for guessing as everyone walks home with someone they like (or are slightly annoyed by, in one case), but don’t really see it.

EDIT: Updating as of 10/31/2010- the second season of Kimi ni Todoke has been CONFIRMED fot the 2010 winter anime season! It should start airing (and being subbed) in January. There will be a seperate review of it once it's over. I'm recinding my statement about needing to buy the manga to see who gets with whom until further notice.

Overall, this is a very sweet, charming anime that’s fairly family friendly, and worth watching. Or, in case you don’t want to be left with a cliffhanger, buying the manga isn’t a terrible option.

Recommended: Yeah. As long as you don’t mind picking up the manga to figure out whether all the couples actually, really, for-sure get together. Appropriate for all ages!

Other anime you might like:
Ouran Host Club (anime and manga),
Kanon (anime),
Clannad and Clannad Afterstory (anime),
Ah! My Goddess (anime and manga),
Bamboo Blade (anime and manga),
Fruits Basket (manga)

“Love Is Blind” – Koi Kaze (Manga) – 9/10 Sugar Cubes

When love is not madness, it is not love. ~Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Genre: Romance/ Drama/ School

Review Status: Full (5 Volumes/ 5 Volumes)

Licensed: Unlicensed in the US

Art: Simplistic, but merely because this is a simple story, not because it’s childish. There is great detail and attention paid to the character’s expressions.

Summary: Saeki Koushirou works as a wedding planner, but his own love life is a shambles. His background makes it difficult for him to commit himself wholeheartedly to love. The child of a divorced couple, he lives with his father. He has a mother and a sister, but he has not seen them in years. After being dumped by his girlfriend, a chance encounter with a female high school student shakes Koushirou's calm and awakens new feelings in him - but he learns that the girl is in fact his sister, who will now be staying with his father and him. Yet, the feelings in Koushirou's heart... (From ANN.com)

Review: First of all: Yes. This is a story about incest. It’s not your usual fodder of “oh we grew up together and I lurve u lots!” No, this utilizes and actual, documented scientific phenomena of genetic sexual attraction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_sexual_attraction), where two siblings of the opposite gender who meet as adults find each other sexually attractive.

And that’s where everything goes wrong for these two- they meet, have no idea that they’re siblings, and find themselves falling for each other. And when they do meet, well… it’s not like they can live happily ever after. They both know that their love is wrong, and try to deny their attraction, but even so, end up together.

Don’t get me wrong- this manga doesn’t try to say that incest is okay or normal. Nor does it have its characters condemned to fire and brimstone. It doesn’t moralize the story, though one of the side characters that figures out what’s going on does openly show her disapproval (though, out of respect for her coworker, doesn’t share her knowledge).

Overall, this manga handles the subject of incest in an intensely tasteful, delicate way. It doesn’t use it merely as an excuse for porn, or say it’s right, only that between the two characters in the story, it exists.

Recommended: Yes. This is an excellent, tasteful, realistic story. However, as it is a sensitive subject, it isn’t for the family. So if you’re 16 and over, folks! Implied sex between a minor and adult, and it is (obviously) incestuous.

Other series you might like: Bitter Virgin (manga),
Alice 19th (manga),
NANA (manga and anime)
Ayashi no Ceres (manga)
Solanin (manga)

“Gods These Days…” – Kamichu! (Manga) – 8/10 Sugar Cubes

The Moon! Artemis! the great goddess of the splendid past of men! Are you going to tell me she is a dead lump? ~David Herbert Lawrence

Genre: School/ Supernatural/ Spiritual/ Comedy/ Romance

Review Status: Full (19 Chapters/ 19 Chapters or 2 Volumes/ 2 Volumes)

Licensed: Unlicensed in the US

Art: Decent. Clean. This is aimed at pre-teens, so it’s more stylistically simple than a few others I can name, but good for what it is.

Summary: Yurie Hitotsubashi was just an average middle school student living in the city of Onomichi on Japan's inland sea in the easygoing times of the 1980s. She spent her days worrying about exams and trying to get Kenji, the clueless boy she likes, to notice her. Then during lunch one day she suddenly announces to her friend Mitsue that the night before she had become a goddess. Their classmate Matsuri quickly latches on to Yurie’s newfound divinity as a way to promote her family’s bankrupt Shinto shrine. She hopes that replacing their hapless local god, Yashima-sama, with Yurie will make the shrine more popular (and profitable). Now, with Matsuri as her manager, Yurie has to grant wishes, cure curses, meet aliens, and attend god conventions. All the while attending school and working-up the courage to confess to Kenji. (From ANN.com)

Review: I can’t deny it- this manga was a lot of fun. Even though Yurie just wakes up a goddess one day, and everyone accepts it right off the bat (logic fail?), this story really isn’t about her getting her powers in the first place- it’s about how she deals with them while trying to live a normal life. But then again, aren’t they all like that?

Well, besides the seemingly-generic storyline, this story has a lot going for it. Yurie isn’t tasked with saving the world. She’s not given a list of things to complete. Nope, her whole thing is about learning how to use her powers, and to use them in a way that will benefit people while trying to make the fewest amount of mistakes possible.

Being a goddess isn’t as simple as it sounds- even though she knows she’s been given powers, she hasn’t the first clue how to use them. She has issues figuring out what wishes to grant. Somehow or another, she must stave off the god of poverty, and confess to the guy she likes- all with the help of her trusty friends!

This is a story rife with Japanese mythology, too, mainly in the form of the spirits that wander about town- Since you won’t get much information about them, you might have to do your own research into the ones that interest you.

Overall, this was an interesting, amusing look at life as it would be if an ordinary girl woke up extraordinary.

Recommended: It’s okay. Except for the leaps of logic one must take in a few places, it isn’t too bad. If you’re thinking of this for a younger sibling, you might want to explain about other countries having different standards of what’s acceptable in terms of nudity, as you will see the backsides of the girls as they’re getting out of the bath. Other than that it’s cleaner than clean!

Other series you might like:
Azumaga Daioh (anime),
Shugo Chara! anime or manga),
Sailor Moon (manga or anime),
Cardcaptor Sakura (the anime),
Kiki’s Delivery Service (anime)
Princess Tutu (anime)
Someday's Dreamers (anime or manga))