Ranked #5804

Maker Hikoushiki Hatsune Mix (Manga)

This manga sort of functions like a compilation of short stories, each short story having a different setting and set of characters than the last. The only characters that are consistent between chapters are the Vocaloids (and even some of them are missing in certain chapters.)
There is a wide variation of story lines between each chapter. The plots can at times be very hard to follow, but other ones are relatively straightforward. None of them are very well written, they're amusing at best and confounding at the worst.
The art is done by the original character designer of Miku and I have to say, he(?) does not disappoint.
However, the series is nothing beyond some decent art and some silly stories. If you're a Miku fan or you want something that's a little bit out of the ordinary, then it might be worth your time. If not, much better manga out there than this. read more

This manga is one of the unique ones, made to give pleasure to it's fans. And that's what it did. At least I think so...^^'' Since I've enjoyed it to the end, every part of it.

The story is... well nothing actually. A lady finds a green-haired girl in a box at the street and takes here home. She can't even talk in the beginning. And to use a collar on her.. that was most likely a DearS parody.

Anyways, towards the content: Almost all the Vocaloid characters are present here, and they're all... out of character:
- Miku is the stupid, but cute one.
- Rin is the Tsundere girl.
- Len is... lazy.
- Meiko is the Miku's parent.
and of course, Kaito is just as carefree as Koizumi from Suzumiya Haruhi.

Most fans of these characters are pretty pissed of what they've become... And that's why they doesn't like this manga. That, or maybe they've gotten a bad sense of humor.

Anyway, without further ado, The Hatsune Mix manga is basicly a comedy manga. Even though it gets serious/dramatic sometimes, it doesn't do it pretty well. Comedy is what fits the Vocaloids best. Everything from the facial expressions to their personality. And that's also what this delivers in a perfect and "laught out loud" way.

So that sums it up, because I don't have much to say about this series, as it is only 14 chapters scanlated right now. BUT, if you like fresh new jokes, Vocaloid, or are searching for a manga to pass the time with, this is the right one. read more

The Maker Unofficial: Hatsune Mix is a compilation of short stories intended for comic relief for the Vocaloid admirer. Drawn and written by KEI - character designer for Crypton Future Media's Vocaloid2: Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin/Len and Megurine Luka - it is the ultimate example of "Why let good character concepts go to waste?" After all... Would you be satisfied with creating just a boxart?
Because of KEI's characters being only said five and a story being quite lacking with only 5 characters, KEI has added more of the Vocaloid family (MEIKO and KAITO being good examples). However, because they were not his design, their names are never stated.
Begin the review:

~Story: 5~
As a long time admirer of the Vocaloid culture, finding this manga was heavenly for me. But try as I like, there were times I simply could not cope with the story(-ies). Some were cute and light hearted. Some were awkward and weird. But mostly; they were just plain outrageous.
Thumbs up if you like sillyness! Otherwise, TO THE ART!

~Art: 8~
Yes, the art in Hatsune Mix is very, very good. You can almost feel why KEI was selected by Crypton to present the boxart. It is simple yet gorgeous, two traits which I favor in manga far before heavy, overwhelming scenes.
If you need yourself a good smile or you're looking for inspiration for your fanmade Vocaloid - it's ALWAYS best to check the very heart and soul of the subject.

~Character: 9~
Let me put this simply: Vocaloid is a program. It has no personality at all, and the only thing you can judge the looks on is the boxart. Because of this fact, KEI must have had some problems with personalities. You should expect to see plenty of stereotypes, but NEVER go around saying that your favorite Vocaloid is out of character - it never had one in the first place. In the stories, however, they don't seem to be interpreted as actual human beings, but as robots of some sort. You will notice sentences like "So she's one of those Vocaloid things... Cool"
A quick list:
- Hatsune Miku: The 16 year old songstress with a vocal range human beings can only dream to match. She is insanely famous and behaves accordingly but as with the others, she is clouded in mystery, being not at all human.
- Kagamine Rin/Len: The 14 year old mirror images (Note: NOT TWINS). They portray Right and Left, and are two sides of the same coin. For this reason they are both polar opposites but inseparable nonetheless. They have a huge twin complex and cannot sing without the other.
- KAITO and MEIKO: Adult father and mother figures of the house.

~Enjoyment: 8~
Although the story was plain ridicule, this manga is a goldmine for every Vocaloid fan or producer. It gives nothing but pure enjoyment to the fandom: No special pairings or anything. It is extremely innocent, light hearted and humorous. Recommended for a late night read, a boring school day, or any time you need a little smile.

~OVERALL~
A huge 7.
Definitely a must have/read for Vocaloid enthusiasts, but maybe a slightly disappointing for a true fanatic. That is why I chop 3 off; it was fantastic, sure. But it didn't wow me in any way. read more