- Last OnlineDec 26, 2022 11:45 PM
- JoinedApr 11, 2019
No friend yet.
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Jan 20, 2021
At the time of writing this review, a well-deserved anime adaptation of Blue Period has just been announced, so congratulations to Ms. Yamaguchi.
Blue Period is an absolute masterpiece. I don't hand out 10s unless I come across something really special, and Blue Period is definitely worth anyone's time.
Even if you don't have an interest in art, Blue Period is guaranteed to resonate with anyone at some point over the course of its story. Whether it be through art, music, craft, even one's personal identity, the desire to create is inherent to humanity, it is the reason we exist as we do today. Blue Period
...
expertly captures all of the joys and fulfillment that comes with creating, portraying it as the means of expanding one's worldview and expressing their true selves.
However, it's not all smiles and rainbows. After all, Blue Period is named after the term used to refer to Pablo Picasso's deep depression. This manga touches on some poignant themes, and not all of them are uplifting. Creating might bring joy to the artist, but with it comes pain, fear, anxiety, and doubt along the way. Yatora experiences some significant roadblocks throughout the story, and he doesn't always pass through unscathed. The same goes for every other character, most notable of which is Ryuji, whose character touches upon themes of sexuality, gender norms, and self-identity.
I'll finish my review by talking about the art: it's gorgeous. Probably to be expected by a manga about art, but the visuals are incredible nonetheless. It has almost a watercolor look which feels appropriate given the subject matter.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Oct 6, 2020
Recently, there's been an influx in "Reiwa Era Romcoms", rom-coms which are characterized by their fast-pace, progress, and "chad" protagonists. While these faster-paced rom-coms are refreshing, BokuYaba is proof that a classic slow-burn romance is still very much worth reading as well. For those that are into a fluffy, feel-good romance with a slow and steady progression, BokuYaba will surely satisfy you.
Story (6/10):
First off, I need to say, the synopsis on MAL is insanely misleading. This manga is a lighthearted romantic comedy centered around the relationship between an introverted chuuni Ichikawa and a ditzy girl Yamada. The whole "psycho murderer" thing is basically a non-factor
...
which quickly becomes irrelevant. The story itself is a pretty standard school boy-meets-girl romance. It doesn't have any twists, or crazy moments, it's a sweet little backdrop for the characters to really interact.
Art (7/10):
The art is simple but nice. The character designs are appealing, the expressions are cute, and the panels are arranged nicely. It's got a bit of a rough sketchiness to it, but personally I find that to be part of the charm. It's a little weird that Yamada is supposed to be a middle schooler with the way the artist draws her but that's whatever. I like this manga's art overall.
Character (10/10):
Like with any good romance, the characters are the real meat and potatoes of the manga. Ichikawa and Yamada have such an impressively realistic chemistry together. There's a compelling development from their budding friendship to a romantic interest that a lot of manga tend to skip over. Ichikawa learning to better himself for Yamada, and Yamada becoming more sensitive to Ichikawa's feelings is really great stuff, and it's not hammered over the reader's head at all. The characterization is subtle and leads to a pair of really charismatic protagonists.
Enjoyment (9/10):
This manga is just such a feel good read. I can't not feel happy after reading a chapter. I want to praise the side stories as well, which are legitimately some of the best parts of the manga. They depict sort of scattered moments of Ichikawa and Yamada spending time together as friends. This is one thing that the manga does so well in comparison to others: conveying a deep relationship which isn't centered around some one-note gimmick. Ichikawa and Yamada like each other, and I mean that in a non-juvenile way. They deeply understand and care for one another, which is something I can't say for a lot of manga couples.
Overall (8/10):
A very solid romantic comedy overall, and it's working its way up to being one of my current favorites. It's greatest feat is portraying real chemistry between its love interests, which is strangely not very common in anime or manga.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Oct 6, 2020
KanoKari is a manga that feels a bit behind the times. A product of an era of rom-coms built around a "will-they-won't-they" plot progression in which romantic developments are stretched out across many more chapters than are probably necessary. This is not an inherently bad thing, but a lot of recent romantic comedies have been playing with the tropes that used to dominate the genre, which makes KanoKari feel basic by comparison. I won't say it's an irredeemably mediocre manga, but there are plenty of other options that hit the same notes and give a lot more.
Story (3/10):
The concept behind a dramatic rom-com involving
...
a trashy dude and a rental girlfriend is one that I can get behind. It's a setup that would lead to some interesting developments. That is to say, the story by itself isn't terrible, but the plot progression and pacing are excruciatingly slow. I do not mind a good slow-burn, but this story absolutely meanders and drags its feet. Things that feel like they should take a few pages end up taking several chapters, leaving the reader unsatisfied. That being said, there are genuinely pretty decent moments in the story where emotional beats land. They are just few and far between.
Art (8/10):
The art is pretty fantastic. Aside from the protagonist, the characters have gorgeous designs which reflect their personalities quite well. The line art is remarkably clean and stylish, although the panelling can be sort of bland at times. The amount of times the artist draws Kazuya with a wacky flustered blushing face can get very annoying to me, but objectively, the art is quality.
Characters (4/10):
While I think the story is the worst part of the manga, I think the character writing is the actual downfall. I can read and enjoy 2/10 story as long as it has great characters, and this is crucial in romance stories in particular. Unfortunately, KanoKari does not have great characters. This is a problem, because if I don't want the characters to end up together, what's the point of reading a romance manga? Everyone dogs on the MC Kazuya, and I have to agree. Coming from a person who enjoys "bad" protagonists, Kazuya is unbearably annoying. He's cowardly, creepy, and charmless protagonist who sees little to no development nearly 160 chapters in. Mizuhara makes for a decent female lead, although I personally find her a little bland. The other major characters are either irrelevant, unlikable, or drag the pace down further.
Enjoyment (4/10):
This is a manga with very little charm. It's really a lot of the little things which bother me. If I had a penny for every time a random bystander made a comment about how cute or pretty or sexy the girls were, I would be a millionaire. There are tons of filler chapters with the girls doing normal stuff and Kazuya completely overreacting like a complete monster virgin. The comedy is pretty one note as well and usually relies on Kazuya being the butt-monkey of every joke. The real killer for me is the lack of chemistry between characters. I never get the feeling that any of these characters actually like each other.
Overall (5/10):
For what it's worth, I find KanoKari a completely average romantic comedy. It's got a loser protagonist getting tons of bland gorgeous women piled onto him for no discernible reason, a meandering story line which tries to pad itself out with tons of filler, and a general lack of any special qualities. I know it's unfair of me to judge a work based off of its contemporaries, but it just really doesn't scratch any itches that other mangas won't. 5-Toubun has likeable love interests, Kaguya-sama has solid comedy, BokuYaba has strong romantic chemistry, 100-Girlfriends has a total chad protagonist. KanoKari doesn't really offer anything of special note to me.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Aug 13, 2020
Before its cancellation, Act-age was my favorite running manga series and I was excited to see how it would developed. Now we will never see the end to this wonderful story. I can only judge what has been completed, and imagine what could have been.
Story (7/10):
In my opinion, this is the weakest part of the manga but it is by no means bad. The story's purpose is to create interesting scenarios for the characters to do the heavy lifting. Kei's goal to become a top actor is a compelling enough premise that gets her to interact with colorful characters and reflect on herself. It's pretty
...
basic on the surface, but the manga makes up for it in other areas.
Art (10/10):
Usazaki quite possibly has one of the most appealing and beautiful art styles I have ever seen. Her designs are stylish and sharp. It has a very "raw" quality to it because of her sketchy and angular style. Her style of eyes in particular reflect an expressiveness that I have never seen in any other series. I appreciate the lack of fanservice as well. The art is beautiful, but not "sexy". It makes Act-age visually distinct from the many other manga and anime with cutesier art, and helps sell the darker moments.
Character (9/10):
This is where Act-age's writing really shines. Act-age is very much a character driven series. Kei Yonagi is an incredibly refreshing protagonist. Against a sea of brash male shounen protagonists, Kei is a unique take on a determined, talented, and broken female character. Her struggle to hone her craft while also keeping control of her identity is an intricate balancing act, and watching Kei inch closer and closer to the brink is frightening and thrilling. The side characters are handled well too. Chiyoko is the most developed side character, and she makes for an incredible foil to Kei, creating one of the most unique shounen rivalries of recent memory. Kuroyama, Araya, Akira, Oogami, Hanako, and the recently introduced Ren all round out the cast wonderfully, each with their own unique talents and struggles in the industry. My only criticism is that some arcs introduce a few too many characters that get lost in all of the overarching stories.
Enjoyment (10/10):
I was heavily invested in Act-age from the start. The subject and approach was so novel. Each arc seemed to be bigger and better than the last. I eagerly waited for the next chapter to come out. I loved almost everything about this manga and it was truly something special. I doubt anything will fill the hole that this manga's author has left in my heart.
Overall (9/10):
Despite my gushing, and despite loving this manga wholeheartedly up until now, I cannot easily recommend reading it. For one, this manga's premature end will leave a sour taste in the readers' mouths. It is incredibly depressing to see such potential be completely squandered. I am also of the belief that art cannot be easily separated from the artist. While I love the work, the author has committed an egregious crime, and it is difficult for many to reconcile the fact that we have been supporting such an individual. Nevertheless, Act-age was an amazing manga while it lasted, and unfortunately will go down as a story that never reached its potential.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
