Story: Meet Kyouko Mogami, a young girl pouring her heart, sweat and blood into supporting her childhood crush Shoutaro so that he can fulfill his dream of becoming a top celebrity. Turns out he’s a narcissistic jerk who’s been using her all along for his own benefit, without a word or hint of gratitude towards her sacrifice. Upon realizing that her pure feelings have been trampled upon, Kyouko decides to destroy Shoutaro’s career by one-upping him and making him fear the terrible wrath of a woman scorned. In the strangest and most hilarious way anyone has entered show business, Kyouko weasels her way into a top talent agency called LME which sets into motion a series of life-changing experiences. Thankfully, the manga does not remain fixated on the initial hook and instead focuses on Kyouko’s journey into the unfamiliar world of acting, where she seeks to regain her lost self-confidence and hope and sense of self-worth, nor does it allow you forget Kyouko’s painful history or make you feel that her fixation with revenge is shallow or unwarranted. So don't be fooled into thinking that the synopsis offers a full picture of what Skip Beat! has to offer.
There is a wonderful balance struck between the light-hearted humor of a romance comedy and some of the more somber elements of a dramatic narrative. Every arc adds more complexity and depth to the story and the characters. The author, Nakamura-sensei did a superb job using flashbacks, supporting characters, and different jobs to highlight and draw out the various layers of the protagonist. I’m constantly blown away by the storytelling. No detail goes unnoticed, for one or two panels may be subtly foreshadowing the events of a chapter that will come out months or even years later.
Art: Nakamura-sensei has been working on Skip Beat! since 2002 so you can imagine that her style has evolved over the years. The art is clean and is a credit to the mangaka's skill. I admit I was put off by the men at the very, very, very beginning but the mangaka's style improves considerably. I can say that they contend as some of the hottest manga characters in shoujo manga. Another visual treat is Kyouko's many transformations according to her roles.
The expressions are stunning and lend authenticity to the characters' conflicts. The eyes are particularly captivating and every emotion is perfectly captured by the images alone. Chibi art is often incorporated alongside the more detailed anime profiles in a seamless and amusing manner. Although the art is gorgeous, it doesn't rely too much on the surroundings. Instead, the manga focus on gestures and convey a sense of "movement” that exists within the pages.
Character: This is easily the manga’s greatest feature. There are no flat characters in the world of Skip Beat! and you’d be hard-pressed to describe Kyouko as a Mary Sue type. Rather, the protagonist can be scarily obsessive about perfecting her voodoo doll-making skills at one moment and then gushing over pretty, fairy-tale related paraphernalia the next. Kyouko is equal parts innocent, crazy, dense, clumsy, funny, friendly, eager, elegant, polite, perceptive, hardworking, professional, intelligent, confused, sensible, vengeful, loving, and ambitious. Readers can quickly empathize with the many facets of her personality. Her acting career draws all of these traits because her roles require a process of self-discovery. Kyouko has a natural affinity to method-acting and the characters she plays essentially “possess” her once attained. At one point, she is described as the eternal butterfly, an actress that nobody recognizes because she disguises herself in the personas that she creates.
Even obnoxious fleas like Shoutaro aren’t discarded after the inciting incident. He is further developed (while still retaining his childishly-possessive nature, because the essential element of his character profile is that he is the World’s Biggest A-Hole) and continues to serve various purposes. This is a relief to me, because I would have easily forgotten him otherwise and would wonder why Kyouko hadn't. I hate to say this, but Sho's existence is actually important. The pain of his betrayal is enhanced as readers slowly learn about Kyouko’s complicated childhood in increments. After all, it is their history that serves as a catalyst for Kyouko’s rise to stardom.
And speaking of complicated pasts, allow me to introduce you to Ren Tsuruga, the actor who has captured the admiration of every woman in Japan. This fully applies to the readership - I have rarely seen another 2-D character ooze so much charisma. At first, he seems to to be just another handsome gentleman the world of fiction has to offer. But our protagonist has developed a phobia of two-faced male celebrities. Upon Kyouko’s first encounter, he is quickly judged to be yet another detestable rival to defeat because of his condescending attitude towards her modus operandi. But even the coldest of hearts cannot help but be melted by his many charms, and Kyouko eventually comes to admire him as a senior and a mentor. Unfortunately, Ren struggles with the cardinal virtue of sincerity. Occupational hazard of being an actor? Not quite. The reader will be exposed to the darkness within Ren over the course of the story and come to the realization that he is the perfect counterpart to our protagonist. He is afforded as much depth as Kyouko and his personal growth is just as crucial to the manga.
I haven't even commented on the plethora of supporting characters. Nakamura-sensei breathes to life an endearing cast that truly feels like a diverse community. Every new opportunity brings Kyouko into contact with new people who feel real and contribute to her growth in unique ways. You can’t miss eccentric characters like President Lori, or the capable manager Yashiro, who provides both solemn advice as well as a true-fangirl’s commentary and thereby establishes himself as the de facto voice of the readership. And there are plenty of other colorful individuals, so I recommend you read Skip Beat! to meet them all.
Enjoyment: Surely, you’ve gotten my opinion by now. If I actually comment on this category, I’ll exhaust the thesaurus of positive connotations that can be related to Skip Beat! ;D
The binge-ability of this manga is extremely high. The only complaint I can bring to the table is that once you’ve caught up, it will be agonizing waiting for the next installment. Sometimes it feels like the story is dragging on for months before you take the time to revisit previous arcs and realize that the pacing is in fact quite excellent. Don’t expect a quick resolution and savor each chapter as they come. I pray and hope that Nakamura-sensei will write the conclusion before I die, but I’ve learned that the most fulfilling of relationships take their sweet time.
Overall: Skip Beat! and its adaptations are one of the main reasons people haven’t lost hope in the shoujo genre. It is a genuine flagship comparable to Akatsuki no Yona, Glass Mask, Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge, Ouran High School Host Club, Fruits Basket and Akagami no Shirayuki-hime. If you haven’t read it yet – or any of these other titles, really – put in your top priority.
Re-readability is also very high, for all of those who have already had a taste. I fell in love with this manga the moment I picked it up over a decade ago and continue to love it with the same amount of zeal. I’ve read and re-read all the chapters that have been published so far and have seen the anime and the drama adaptations too many times to count. The story manages to stay refreshing and enjoyable no matter how many times I revisit it.
Parting Remarks: Thank you for somehow reaching the end of this long rant. I apologize if the review wasn’t as substantial as it ought to be but I’m just one advocate out of many. Don’t just take my word for it. Go and find out if you will love Skip Beat! as much as the rest of the fanbase. (And if anyone tries to tell me that Yashiro isn’t a princess amongst us – then you better be ready to step outside because imma fight you.)
