Ao Haru Ride

Mar 26, 2022

Caeleb

Recommended

Romance is one of my favorite genres and I have recently started reading the manga of those animes that I first saw as a teenager in order to remember their stories and be able to write a review years after having gained experience within the world of manga and anime. Ao Haru Ride was one of the first animes I watched so I thought it would be a good idea to start with this one.

Story(7/10): The story has a good start introducing the main characters, showing how they met and the current state they are in. Later they introduce the different secondary characters, who are ... also given a story that explains in some way their way of being and how they interact with the protagonists. With 55 manga chapters, I think the story has a good pace of progress in general, except for the concluding arc, which deals with a love triangle that for some readers may seem somewhat forced, but I think it is understandable given that the author was possibly looking to finish the plot with a drama that would be resolved in order to make the reader go from a state of worry and nerves to a state of relief and happiness.

Art(7/10): Since it's one of the first manga I've read, I may not comment on everything you should know about the art of a manga. I think that the strengths of the author are reflected when drawing the facial expressions and the general anatomy of the body, I think they convey the feelings of the characters correctly. It may be a minor detail but I think the chosen outfit has a cool design and I think I'll be able to remember the characters' faces for a while. As for more technical aspects, I think that the positioning of the panels is adequate and the backgrounds are fine, nothing to particularly highlight.

Characters(8/10): Most of the characters have a decent level of development and a backstory that justifies why they are the way they are. Taking into account that the characters are students around 16 years old and in the situation they live in, I think they act in a way that is consistent with that and makes it possible for the reader to relate to one of them.

Kou was probably the character with the most depth and development due to the events he lived through when he was younger and even though he acted weird at times at the end of the manga I think he was a good character overall. Futaba also has a slight development throughout the plot but doesn't have as much depth as Kou, although I think it's admirable that she does not fit into any of the "dere" types.

The supporting cast is formed mainly by his close friends, which I would point out that some of them have an interesting story that at times is more plausible than the main relationship of the plot.

Enjoyment/Overall(8/10): Ao Haru Ride is a manga that I think other people will enjoy for all the points mentioned above, it is a relatively short manga for the genre that it is and possibly both lovers of romance and those who do not find it entertaining. I have had such a good time reading this manga that it is possible that in the distant future I will read it again. I recommend it!

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Nov 3, 2018

BabyGirl06301

Recommended

Much, much more satisfying than the anime, I'll tell you that. So, starting with the art, I thought it was pretty good. I'm not too familiar with manga yet, so I guess I can't say exactly, but some of the scenes that were depicted were really crisp and beautiful.

The characters were written extremely well. I'd say that Kou is probably the shining star of the entire manga because of the amount of depth he had written in to his story. On top of that, the development he went through was awesome. I also really like that every character has different motivations and goals that ...

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Feb 21, 2022

Videl7474

Recommended

Ao Haru Ride! I'm not one to write reviews, but after watching the anime, OVA's, and then reading the Manga and the side stories I can safely say that this Manga is a treasure and it now holds a special place in my heart. It captures the feeling of first love so poetically, the feeling you have when your eyes meet, when your heart races, the nostalgia of that feeling is so heart-warming, and yet bittersweet, much like this Manga. My review contains spoilers so if you are thinking about it and haven't read it yet, yes, I highly encourage you to read it and ... indulge your heart in it, for those who have or can't contain your curiosity, press on! xD

(This mayy be a long read~ but I hope an insightful one ^^)

When I think of this Manga I think of this; Love, Loss, and the journey of finding love again. There a so many themes in this Manga that are perfectly tied together through the Love Story of our main characters that I can't help but praise it and hold it in high regard. Firstly the love between Futaba and Kou is so beautifully composed. I know that reading the Manga that it can seem like the opposite of beautiful, so many frustrating moments and unfortunate events, but the way Io Sakisaka uses these moments to grow the characters and shape the people they become is so amazing to see.

Kou and Futaba are far from being perfect people, but what makes them special is how relatable they are. They both stumble their way through life in both love and their relationships with other people. Futaba being self-conscious and always carrying the fear of being alone, like she was in Junior high, so much so that she loses her sense of identity in high school. Then Kou, having his world suddenly change at a young age, moving to a new city, a new school, while carrying the weight of slowly watching his Mom die.. it's too much to bear for anyone all alone, and not only that but holding the guilt in his heart that it's his fault, because he couldn't see that his Mom was sick although she was so near to him. Honestly, it's so heart-breaking that he had to endure that kind of pain, and telling himself that it's his fault.. When someone is in that state of mind, how can you simply tell them to forget about it and let it go? That's why, even years later in High School, Kou isn't able to move on from that time and shoulders the burden. Many people say they dislike Kou for the way he treated Futaba throughout the Manga, that he's a terrible person, but when I was reading I didn't see a terrible person who wanted to cause her pain, but a person who was battling the painful feeling of loving someone and trusting it enough to open his heart to it, that he made some rough decisions. He struggled so much to open his heart to love, that he couldn't even bring himself to adopt a stray cat he begun to care for at first, because as he said: "Caring for things brings a lot of Trouble.."

The situation with Narumi and Futaba would have been so much smoother if he could only communicate that he truly loves Futaba, but feels the need to stay with Narumi because he understands her pain, but he couldn't do that, because that would mean facing himself and the reality that there was someone he treasured, someone he loved, and someone he could lose.. who was Futaba. I really do think that through that stage Kou knew he loved her, but he couldn't bring himself to face it just yet. He even said to her later on, that he tried to forget about her, but he couldn't. One of my most favourite lines from Kou in the Manga is what he said to Narumi about Futaba: "Yoshioka is the centre of my feelings, and she won't move away. That is my reality. That's why.. I'm sorry." (Chapter:43)

Throughout the Manga sometimes it can be hard to know what Kou is really feeling, his expressions don't always show it, and the reader is left to feel like Futaba, confused and always wondering, but when we reach the end when he finally embraces love and opens up to her we know, ah.. he had always loved her, and only her, from the beginning.

As much as people dislike Narumi, and I have to admit, there were times reading the Manga where I thought I hate this girl (😂), I try to understand her perspective, from her perspective she has lost the only person who has ever loved her, her Dad. Her Mom and the rest of her family have shunned her and show no sign of comfort to a girl who is obviously hurting. And then there's Kou. The only one who understands her pain.. who may even be, her very first love..

Futaba, I find Futaba to be ridiculously cute, and I love her character! Most of all, I find her to be so incredibly relatable. Throughout the series she really matures and grows in love and in her sense of Identity, I really love her growth! (🥺) Now when it comes to understanding Futaba, and her undying love to Kou, we need only look to one scene. Chapter 1. Futaba in middle school, standing in the Shrine as it rains, crying to herself after she realised that Kou was gone... Some people overlook the "Unwritten" OVA, because it's mostly recounted scenes in the anime, but when I read the Manga I was surprised, and really happy that they animated that scene in the Anime, because from then I knew, how deeply Futaba really loved Kou. Kou wasn't just anyone, to her he was different from the other boys, she observed him closely and noticed every little detail like his scent, or the way his eyes met hers. He was her first love, his existence introduced the feeling of romantic love to her and the joy it brings, but before she could even get to know him deeply, before she could even express how much those feelings meant to her, he disappeared. That scene was really heart-breaking because in her position, she really had no idea what happened to him, there was no way of contacting him, and no way of knowing if she would ever see him again. After that she lost her friends, and spent the next few years of Middle School in loneliness, but as she said (in the Awaken Manga) that the one thing that kept her studying there and enduring that loneliness was for the slim hope, of one day being able to meet Kou again. That's a pretty powerful and sincere love. Her standing in the rain, at the shrine, crying to herself because of these intense feelings brings us to present Futaba. The Futaba that has and always will, love Kou. That's why, towards the end of the Manga what made her finally realise and decide to break-up with Touma was from the scene when she smells the muffler her Mom had washed. Scent has always been a strong motif for her affection for Kou, realising it didn't smell like Kou anymore, it brought her so much sadness and heartache because like losing the scent from the muffler, she knows the feeling of losing him. Once she finally realises this, she breaks-up with Touma the next day.

I personally don't like Touma (😂), mostly because he coaxed her into a relationship with him and even knew he was taking advantage of the situation. He's a kind person, and genuinely wanted to care for her, but even he knew that Futaba was madly in love with Kou and would one day realise it. Futaba also was not wise for deciding to be in that relationship, but knowing how torn and broken her heart was I also understand that feeling of wanting to remove the pain in that way. Touma promised her he would make her forget about Kou, which at the time is exactly what she wanted, but of course not what she needed. What she needed was to face her feelings for him and confront them, much like how Kou needed to do the same. In the end, I never shipped Touma and Futaba simply because there was no genuine love there. I admire that when Futaba was his girlfriend she really tried her best and was actually a good girlfriend for him with as much heart as she was able to give, even trying to block out Kou because she knew being around him would hurt Touma. but still, she never loved Touma, and she never realised it, not until the muffler scene. Even Touma said at the end of their breakup, that Futaba never realised that she never said "I like you" to Touma.

Touma was like the ideal and "perfect" boyfriend, but what I love was that what Futaba loved about Kou was not his perfection, but the fact that he was an imperfect person, growing and changing into a better version of himself everyday. His goodness, and kindness, was so pure and genuine, but was overshadowed by his hurt and grieving heart. By the end Kou's development was such an amazing change, and I can see why she wanted to be a part of it and see him grow more and more. No one can deny that at the end Kou became so adorable, a boy who had finally opened his heart to love. I still cry thinking about the 7pm at Sankaku Park Clock scene, and how he brought her flowers just wanting to see her happy face (😭❤️)

Futaba was the storm that woke him up to love and changed the way he saw the world, and Kou was the change she needed to realise what was important was true and genuine love and relationships with the people around her, the ones that count. They moulded each other into better people in so many ways, in the end they both experienced what it was like to lose someone, but learned what it meant to treasure someone precious to them. That's why we know, that their love is going to withstand the trials of life and the test of time and they truly are only ever going to be each others first and only love <3

Overall, Ao Haru Ride will always hold a special place in my heart. Every Circumstance and trial was needed for the characters to grow, realise and change into the happy, healthy versions of themselves and I'm just so happy knowing that in the end Futaba got to re-create the happiest days of her life.

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May 4, 2019

MajoEve

Recommended

I really loved this manga and I loved the anime adaptation as well it’s your typical shoujo rom-com but it’s definitely worth the read especially if you’re a shoujo enthusiast like me lol. What I really love and appreciate is the character development it’s so rewarding to see/read. Now the art style kinda ugly sometimes not gonna lie lol but nonetheless it’s a good shoujo manga. There is of course some characters you will hate their guts duh it’s a shoujo manga what do we expect lol idk i kinda love these kind of characters they give the story a little push you know? And ...

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Oct 19, 2021

nyanzure

Recommended

I liked the anime so I continued on reading the manga, also to find out more about the "blonde" guy.

I enjoyed all the fluffy feelings this series gave me especially all the sweet and meaningful gestures between Futaba and Kou. But I was dead disappointed with Kou's character in the later part. When I thought he would grow as a better man to be with Futaba, and there he went to be an terrible, immature character without fully redeeming himself in the end.

*with spoiler feedback ahead*

I would not say I hate Kou, but how he tried to steal somebody else's girlfriend is very much displeasing. ...

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Sep 26, 2021

solarzenith

Recommended

[SLIGHT SPOILERS]
this story was incredibly hyped when i first heard of it, and i am disappointed to say it didn't live up to the initial expectations. while the manga starts interesting and engaging, it is quickly revealed why the anime only adapted the first arc of this story.

characters (7/10): I assume these protagonists are the reason this manga's score was bloated, i think we can all accept that. while he turns into a total f**khead later in the story, kou mabuchi (main male chara) starts as a very interesting and ideal shoujo love interest. additionally, futaba yoshioka was one of the more real and ... relatable protagonists - or, at least, i enjoyed her character well enough in the beginning. the second love interest to yoshioka, touma kikuchi (?), was a sweetheart, but of course only a trope used to further the story - so forgettable that i didn't even recognize his name when i saw it. the side characters are nice to follow too, but nothing major comes from them, they're just a bit of extra fun. while i enjoyed the protagonists that Sakisaka cultivated in the beginning, all the effort put into making mabuchi and yoshioka well-rounded and fun to follow characters became a bit pointless during the second half when they stopped growing/adapting for the sake of drama. similarly to hibi chouchou, these main characters take leaps in development for the first half just to suddenly lose all memory of their changes when it's most important. makes the whole story leave a sour taste.

plot (6/10): overall, this manga has more interesting interactions than a lot of other romance options, but please tell me in what world i would want to read a story about our main character dating a boy for seemingly no good reason when she is well aware she still likes a different boy, especially after readers just followed the first couple for the entire first half of the manga. this love story starts so incredibly strong, it's heating up perfectly for the entire first half until suddenly, it comes to a screaming, crying halt - they simply sort of believe they stop liking each other and decide to entertain other people for the sake of "responsibility" or "to move on". the only reason Sakisaka manages to drag you through that hellfire of a second arc is hinged on you being interested enough to see if the characters finally learn their lesson by the end, and how nicely it could possibly end. at the same time, it's obvious they're going to get back together, so it would have been much better to just watch them grow as a couple (more like kimi ni todoke).

art (9/10): cute, pretty, enjoyable to read. i've always enjoyed Sakisaka's artwork, it immerses the reader in the emotion of the scene in a way some others can't achieve sometimes. the panelling and dialogue was also easy to follow, which i unfortunately require.

final thoughts (7/10): I really wanted and hoped for this to be the perfect romance manga - unfortunately, that can only be found in kimi ni todoke (as far as i've read). great start on both plot and characters, but things unravel quite quickly. a frustrating read, but still incredibly enjoyable when it does things right.

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Jul 14, 2021

shinjifag

Recommended

futaba is so cute i love her!! i really liked that yuuri and futaba kept being friends!!! i hate it whenever best friends or close friends end their relationship because they like the same person, so lame. *SPOILERS* i feel bad for touma, i was rooting for him!!!! i still very much love kous and futabas relationship! it was a great manga, although i whish we got to see more of kou and futabas relationship! i’m kind of glad there where no adult x minor here it’s disturbing.
futaba is such a great mc i wish she where my girlfriend, kou is one lucky guy! ...

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Mar 16, 2021

DiMs_Solo

Recommended

My first ever Review of an Manga...

Great Manga!

This Story was my first time reading a Manga. I liked the story, but felt like it was very cliche and lots of foreshadow. I did have a good experience, the story had me binge reading, I even stayed up till 5am reading, because of how good it is, which is sad that the anime wasn't completed, it would be great if it was. I felt like I was in a roller coaster of feelings and cliff hangers, and plot twists. I disliked some part of the story where they added an unnecessary character, which messed up the ...

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Sep 21, 2020

lilkraken

Recommended

*Review contains spoilers*

Beware: this review is going to be a rant and therefore, probably very long. Thank you in advance if you really read through the whole thing!

Story 8/10
So, before I even start, I am going to put out there how very frustrated I feel I can't rate this manga higher. The story began very intriguing and was based on premises that would surely keep you invested into knowing what happened, what happens next. The manga has a very strong beginning and up until chapter 22, boy was I feeling that rollercoaster of emotions!! So many powerful and beautiful moments between Kou and Futaba!!...However, from ...

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