Paradise Kiss

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Whenever I read "Nana" from manga-ka Ai Yazawa, I feel suckered into a world that, not only is fantastic, but is completely relatable... She has a knack for producing characters that are flawed, human. And make them likable... One doesn't realize the skill of an author so much when just given one example of their work, and, since I had only read the "Nana" manga (and absolutely love it, despite its flaws) I wasn't able to see just how good Ai Yazawa's pacing and storytelling can be... :)

"Paradise Kiss", an amalgamation of a love for fashion and love in general, is, as a whole, a ... much better body of work than "Nana". It works so much better because the author doesn't go off into tangents all the time. She focuses on the core group of characters, and builds up each of their stories. By the end of the five volumes you are left with a bittersweet, melancholy mood, haunting you long after you close the cover. You're left wondering just what will happen when such-and-such meet at such-and-such musical, or just what everyone will look like at such-and-such time...

Yazawa's art is just as stylish and edgy as in "Nana", but with a higher concentration on fashion and "style". It is a highly emotional story, full of the troubles associated with following your own path in life, and living accordingly. Yet, there is a self-awareness incorporated in it, with characters commenting about their presence in the storyline and whether or not there are enough pages for them. These comedic touches help the readers to not get bogged down in what could just be one angsty read.

Also, the ending is perhaps one of the most realistic endings I have ever read in a manga. Whereas one expects it or wishes for something different, Yazawa captures the conflicting emotions of growing up well. And for this alone I can recommend it to anyone. It's just that, "Paradise Kiss" has many good things to base a recommendation :)

If your like me, you probably like deeper mangas then the ever so cliche tale of a innocent high school girl who falls in love with the nice guy and then falls in love with the guy who she has constantly insults while he is chasing after her. It scares me too how I kind of got the gist of most shojo mangas (Although, I must say that to those kind of stories, Im addicted ^.^).
Anyway, Paradise kiss is about this unwelcoming, smart, attractive, and tightly wound girl, yukari, who meets her fate when a student of a fashion school asks her to ... model for them in the next fashion show. When she finally accepts, she meets George a handsome designer and the head of the "Para Kiss" clothing line, Miwako who works with george and wants to start her own fashion line like her sister, Arashi who is miwakos boyfriend and plays in a rock back, Isabella who is the "mother" of the group, and Tokumori Yukaris friend at school.
The events that happen are unpredictable, the story is well said, the characters are appealing, and the art is captivating! I really enjoyed this and you might too.
(WARNING: THE SLIGHTIEST SLIGHT SLIGHT BIT OF ECCHINESS IS IN HERE! BUT NOT TOO MUCH NOT GRAPHIC AT ALL!)

Paradise Kiss is a josei manga written by the mangaka of the famous Nana. It is apparently a sequel to a previous work of hers, Gokinjo Monogatari, which I wasn't aware about until after I already started reading (oops). This is only my 2nd time reading a josei manga (shoujo reader all the way), but I still found this one quite enjoyable.

Yukari is a senior in high school who has known studying all of her life. One day, however, she is kidnapped by a group of fashion designers who believe that she would be the perfect model for the next fashion show. Even though she ... is reluctant to participate at first, Yukari becomes interested in these designers, and also intrigued by their leader, George. She eventually becomes immersed into the fashion world and believes that it is her true calling. Is it possible for her to include both fashion and academics in her life, or can she only choose one? And what kind of person is George, really?

The art for this manga was very well-done and good at depicting comedy and maturity when needed. It also was very detailed when it comes to fashion, which I love.

The characters were so-so for me. I liked Yukari originally, but found that later she seemed impulsive when it came to important decisions she had to make. I think she could've been more sensible. Also, at times her feelings for George were a bit much, and I was unsure about whether she wanted to continue fashion because of passion or because of George. George, on the other hand, I liked even less. He kept a lot to himself and didn't provide Yukari any help when she had problems. I liked the minor characters much more, but I would've liked to learn more about them.

Overall, the manga was an enjoyable read. I always like manga where the protagonist is trying to find him or herself. I would also recommend this to those who like realistic manga and romance. The manga is also mainly about fashion so if you like career-oriented manga, you'll probably like this one as well.

Also, the ending was superb.

Paradise Kiss is an absolute gem. The characters are flawed but, for the most part, lovable. It's a story of growth and finding one's feet in life. I love how Yukari, the female lead, goes from being listless and unsure of herself to a passionate adult who has found and enjoys her place in life. We get to see the (often painful) beginnings of this change. The ending left me raw but satisfied. This truly is a masterpiece...I had no idea I'd love it so much.

Art 9/10 - At first I wasn't so sure about the art style. Upon reading I quickly changed my mind. ... The proportions can be downright scary at times...however, it actually adds to the charm of the manga. This is an intentional style. The comedic sketches are on point. If the art is holding you back from reading, like it did with me, don't fret...you'll end up enjoying it.

Everything else is a solid 10/10!

SPOILERS - PLEASE DO NOT CONTINUE READING IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE MANGA YET!!!

SERIOUSLY!!

I MEAN IT! c:



I normally don't write spoilers...but, there are just some things I'm compelled to address. I've heard people complaining about how Yukari doesn't get with George in the end. But, I think that is the best outcome! He was downright horrible to her. You can tell he had true feelings for her but is too selfish to give her what she really needs. If she got with him she would have given up too much of herself...only following him around the world. She chose to live her life for her - which, is strong and beautiful. He was her stepping stone towards a better life. That is why I think she carried love for him even years later. Not because she wanted to be with him but because she was thankful for the good things he did do for her. And there are the naysayers who might cry, "Then why didn't she just get with Tokumori in the beginning?!" ...isn't it obvious? He was a great guy from the beginning. But, Yukari had a shallow love for him. She wasn't ready for a real relationship and he probably wasn't, either. (Especially considering Miwako) What happened with George, and the other hinted-at relationships over the 10 year gap near the end, gave her the depth and capability to have a meaningful relationship. She got with Tokumori at the perfect time in life. And at the end of the manga you can tell they are going to be truly happy together...with no regrets. It's realistic, meaningful, and a lovely way for the story to end.

i just finished this and im crying so much...

Ai yazawa knows how to portray a real relationship. Sometimes love is not enough and george and yukari ending is the perfect exemple for that.

But thats one thing that i hate the most and that thing it was Arachi! Argh such a toxic boy, even thought he seem to change a little this doesnt change the fact that he r*ped miwako and was transfobic with isabella.

The fashion scenery was so good, i was in love with everything and the ending was perfect 'cause it was real.

Vou mandar a real aqui, queria que a yukari ... e a miwako tivessem largado os namorados delas e fossem morar juntas que nem Nana e fossem felizes para sempre como melhores amigos e é sobre isso e ta tudo bem!

Paradise Kiss shows a real life scenario in which love stories don't always end happily for the main characters but somewhere in the future, it will all be okay. I like how they portray the main character, Yukari , during the first part, is quite a person that whenever she makes a decision and she gets influenced by her love for him, she gets swayed easily. As the story goes, she began to be firm with her decisions. People like that really do exists in real life. :3



This type of plot is also shown in one of the author's mangas, NANA; well, it ... is one of famous mangas. To the reader who seems to go beyond the typical love story, you might enjoy this. ^_^



Anyways, it is really a good manga.

I can't start this review without an introduction because one of the easiest ways to describe this manga is by asking: Have you ever watched the 1957 musical film "Funny Face" and the 2006 film "The Devil Wears Prada"? Yes? Good. Now, try to imagine the plot of the former without all the songs & dance and mix it with the plot of the later. Then, you will be prepared to read Paradise Kiss.

If I idolized it by the first time I've read it? Yeah, sure. If I would idolize it if I've had read it today? I don't know.

The first time I've read it ... was when it was licencised in my country, back in c.2007. I managed to re-read it completely once, a long time ago, but I still remember vividly most of its story. I also watched the live action when it was released.

Why I was so fascinated by this manga when I've had read it by the first time...? It was because I was in that phase when we like everything we read and watch? It was because it is about fashion (something I always loved) and was created by someone who understands this subject? Because Yazawa had a beautiful character design and knew how to tell a story with characters and stories that you could meet anywhere in real life? Because it is realistic without being grotesque?

I made the last question be the last one on purpose, because this is what makes me keep on respecting this manga, no matter how frustrating it can get at times. This should even be the theme of this story, "frustration". Not something traumatizing and distressing, just... Frustrating.

Sure, the official theme is how you should face your and other people's taboos and live your life how you want to, even if it means having a career that most people considers to be eccentric or somehow strange. But another strong theme, related to the former, is how life can be frustrating because, for better or worse, it doesn't always ends up like you planned it to. Literally from the first to the last page this is shown by the author. This is why I don't like the live action - they changed what made this story good and believable, the only good thing about the film was the soundtrack.

But you know, saying a lot of times how this is a frustrating story doesn't mean this is a bad read. Of course it have its faults but at the end of the day this is a good story if you want something that can feel real without too much melodrama and strange situations.

I love manga that has to do with the showbiz industry. So of course i had to read this one, a quite known manga about fashion. It was surprisingly shorter than i thought but it was perfect. There could be more added to make the story longer and like everyone who enjoys a series, i dont want it to end. However, i was satisfied with where and how it ended.

I understand that Yazawa Ai's art style is not for everyone. My first experience was with Nana (ok it was an anime so wasnt her work but still was an imitation of her style), i wasnt ... really a fan at first (though i love the eye thing at the opening song) but as i progressed and as my taste developed, i began to love her style. I prefer her somewhat more realistic eye style to some other shoujo manga where the eyes take up half the face. And the fashion, i really like the outfits in this manga, well duh its a fashion manga, the clothing ahould be at least decent but it was more than that, especially that fashion show design outfit, im telling yall, screenshotting all day.

There were a lot of quirky character in this manga, a bunch of freaks and a couple of straight-men (/women) to balance the scale. The main girl, Yukari/Caroline/Carrie cried a lot and was kinda weak and whiney but somehow, i liked her when i normally hate her type. Not really sure why. George, the love interest, is the type of guy who would make you swoon and think "what a cool guy" but someone you would like to remain a fictional character and hope you will never meet (sorry George and all the other "George" out there dont be too sad about that but its the truth) i dont have a character i particularly like over others but seiji from the glittery planet seemed cool, wished he got more panels.

I throughly enjoyed it, didnt put it down except to eat and attend to my sickly self.
***KINDA A SPOILER BUT NOT REALLY...IS***
The manga was great because it was a smidge bit more realistic than other shoujo manga are, like nana it does not have the most favorable ending. And though its sad and makes you want to hate the manga, its the truth. Life is not always a rose colored dream. There are gray days as well. But it is up to you to color in reality. Quote that. But dont, its copyrighted (not T^T).
Overall? If i were a teacher, and manga were tests that are to be graded id give it a 90 good job Para, you got a borderline A-

first: YOU GOT TO LOVE E AND KNOW HOW AIZAWA WRITES, DRAWS AND FEELS
ok, so, im a aizawa bitch and im straight by the way lol; its just a masterpiece i cannot expland in precisive words but let's imagine this:
-you got 5 volums to create a whole world and carachters and arts and history to make something come alive out of that, otherwise the major thought will be about how short this material is and because of that u wouldn't be able to absorb much things of that
-with only 5 volums to introduce me to what is the concept of fashion and love, she got ... me in my kness
- its so sensible, the dialogues are so sweet and deep, i'm used to reading romances and dramas not in manga only but manly in books of notable writers and, she still got me in tears
-all the carachters are deep, even those ones that appears for maybe 20 pages only
-i don't have to say nothing about the drawing technique of aizawa is for me by far the most beautiful and delicated one in the manga world and this fit perfectly with a work that talks about fashion; such beautiful dresses, hats, necklaces...
thanks aizawa for bringing me that, i'l always cry reading it
*nana will still be on my top 5 and not paradise kiss because short books are harder for me to create such a connection but, we could say that he is there hidding behind nanas...
one more thing, im kind of george with my ladies, if you know what i mean...

by the way i assure you guys that im straight like 4 real

10/10 FOR EVERYTHING AND DONT BOTHER ME
-vini, brazil (sorry 4 my bad english ;'D)