Orange is a shoujo manga covering a more mature topic, making it border the josei and seinen genres. It tells the story of Naho and her daily struggles to save one of her friends from committing suicide. If this wasn't enough of a deviation from the usual shoujo genre, this story also introduces the theory of parallel worlds and how one can influence one another. The twist that, in my point of view, Orange gets is what makes the story great. In fact, instead of falling in love and discovering one another as they live their daily lives, this main character already has a full deck! She knows what will happen, when it will happen and how it'll happen! Although this would seem easier to the point of going “thats hella easy!” it isn't, in fact, what would happen if she were to try to change the future? Would the letters still be useful, considering that by changing it you will drift further apart from what it says? Would she still be able to save him? Would just rescuing him in his moment of crisis be enough or will it take her everything to try to change someone who gave up is life since the beginning? When the realization hits, it hits hard and she is often left in a complete “I don't know what to do” state. In short, Orange is a story that works the other way around. Instead of discovering the future as the story develops, you already know it, but as you keep changing it, you'll walk towards something you can't control. Nicely and beautifully intertwined with the blooming of a romance, Orange will make you flutter towards and end where your only wish is that the guy receives a realityslap.
Art, 8:
Really good! Very individualized facial and body constructions. One thing that is easily noticeable is that the mangaka isn't bound to one model construction type. All characters have different heights, hairs, and faces, making several little variations like the eyes or even the chins. This not to speak of the backgrounds, which the mangaka manages to reinterpret to an incredible degree of real places! She later gives photographic evidence allowing the reader to immerse immensely deeper in the characters hometown if one is willing to. That being said, I don't see any particular flaws, instead its the overall that isn't perfect, leaving me wishing that if she improved the art a bit it would almost be godlike!
Characters, 10:
Considering the size of the manga and the amount of characters it receives, I think they are really well made. The mangaka works on personality models, shaping each character according to one, the sports guy, the shy and kind girl, the loud cheerful girl and others. All of them have a foundation in which she works to make a joyful group of high school students. Furthermore, they are also highly individualized in appearance, making it impossible for the reader to mistake them up. However its the psychological warfare of Kakeru that shines the most here, to the point you don't know when he is truly smiling or just faking it. Being in deep emotional conflict he is hard to predict and a single action can have immense repercussions on him. This, in turn, doesn't make things easier for the main character, who is mostly a reserved person and is already torn between letting things go its natural course or changing the future, all the while hoping it doesn't turn for the worst.
Enjoyment, 10:
Well, it was really easy to read! With a well paced story, Orange presents itself as a very good combination of light humor, romance and slight touch of josei that will make you anxious every time the main character must make a decision. All the while showing the psychological struggles the characters make to overcome their flaws.
Overall, 10:
A really entertaining manga, making you laugh and cry by seemingly simple actions. With very good art and a compelling protagonist and deuteragonist it won't be easy to stop the curiosity from making you read the next chapter!
