Story:
It is a story revolving around a high school student, Asuka Masamune who leads a double life – the first being a charming, chivalrous and masculine president of the Kendo club and the second being his true self, that is, a boy that likes everything girlish and excels in everything (from cooking to sewing to baking) a woman does. Yet he is forced to hide his true self in an effort to meet society’s expectations of how real men should act like.
Nonetheless, that all changes when one day he saves a female classmate from bullies in school and fell in love with her at the first sight. Unfortunately (and fortunately), the girl is not all about hearts and flowers.
The story itself is commendable, with a gratifying degree of originality. So far, I have hardly come across another manga that explores the concept of boys being portrayed in a feminine way while at the same time still manages to retain that mannish nature. I like how the mangaka draws readers into this genre in a light hearted way without appearing to be trying too hard to please. Throughout the series, I could feel the pure joy and satisfaction the mangaka derived from drawing this manga.
Characters:
When it comes to the male protagonist, Asuka Masamune, it is sort of a love-hate relationship with him i.e. I love him and hate him at the same time (although love makes up the majority in this case).
I love the fact that he stands out noticeably as the gentle, loving, meticulous and affable hero. His strong sense of masculinity, confidence and steadfast perseverance in standing up for his beliefs and protecting his love ones balances his overall image. As a female, it’s difficult not to like him and to a certain extent he reminds me of Kim Jaejoong of the TVXQ fame (i.e. k-pop shippers will know what I’m talking about here).
However at times, Asuka’s totally-too-good-to-be-true good-nature potentially irk readers off, especially in times when you wish he could have been ruder on his attitude and put himself before others. It’s like, this nice chap is forever so patient and affectionate and has never once exploded with anger. While such attributes are admirable and makes a perfect recipe for a manga hero, a pleasant chap like him is likely to be friend zoned by his female counterparts in real life.
The female protagonist however sort of lacked character and personality to bring out her tomboyish image (which is what she is portrayed to be). It felt like the mangaka tried not to put too much focus on the female e protagonist as the limelight of the series is supposed to be on the hero and exploring the realities and challenges young Otomen face in today’s society. (i.e. basically Otomen refers to men who have feminine interests and hobbies but are not necessarily gays).
The supporting characters are also rather likeable – you have Otomens of all sort – a boy who is passionate about make-up and cosmetics, another who is obsessed with flowers and a delusional shortie that is constantly coming up with ideas to change himself and attract girls. Overall, they provide a solid support for the main characters and comic relief to the series.
Art:
The art work is clean and crisp – the lines are neatly defined and greyish shadings are kept to the minimum so as to convey the bright positive image of the manga. The characters are nicely drawn and I love the mangaka’s portrayal of Asuka (the male protagonist)’s boyish charm and chivalry. I especially adore the contrast between how his face blushes and his eyes lit up warmly when he sees something cute / fluffy as opposed to the manly aura his eyes and posture exudes in the face of danger and adversities.
The little details – such as the decorations, bentos, pastries and cakes are deliciously illustrated that even in black and white, the desserts and food look yummy and you wished it would just popped out of the manga and turned into real food.
Overall:
Although certain chapters may seem repetitive, the underlying message in Otomen is clear – be yourself because no one else can. Accept yourself for who you are and make the best out of your attributes such that they become your greatest assets and strengths.
If other shoujo titles are about wacky romance, laughter and tears, then Otomen is a notch sweeter – it’s about smiles and sweet moments.
If you are expecting hard core romance or intense drama, then Otomen is not for you. However, if you don’t mind a toffee-like taste of sweetness albeit slightly placid pace of story, Otomen definitely does you justice.
Overall, Otomen is a sweet, light hearted read that leaves readers with the feeling of a light spring breeze. It makes a good company if you want to spend a lazy quiet afternoon in the comfort of your room with tea and cookies.
