Slow Motion wo Mou Ichido

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POV: It's 1849 and you've lost half your savings in a local bar because of an unlucky hand. You head outside, but not before you catch a glimpse of the poster stuck on the door: GOLD HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER TO OBTAIN! LOOKING FOR PROSPECTORS (starting the 17th of the second month, at noon in front of the bar). You take the job offer and you go on the longest Gold Rush of your life. 172 years have passed and you've finally found something (not the first time you do, but this was the relevant one in our case). It is not a piece of ... gold, but a hidden gem: Slow Motion Once More... What a fitting title (and song, for that matter)! Now let's start our short spoiler-free review.

Art 2.5/3 (8.33)

The backgrounds are similar to the shallow focus cinematographic technique I'd say. They are quite average, but in their averageness it further emphasizes the best part of it: the characters. The '80s aesthetic is nailed and we get some of the best romanticized depictions of it, with some outstanding panels and spreads. In fact, the one with the FL and ML looking at each other as seen through that push-the-button-to-get-the-circles-in-place thingy has been my wallpaper for about 3 weeks now. FL's special outfits have also been a really strong point during the series. The first time we get to see her I think I've been just as mesmerized as ML. They are really well thought and put together. And don't even get me started on ch. 56's first page. I haven't read that many manga, but from what I have, I can strongly say that this is the only manga that feels like it came out in both 2016 and 1986.

Story and writing 1.5/2 (7.5)

To be completely honest, the story is quite tropey at times and a tiny bit predictable, but I haven't read it for that. No. I've read it because it is really wholesome. I didn't mind those aspects at all, as it was rather well-written if I had to choose between well and poor. The pacing was also quite nice, as I've never felt that it was rushed or that nothing happens, but that might be also because of the wholesome nature of the manga. Had some emotions regarding a possible love triangle, but that was dealt with quickly.

However, I would not call it average by any means. It is a well-researched series. The shows, the clothing, the games, the movies, the endless references and, last, but not least, the music were on-point. Especially the last aspect. This is the only manga where I'll actually grant an extra 0.25 for the sheer fact that listening to the songs (as someone else suggested in their review - BIG THANK YOU BTW) manages to improve the atmosphere by quite a lot. And they were also really nice songs - might have fallen into the city pop rabbit hole too.

Characters and their development 1.25/2 (6.25)

A pseudo-popular ML and a really REALLY introverted FL. Two lovable goofballs building a relationship from ground-zero over common interests. Being a spectator to that can never get old. It is true that they can feel a tiny bit unidimensional at times, but, in the long run, I'd say they are really quirky characters and they definitely get some much-appreciated character development during the series. Nothing extraordinary, but also above-average in every aspect.

Enjoyment 2.75/3 (9.16)

This series proved to me ONCE MORE that you do not have to reinvent the wheel to create something enjoyable. It is true that it is rather unique, with the whole '80s thing going on, but at the same time, it was a fairly standard romance. Expected that to be enough to deter me a bit, but for some reason I was just sucked in by the wholesomeness of the relationship, the aesthetic, the really nice character art and the, welp, newly discovered music I had to add to my playlists. I might end up loving the '80s too, who knows?

Some people might be tired of 'will they, won't they' stories, but for some reason I really enjoy a new one every now and then. Also, to come clean, I tend to enjoy those quirky, lacking-in-popularity and, at times, underrated series a bit more, but I'm quite sure this doesn't play a major role in me WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommending it to everyone reading this.

I ended up being a happy prospector. 10/10 will do again.

When I heard the description I was really excited. A few months ago I had started getting into Japan's 80's music and aesthetics, so when I heard about what this manga was about, I was really excited to read it and I would say it delivered. When reading this, I knew so many of the references like the songs and singers which made this manga so much more enjoyable. The story was enjoyable and the main character interactions was really cute to see, it kept you wondering what would happen next. This is definitely a good read for someone who like Japan's 80s stuff.

What ... you can take from this manga is that no matter what your interests and hobbies are, there is always someone out there with whom you can happily enjoy these things with together and that's pretty amazing.

This is a gorgeous manga that visually captures the beauty of the 80s aesthetics by clearly showing a heavy research of the fashion, music, comics, trends, etc. from back then. Unfortunately such charming art style contrasts with the lack of depth of the story and the characters. While they are all very likeable, I wish the author spent more time building the plot and their personalities.

Slow Motion sets the mood and the rhythm of the story through Japanese pop and rock songs from the 80s and beginning of the 90s. Usually we think of world-building in the fantasy genre, but here the author cleverly uses ... idols and their songs that were the vogue back then to take the readers on a trip back in time. Listening to the songs that set the theme of the chapters enriches the capsule of time the two main characters are living in.

It is interesting that the name of both protagonists are based on famous singers of that time. Ohtaki is probably based on Eiichi Ohtaki who is referred to in the initial chapters of the manga. 君は天然色 (Kimi wa Tennen Shoku) is his song and is sung by the main character Ohtaki in a karaoke scene. Yakushimaru is probably based on Hiroko Yakushimaru, one of the biggest idols from the 80s.

What impairs this manga is the scarcity of exploration of the characters, the circumstances that led them to the way they are. Yakushimaru and Ohtaki are fascinating due to their eccentricity, but the manga just doesn't seek to show why the way they are. Instead what we get is the typical romantic trope of misunderstandings. They are fitting since it is what love comedies had back then and still use a lot today, but it lessens the story by being annoyingly predictable. It just stalls the relationship in a cheap way.

It is a nostalgic trip into Japan's 80s pop culture. A light romance about two oddball teenagers who love a time period they did not get to live in. Even if you aren't a fan of the time period, you can understand the euphoria of finding someone who shares similar interests and being able to talk to them freely about that which you treasure.