Fly-High!

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

Here I was, randomly searching through anime at speeds that made my Internet groan and suffer…sorry DSL, when someone somewhere in the vast world that is the Internet recommended Fly High! Sure I’ll try it, why not? Worst case scenario it’s so bad it’s frustrates me, some brain cells die and the other ones left are sitting on a chair rocking back and forth (I accessorize up there with the occasional chair and bed, in case you were wondering). Best case, what we all hope for, you laugh, smile, laugh some more, and remember it FOREVER. Or until you’re so old you don’t remember ... where you left teeth *shudders.* If those are like you car keys then it’s going to be a long ride.

The best feeling is not expecting anything and being surprisingly captivated to the point of having this freaky smile plastered on your face just while reading it because it was fresh and gutsy.

Meru is just your average 12 year old, sure her father raised her thinking she was a boy and taught her more fighting styles that I can name, she‘s still “average-ish.” She is unique. Upon returning home from her, lets call it training camp, her mother is set on her being a normal GIRL. Meaning making friends and absolutely NO fighting. It’s all good and dandy, she is actually looking forward to it.
A fresh start is underway when she enters her middle school looking like well, a girl. She makes her first friend who is according to her a little weird. Which if you ask me it’s just the pot calling the kettle… Her opening ceremony is interrupted by the school groups of delinquents that like to wreck havoc and being on feared. Will this super strong girl use her abnormal qualities to show them who’s boss?
The story is nothing new: A petite girl with pigtails, pure heart, abnormal strength, and above average stupidity wants to make the school a better place for it’s students and declares war against the school‘s delinquent group. Sounds sort of familiar? I won’t say it but if you still don’t get it, add a talking cat and let’s call the delinquents, “The Negaverse.” Just throwing it out there. When I compare a manga to one of my favorite anime it’s by no means an insult. It either means it automatically scores higher a 3 for taking me down memory lane and giving me something I already liked, or it get’s a lower score because it reminded me of an anime making it unoriginal. The lines are foggy but even though the character remind me of our sweet Odango, I am basing this one solely on itself and the fun and bizarre ride that is Meru-chan.

Most chapters always leave you with a cliffhanger, giving you the extra push necessary to read the rest.
Most characters make you wonder if they are the protagonist of their own manga in another series. Which I came to find out, one or two are, just not the ones I expected. It made sense since they are interesting characters and a mysterious. Meru’s upbeat nature is close to tangible. Her personality is contagious and it’s throughout the middle the people around her feel the same way. Which begs the question, how does one get power over bullies in high school? In Meru's case, becoming school president. Not an easy task you might think, but considering all other presidents and underlings have quit and no one wants to be nominated makes it a piece of cake.

You have the nice to boot best friend who in some ways is weirder than our very own Meru and on that note, if they ever make a manga based on Chiyo, I am first in line. The aloof smart guy who didn’t want anything to do with our poor heroine but looked at her from afar because he found her peculiar. The “delinquents” who are a mystery throughout this manga, specially because you can’t tell if they are the smart kids in a dumb class or the dumb kids…wait maybe it’s the big fish in a small pond, I forget. Point is they rule but deep down, very deep where there isn’t any light and you don’t even know if it’s that “deep down,” you know there’s an ulterior reason why they are doing such mean things around.

The fact that there’s sorta, kindda, a love triangle here, is a given. I mean sometimes you can’t really tell, you have to squint your eyes and look in between the two tall buildings, the dark alley, and through a crack in a fence to see the figure at the end. Yeah there it is. It becomes more apparent as the story progresses.

Holding steady with keeping you interested while not including fillers was one of it’s charms. I’m afraid not everything was a gold mine. While the story and it’s characters were fun, the ending was sort of left out there. My guess it was intentional, after all if something is left open for you to draw the conclusion that most pleases you, you‘re more likely to be happy with the outcome and rate it accordingly. While if it ends a certain way, that‘ll stick with you and rub you the wrong way, now I‘m just blabbering. Intentional or not, it just shows this mangaka's indecision with the here and there. She was just as confused as Meru, if not more and decided leaving it open was the safest route. Might have been safer but not the best if you ask me, I enjoy the finality, the closure choosing brings.

The art has details which give it an edge, like their uniforms. Meru’ makeover almost completely changed her but left me wanting to at least see her as her original self, short hair included. The mangaka gave Kazuya different hairstyles and that sets him apart from other guys. Sometimes it was clean and more detailed and then it got a little sloppy with the lines here and there. But even with all that it was above average, not a 10 but definitely not a 5 either.

The force is strong in this one. It is definitely worth a chance. You’ll laugh and who doesn’t need a good laugh every now and them.

Story: Hmm.... I really don't know what to say for this...it's okay i guess. The 'cliff hangers' make you want to read more and more. The ending really isn't too satisfying though....for romantic reasons

Art: I loved the art style. Nice legs, beautiful flowy hair, all the elements of shojo art. Especially the big eyes. The good thing is, that they weren't too sparkly which suited my taste. Sometimes they lacked pupils which nerved me out. The proportion was perfect. In some mangas, the face is too flat, legs too short, limbs crooked, fat waists etc. None in Fly High. Also, I have to give ... them brownie points for the bishonen. They are sexy. Seriously. Sometime the big eyes irk me out but when Natsumi draws Ichiya, fighting, standing, sitting or running, she nailed it. I would have to give a 10 for the bishonen. :3

Character: Personally, I found the characters a bit cliched and lacking originality. Take Ruka Miller, graduated from university at 11. If that dosen't scream Sue I don't know what does. And the main character, mistaken for a boy, trained 7 years in mountain with father...hmmm... Originality aside, the characters can really be loveable *looksonlycough*

Enjoyment: As I said in the beginning, I loved the manga. Although it didn't hit the heartstrings I would like to compare this manga similar to a one-night fling. Highly enjoyable as you read it but it won't cling to your mind and stay.

I have to say that this story is epitome of average to me. It's not bad, but it's not good either. If it weren't for how short it was, I would've dropped it, and there was a part of me hoping it would redeem itself.
It was just embarrassingly predictable. I already knew hoe things would end because they followed the same manga formula that other manga of the same genre use. It didn't bring anything new or interesting. A story about a really strong girl fighting for justice and then a love triangle it's just not that special. Sure it's a good premise for a ... guilty pleasure, but even then this story remains forgettable because of how lacking in personality it is.
Then there's the ending which doesn't feel like an ending at all for the manga. It's great for the first arc of the story, but it doesn't resolve anything that the manga discusses. The romance is left hanging, and she already has a resolution a few chapters before, therefore making this ending feel forced. And I am leinant to endings. I like endings even if some find them unsatisfying or unlikeable as long as it feels like a grand resolution. I just don't think the ending was strong enough to close the story.