Boogiepop Series

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“I am automatic. When I detect adversity approaching, I float to the surface. That’s why I am Boogiepop—phantasmal, like bubbles.”

First of all, this review only includes the first three light novels in the Boogiepop franchise, as they are the only significant ones that have been licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment. This includes Boogiepop and Others, Boogiepop Returns: VS Imaginator, and Boogiepop Returns: VS Imaginator Part 2. I also own the brilliant Boogiepop Phantom anime, but that is for another review.

Kouhei Kadono’s Boogiepop light novels, stories that I would describe as the morbid side of young adult fiction, are recognized as the success that sparked the ... light novel trend in Japan. Every Boogiepop book is executed through different characters’ perspectives, the narrators alternating with each chapter. In the west, oftentimes one’s introduction to the Boogiepop universe is through the horror-themed anime and, like myself, he or she will often find themselves unable to fully comprehend the overall plot of the show. Therefore I thoroughly recommend reading Boogiepop and Others (also known as Boogiepop Never Laughs) before beginning Boogiepop Phantom. It will make for a far more satisfying experience.

The novels themselves are relatively less creepy and horrifying than the show, but are similarly macabre and psychological. Of course, it should be taken into account that animation can certainly enhance the dark atmosphere that is always present in the Boogiepop universe.

“Everyone wants to believe that the runaways were killed by an assassin that wanders in the shadows, fleeting as the morning mist… in-stead of running off to Tokyo or some other grim reality.”

Boogiepop and Others centers on a Junior High-school where rumors of a shinigami who murders those that are suffering are frequent in the female students’ gossip. In reality, Boogiepop is no grim reaper, but something of a super-hero: a creature that fights for justice against those it deems enemies of the world. When an inhuman man-eater infiltrates the school, Boogiepop must come forth in order to end it.

This novel or the manga adaptation is the most ideal introduction to everything Boogiepop. Without reading either of these, to put it simply, when shit goes to shit, one won’t know which shit is which. Regarding the style of writing, Andrew Cunningham’s english translation will often transmit a vibe that would otherwise be found in fiction like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson: a tone that feels as if it is addressing younger readers, lacking complicated literary devices or diction. Whether that is advantageous or not, it depends on the audience.

Overall, without going into much depth, Boogiepop and Others is an unsurprisingly dark light novel chock-full of twisted, psychopathic characters. However, the story also contains a brighter side with focus on the romantic and academic troubles of Junior High and entrance exam students and their relationships with each-other.

“Even if snow does fall in April, Imaginator, it will only melt in the warmth of spring. It will never accumulate.”

Boogiepop Returns: VS Imaginator bears a strange title. To clarify, it is not Boogiepop Returns versus Imaginator, but it is “VS Imaginator” that is the secondary title as “Boogiepop Returns” is the primary. VS Imaginator brings into play several new, interesting developments to the Boogiepop universe. For one, power-inducing drugs from a secretive agency are a plot-point. Inhuman servants to the so-called Towa Organization are sent to the domain where, coincidentally, Boogiepop dwells, and observe the effects of their experimental products. Simultaneously, a creature calling itself the Imaginator is attempting to change humanity through its own power to fulfill an ultimate goal of its own.

The two light novels in the VS Imaginator arc take a turn into entirely different characters while still retaining a couple of the most significant characters from the original. From the execution of this arc, it seems to set the precedent that following light novels will consist of separate, individual arcs all loosely connected by the mysterious hero known as Boogiepop. The tone that I explained about the first novel is still present in the second and third, the light novels all retaining the same translator. A worthy sequel to Boogiepop and Others, Boogiepop Returns: VS Imaginator starts off the continuation of these lovely light novels.

All in all, Boogiepop is a franchise that will not get old for me. It's a dark story focusing quite a lot on teenage mental issues, which is something I can always enjoy. If you're looking for a wonderfully depressing set of novels, I urge you to try out Boogiepop. If you've come here from Boogiepop Phantom, I urge you to make that animated experience even better by reading some of Kadono's original novels.

"Life is brief, young maiden, fall in love; before the crimson bloom fades from your lips, before the tides of passion cool within your hips, for those of you who know no tomorrow." -Isamu Yoshii

the first volume in the boogiepop series is probably one of that best books ive read in awhile. all the characters are well fleshed out, you could realistically put them into tropes but it would be a great disservice to them. the tone of that book of overall is dark, most of the story takes place at a secluded school in the mountains and that adds to it. along with the musical references to 80s bands like oingo boingo, prince and the npg. it gives off this tone that's very, boogiepop". In the authors note kouhei kodono speaks about what boogiepop means, combining niche topics, ... like the psychology of serial killers, beings from different dimensions and somewhat obscure music to be the "boogie" and the first person perspective, the inviting writing style thats easy to read, and teenage "forbidden" romances that attribute to the "pop" elements. i think thats the perfect way to describe boogiepop as a book.

Basically, imagine the one scene in the Tatami Galaxy where they overlay a bunch of still images of the douchebag character from different angles, as a visual representation for the narrator’s explanation of how his perception of the douchebag as a person changed the more he learnt about him. Now apply the same logic to the narrative structure in Boogiepop. At the start we’re introduced to a highschool student and his meeting with Boogiepop. Boogiepop explains himself as something automatic, a being that rises to the surface like a bubble and then vanishes. Some vague threat is established, and Boogiepop is there at the school ... to fight it, but the narrator isn’t involved in the action at all, and it ends suddenly without him ever knowing what it was all about. Basically we know how the story ends at the start – Boogiepop wins – but the reader’s understanding of the story and perception of past events change as they read through. The story in Boogiepop is told from different perspectives, each perspective has its own individual narrative, and through these different perspective the reader learns more about the overarching narrative, which involves a monster known as the Manticore threatening a bunch of high-school students.

The trouble with commenting on these individual narratives is that I’m inevitably going to be drawn into a bunch of irrelevant comparisons between each narrative which avoids the main question “is the book good?” and I would say yes unless someone laughed at me for saying yes, if someone laughed at me, I would deny ever having read the books and hide underground for the rest of my life. Generally, the narratives are good, they have enough variety. The personalities of the narrators are conveyed easily by having them written in a certain style, examples being Keiji’s narration written formal and proper, the playboy’s narration written loose and colloquial. The main triumphs of Boogiepop are its characters who are all enjoyable and friendly and entertaining, and the concept of who Boogiepop is.

I think this sort of fantasy story works because Boogiepop itself links back in some way to reality. The idea of Boogiepop is pretty similar to the human body’s autoimmune system and how it fights off diseases. Your mind can easily accept Boogiepop’s existence since it already has a prior reference point to work off of, similar to how the aliens in Ridly Scott’s franchise look like and are based on underwater sea creatures, and so are more easily believed and scarier as a result.

The individual narratives in Others are good but the plot itself isn’t great. The Manticore feels like a derivative idea. The fight between the Manticore and Boogiepop’s allies is exciting enough, and I like the bit of foreshadowing with the boy who’s good at archery, but its not as engaging as the parts where the characters were just talking to each other and living their lives. Because Manticore is an existence that feels disconnected from reality, it feels like its of arbitrary/forced importance, and all the characters involved directly with the Manticore suffer from that same unreal disconnect.

This criticism applies to basically all of the novels in the Boogiepop series. Characters are likeable, but the supernatural elements are literally unbelievable and so prone to inducing indifference. Instead of just repeating myself over and over for the other books, I’ll note the interesting parts.

At the start of VS Imaginator the concept of a man who can see into the hearts of people and see their flaws is really cool for the same reasons that Boogiepop is cool. The hearts/souls of people being represented by flowers, and how what is missing is described by their flowers missing petals, or leaves, or stems, is a really vivid image, it sticks with you.

The Peppermint Wizard suffers in readability due to the fan translator trying too hard, despite that, it’s my favourite story besides the first one. The wizard’s a really good character and the message is pretty strong too.

Anime adaptation’s pretty whatever.