Taranta Ranta
Looking for Happiness

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This was a very good Manga. I loved the story line. I thought it tended to jump around a lot but other than that it was great. (And by jump around I kinda just got lost but it would catch you up so i wasn't completely lost)

Story: The story starts off with a girl named Hikaru who is just starting her first year of high school. Her brother has died and she depended on him a lot in the past. On her first day of school she comes across a guy by the name of Miki and imediatly likes him. She also makes a friend ... by the name of Nene who helps her and towards the beginning upsets Hikaru and they have a fight.
Nene gathers information on Miki and then brings Hikaru to confess to him. He kisses her and turns her down. One of Miki's friends, Jun, then tells Hikaru that she shouldn't worry about people like him.
This manga is the constant struggle of a first year high school student, and how that just around any corner there can be a certain problem that we must overcome.
If you're wondering why I only gave it an 8/10 it was because the ending of the story. (which there is more to the story I just figure all the time that people need to read it and stuff) It was a little to sudden and even 1 more chapter would have been great. It leaves you hanging but not in a wondering way kind of in a "Oh so this is how it's going to end?!" way. But other than that great story and I would reread it :)

Art: The art was drawn well. There was a lot of different places and main characters for such a short manga which made it good.

Character: The characters we're pretty good as well. They let it kinda brief and to the point about them tho. Not much history to them.

Enjoyment: I loved reading this manga! It was overall very good.

(This manga can be found at Mangafox incase you need help finding it. It won't be in the drop down menu tho. You have to go to the Manga Directory to find it. All chapters are there. Thanks for reading my review ^-^)

Oh Taranta Ranta why did you betray me so…

I actually managed to learn all the characters names and for what? For you to leave me hanging out to dry in the air. What’s the manga synonym for cock blocking? I really need to start rating my reviews…

It was a good premise. Haruki lost her brother two years ago and it’s just her and her mom now. Her brothers absence is a palpable piece in her life, but she’s working on moving on. She meets a guy who resembles her oniisan and he seems to be sweet too. She starts to like him (I can’t figure ... out if I’m creeped out by it or surprised) after he kisses her his attitude does a complete 180 and he turns into a jerk. Is that how her first love ends?

That’s actually the beginning of a story, you can say that meeting him was what set the rest of the manga chains into motion like it usually goes. I won’t say that Taranta is the personification of high school real life because it isn’t. I mean some elements are there and the characters deal with them as best as they can. It has potential to be deeper but it leaves things halfway, specially with her brother or figuring out her feelings. It was funny but it lacked focus. I know this is a shoujo and a romantic one at that, but does the heroine have to fall in love and leave us wondering how it happened in the first place? She loves one, then it changes and she loves someone else. In that sense I think she captures the stereotype of a high school girl completely, making it a little disappointing.

The characters are actually quite charming. I liked a lot of the background characters more than the actual main cast sometimes. They were just funny and got attention from way back there, in letters so small I get so close to my screen I invade my screen’s personal space, so you know they were worth to read.
Hikaru is really average. Not a bad thing but it’s a, been there, done that deal.

The art, was above average. It does have a lot of cute guys so it gets a higher score in the art department just for that. The characters have a lot of detail in the hair since that’s what sometimes differentiates them apart. I really liked that even from far away when characters are in the distance or background the mangaka still gave the art attention and it doesn’t look sloppy.

I wasn’t the only one upset with this ending. But I also don’t think it was all bad. At least they didn’t leave the girl hanging for her life by a small piece of rope(I'm sure there's a specific term) in the middle of climbing Everest. Not that this manga is like Everest...

All I’m trying to say is that it’s a bad sign when I keep clicking the “Next Page” button and nothing happens and I check my computer to make sure it didn’t freeze but it turns out that there just isn’t any more pages. That that is in fact the ending, we Do not pass Go, Do not collect 200 feeling…

Overall:
Yup, 7. Everything is good but nothing exceptional. It's a good read if you're just looking for something to pass time. Actually, there are many parts that are confusing,maybe because it's short. BTW,it'll be raining with a score of 7.

Story: 7
The plot is a bit dramatic (especially the start of the story) since it is about a heroine losing her brother swearing she wouldn't cry anymore. It's about accepting death and moving on then meeting new people. This concept is obvious in the story but I think the way it was presented was not enough to move me.In my opinion, you won't feel the ... heroine's sadness unless you get to know her brother too. He didn't get enough exposure so I didn't feel any attachment. Well then, about the romance part...this is where I'm confused. They move on real fast that I don't understand what they're thinking. You'll just be like," did I miss any chapter, what is with this development?" For a short story, I think many events and characters are put up together that the story can't focus on one. Many people may have been disappointed with the ending and I'm one of them. It didn't really conclude what happened between the 3. At the beginning of the story it says everyone will eventually die then at the end it's like it's saying life goes on (I find these two ideas contradicting O_O) But maybe, that's the mangaka's point?
Art:7
The drawing is fine I guess, though I tend to get confused with the guys during the first few chapters since they are somewhat similar but it improved as it progress.

Character:7
In general, you'll be seeing development with all of the characters. There won't be a flat character, they're so dynamic. Like I said, they constantly change especially the 3 main characters. The way they were introduced is different on how they really act. They are somewhat inconsistent with their characters particularly Miki. A guy who is just fooling around at first then becomes serious is not new but in his case his inner feeling are not properly conveyed that the way he acts is a bit confusing. Jun, since he's the silent type is also one who's hard to understand. So if you like the silent mysterious type, you may root for him haha The way they get jealous is kind of cute XD The heroine, Hikaru is optimistic and honest (most shoujo heroines are like this haha She's one who doesn't sugar coat) Yeah, real honest that she told Nene off. I like characters like Hikaru who can be honest, saying what she thinks is right. The other supporting characters were also given a little exposure and had their own stories but like I've said it's too short that it can't focus on their feelings.

Enjoyment:7
I may have pointed many flaws but it can't be helped. There are only rare occasions where there are minimal plot holes in a story. I still enjoyed reading it, you know? You might too.

So that concludes my review. I hope it helps you decide on whether to read it or not. :)