Gakuen Babysitters

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

It is a cute, light and somewhat unique proposal. One of the best shoujo focusing on non-romantic relationships I've read. Great for reading and relaxing at the end of the day; give a few easy laughs, with easy-to-understand jokes that anyone could understand and enjoy.

Not to mention the clear message about love in the family, protection, kindness, emphasizing the innocence and purity of children, but without turning them into "perfect Dickensian children", because children are children, in the end, they make a lot more mistakes than adults , because they have almost nothing in life experience, emotional development, are sensitive to small things and ... create drama. And that's exactly how they should be, the work makes that clear, just as a sometimes rebellious and dramatic attitude doesn't cancel out a good heart, and the ability to redeem and grow. Because in the end, that's what growing up is all about, not the search for perfect adults, trying to mold perfect children who repress themselves, but adults who know how to express feelings, from the best to the worst.

The manga has a wholesome air of growth and companionship, from the youngest to the oldest, and it's enjoyable because it's subtle, natural, demonstrating the author's tact when maneuvering the script's tone.

I LOVE THIS MANGA!! It makes me really sad it took 8 years for it to come this far.. (82 chapters, but chapter 81 is missing..) This manga is so adorably cute it makes you not want to put it down! It also makes you wish you had such a well behaved toddler!

The main characters have a tragic back story but how they overcome that with the help of a stranger makes it even more addicting! They become a family with each other and seeing the progress they make makes you want to cheer them on!

The main character Ryuu-chan being popular but doesn't ... really realize it because of his personality is kind of overdone, but his natural airheadedness to this and him prioritizing his brother makes you think "WOW, I wish I could have a guy like that"

The side characters and the mom's of the kids are also very fun and playful! If you loved Love so Life (which I did!) then you will LOVE this! The stories are very similar and both heartwarming! I hope everyone loves this as much as I do AND I REALLY HOPE THE UPDATE MORE OFTEN BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO WAIT 10 YEARS FOR AN ENDING!

If you've ever read and enjoyed works like "Yotsuba&!", "Barakamon", "Usagi Drop" and "Azumanga Daioh", you'll probably love this series too!

The manga follows two brothers; the older brother, Ryuuichi, who's an high school student and his younger brother, Koutarou, who is a toddler.
Due to a tragic event, Ryuuichi and Koutarou lose their parents, but they're taken in by a gruff older lady lovingly called "Obaa-san" (grandmother) and her butler, Saikawa.
Ryuuichi has to work in the "babysitting club", a club where teachers from the school drop off their children, as exchange for living with and studying in Obaa-san's house/school and the manga follows the adventures ... started in this club.

The story is very simple, but does it's job extremely well. Every chapter is very cute and has episodic stories with reoccurring side characters, references to previous jokes and running gags, etc. etc.
You'll find yourself satisfied with each chapter as they're all very fleshed out and leaves a sense of "ah, that was a good story" every time you complete one.

The art is cute and simple, it fits the story of the tone well with it's shoujo manga-esque art style, round toddler faces and exaggerated (to a natural extend) expressions. All the characters are easy to distinguish and identify from one another.

All the characters has a good and a bad side, which makes them seem all the more real. The main character, Ryuuichi, is a hardworking guy who loves his brother, but can also be extremely dense and an airhead, which sometimes causes him trouble as well.
All the children are written realistically to the extend that they're believeable, but you won't get annoyed by their irrational antics, fights, etc. as the characters and their "motivations" are often easily understood and related to.
All the side characters are great too and aren't just dismissed randomly after a few chapters. Even the characters who only show up once in a blue moon go through character development of some sorts, or at least get some kinda of backstory to understand them better.

Overall this is a great slice of life manga with a great cast, cute story/stories, a warm atmosphere and it leaves you with a sense of belonging and familial love.