Waltz wa Shiroi Dress de

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Most people are probably familiar with this series because of Chiho Saito's association with Revolutionary Girl Utena, and though some characters have obviously similarities to Utena this manga manages to be something else and have an overall different message.

The art can be a joy to look at in the dancing scenes, and though character designs tend not to deviate too much from one base a few like Sajit genuinely stand out from the Japanese. Men tend to look similar (resulting in occasional situations of being unsure of who is who) but the women manage to remain distinctive. Another area that shines is the detail to ... clothing, and a few of Koto's dresses clearly show the attention to detail that went into their design. The panels are laid out clearly and logically, so the manga reads smoothly with relatively little backtracking.

In terms of plot, this is the classic Star Crossed Lovers who are kept apart by time. However, without giving away too much, they manage to subvert the usual formula of the two people from different worlds. The series takes an unexpected turn twice, but both times it manages to resolve the hanging threads without feeling too forced or rushed. There is also some potent political commentary on interracial relations, though Chiho Saito is known for pushing the limits of what is considered orthodox, and this series is no different.

Building off of that, the characters are another strong point. Koto, the main heroine, is simultaneously strong and human, and despite being torn between love and her obligation to her family she spends relatively little time angsting over it. She's like Utena in some ways, but is undoubtedly a woman who likes being a woman, and this almost makes some of her accomplishments mean more. I wish we'd seen a bit more of Sajit's motivations, but what we do so manages to make him endearing and give him flaws at the same time. The main love rival is initially built up as villainous and callous, but near the end he gets some genuinely touching development. We even end up feeling sorry for the stock bitchy sister in the end.

Overall, this is an enjoyable shojo manga that manages to stay true to the genre and yet try something different. Fans of Utena will likely get a kick out of seeing some prototype characters in a different setting and enjoy more of Saito's understated but beautiful art.