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✣ ✣ ✣ ✣ ✣ Historical fantasy is always a little fun, thus quite a few shoujo manga are centered on the interesting genre. Add the fact that there are ninjas involved and you already have quite the devoted fan base. That's "Shinobi Life" for you.

✣ ✣ ✣ ✣ ✣ Right from the beginning, this series starts with a little bit of a melodramatic scene. The mangaka paints Beni as an angsty teenager who'd throw her life away to spite her cold-hearted father, but that's only what's on the surface. As we delve into her life, we see that her father's attitude toward her is ... almost indifferent but also inexplicable, and the reason for that is revealed later in the story. At the start, though, Beni is almost annoying in her demeanor and spiteful words to her dad, but she rounds out as the chapters go on.

Enter Kagetora. He doesn't understand anything of the modern world, so even though he wants to be useful, he depends on Beni to teach him what he needs to know. Upon seeing her, he sees resemblances to the princess and decides from her name that she must be Beni-hime's reincarnation, thus he promises to protect her as he did the princess. The humor is in his reactions to everyday appliances and customs, but he slowly adjusts to living there and follows Beni's orders dutifully.

✣ ✣ ✣ ✣ ✣ As one would expect, the romance of the century is between Beni and Kagetora. If you couldn't tell from the fantastic cover art, their love is a fierce one. Alongside fighting enemies of different time periods, they also battle their feelings for each other. Kagetora adheres to the rules of the past and believes him too lowly to love a princess, and Beni wonders if he's using her as a replacement for the princess of the other generation rather than loving her for herself. The first conflict is pretty stale and stereotypical, but the other is made more intense by the mangaka's portrayal of raw emotion in their faces and muddled thoughts.

While the story started in the present, the bulk of it takes place in the past as they travel back to it. Of course, as a ninja Kagetora has a whole lot of interesting backstory. (The time portal isn't something that can be explained, though; it's just some act of magic.) The way he grew up and who raised him is all revealed when they go back in time, and all of it connects to Beni's existence today. It's an intriguing albeit complicated way of weaving their stories together to make sense of the modern situation.

✣ ✣ ✣ ✣ ✣ As cool as time travel is, though, I have to admit that I'm normally not a huge fan of it. It's overly perplexing, and though it seems to make sense, I still think going back in time to do something for yourself in the past just isn't possible. Nevertheless, the pieces still fit together (I think), so if you're okay with not thinking too hard about the circumstances, it'll be alright. Bias aside, though, I do believe that the amount of time-traveling in this manga is a bit excessive. It's not as brain-hurting as it is in something like "Tsubasa Chronicles," though, so don't sweat it.

I think the majority of the characters in this manga are well-developed or at least have some juicy backstories. One of them in particular has a stark personality change, but the others are pretty deep and have a lot to contribute to the plot.

Some people may think that Beni is aggravating in her spunk and stubbornness, but I can see the reasons why Kagetora and the others like her. She definitely changes from the way she was in the beginning once she realizes what's at stake and what others have been through. At first she seemed like a spoiled brat, but underneath that she really does care about a lot of things. Consequently she transforms into one of the nicest characters.

✣ ✣ ✣ ✣ ✣ Though this isn't my favorite manga, I do realize why a lot of people enjoyed it in its prime. The romance is definitely a huge factor, and time travel is probably cool for most readers. The artwork for me is absolutely stunning. It's not drop-dead gorgeous, but it's definitely better than typical shoujo. I always stare a little longer at the cover of every volume before reading the next chapter. All in all, though, I would recommend it for those interested in historical shoujo and fantasy, and I'm sure anyone who picks it up for the art will be impressed with the story as well.

Ah, just skimming through the screenshots of this anime gives you the nostalgia surrounding that age-old dream and idea: if you believe in yourself and work hard enough, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. If you’re not too old to root along for a small band raising to the roof, “Kaikan Phrase” might be up your alley.

I can’t quite remember why I put this on my list. I think it was recommended to me by someone when I mentioned I hadn’t watched much music anime. Truth be told, if you notice the aesthetics, it’s not much to look at. The anime was ... aired in the late 90s but the quality was terrible to stream wherever I checked. You’d have thought it was even older. So if you’re someone who would be irritated by that, you might want to be wary of this, because even later they start putting English subs over the Chinese subbed version and the audio quality is taken from VHS, etc.

If you’re here for the right reason, though, which is to listen to some music put around a plot, you might be around for a treat. To be honest, the music is better than the plot hands down, but the story wasn’t something that made me tear my hair out (at least not all the time). I enjoy watching characters become better people, improving themselves and then making the most of their dreams. I can’t speak as if I were in a band, but I imagine that these conflicts do happen day-to-day in the music industry.

It was a little too convenient to see four of the members come together in the first episode or so, but Sakuya the vocalist seemed to be impossible. I pretty much hated his character for being so difficult and stubborn in the beginning. He was the typical brooding male that wanted to do things his way and had a hard time showing his feelings. He was good at giving insults and seemed to care only for himself. But I guess that’s how musicians can be sometimes. But I do remember them taking quite a while to recruit him just because of his attitude.

Once things got going, though, of course I expected everything to go smoothly. The music industry is harsh, and unless their band Lucifer stood out, not just with their looks, but also with their skills, talent, and emotional music, they would stay unknown. They fought through haters, rivals, jealousy, and the hardship of teamwork. I can’t say that the conflicts they went through as a band were cliche… I mean, what else is there? You’d expect for there to be competition among bands, jealousy between bandmates, differences in opinion for stuff like musical arrangements and lyrics, etc. They were resolved within a good amount of time and without too much fuss.

What I complain about most, though, are the other cliches. If you missed it in the info, this is also a shoujo anime. Unfortunately, it’s subject to those shoujo stereotypes. You can guess who in this show has a relationship with the high school lyricist they pick up. They say cheesy things to each other once the ship is canon, and the problems they face do threaten to tear them apart as they try to keep their relationship hidden from the public. There wasn’t enough to make me drop the series, though. The shoujo cliches mixed with the band plot can be a little bit entertaining, though.

Of course, it’s only natural to have every band member have a different hair color so viewers tell them apart; it’s a classic anime strategy. Nevertheless, that also helps differentiate their personalities as well. The leader of the band is the laid-back and calm Yuki, whose hair is long, smooth, and dark purple. The drummer Santa has a shock of chestnut hair that imitates his quick temper but powerful beat on the drums. The bass guitarist Towa has long golden locks, perfect for his nonchalant personality that is still bent on arranging the perfect music. Atsuro is originally a brunet but dies his hair a surprising magenta later in the series. He’s an avid guitarist that makes mistakes occasionally but definitely has skill. And Sakuya, with the most normal hairstyle, speaks volumes with his voice and bright blue eyes.

They’re a fun bunch, I have to admit. The only time I was annoyed with them was when they were trying so hard to recruit Sakuya, and he was being a big butt about not joining and insulting them all the way. Once he gave in and joined to make the best music, though, they were quite a team. Of course they experience their ups and downs—Santa and Sakuya’s personalities clashed all the time, Atsuro was really downhearted when he messed up, etc.

People might have complaints about Aine, though, the lyricist that shows up later. She seems like a typical shoujo protagonist to me, always trying to do the right thing and feeling completely crestfallen when things don’t go as planned. I think she’s probably better in the anime than the manga, though, based on what I’ve heard from other people, but viewers can see that later.

I don’t think I can comment much on the animation and artwork since the quality is so terrible. I can only hope that when it aired, it was much better than what I watched. I can complain, though, about their stances when they performed. Most of you are probably familiar with moments when guitarists get into the music and throw their heads back, etc. Unfortunately, for the first few performances, the band members don’t have any different poses. Sakuya throws his body around awkwardly, Yuki tosses his hair the same way, Atsuro holds his guitar at a weird angle, and other things like that. I don’t play any of those instruments, but as a musician myself I do know there’s more to performing than what this anime shows. Later on there is more to see, but I remember feeling disappointed with how they started out. I might chalk it up to beginners’ shows, though.

The band members are popular not only for their music, but also for being handsome, and I do admit that they are. Aside from their longish limbs and thin torsos, they can be pretty attractive. Towa’s hair is so distractingly flowing and shiny, and Sakuya always carries that aura of effortless coolness. I can only imagine that this anime looked really good when it came out.

I really did love the OPs and EDs, and I think it’s rare for a viewer to like everything they hear. What’s interesting about this anime is that the producers actually hired a real band to perform these songs and “become” Lucifer to give the show a little bit more realism. The real band played for a little bit after the anime ended and disbanded later, but I still think it’s impressive they thought so much to put this together. Japanese rock from the 90s is still cool.

Furthermore, it’s good that the songs that the band composes and performs are so great. The driving point of the plot is Lucifer’s rise to fame through talent and cooperation in the band. It would be inexcusable to have them make terrible music. All their pieces except one feature Sakuya as the vocalist, and while I wouldn’t say his voice is as phenomenal as the other characters make it out to be, his mellow tone and ability to meld with the band’s flexible style (not just rock, but also some slower ballads) is just as important as the tunes themselves. I don’t play the guitar or drums, so I can’t comment too much on the sound with more knowledgeable critique, but a good majority of the time my ears liked it. I think one piece was in a weird key, but all of them were head-jamming and seemed pretty cohesive.

The soundtrack isn’t bad, either. There’s a little piano tune they keep playing during emotional moments that I liked from the start. It was from a piano piece that Sakuya performed and sang in at a private club, a pretty and wistful melody that rang a chord in all its listeners. Other pieces were not as memorable, but just as fitting for the anime.

Hmmm, I can’t say that I would love this anime enough to read the manga, but that’s mostly because I heard it focuses a lot on Sakuya and Aine’s relationship and excessive smut. For the love of humanity, DO NOT PICK UP THE MANGA if you cannot tolerate sex and rape. The anime takes almost a whole new take on the manga entirely, being more about the music. There’s also the fact that since it’s manga, it won’t be accompanied with music, so I’ll have to imagine it in my head. Furthermore, it hasn’t exactly been very binge-worthy for me until the end.

All in all, it’s not a bad anime to watch, but it’s nothing I’d sing praises about, either. It well builds the ambience of a small-town band making its dreams come true, but it can be pretty cheesy about it and doesn’t bring anything new to the table in terms of music production. Perhaps in its day, it WAS the newest thing around, though. I have a feeling it was popular in its release. It’s a pleasant memory to watch, though, and I rather like seeing the band become better friends as they grew.

⊥ ⊥ ⊥ ⊥ ⊥ I added “Jyu Oh Sei” to my list after my sister reviewed it, but she warned me that the ending made no sense and neither did the “shoujo” tag. That was back when I was adding anime to my list willy-nilly, and I’m not as picky about anime as she is, so I thought it’d be alright. Looking back, I experienced a variety of emotions while watching this 11-episode show, though not all were great.

⊥ ⊥ ⊥ ⊥ ⊥ I can’t really explain that well why it took me about two months to watch “Jyu Oh Sei.” There were a ... lot of things factored into that time period… I was watching another TV show (that wasn’t anime), lots of movies, and was preoccupied playing Pokemon, I think. A measly 11 episodes is something a real person could finish in a week. I suppose then I’d have to say that “Jyu Oh Sei really couldn’t capture my attention that well. It wasn’t that it was boring. There was enough content to get me wondering about the plot, but the plot was too strange.

Setting aside the “Lord of the Flies” feel to it, the mystery of the brothers Thor and Rai appearing on the planet of Chimaera is kept a mystery until the very end. All viewers know from the beginning is that their parents were assassinated for some political reason and the twin sons were shipped to some crazy plant-infested planet way out yonder. Oh, and add the bombshell that this planet is used to house dangerous criminals from other planets, great.

What’s interesting, though, is how these abandoned humans have survived. They have a whole hierarchy and factions based on skin color and gender. As females are not as common as males, they’re more valued and less likely to be killed by others. Food and water are scarce and seasons are harsh. Everyone must always be on the lookout to make sure they’re not killed by voracious and carnivorous plants.

Then again, not enough of it is explained. Where do they get the materials for their huge buildings? Why the freak do some of them have air motor bikes? What kinds of crimes do people have to commit in order to be sent to Chimaera?

Anyway, the rising action has to do with Thor’s rise to power as he fights his way up the ladder to be come Jyu Oh. Once he learns that becoming Jyu Oh allows him to return to his home planet, he will not stop at anything, even killing others, to get to the top. For a large portion of the story, though, what drives it is the characters. They each have their own agenda and motives, some of them more sinister than others. You never really know who is on Thor’s side or not until later on.

⊥ ⊥ ⊥ ⊥ ⊥ Thor himself is an interesting character. Aside from the fact that his physical characteristics are unique, as many like to comment, he’s the polar opposite of his brother. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, is a quick thinker, and is physically fit enough to protect himself very well even in the unfamiliar and harsh environment of Chimaera. He might slip up here and there but he’s never far from the goal.

Third and Zagi are the prime mystery dudes here. I never trusted Third from the beginning because he seemed to be hiding stuff about himself at the start. Zagi doesn’t have much of a presence until halfway through the series, but he plays some evil guy so there’s that. Anyway, both are hot and that’s already suspicious enough, but gives a lot of development when they unveil their true personalities and incentives.

Ah, and poor Tiz. She appeared at the beginning as someone interested in Thor’s heart but was never able to obtain it because of that sisterly love Thor had for her. It’s the show’s little effort at unrequited romance which I find is actually better than their attempt at forming some real romance later on.

⊥ ⊥ ⊥ ⊥ ⊥ Can’t comment too much on the animation and artwork as it’s dated, but I think back then it wasn’t bad. It’s a little strange how different Thor looks after that five-year time skip, but puberty hit him like a train and he also turned hot, so I must comment that artwork-wise, it’s still appealing to me nine years after its release.

The saving grace of this anime is probably its soundtrack. I wouldn’t say that it’s something that took my breath away all the time, but a few pieces were definitely worthy of keeping on my playlist. There are some really pretty electric cello solos that really create the mood of mystery and dramatization in such a careful manner. They allow you to take the anime more seriously albeit the plot holes.

I’m not a huge fan of the OP because of the funky sax downbeats, but my sister really enjoyed it. The ED is better, in my opinion, as it verges between a casual and upbeat tone and leaves a hopeful vibe afterward, perfect for someone who needs some encouragement after seeing how hard it is living on Chimaera.

⊥ ⊥ ⊥ ⊥ ⊥ I have to say that “Jyu Oh Sei” is definitely not something I’d recommend to anyone. It isn’t the worst anime out there, but the ending comes with huge plot twists and tons of information that isn’t well explained. As a casual anime it might be okay, but if you prefer watching something thrilling or that actually makes sense, you’d be better off watching something else. The perk is that it’s only eleven episodes, but if it were longer then it would make more sense. The beginning makes it seem like it could be worth watching, but it goes downhill pretty fast near the end, so it’s disappointing in that regard. Nowadays there are lots more survival anime out there that can do a better job. (And I still don’t know why this is labeled “shoujo,” as I can see nothing in it that seems aimed toward young girls.)

▩ ▩ ▩ ▩ ▩ I knew the rating on MAL for this was pretty high, but the fact that it was another one of those fighting shounen manga made me expect a little less. There are a lot of those and what new thing could “Rurouni Kenshin” bring to the picture? The plot with the strongest hero from the beginning to the end is not particularly new, so the mangaka would really have to make him stand out from the others.

He came to town as a wandering swordsman with a mysterious past he told no one about. He turned out to be the ... most skilled one there, strong enough to beat anyone pitted against him despite how formidable his opponents looked. He joined Kamiya dojo when Kaoru asked him to, knowing his strengths. Little did he know, many would come to challenge him or ask for his help, and his adventure was beginning once again.

▩ ▩ ▩ ▩ ▩ Alright, okay. I admit that while reading through about 15 or so chapters I was reasonably hooked. There was something intriguing about a man who had killed so many times before but now used his sword sparingly, injuring his enemies but never killing. People always thought that a swordsman who didn’t kill was not strong, but Kenshin always surpassed their expectations: he was fast, he was brave, and he was a master. A lot of times he would get so beat up and bloodied that it seemed like it would be his last leg, but he almost always pulled through.

Of course, halfway through the manga, it was very repetitive. A new enemy would show up and he would say the same things as the last: he was the strongest of them all and he’d beat Kenshin for the title of the strongest in the world. But Kenshin would find some way to kick him to the curb without killing him and the enemy would be a new person. If it weren’t for the side stories, tragic back stories, and very small bits of romance, I would not have been as interested in reading this.

▩ ▩ ▩ ▩ ▩ The characters are really the greatest part of the story, though. I noticed in the character popularity polls featured in some of the manga chapters, Kenshin was almost never the favorite. A lot of times, the other characters took the spotlight in those polls for their spunky personalities or individual strengths. Kenshin might have even seemed boring to them because he was a calm person for the most part and hardly ever gave way to rage.


A few of the characters got on my nerves, but some of them I liked from the beginning or grew on me. The few that returned became stronger and wiser, and in 200+ chapters Watsuki has so many ideas for different people, it’s mesmerizing. I have to hand it to him for such a great cast of characters with such a wide array of strengths, weaknesses, and appearances.

▩ ▩ ▩ ▩ ▩ I don’t read 90s manga very often, so the artwork threw me off for a bit in the first few chapters. It can be a little rough around the edges and oftentimes the main character looks plain compared to the other characters. But I have to hand it to the mangaka for all the detail put into those other characters, though. Each and every enemy has a unique face, harrowing shadow, unique costumes, and their own backstories (not that all of them are revealed).

Will all the fights going on, of course, I still have a hard time understanding exactly what’s happening, but that’s always been my problem. However, I think since the mangaka gets so used to drawing injured people all bloodied up, they get better looking as they go on. I mean their injuries look like they hurt and the blood spatters are pretty realistic against the 2D art. The tired eyes and expressions are pretty believable as well.

▩ ▩ ▩ ▩ ▩ While Kenshin’s pact not to kill another person was admirable, I was also frustrated with how difficult his opponents were such that I wished he would kill someone. But alas, he’s a strong person and uses his words well enough so that he doesn’t need to. He seems to have seen the world from where he is and his experience has made him extremely wise.

I’m not sure if I would say “Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan” is a staple shounen to indulge in, but it’s been around for a while and it’s gotten a lot of positive reviews. In it’s time it was very popular and I can see why. The new characters that are constantly introduced keeps the manga fresh with action and everyone loves a good fight. Maybe if you’d like something a little slow in the beginning but builds up quickly and is action-packed for the rest of the way, you should give this manga a try.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ I forgot this oneshot was on my list. I heard it was a fairly popular oneshot, though. The name “Tokidoki” makes it sound like it’s going to be cute, and it was when I breezed through it. At first glance it seems like a tender-looking school manga about precious first love, perhaps even a shoujo, but it’s definitely not that. You can tell it’s something more when you see the beginning.

The mysterious disease is unique and saddening, but the mangaka sets up the reader for this tragedy by mentioning Hatsu’s death on the first page and having the rest of ... the story act as a flashback. It seems to take away the surprise from the story, but of course the mangaka has more ideas in store as the manga progresses.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ What I like best about the story is how Hato helps Hatsu enjoy what life she has left. In the beginning of the story, the readers know next to nothing about her except that she’s fairly reserved and is unfortunate to be diagnosed with the bizarre “koku haku disease.” However, as he takes her out to amusement parks, the beach, and tells her to try new foods, we get to see the real side of her. She’s a sweet girl who wants to know the world. After she tries these wonderful new things, her personality sparkles. Her reactions are greatly exaggerated as she’s so amazed at everything she’s trying, and she’s the most innocent high school student anyone could know.

At the same time, we easily see what a kind person Hato is. He has a lot of fun showing Hatsu around town, but he’s also happy to be spending time with a new friend. It’s exciting to really get to know someone like this, especially since he thought she was just a shy girl who liked to keep to herself. I was initially thinking that maybe he was drawn to her in the beginning because she was pretty, but later on I changed my mind. Hato is a genuinely nice person and if he does like her romantically, it’s more than for her appearance.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ This shounen artwork is a little better than I’m used to; it has a somewhat shoujo feel to it but does retain the curves and angles that shounen has. I’ve seen this art before as this manga is done by the same mangaka who wrote “Nisekoi,” so if you liked the art there, you’ll like it here as well. It’s kind of fresh-looking, pretty, and has some great shine to it. In comedic moments, the characters blush ferociously and look very cute. The lines might look a little sloppy sometimes, but otherwise the artwork is very easy on the eyes.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ My expectations are just a little too high when I get around to reading a popular manga, but since this is a mere oneshot I didn’t hear that much about it. It might have been the mangaka’s already-made fame that made this one a little well-known. Nevertheless, it delivered more than a normal oneshot does. It made me giggle a few times but it did get a bit sappy. The romance is cute and I liked the characters, especially Hato. Due to the unique premise, it’s definitely a story I’ll remember.

Jumping into this story, I was already intrigued by its differences from other shoujo manga. The protagonist is the male student Taiga. The main relationship features a couple wherein the female is older than the male. The biggest thing to notice is that the girlfriend is a fujoshi; I doubt I’ll ever see that being a huge part of a story again.

After those are pointed out, though, I think the story falls a little flat. I might have read it faster in the beginning because I wanted to see how Taiga handled things. It was funny to see him slowly learn all these Japanese terms ... for closeted interests, become disgusted, and steadily tolerate everything because he loved his girlfriend. He never could have imagined that this was how their relationship was going to turn out. I was delighted to see Taiga being able to complement his girlfriend either way, though; it showed how nice of a person he was despite all his frustration.

I could see how the manga ended the way it did, though. I can’t say it was very conclusive, but there wasn’t much to end anyway. The whole plot depended on Taiga’s adjustment to Yuiko’s obsession with boy love (at one point even asking him to write her a yaoi fanfiction), and it dragged on and on. Of course, the mangaka wove different situations around Yuiko’s addiction, but it became a wee bit boring for me after a while. I was thinking that at some time he’d get over her weirdness, but social appearances were important to them so that kept them hiding stuff every now and then.

I’m sure that in this manga Yuiko was supposed to be a funny character because she was the fujoshi and couldn’t help talking to Taiga about her fantasies and making him cosplay, etc. It was pretty humorous at first but then it became predictable and after that I wasn’t sure what to think of Yuiko. There were a few other conflicts here and there, but her longstanding attraction to yaoi was the pinnacle of her existence. I can’t say I enjoyed every moment of it. She was the same the entire time.

I was never quite taken by the art. It seemed pretty standard for shoujo, except sometimes the closeups on them made the faces look too long and awkward. The shading is pretty simple. You can tell when pretty boys are supposed to look pretty and all that, but there isn’t anything special.

۵ ۵ ۵ ۵ ۵ I was expecting more from this manga since the premise was unique and it seemed like the plot could go places, but after the fact, it didn’t go far beyond what it started with. I mentioned the main conflict seemed extended, but it didn’t exactly feel like the mangaka was milking it. It just felt dry and stale after a while. It was comic in the beginning but it’s not something too noteworthy except for the aforementioned different aspects.

If you don’t mind how predictable it can be, it’s probably like the other generic shoujo you’ve read if you’ve read others. The most obvious shipping from the start will be there in the end and others might form based on who’s left over. I think what’s a little different about this manga, though, is the whole childhood friend relationship. Most of the time when a shoujo manga includes a childhood friend, he/she isn’t there in the beginning and comes in as almost an afterthought on the mangaka’s part. In other words, he/she isn’t taken seriously as a suitor and is only inserted for some ... extra drama.

┈ ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈ Oumi and Nayu, though, are the stars of this manga. Yes, it’s quite obvious how things will turn out for them in the end, but little by little they transform their childhood thoughts of each other into more mature ones. It’s evident that even though they still have that childhood mindset from long ago, they’re capable of considering each other in a different light. The fact that it’s a ten chapter manga lets​​​ you know that stuff is going to happen and it won’t be two clueless idiots fumbling around for too long understanding the others’ feelings.

I guess the downside to this manga would be some of the secondary characters. Like in other shoujo, a few of them you can tell won’t be that important to the story. They’re there to stir up some two-second drama and that’s that. Some of them make bigger impacts than others and might even make a good love triangle that will make you question which ship is supposed to sail.

┈ ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈ What I liked most about this manga was the artwork. It is reminiscent of other shoujo but feels a little lighter and fresher. It isn’t as light as stuff like in “Hirunaka no Ryuusei,” but the water color texture in the colored images make it look very young and innocent. (True, this manga does exude youth and innocence.) I can’t say the big-eyed girls and handsome boys are any different from other shoujo, though.

Should you read this?
If you’re a sucker for shoujo, go for it. Otherwise, it’s a fuzzy little read that won’t impact you very much except give your heart a little bit of “aww.” It was a refreshing read, though, for some uplifting romance.

“Inu x Boku SS” seemed like a pretty innocent manga when I picked it up at first. The beginning chapters revolved around a spoiled little girl who had trouble making friends because she was a huge tsundere, so the majority of her comments were scathing insults. Immediately afterward, though, she regretted her words but could do nothing to recant them.

Then there was him, the SS agent assigned to protect her in that tall building filled with other weird misfits. He was loyal as a dog to her and soon enough, it was revealed that the SS was not composed of ordinary bodyguards, nor were the ... people they protected average. Everyone involved had the blood of demons inside of them, so they could transform into powerful and formidable hybrids. And then?

In the beginning the manga was mildly interesting. Ririchiyo is intriguing enough; she’s a very cute little girl with a smart mouth that she can’t seem to control, and her interactions with her clingy servant Miketsukami are comical. After getting to know the rest of the curious tenants in the complex “Ayakashi Kan,” which took up a chunk of time, there was the development of her relationship with Miketsukami. Admittedly I was not shipping that a whole lot, but given their revealed history it was only natural that the chips fall as they did.

Strangely enough, though, after that whole part about the characters becoming some endearing family, the manga seemed to reach another arc where the supernatural stuff really kicked in. There was a conflict that involved some ultimate demon gathering where some mind-control stuff seemed to be going on. That was where the plot really took off, bringing in some alternate timelines or something and I was a little bit confused, but mind you, not as confused as when I was reading “Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles.” While the character development in the first arc was pleasant to read, it was not as riveting as this demon arc where lives were threatened and the world seemed to cave in on itself. I’m not even entirely sure I understood what went on myself, but I definitely read a lot more chapters in one day than I did before.

That short, lithe, and long-haired girl Ririchiyo makes for a distinct protagonist. She considers herself independent, intelligent, and self-sufficient. Even if that’s the case, she’s required to be accompanied by a member of the SS for safety, a fact that she ignores at first until she sees Miketsukami’s loyalty to her. After spending more time with him, her confidence seems to waver and more of her vulnerabilities show. She certainly demonstrates character development as a result of her involvement with him, which is shown beautifully in their relationship. Her ornery side seems to fade and she’s all the more enjoyable to hang out with, as the other characters comment.

Miketsukami appears to be the nicest of all gentlemen when he is introduced, having a curious infatuation with his master Ririchiyo, but he hides a lot of secrets. I’m not entirely sure I know everything about his character even after finishing the manga, but I’ll let you know he has a lot of dirt. I suppose it’s a little typical for the extremely nice guy to be hiding a huge secret, but it really turns his whole personality around. On the plus side, he’s very handsome and a skilled fighter.

After the first few chapters, it became obvious to me that this manga was driven by its characters. The mangaka was able to make it extremely original because of them, with so many different body types, personalities, and powers. I can’t say that I disliked any of them because they all had their perks. I even liked the ones that were probably supposed to be annoying because they were funny.

That would be the selling point, so to speak. I’ve seen clips from the anime and it doesn’t compare at all; the author draws the characters so wonderfully. The colored images are drawn with pale shades and delicate lines. I always like seeing Ririchiyo’s long hair and Nobaru’s shrine maiden outfit. It reminded me a lot of how modern shoujo manga is drawn, and I checked several times to make sure that this manga was a shounen.

Even if the story did pick up in the last two-thirds, I’m not sure I would say this is one of my favorites. It seems to be very popular from what people say about the anime, though, and seeing as the manga is the source material it should be even better. I was thrown off by the plot twists, though, and found my initial opinion about it changed at the end. It was worth it to see the great artwork and cool characters, though.

Incidentally when I began this manga, I recognized the art and realized that I had read a selection from this mangaka before, but it was a newer series called “Momo.” That one was a bit intriguing, so I was hoping that this would be as well. Unfortunately it was considerably less so. It didn’t fall off my radar of interest, though, as it did have some thematic quirks.

The topic of a special girl trying to pass off as a normal one in school is not an uncommon one. Instead of being a princess, though, she’s the prime minister’s daughter. I actually kind of liked that ... little distinction. It brought the plot a little closer to reality and made Hime a bit more genuine and likable.

Aside from the resolution after an altercation with her best friend, though, the rest of this manga was filled to the brim with clichés. The destined first guy she meets is of course the main love interest and has to be the cool and popular type to boot, hardly shows weakness, and besides his initial profession, is practically flawless. People attempt to take advantage of Hime because of her status. She and her father have a rocky relationship because of his responsibilities as prime minister of Japan. I can’t say it’s that different from other subpar shoujo.

I have to say that the characters have to be the selling point of this manga, because the art sure isn’t. No, it’s not the worst artwork I’ve seen, and it’s certainly not terrible. I’m glad to say that in her later works her skills improve, but what’s shown in “Nagatchou Strawberry” looks like a poor imitation of huge-eyed girls with thin and spindly arms and legs. The shading and backgrounds are fine, but the people need work; their eyes are a little too far apart sometimes and Hime looks too young to be in high school. I can’t say anything else is better than normal, though.

Hime, of course, is the best character. She might still pass off as a typical shoujo protagonist, but she has the most depth and development. Ignoring her quick attraction to the class playboy, she seems to have a pretty good head on her shoulders and is suited to be the prime minister’s daughter. Under her toughness she’s just a girl that wants to have a normal life. Her situation in this story makes her grow into someone that’s proud of her family and can lift her head high.

Unfortunately most of the other characters are a little flat. They’re somewhat predictable, fall into some of the mangaka’s clichés, or just aren’t very memorable. The exceptions are probably Hime’s dutiful butler and her moody best friend Eri-chan.

I read this manga with some halfhearted amusement, as it had been a while since I had read such a schoolgirl shoujo like this. To be honest, something like this is suited for a younger audience. That quick crush, little girl annoyances, etc… Though they’re in a high school setting, the characters act and look more like middle schoolers. It’s interesting to see the change in Natsuno when he interacts with Hime, though, and Hime herself is a girl worth observing at least for a little while. The final verdict, though, is that this is a manga one would probably forget.

To be completely honest, the synopsis of “Sonan Jyanaiyo” put me off at first because it sounded pretty weird: a girl finds out that she’s not actually related to her handsome brothers and is now in a love triangle with them. Who will she choose?

Thankfully (or sort of not), it wasn’t exactly like that sappy kind of borderline incest story it sounded like it would be (“Brothers Conflict,” anyone?) because it veered off with plenty of plot twists that left me confused about who was actually related to whom. I have to admit, though, that this manga gave me plenty of genuine laughs.

I get that ... having twins with different-colored hair makes it easier for readers to distinguish between them, but come on. The fact that they are both hot but look different should tell everyone something! And their names, too, Tetsu and Retsu. Cute, I guess?…

Anyway, the way that both of them reacted to the news that Shizuka may not be their sister was strange to me. I get that they both love her, but in a moment’s notice they were willing to be her boyfriend and it was a little disorienting. Apparently their love for her in that way was always hidden, and the moment the truth came forth it made things clear.

The bulk of the story is dedicated to new characters coming in and the Maku family trying to figure out who is related to whom. Their usual family dynamic revolves around the secrets that their mother keeps, and for some reason she’s a woman who says a lot of humorous stuff but never anything of importance to them until much later. We also get to see more of the Shizuka, Retsu, and Tetsu by themselves, knowing that the relations between them are different once the truth is revealed.

Although the information that is uncovered muddles the characters’ understanding and riddles the plot with more questions, it makes for an interesting tale that differs from traditional shoujo tropes. I was taken aback by whom Shizuka actually ended up with because the romantic buildup wasn’t that obvious. The truth about who was whose brother still eludes me even though it was made clear at the end because I can’t remember whose aunt was in love with someone’s brother and other. The new guy who was introduced never ceased being a slimeball. You get the point.

What I found most amazing was the main character Shizuka. She isn’t the typical pretty girl even though she has two great brothers vying for her affections. Everyone looks at her and thinks she’s plain, and when they get to know her through her brothers’ eyes, they see that sparkle she has. Even if she can’t fight every meanie, she’s stronger than most girls her age and can teach them a thing or two if her brothers aren’t around. She can certainly speak her mind, though at other times she hides her feelings behind a smile if she doesn’t think she should say something.

The whole ordeal she goes through within the manga really toughens up her character, though. She faces rumors swirling around her and her brothers, comes to terms with her feelings about who she loves, and learns about what family really means. Shizuka really shapes up as an individual and the difference between her in the beginning and the end of the manga is startling.

While I did like “Sonan Jyanaiyo” a lot more than I thought I would, unfortunately it’s not one of my top reads for a multitude of reasons. The art isn’t super great to me; though I can tell the Maku brothers are attractive, most others are not. The ancestry of familial relations of who is who was way too confusing at the end. The way their mother was being so secretive was almost conniving.

But, I did laugh a lot reading at the antics of Shizuka and her brothers. Interacting with their difficult mother and some other idiotic characters was also a little bit fun. “Sonan Jyanaiyo” isn’t your poster shoujo that everyone should read, but it’s got its perks and would probably make a really great drama.