Ao Haru Ride getting a Japanese film adaptation

Kou looks pretty hot, I'll know
I'll need a bucket to catch my drool

As all of you may know, Ao Haru Ride has already got an anime (withholding comments until at least the 5th episode) and now it's getting a live action adaptation to go with it.

I hope people understand that what makes a good adaptation of any manga into a live action film or drama is that they consider their purpose of the film and try and re-image it to a more realistic interpretation. Copying the manga exactly and turning it into a movie makes it dull. If I want something exactly the same, I can just go read the manga or watch the anime.

4 Mangas for Shoujo Newbs

Akagami no Shirayuki-Hime,
first volume

Do you have a friend who's new to shoujo manga or has shunned the genre because of some really bad titles? Then I will be showing you an extremely short list as a starter point for you guys.  I mean if I gave you my current reading list (about more than 100 mangas) you would be overwhelmed.

I really wished someone had given me a good starting manga. Not that classics such as Hana Kimi  or Fruits Basket are bad but there are some crazy premises that would deter the average person away.

The Best Shoujo Artists

Manga isn't always about the art but it's a huge plus for any savvy manga fan. Here are a few of my personal favourite mangakas. I am purely looking as art and the storytelling.  So in no particular order we have:




Kisara from Dear by Fujiwara Cocoa,
I swear I only like the art

• Peach-Pit - Lolita Loving Duo

Comprised of Banri Sendo and Shibuko Ebara, they probably have the most detailed character design and fashion I've ever seen, making use of lots of full body shots to showcase this. Their female characters such as Hinamori Amu, has a an infinitely extensive wardrobe of Punk/Goth Lolita whereas Amu's sister wears Sweet lolita clothes. To add to this, they have a good measure of bishies to oggle over coughTsukuyomiIkutocough.

• Ichinose Kaoru - Elegant character design

I like her for pretty similar reasons to Peach-Pit. Her characters have a dainty, delicate feel and look to them. It's hard to explain but I was blown away at how pretty 2d characters look when I started reading Mishounen Produce.

Latest Fix: Ao Haru Ride

Name: Ao Haru Ride
Author & Artist: Sakisaka Io
Chapters: 34 - Ongoing
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School Life, Shoujo, Slice Of Life
Plot:

Yoshioka Futaba has a few reasons why she wants to "reset" her image and life as a new high-school student. Because she's cute and had a demure personality she was ostracized by her female friends in junior high, and because of a series of misunderstandings and mishaps, she couldn't get her feeling across to the one boy she has always liked, Tanaka Kou.

Now in high school, she is determined to be as unladylike as possible so that her friends won't be jealous of her. While living her life this way contentedly, she meets Tanaka-kun again, but he now goes under the name of Mabuchi Kou. He tells her that he felt the same way as she did when they were younger, but that they cannot go back. Will Futaba be able to continue her love that never even started from three years ago?

Overview:

You go gurrrl

I've been following this manga for a couple of years now other Sakisaka finished Strobe Edge but it wasn't until recently that the story reached a crossroads. You can't predict what will happen next and the story could go in either direction.

Manga Cap: U MAD?

Here's a manga cap from my short overview of manga Ao Haru Ride which will be posted tomorrow.

Manga Review: Strobe Edge

Name: Strobe Edge
Author & Artist: Sakisaka Io
Status: Completed
Chapters: 39
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, School Life, Shoujo, Slice Of Life
Plot:
Having no experience in romance, the vibrant Ninako curiously explores the meaning of what "love" really is, and is surprised to feel a colorful range of emotions as she grows closer to the school heartthrob, the quiet yet gentle Ren, who also happens to be involved in a longtime relationship. With every intention of keeping her head held high, Ninako prepares to face the mental pain of this one-sided love that she had allowed to take root, facing a series of trials that would either contribute to her growth as a headstrong woman, or break her as it did with other girls.

However, is this really a one-sided love? Or had something been silently sown in the most hidden area of Ren's heart?
Review:
A first glance, it looks like your average shoujo where there's a really naive girl who hasn't fallen in love in her whole life and suddenly this hot guy appears and it suddenly sparks her interest. And wow a love triangle involving a childhood friend; sound original? No not really. A lot of people at this point would probably go search to read another manga at this point...
Although there are major cliches in this story, there aren't many plot holes and the characters were portrayed very realistically in this "it only happens in shoujo manga land" kind of situation. Reading this manga made me realise that the characters are very important to a story; maybe even more so.