Skip beat Manga review

English: Skip Beat!

Type: Manga

Volumes: Unknown

Chapters: Unknown

Status: Publishing

Published: 2002 to ?

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Shoujo

Authors: Nakamura, Yoshiki (Story & Art)

Serialization: Hana to Yume

Look at the Anime review HERE

I have started reading this manga after i finished anime. After the first chapter, I was hooked.I just want more... now its very painful to wait for another chapter to release.

This plot is about Kyoko Mogami, a 16 year old girl who fell madly in love with her best friend Shotaro when they were children. Since then she has done everything in her power to ensure his happiness. Sho is the heir to his family’s inn but decides he wants nothing to do with such a boring life and decides to pursue a music career in Tokyo. Sho asks Kyoko to abandon high school and her hometown to join him in achieving his goal. Kyoko agrees and lives a hectic life working multiple jobs and spending nothing on herself so that Sho may live comfortably. Eventually, Sho is considered to be in the top twenty most popular entertainers in Japan. One day, Kyoko brings Sho his lunch at a company building and overhears Sho complaining about her to his manager, saying that she is a boring and plain girl that he’d like to be rid of. Kyoko then unleashes a torment of vengeful demons (literally) from deep within herself and swears revenge into Sho’s mocking face.

“She’s not your typical shōjo heroine. When the boy she thought she’d be with forever dumped her cruelly, Kyōko didn’t weep or wail or drown herself in despair. Instead, she got “pissed,” vowed to get revenge. After changing her image, Kyoko made it her life’s goal to make Sho pay by climbing so far up the show-biz ladder he’d rue the day he ever looked down on her!” ~Wikipedia 

(I felt this quote was a magnificent way to describe her character, in fact reading this line about Kyoko’s character is what inspired me to go out and buy this manga for myself!)

Despite the fact that Kyoko decided to exist for revenge she is a very cheerful and goofy character. She admirably bears the pain of Sho’s betrayal and her own lonely childhood;I really can’t help but admire and love this character. She also possesses unique demons that react to the negative feelings of herself and others. Kyoko often uses their presence to create a dark aura to scare those around her when she is feeling particularly angry.

Ren is the top male star in Japan (Sho considers him his rival) and gives a very kindly and understanding impression to all, except Kyoko. Around Kyoko Ren drops his kind façade to tease and torment her. Ren eventually comes to care for Kyoko and realizes he has childhood memories involving her (although she does not recall them). He also possesses a mysterious/dark past which he doesn’t wish to be discovered.

Shotaro grew up with Kyoko and although she considered them friends he has only ever thought of her as his possession and servant. Shotaro is very selfish and is obsessed with maintaining a “cool” image no matter what the situation. When Sho discovers that Kyoko has actually taken up the challenge of becoming a bigger star than him he seeks her out to further mock her. He cannot accept that Kyoko is an individual person now and not his tool.

The art is beautiful, I can’t quite name what it is but there is something about the way this artist draws her characters that makes them irresistible to me. I really love all these characters and this story has very interesting/addicting love triangles (a must have for any good shojo). Sho knew he was tossing aside Kyoko…but can he handle seeing her toss away him as well despite what he did to her? Ren isn’t sure what to do about his budding feelings for Kyoko, but he knows he doesn’t want Sho in her life anymore. All the while Kyoko is blissfully unaware of any feelings of romance from anyone and is just focused on becoming a rising star in the the entertainment industry. You really feel yourself really getting behind Kyoko and cheering her on! This is a manga I can re-read ANY number of times many times in a row and still feel content (please note I can only do this with one other manga series). The only drawback is I’ve caught up to Japan and have to wait for each chapter release eagerly. This manga has my highest shojo recommendation; it manages to have all the most positive aspects of a typical shojo story without any over girlie or sappy stuff that makes you cringe.

Skip beat Anime review

Type: TV

Episodes: 25

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Oct 6, 2008 to Mar 29, 2009

Producers: Hal Film Maker

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Shoujo

Duration: 24 min. per episode

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Check out Manga review HERE

I want to start of by saying, I love this anime. And now here is why…

This is a shoujo anime, but more than that this is an anime about showbiz. There is romance and there is comedy in this anime, but this is more of a (in order of strongest elements first) comedy, drama and then romance anime. We have a love triangle in this show, we have revenge against a childhood friend who dumped the main character, we have the secretly-in-love element with the bishounens and adorable female lead in this anime. But this is more about the development of Kyouko as a person after being spurned by love. The Anime is unfinished so you have to read manga to know what happens. yeah Manga is really good.

Kyoko followed her true love and childhood friend Sho to Tokyo so she could help him reach his dream of becoming an idol. She cleans, cooks, works three jobs and does nothing for herself because she loves him so much, but gets nothing in return. Still, she remains by his side. But then one day she goes unannounced to his agency with a delivery, and overhears him talking about her; he reveals to his manager that he only took her with him as a maid, and that he doesn’t care for her at all. Upon hearing this, Kyoko doesn’t just sit around and cry. She cuts and dyes her hair, changes her clothes and attitude and thus begins her journey to join showbiz and have her revenge against Sho

With Kyoko, for once, we have a female lead that is independent and isn't waiting for a prince in shining armor to save her. It's pretty much the opposite, since she is already disappointed of her prince, that took her out into the big town so she could do his chores... actually that's not quite right... she came to hate the prince and wants revenge for using and playing her.

Having that said, Kyoko is a rather fresh and surprising character. With her hate and her own spirits fighting each other we see a lot of her inner conflict of trying to become loved by the public and at the same time being full of hate for Shotaro. We can expect a lot more character developement.

The other two male characters influencing Kyoko's new life certainly seem interesting as well. 

Shotaro is pretty much the guy who thinks too highly of himself and is for now the perfect guy for Kyoko's hate manifestation, but then there are times where it seems like all that Kyoko want is to be acknowledged by him.

Ren on the other hand is a perfectionist, who takes his job seriously and expects others to do so as well. Since Kyoko is want to be an idol only out of revenge he certainly has a little problem with her. But judging him now wouldn't be right, since there wasn't much screentime focused on him up till now.

The love triangle between these three is just not normal... you will not know whats gonnna happen.

The background music/sound often go by unnoticed, which actually might be a good thing. That is not because the music is bad, but rather because this way the watcher can focus a lot more on the story. Which in turn means it's simply not necessary to pep up the story with catchy music, because it can stand on it's own. But you gotta admit the music isn't too impressive either.

The art quality certainly is a very good one. Definetly above todays average. The characters are overall very well drawn, and the backgrounds are always fitting the context perfectly. 

Sadly animation quality is at very few points not at it's peak, but even then still a good one. Also sometimes the background seems a bit empty, but that's not to big of a deal since it's usually enough to carry the athmosphere.

Anime opening titles:

The story just makes me want to cheer Kyoko on. Damn, this girls deserves her revenge. *waves a Kyoko flag with waterfall eyes and starts shouting "KYOKO! KYOKO!"*

It's not only the really interesting story, but also all the little bits which make laugh that make this anime such a great show.

This anime goes even with a perfectly balanced pace, blended out of story advancement and humour.

I for myself find me really enchanted to Kyoko and this anime. So give it a try as well. ;)