Jakob's Blog

This manga was enjoyable and difficult to read at the same time, due to how relatable it was. The pacing and illustration were really well done, easily readable without being too fast nor too slow. It captures the element of everyday life struggles and dealing with a mental illness. Plus, just reading a couple of chapters about her life, I feel like I already understand her and want to be her friend. The challenges she faces are what many people go through and it is so powerful how she portrays it explicitly with no shame or fear. The simple pink palette gives it a nice aesthetic touch too. I definitely recommend it to many people.

Shounen is always my go-to in anime/manga. One thing that almost every Shounen have in common is long term character development and adventurous. And it includes shows like Naruto, One Piece, Dragon Ball, Hunter x Hunter, and Boku no Hero Academia. Something about seeing characters going on journeys is so exciting to watch. Usually, the characters start from nothing to finally reach their goal in the end (sometimes they even expand their journeys further beyond). It is also motivating to watch characters struggle and find a way to overcome their weakness. For example, my all-time favorite manga/anime is Dragon Ball. The story starts with kid Goku who goes on a journey collecting these orbs called Dragon Balls. And throughout his journey, he fights and comes across many characters that helps him grow and improve. This type of formula goes for a lot of other Shounen series as well.

When I was a kid, my sisters used to love Sailor Moon and watched it almost every day, and I would just peek what the show is. I noticed how girly it looked but entertaining to watch. And we asked the question if Shojo manga is targeted for young female teens. I personally believe people are allowed to watch anything they want without being judged and that includes Shojo. I remember I went back to rewatch a few episodes of Sailor Moon and their whole moral and symbol is love. And guys can enjoy it as well when they can relate to it. Recently, I watched another Shojo is called Pretty Cure. I may not relate what they do nor understand the meaning but it was emotional and just fun to watch. In addition, the art style and animation are what got me hooked in the show. For me, I would watch any Shojo when it has exaggerated magical girls.

Normally, I do not go out myself looking for romance manga/anime since they are not my cup of tea but Ouran Highschool Host Club was better than I expected. My girlfriend loves this show and kept talking about how great it is so I thought it'd be perfect timing to give it a try for this class. First, it showcases the cliche of a slice of life but the characters feel dynamic and expressive which I always look for in anime/manga. For example, there is always an intelligent and keen guy or the over dreamer handsome guy. And what makes it great is, the plot and characters are satire and very comedic, almost mocking the cliche in romance. The aesthetic also gives it a vibe that is meant for the female audience but the comedy is well understood for male audiences like me. I usually judge an anime/manga by its cover but I am glad that this one proved me wrong. Lastly, it is interesting that Haruhi is the only girl in the group, however, does not act feminine in any way like any other roma...