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hotwaterandmilk · 5 months ago

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2024 English language manga releases I'm enjoying

Here are a couple of titles I've picked up in English so far this year that I've enjoyed. Most of these I read digitally in Japanese for one or two volumes a couple of years back, but opted to wait and purchase the English print versions for my collection.

I feel like all of these books are worth the purchase price, but don't have the energy to do individual posts for each of them. So here's a very smooshed together post covering a few 2024 reads.

GOGOGOGO-GO-GHOST! from Yen Press

Akechi Ushiro is a heavily flawed, hard-working woman whose disregard for her own wellbeing results in her coming face-to-face with her equally flawed guardian spirit, Masako. The pair decide to combine their forces and begin tackling the obstacles in Ushiro's life using curses.

Hiruzuka Miyako's darkly funny tale of a woman taking control of her life alongside her queer sister spirit is such a delight . Featuring a rough-and-ready art style that helps underscore the macabre elements at play, the entire first volume is scathing in its humour and unashamed in its portrayal of Ushiro's flaws. I was surprised when this one got picked up by Yen Press a while back, but so happy to see it enjoying a stateside release. If you're after something that doesn't always play nice, GOGOGOGO-GO-GHOST! might well be for you.

Edit: If you haven't read it before, this Japanese interview with Hiruzuka is worth reading for a bit more on her background and the creation of the series.

Pass the Monster Meat, Milady! (Akujiki Reijou to Kyouketsu Koushaku) from Kodansha USA

A sweet little fantasy romance between two individuals who find solace in one another despite being reviled by the general public for their interest in monsters. One loves defeating monsters in battle while the other loves cooking them!

Melphiera is a smart, capable heroine while Aristide Rogier du Galbraith is a dashing and supportive hero. The manga art is a bit low in detail, but the characters and story are absolutely worth your time. I'd love to see the LNs that the manga adapts in English someday too. I mentioned in tags before this whole series gives me the types of vibes I enjoy in historical fantasy romance novels, so if you like that kind of content this might be a good title to check out (or recommend to friends who appreciate romantasy but haven't tried manga before).

In The Name of The Mermaid Princess (Mio no Na no Moto ni) from VIZ Media

In a country where being "unhuman" or in some way supernaturally inclined is seen as a curse rather than a blessing, Princess Mio takes medications to suppress her mermaid-esque traits and please her father. Her perspective changes when Yuri, a tutor from her fiance's home kingdom, encourages her to be herself and embrace the things that make her different.

I've seen people say this is a bit too obvious in its parallels between fantasy oppression and IRL issues, but this is a Ribon manga for young girls so yeah it's on the nose but I think it works for the audience it has in mind. Tashiro Miya's artwork here is gorgeous and both leads are quite endearing (Mio is SO freakin adorable I can'ttttt). Overall a solid little series with nicely packaged volumes for those after something for a younger audience.

The Moon on a Rainy Night (Amayo no Tsuki) from Kodansha USA

A romantic slice-of-life tale featuring two high school girls, one of whom is a budding pianist (Saki) and the other a loner who is hard of hearing (Kanon).

I don't normally go much on high school romance but the way this series blends classic GL melodrama tropes with genuine issues in an earnest manner works for me. While we see things more from Saki's viewpoint as she eagerly tries to learn more about Kanon and tries to figure out her own sexuality, we do also come to understand Kanon's thwarted ambitions and the difficulties she has with letting people in.

Kuzushiro's art is quite whispy and cute, with all the characters tending to look quite well-realised on the page. While I prefer romances that feature a character with disability to centre their perspective, I do feel this does a decent job of portraying both girls as they try to navigate their deepening relationship. YMMV on this though, particularly if you are d/Deaf or hard of hearing.

Sketchy from Kodansha USA

Ako is living an unfulfilling life with a dull job and even duller boyfriend, but she suddenly finds herself thrust into a whole new world upon encountering a mysterious young skateboarder.

Sketchy, while ostensibly about women taking up skateboarding is more a snapshot of their individual lives and the role having a hobby plays once you're no longer a child. Ako's story particularly resonates with me (I literally worked her job at a similar age) but all the characters prove interesting in their own way.

Makihirochi's art is a bit more experimental than others on this list and may not be to everyone's taste, but I do think Sketchy is still worth checking out even if you're not entirely sold on the art (which I think has improved since I first became familiar with her work through Itsuka Tiffany de Choushoku o in Comic Bunch). Titles like this, which, let's face it, have low levels of mainstream appeal, don't often get English language releases so I highly recommend supporting this one if you have the opportunity to do so.

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feymure · 10 days ago

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Shoujosei (Shoujo & Josei) Anime to look forward to in 2025

If Hanakimi can get an anime 20+ years after it’s printed release and Magic Knight Rayearth recieves a reboot after 30 years, NOTHING is impossible! THIS IS THE SHOUJO RENAISSANCE!!!

I do this every year folks! MAL (MyAnimeList) links are in titles

Winter Anime Season (January - March)

Kisaki Kyouiku kara Nigetai Watashi/ I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons Airs January 5th

0-saiji Start Dash Monogatari Season 2/Head Start at Birth Season 2

Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon 2nd Season/ My Happy Marriage Season 2 Airs January 6th

Mahoutsukai no Yakusoku/ Promise of Wizard Airs January 6th

Tasokare Hotel Airs January 8th

Honey Lemon Soda Airs January 9th

Douse, Koishite Shimaunda/ Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You Airs January 10th

UniteUp! Uni:Birth Airs January 11th

Mahoutsukai Precure!! Mirai Days/ Witchy Pretty Cure! Season 2 Airs January 12th

Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Eternal Love!/Cute High Earth Defense Club Love Movie Airs January 24th

Versailles no Bara/ The Rose of Versailles Movie Airs January 31st

Kimi to Idol Precure♪/You and Idol Precure♪ Airs February 2nd

Senpai wa Otokonoko Movie: Ame Nochi Hare/My Crossdressing Senpai, Painoko Airs February 14th

Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle Movie Airs February 21st

Spring Anime Season (April - June)

Akujiki Reijou to Kyouketsu Koushaku/ Pass the Monster Meat, Milady! Airs in April

Anne Shirley Airs in April

Gorilla no Kami kara Kago sareta Reijou wa Ouritsu Kishidan de Kawaigarareru manga / The Lady Blessed by the Gorilla God is Adored by the Royal Knights Order Airs in April

Kanpeki Sugite Kawaigeganai to Konyaku Hakisareta Seijo wa Ringoku ni Urareru/The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold to Another Kingdom Airs in April

Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de/ The Dinner Table Detective Airs in April

Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Movie: Maji Love Quartet Night-hen/ Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ Movie: Taboo Night Kisses Airs May 9th

Summer Anime Season (July-September)

Cocoon Airs in July

Zutaboro Reijou wa Ane no Moto Konyakusha ni Dekiai sareru/ Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

Fall Anime Season (October - December)

Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi 2nd Season/ Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits S2 Airs in October

Disney: Twisted-Wonderland The Animation - Episode of Heartslabyul Airs in October

2025 Date TBA (To Be Announced)

Saigo ni Hitotsu dake Onegai shitemo Yoroshii deshou ka/May I Ask for One Final Thing?

Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!/Go For It, Nakamura!

Tensei Akujo no Kuro Rekishi/The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess

Hana-Doll*: Reinterpretation of Flowering

Silent Witch: Chinmoku no Majo no Kakushigoto/Secrets of the Silent Witch

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