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Description
From Viz: At first glance, Nina Sakura seems like a typical teenage girl. However, she's actually a transfer student from a witch school! Now enrolled in a Japanese middle school, Nina is hoping to improve her grades, make some friends, and practice love spells on her unsuspecting new classmates.
Shy Ayu Tateishi has just made a new friend at school. But this new friend, much to her surprise, is no ordinary classmate. Nina Sakura may look like a normal middle school girl, but she's got a big secret. She's a witch. Or, rather, she's studying to be a witch. And apparently, she's not doing her homework. Her spells are devastating in their ineffectiveness and often result in the most embarrassing situations for poor Ayu. But things wouldn't be so bad if Nina's sorcery didn't make Ayu look silly in front of the one boy she secretly adores. All she wants is a simple love potion. What she gets, however, is a new best friend who almost flunked out of witch school!
It was pretty cute, if somewhat of an average read. The characters were good - some meh, some that I really enjoyed - and the art was nice as well. The 'magical girl' aspect was actually fairly limited - I think at one point it went about 8 chapters without the main character doing any magic at all - which could be seen as either a good or a bad thing. (I did like that there weren't long battles and transformation pages/a lot of subplots that were basically 'hey there's a problem! fix it with magic! magic goes horribly wrong! problem solves itself anyway happy music!')
It was actually kind of a disappointment after watching the anime, though, for me at least. For a manga that focused on people and relationships much more than plot (what plot? there was a plot? -_-), there were several characters introduced that were never really used, relationships that had problems that weren't dealt with properly (if at all) or created stupid problems unnecessarily, and other characters that seemed to fall in and out of love incredibly quickly, or only developed feelings because it would cause drama between other characters.
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
And oh my god, Sayaka the 'Ice Doll' was a really annoying trail to follow. Most of the time, it felt like she was just there to give Yuta a new love interest/rival, and to make drama - really, really predictable drama. And it felt unrealistic that no one seemed to harbor any hard feelings towards her at the end, despite everything she'd done to them.
The ending was also kind of a let down, because there was this big decision that a lot of time was spent building up to...that actually wasn't that big after all. It felt like a lot of somewhat-angsty but character-building potential was lost there for the sake of lightheartedness. Also, there were no loose ends to tie; everything pretty much was forcibly wrapped up, whether it needed to be or not.
But, that said, it was an easy manga, short and pretty adorable and nothing you had to think too hard about. I read it in two sittings and walked away with a shrug and a smile; the anime was much better, in my opinion, likely because it focused on less characters and gave them more time to grow, but this wasn't bad to read afterwards.
Well, obviously I'd love it, since it was the first manga I had ever read.
The art, though typical shoujo-style, is absolutely lovable and cute. I feel like letting out a very girly "Kyaaaaah..!" everytime I see the characters' adorable faces. I absolutely adore Ayu because she looks a bit like me ^_^ The bishies in this manga have consistent looks so I kind of mixed them up at first, but I got used to them.
The story is somewhat different; I really like how Wataru-sensei often makes her main character(s) popular, which is different from most shoujo mangas I've read. Anyway, I loved the absolute cuteness of this story, which, once again, makes me want to go all out girly with a "Kyaaaaah...!" Its such a silly and fun manga with lovable characters.
Highly recommended to those who like cute shoujos!
I think this was probably the first shoujo manga that I've ever read. My manga interest became bigger and my friend recommended this one so I borrowed it from the school library. I love the story, and it's so cute that the two best friend ended up going out with the two guy best friend, kind of like my dream. The manga is way better than the anime, and the artwork is very cute. I really love the happy endings! (:
First off, the anime series is really, really different. Everyone's personality is the same, but the plot and ending are completely changed after the first few chapters. The anime makes it into a rivalry-driven magical-girl show, but the manga is really just a schoolyard romance with some magic thrown in.
This series is just... cute. The series focuses on the love woes of the main characters and the troubles brought about by Nina's seeming incompetence. The main character (Ayu) is really dull, as is her boyfriend, but watching Nina's interactions with her 3 love interests is really the most fun part of the story.
The author said at the end that she wasn't really interested in fantasy stories after all, and you can tell, because there is nothing special or complicated or very systematic about magic. Furthermore, the characters' personalities are simple, no one has a hidden past or deep secrets. The closest thing to this is Sayaka:
Spoiler (highlight to view)
She's a half-witch who suffers because her human friends didn't accept her and she couldn't live in the witch world. Nina's presence makes her unhappy because she's jealous and lonely. She gets in the way of everyone's romances, but is not a real obstacle. But eventually she softens up and turns into a good girl.
This really is a series you should read if you are looking for something light and fluffy.
As for the ending (minor spoilers),
Spoiler (highlight to view)
I wasn't shocked that Nina turned out to be really powerful (you can guess it especially when she blasts a hole in the ceiling), but you don't really get to see her doing any magic after she graduates, which is kind of disappointing.
The author chooses to ignore the angst of a long separation and of having to choose between one kingdom or the other. The series had lots of potential for romantic angst but decided to keep it on the light side.
everything works out so well that there's not much tension...
there is nothing great nor bad about this manga. the characters are fun and simple and nothing more than a good read highly enjoyably and recommended.
if you did not like it then it is probably due to the 'it' factor you probably seeked and this manga did not deliver. it's nothing more than a feel good manga so if anything serious was to happen it will not fit and probably would have ruined it.
it a feel good manga and you just can't hate. thats what i feel.
For my part, I really liked this Manga. I started out by picking it up one day and from that time forward I was hooked. The plot wasn't what kept me going (They did a much better job of that in the Anime...) but rather the cuteness of the characters. From my point of view they were well drawn and very cute. The drama that cropped up every once and a while seemed kind of forced, but it was fun to see how all the characters would pull through.
All in all, this is great read if you want something light and funny to cheer you up.
The first novel of this series is great. It focuses on Nina's "magic mayhem" and Ayu's exasperation with her. Nina and Ayu become a sort of straight man/funny man comedy duo, and it's all very funny and cute. The second volume is also decent, focusing more on romance, with a cliche but touching new love triangle. From that point, though, it goes downhill. Now that she's dropped her cool persona, her desperation to get Tetsushi, and her exasperation with Nina, Ayu becomes a boring, static character. Before that point she was strong and interesting, very likeable compared to most shoujo heroines. Everything becomes a huge, overly-cutesy game of love interest musical chairs. Huge crushes are developed and revealed which suddenly disappear without a second mention as if Yoshizumi-sensei realized she did the math wrong later. Some characters that are supposed to be sympathetic seem entirely despicable at times. Tetsushi tries to force a kiss on his girlfriend and then actually gets angry when she refuses. Hiroki is just an apathetic jerk throughout. And don't even get me started on Sayaka.
Still, it's not a bad series. The art is very good and for the most part consistent throughout (although characters get skinnier and more cutesy as the series continues). Although it is very cliche, the romantic triumphs and tribulations of the girls will likely be enjoyed by younger girls that haven't had much experience in shoujo - or life. The magic aspect is interesting and very different from the typical mahou shoujo. The female characters are all stronger and less boy-obsessed than the typical shoujo heroine. It's a nice read if you're looking for something light and fluffy but not too frothy.
too much time was wasted on her, i mean first she flirts with Ayu's boyfriend then she pretends to want Hiroki, we got to see more of her past them ayu or nina, she wasnt likable at all. she pretends she didnt actually want them hurt even though she tried to kill them, even after she tries to kill them and pretends to feel sorry for it she is still butting in with Nina and Hiroki, because she wants to help her boy friend. Ugh! she is so annoying i couldnt stand her, why is she in this story? also, What a jerk Tetsushi is, some girl tried to kiss him and he doesnt tell him girlfriend, and then the jerk says he kinda wanted it to happen just because his girlfriend wouldnt kiss him in front of people, and that he let the girl kiss him near his mouth even though he could have dodged it if he wanted to, Ayu shoulda dumped him or given her first kiss to someone else as revenge. if he was worried about something he should have talked to his girl friend, is he going to let some girl seduce him in the future if his girlfriend doesnt want to be with him? what a jerk, and to think i liked him until then.
i really like this series alot! the manga,in my point of view, was better than the anime. the anime focuses more on the friendship between mayu and nina but the book focus on the friendship and love lives of both girls! lol
I was surprised at how good this manga was! I loved Nina and how despite the fact that she wasn't a good witch, she still tried her best to help those around her. Characters like her are such a breath of fresh air! I also liked all the little quirks the author added to the characters, like Hiroki and Nina being big fans of Doraemon XD This is a very bright and happy manga and I would recommend it to any shoujo or romance fan. The only downside I could find with this manga were the main characters Ayu and Kaji. It was dissapointing that those two had personalities as dull as a brick. I think their story "arc" was the weakest part of the story.
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