A not so generic/creative pair that captivates you into following through with their growth, where it's fun just reading their interaction and bonding with each other. Would like the manga to center on their growth(tag) with min romantic-rivalry type of conflict since I"m not really a fan of love-triangle/harems. Examples I know are - Monkey High (my fav pair ), Nodame Cantabile, Lovely Complex, Faster Than A Kiss, Midori no Hibi, Spice and Wolf, Toradora and Itadakimasu (although not much "depth" in this one, the comedy is worth it ^^).

My personal priority are - Illustration < Characterization < Writing - so at least the art must be decent which means - backgrounds are appropriately detailed, well proportioned characters, emotions are portrayed correctly...basically it "feels" natural. this style of art for the characters is definitely a mood off.

-Please avoid these genre: yao/yuri, shounen/shoujo ai, gender bender.
-No oneshots and anything below 4-5 volumes (or at least long enough for the relationship to be fully developed)

Things that really get on my nerves are bad hair and lack in changing of or ugly clothing ( *cough* Kare Kano *cough*). That's why I can't really tolerate most school life genre since they spend majority of the time in uniform...urgh

Lists are public so feel free to check those if you find the leisure (I don't read much so don't worry ) Thanks for the help!

Last edited by Zapphito at 12:58 pm, May 6 2010

Kimi ni Todoke, perhaps. It's not quite as funny as the ones you listed that I have read (Nodame and Lovely Complex) though it does have its amusing moments, but in my opinion the character development is superb and the art is lovely

Darling wa Namamono ni Tsuki hilarious comedy about a married couple.
Suki-tte Ii na yo,
Kimi wa Petto funny (maybe too much of that romantic rivalry stuff though..)
(since you listed shoujo & shounen as examples I'll try and give some shounen too.)
Koi Neko
REC (maybe too much of that romantic rivalry stuff though..)

well My Hero! reminds me of monkey high a bit because in this manga also the guy is not a bishie and is just a regular dude, the difference is that the girl is quite normal as well and not rich or i guess good looking.

________________
Angel Beats--best anime of the 2010 spring season

Venus Capriccio
Ai wo Utau Yori Ore ni Oborero! and the sequel Ai Ore!
Orange Yane no Chiisana Ie and by the same mangaka Yume de Aetera
Maison Ikkoku

(the 2 first are maybe listed as Gender Bender, but it's just because of the look of the girl, especially in Aiwo Utau Yori Ore ni Oborero!, but it's nothing pervert or strange, the story is really nice and full of romance)

A word about my recs... I keep recommending these stories over and over because I love them, but they ALSO happen to suit your thread!

Which is a fabulous thread, btw. I'm going to be keeping an eye on it...

Some manga that might suit you, focused on personal growth and minimal or no romantic rivalry:

Ashita no Ousama

A Delicious Relationship - male lead has a brief relationship with another woman, but it isn't a "rivalry" since the female lead doesn't compete or kill herself with jealousy (she ain't that pathetic!)

Hotaru no Hikari - reverse, the female lead has a brief relationship with another guy, but it's part of her personal growth and the much older male lead does the chivalrous thing and waits for her (it's cute, not a "rivalry")

Hana no Namae - OH MY GOD SO BEAUTIFUL AND TENTATIVE!

I think that if you like Nodame, you'll probably like these. The couples have that same quirky, sweet, help-each-other-grow-into-better-people thing going on.

Chibi Vampire
Love Roma
Gokinjo Monogatari: Old art. Not that bad tho. Really good story and characters.
Kimi Ni Todoke
Aozora Yell
High School Debut
Sensei! Old art. At times it looks really bad. But the story and character's are great.