Alternate Title(s): Kodomo no Omocha; Child's Toy; Kodocha
Mangaka (Manga artist): Miho Obana
Number of Volumes: 10
Language Read: English
Licensed? (As of this entry): Yes BUT license was lost in 2006
Mangaka (Manga artist): Miho Obana
Number of Volumes: 10
Language Read: English
Licensed? (As of this entry): Yes BUT license was lost in 2006
Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice-of-life
Overall Impression: This is hands down my favourite manga series. I would recommend this to everybody <3 <3
SPOILER ALERT WARNING!!
This
review will contain some spoilers -- or rather, there will be a
"Spoilers" section at the end of the review to go into further detail
about certain things. There may still be slight spoilers throughout the
review, but I've tried my best to keep them at a minimum.
PERSONAL STANDING (Pre-exposures, thoughts, etc.)
I was first introduced to this series waaaay back in 2003 / 2004 through my boyfriend at the time. It was supposedly his favourite series and he had me watch one episode of the anime. I was turned off by the show's wackiness and super high energy, but I still kept the series in mind and bought all 10 volumes of the manga later that year. I finished reading the manga within a week.
Even though I'm not with the guy anymore (I mean, I have blogged about my singledom for the past few years now), I'm always so grateful that he exposed me to this series... because it is now my favourite series -- favourite manga series, anyway.
Note: For the entire review, I will be referring to Kodocha: Sana's Stage as just Kodocha.
Even though I'm not with the guy anymore (I mean, I have blogged about my singledom for the past few years now), I'm always so grateful that he exposed me to this series... because it is now my favourite series -- favourite manga series, anyway.
Note: For the entire review, I will be referring to Kodocha: Sana's Stage as just Kodocha.
STORY
Kodocha follows child actress Sana Kurata as she tries to solve everybody's problems. And through it all, we get to see the various problems that she faces. We also get to see many of the problems Akito Hayama faces, a classmate Sana tried helping.
That's the story in a nutshell. I could go on, but... I think anything more would be spoiler territory.
I'll just say that I absolutely loved the story. I would say that the story is split into various mini arcs, and I enjoyed them all.
Although I personally enjoy the seriousness more, I welcome the comedy. They are a nice break and change of tone, they often add a little bit of personality to the characters, and also... I just like thinking sometimes, 'The artist thought of this?? Hahaha, that's so funny!'
Below is an example (read from right-to-left. You can also click the image to enlarge it. Page numbers may be a bit off. I should also say that any manga images shown are fan-scanlations, but I do own the entire licensed manga series):
Another thing I really like about Kodocha is how the various issues are addressed. I think they are treated very honestly, seriously, and respectfully. Sometimes different perspectives are offered and it makes me think more about it. I think the honest treatment of these issues still allow me to react genuinely. My heart can still be moved; I can still shed tears.
I'll mention some of the moments that still affect me greatly in the "Spoilers" section.
That's the story in a nutshell. I could go on, but... I think anything more would be spoiler territory.
I'll just say that I absolutely loved the story. I would say that the story is split into various mini arcs, and I enjoyed them all.
THE COMEDY + SERIOUSNESS
The tone of Kodocha is a good mix of wacky, comedic moments, and seriousness. There are often times where I'd think 'hahaha, this is funny and ridiculous', and then "sober up" immediately when something serious happens.Although I personally enjoy the seriousness more, I welcome the comedy. They are a nice break and change of tone, they often add a little bit of personality to the characters, and also... I just like thinking sometimes, 'The artist thought of this?? Hahaha, that's so funny!'
Below is an example (read from right-to-left. You can also click the image to enlarge it. Page numbers may be a bit off. I should also say that any manga images shown are fan-scanlations, but I do own the entire licensed manga series):
The comedy. (From Volume 1; Page 35)
The seriousness. (From Volume 1; Page 37)
THE VARIOUS ISSUES
One thing that I really like about Kodocha are all the different issues the series addresses. It was really surprising to me, because A) many of the characters in Kodocha are really young (Sana is 11 years old at the beginning), and B) I've just never read any other shojo manga that addressed these issues. Some of the issues looked at include adoption, abandonment, suicide, domestic violence, bullying, overprotectiveness, death... and of course, Love.Another thing I really like about Kodocha is how the various issues are addressed. I think they are treated very honestly, seriously, and respectfully. Sometimes different perspectives are offered and it makes me think more about it. I think the honest treatment of these issues still allow me to react genuinely. My heart can still be moved; I can still shed tears.
I'll mention some of the moments that still affect me greatly in the "Spoilers" section.
THE ROMANCE
I just have this here so that I could say that I loved all the romance! I actually thought the moments were more tender than anything else. Of course, with the characters being so young, there wasn't anything smutty, and that's perfectly fine. Funny enough, I find that the hugging moments in Kodocha carry stronger emotions than the kissing moments.
CHARACTERS
There are a ton of characters in Kodocha, the main main ones being Sana and Akito. Many of the other characters have some substance, and I personally like many of them. Even though drama happens sometimes between them, I can usually understand and sympathize with both sides. I think it's their honesty that allows me to like them so much. Hands down, though, Sana and Akito are my favourite, with Naozumi being a close second.
If I ever aspired to be any anime / manga character, it would be Sana. Not so much her bubbly outgoingness -- because that's just not really a part of me (I am very shy and introverted) -- but the desire to help others and wish well and happiness on others. I think I also share her denseness when it comes to Love, so I can really relate to her thoughts sometimes.
I'll say a little something about Sana, Akito, and Naozumi in the "Spoilers" section.
ARTWORK
I don't know if I really need to comment on this but I really enjoyed the art style. I think Miho Obana does a really great job of displaying character emotions, sometimes in a subtle way. She also does a really good job of showing the transition from one emotion to another, often through the character's eyes.
Well... I've only watched about 20-ish episodes of the anime series, so I can't make a completely fair comparison... but here goes:
As mentioned earlier, I personally find the wacky, high energy moments too much for me, but -- I enjoy the serious moments. From what I've watched so far, it seems to stay faithful to the serious content of the manga. However, with the anime series being 102 episodes long, I can only imagine that the story starts diverging at some point. I can also imagine possible differences in the character relationships.
(From Volume 1; Page 68)
(From Volume 1; Page 69)
MANGA VS. ANIME
Well... I've only watched about 20-ish episodes of the anime series, so I can't make a completely fair comparison... but here goes:
As mentioned earlier, I personally find the wacky, high energy moments too much for me, but -- I enjoy the serious moments. From what I've watched so far, it seems to stay faithful to the serious content of the manga. However, with the anime series being 102 episodes long, I can only imagine that the story starts diverging at some point. I can also imagine possible differences in the character relationships.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I wish Kodocha was still licensed. The manga series has been long out-of-print, but it does look like some volumes can still be bought at a decent price online. If you can get access to Kodocha, I highly, highly recommend it!!
Thanks for reading! If you want some more input about something I didn't cover, feel free to ask. :)
Now I'll do the scrolly thing so you don't see the "Spoilers" section right away. Then I'll add some more scrolly things after the "Spoilers" section in case anybody wants to comment, but not see the spoilers.
If you read my spoilers, thank for reading! Now to finish with more scrolly things. If you disagree with anything or just want to say something, feel free to comment :D
Thanks for reading! If you want some more input about something I didn't cover, feel free to ask. :)
Now I'll do the scrolly thing so you don't see the "Spoilers" section right away. Then I'll add some more scrolly things after the "Spoilers" section in case anybody wants to comment, but not see the spoilers.
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SPOILERS
"I'll mention some of the moments that still affect me greatly."
I know I am going to miss a lot of moments, but here goes:
-When Sana roleplays as Akito's mother and tells him she gave birth to him because she loves him.
-When Sana tells her real mother that she doesn't want to see her again, but then thanks her real mother for not having an abortion and for giving birth to her. Sana's words there still makes me shiver a little. Just the thought that a character like Sana might not have existed (haha, yeah, I know. I'm so silly. But I feel that way).
-When Sana visits Akito in the hospital and then rushes to his side, telling him she'll be with him, and then he says "Thank you". I hear his "Thank you" as the most gentlest, sincere "Thank you" in the world.
-Akito's soft, content expression after Sana leaves the hospital. I can totally relate to and understand his expression.
-When Kazuyuki's mother keeps saying that Kazuyuki is the real victim and then Sana slams her purse, saying none of that doesn't matter -- all that matters is Akito, who is fighting for his life.
-When Kazuyuki tells his mother that he's killed himself over and over for her.
-When Akito's father says that as long as you have that one person you can depend on (be it lover or friend or family), you can get through anything.
-When Akito tells Sana how lonely he'll feel when he's in the US.
-When Naozumi pushes Sana away when she says that she loves him, Naozumi saying "How dare you say you love me so casually?".
-When Sana talks about her uncertainty about Love, and then says "I wanna ask all the girls who are in love how do they know? And how did it begin?"
-When Sana says at the end that she will have happy days and sad days and she will get through them.
-When Sana roleplays as Akito's mother and tells him she gave birth to him because she loves him.
-When Sana tells her real mother that she doesn't want to see her again, but then thanks her real mother for not having an abortion and for giving birth to her. Sana's words there still makes me shiver a little. Just the thought that a character like Sana might not have existed (haha, yeah, I know. I'm so silly. But I feel that way).
-When Sana visits Akito in the hospital and then rushes to his side, telling him she'll be with him, and then he says "Thank you". I hear his "Thank you" as the most gentlest, sincere "Thank you" in the world.
-Akito's soft, content expression after Sana leaves the hospital. I can totally relate to and understand his expression.
-When Kazuyuki's mother keeps saying that Kazuyuki is the real victim and then Sana slams her purse, saying none of that doesn't matter -- all that matters is Akito, who is fighting for his life.
-When Kazuyuki tells his mother that he's killed himself over and over for her.
-When Akito's father says that as long as you have that one person you can depend on (be it lover or friend or family), you can get through anything.
-When Akito tells Sana how lonely he'll feel when he's in the US.
-When Naozumi pushes Sana away when she says that she loves him, Naozumi saying "How dare you say you love me so casually?".
-When Sana talks about her uncertainty about Love, and then says "I wanna ask all the girls who are in love how do they know? And how did it begin?"
-When Sana says at the end that she will have happy days and sad days and she will get through them.
---------------------------------------------
"I'll say a little something about Sana, Akito, and Naozumi."
Sana and Akito
I LOVE their love for each other. Whenever they express any affection for each other, either through supportive words or through gentle-yet-strong actions, I feel all warm and fuzzy. I think their love is very "pure" and "innocent". To quote from one of my favourite novels: "the way people take care of each other, the way they share life between them... the kind of love that keeps you alive" (author: Kristen D. Randle).
Naozumi
While I support Sana and Akito all the way, I still can't help but feel for Naozumi. Continuing to love and support somebody who doesn't reciprocate those feelings -- I think many people have been there before. I know I have. I just wish there was some way for him to have a happy ending as well.If you read my spoilers, thank for reading! Now to finish with more scrolly things. If you disagree with anything or just want to say something, feel free to comment :D
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