Kodomo no Omocha

Wow boy, where do i even begin with this one. It was strange, but beautiful. There were many unexpected moments, i mean, i have both, moments of pure excitment when i couldn't keep myself from jumping out in the air, extatic about their development. This is a romance and you should keep that in mind when you start it. This is the mainly reason i started this one too. I never thought that i would be so glad seeing young kids being in love and their time together growing up. But the theme in this one is a little more than that. They may be kids, but life treats them as adults too. Good and bad things happen. some characters make mistakes, others prove themselves to be the best suportive characters that they can be. Honestly, i felt my heart tremble in their bad moments and jump about in my chest when it was good for them. I mean, i think you could never be wrong with this old romance stories, as they had the guts to show life as it really is. This was a very real setting, there could be real kids, young adults out there who go through this. All i can say to them is "Fight on, and never forget, numbers mean strength". What this manga portrays perfectly is that none of us can make it always alone. Sure there might be people out there who last longer than others, but that's just a matter of time. If manga and life have taught me something is that, when you can't do it, when it's just too hard to do it alone, ask for help. Maybe from 100 people, 99 will have themselves too much going on, or can't, or just don't want to help, but surely there is 1 person out there who will say "sure, how can i help?". And never forget that. Now the story, judging by the release year, you can't actually call it cliche. I mean this was even before that term applied to manga. So yes, i very much enjoyed it. The art style help the characters feel alive, i found myself almost crying sometimes with the characters. You can feel their emotion, and that's an actual hard thing to do. Bravo to the one who drew it all. For the writer himself, if it wasn't the mangaka, then, very good job sir, if it was him then... you are splendid author, as a human being that took the time to bring such a gem to the public. I could ramble about much more, but you have to read it yourself, and you will see that you will want to ramble a lot yourself. It's just that good. Now for reading this gem of a story and this review, thank you. May we meet again one day. Good luck in life, stay safe, and i hope you will never forget the day always comes after the night. For now dear reader, farewell.

Kodocha is both witty and emotional. It does the romantic comedy genre justice. Light hearted balances well with the more serious notions. After all it's not so much fun reading an incredibly depressive manga.

Story: 10
Sana is a child actress. Right there the unbelievably factor should kick in. It seems like when a shoujo takes place in the entertainment business it gets dragged down by pretty idols and too much focus on unrealistic plots in the 'idol' world.
Despite the profession of Sana the story line focuses more away from the show biz side. Most takes place in fact in the classroom and the 'real world'. However Sana's busy life as budding actress catches up with her, and gives the realistic view on how it takes a toll on her normal school life.
The main aspect of Kodocha is children growing up too fast, and romance. Sana and Akito's love-hate relationship is a blast to watch. You really see them grow to their feelings in a way that doesn't feel forced. And it’s hilarious. Both give as good as they get in their ‘spats’.
The other plot of Kodocha is the troubled Akito, and the looming past of Sana. They are evidently more mature than other kids their age (though Sana still knows how to have fun with her age), but growing up isn't the best when your growing up too fast.
The title of 'Child's Play' fits this series extremely well.

Art: 8
Standard for shoujo. Not fantastic but not unbearable with out of proportion bodies. It's also not over stylised where is becomes too much of a fashion show to take seriously.

Characters: 9
Sana and Akito are not only a brilliant couple but brilliant characters that stand well apart from each other.
There are side characters that have plots dedicated to them; however none match the characterisation of the two leads. Apart from Sana's mum whose quirks are hilarious.

Enjoyment: 10
Funny and charming, with both a realistic and over the top approach to the romantic comedy genre. Not too serious, but not too ridiculous. Almost always great entertainment for those who are taken with the genre.

Overall: 10
It's a short read with 10 volumes, which highlights the other praise it deserves. It never drags on and becomes dull. It never has a useless arc where characters and the plot don't grow and develop. It never gets old.

I just wanted to say is that Kodomo No Omochi is like Gakuen Alice because -natsume- and -Akido- both are cold hearted and -mikan- and -sana- both are pig tailed and are cheerful and finally because in Gakuen Alice, Mikan and natsume are enemies but they start to love each other and in Kodomo No Omochi, Akido and Sana are enemies but start to fall in love with each other, oh yeah, P.S. Mikan and Sana are both clueless about love most of the time

After finishing this manga, I just had to write a review because there was none, and this is such a great manga! I tried my hardest to rate realistically, but in the end it didn't really work out. As always, I'm more critical with my explanations rather than my ratings.

Story: So the story is about Sana Kurata, a famous child actress, and her relationship with Hayama Akito. At first she hates him because he is a trouble maker and cold, but over the course of the manga their relationship grows into a really deep conection. The story itself is a romantic comedy, with drama mixed in. It moves quickly but nothing feels left out or missing. There are many unexpected twists and turns that make it really exciting. It's really one of the best shoujo stories since it's not in any way a typical shoujo or idol manga. One of the reasons I loved this manga was because it stands out from others of the same genre.

Art: I am a huge fan of Miho Obana's art. Her art style is very "shoujo" so many characters do infact have the same style of eyes. However, she does a great job of expressing the emotions of the characters. I am bothered by the lack of definition in arms and legs (they're just like sticks), but that's not really unusual for the style, also they arent adults so it makes sense. For a manga of its time the art is very good, and of course the art gets better as the manga progresses, well.. a little bit.

Character: The characters are what make the story. Each character has a distinctive trait that makes him/her special. Sana is really hyper and says the weirdest things. Hayama is cold, says what's on his mind, and never ever smiles. Tsuyoshi is sweet and a pacifist, until he snaps and throws desks all over the room. Mama, Sana's mother, has crazy hairstyles and a squirell lives in it. I could keep going. However, aside from their quirky personalities, the character development over the manga series is great. No one is perfect, and this manga shows how a lot of the individuals may not be who everyone thinks they are. Sana is also not your typical heroine. She is not a crybaby who relies on her love interest. Instead she is hyper, dense, and always wants to do the right thing. The fact that the characters aren't extreme shoujo stereotypes made the story interesting.

Enjoyment: Yeah, if you can't tell by now I really enjoyed this series. There are lots of funny moments that made me laugh. But there are also really series moments that really surprised me! It's hard to put into words exactly why I enjoyed it, but I was not bored a single moment in this manga, even though I had seen the anime beforehand.

Overall: If you're a shoujo fan, you have got to read this manga. It's one of the most unique mangas I've read and it really is a great story. I would like to say that non-shoujo lovers would be able to enjoy it as well, because it's not all "lovey-dovey" like most. The romantic drama is secondary and is defenitely not the main focus. I highly encourage everyone to try it out.

This might sound a bit strange, but this was the very first manga series that I was exposed to and that was back in 2006 (I think...)

I say strange because 1.) This series was going out of print at the time and 2.) Nobody realized it existed except for the friend who introduced it to me (and I am forever thankful...)

Anyway, Kodocha is a one-of-a-kind shoujo manga. Why? Well here's the breakdown:

1.) It was written by the eccentric but hilarious Miho Obana. In one of the printed volumes, she mentions how each character is like an extension of herself. Considering the cast, her true nature is pretty obvious. In any case, not only does she provide the manga with plenty of humor but she also gives it a dark edge by implementing themes such as underage pregnancy, suicide, death, and depression.

2.) This manga stars 6th grade elementary school students who eventually grow up and go into middle school (marking the beginning of the second half of the story)

...Yes, this is a shoujo manga that depicts love between two elementary/middle school students. Sounds unbelievable but it is pulled off really well. Their romance is actually more heartfelt and believeable than many manga depictions of high school romance.

3.) Sana and Akito. Seriously, on their own, they are awesome but together, they have the ability to make my heart swell and overflow with happiness. Their personalities, though clashing at times, really compliment each other and both bring out the best in each other.

Unfortunately, some may find them annoying, especially in the second half because of all the unsaid feelings and misunderstandings that go on (sounds like alot but not really) but I feel that their actions were justified in one way or another.

4.) The artwork has a nice old-school feel to it. When reading Kodocha for the first time, I was immediately in love with how the characters were drawn. In particular, I was attracted to their eyes XD So sparkly!

If anything, don't ignore this manga. Give it a try, or at least make plans to read it in the future. You just might be surprised.

Thanks for reading!

P.S.-If you're interested, there is an anime adaption of this manga that is 102 episodes long. It's enjoyable but I suggest reading the manga first and then watching the anime because the manga is waay better. The anime should be seen as additional material that can help satisfy your Kodocha cravings lol

also known as kodocha . :)
i really got into this manga.
because , of the entertainment.
& the romance it has. :)
the manga is very different from the anime.
the storylines are different.
i think the manga is better with the storyline ,
but the anime is still good.
i recommend it for anyone who likes a cute little love story.
:)

After enjoying the first half of the first season (of the anime), I became really excited to read the manga. I figured if the anime started off funny, maybe the manga would be just as well because the author wrote it. Frankly, I don’t really know how I feel about it. I know many claims that it is amazing, but I couldn’t really love it as much as I wanted to.

Storyline:
If you watched this anime or read the manga before, the first few volumes may feel really boring. I guess this is of one of those stories that you cannot read twice (at least for me anyway). However, the first few volumes did go by really fast. I tolerated most of it because it was still interesting and funny. Plus, I still believe that the elementary arcs were the best because the mangaka incorporated humor and drama at the same time.
However, when the middle school arc started, we kept getting clichés after clichés. It’s done really well so I do give it props for that. But at the same time, it kind of took away the reason why I wanted to read the series in the first place.
Lastly, when it looked like the show was about to end because the drama subsided and the comedy was released… BANG! BANG! BANG! Another set of drama began! The emotional roller coaster never ends. I thought the last arc was brilliant in its own right. However, I did not feel that it was needed for this manga. It felt like the mangaka was milking the cow dry for all the money it could bring. I would have appreciated that arc more if it was a separate manga.

Pros:
1) Since this does deal with children, some of the clichés seem fitting. If these were high school students, I probably would have dropped this series because there are so many of them out there
2) Parents do play an important role in the development of their children.
3) It incorporates the element of fiction and realism all at once. There was a moment when someone fell off a cliff, and nothing really happened to the person (don’t worry, that’s not really a spoiler). It was used as a comedy moment. Then there were moments when something happened to other characters, and all hell broke loose.
4) The emotions are raw. You can really feel what the characters went through, and what they are going through.
5) This series talks about abandonment, bullying, pregnancy, parental love, friendship, suicide, growing up, and even sex in a very lighthearted way. What I mean by this is that the topic wasn’t overbearing. The message comes across really well for kids that are facing it (although there was one part I wouldn’t recommend kids reading, but that’s life).

Con:
1) Clichés after clichés. We already knew who the main character was going to end up with, but there are these repetitive storylines used that I just couldn’t take. After the first real arc, everything starts off as unoriginal.
2) Love triangle/ love square. Some parts were interesting, but I didn’t like it all.
3) The storyline for the last two volumes. Drama began when the drama already ended.
4) I don’t think there was anything wrong with this con, but I do believe this series was not specifically targeted for kids (they do have some very serious topics) but maybe of preadolescence/ teenagers? Some of you guys might disagree with me on that.
Characters:
If you cannot stand hyperactive girls, I suggest you don’t read this because that is exactly the word that defines Sana. Personally, it was bearable knowing that she was really young, and that this personality matched exactly how some children are at that age.

Akito appeared to be insensitive (stiff), but that’s only because he didn’t express himself through his facial expression. He is also your typical anime character, but I enjoyed his character development, his background, and his loyalty to people.

Asides the two main characters, someone who stood out to ME was mama. I loved the way she disciplined her child. In the manga, there was a huge emphasis on what a decent parent acts like. There was so much realism in her attitude that she became my favorite character in the entire series. (This is mainly due to the fact that in Shojo manga, parents are nowhere to be found when their children are being stupid… even in the house.)

Art:
This is your classic 90’s shojou art style. Some might find it unbearable to look at (it’s an acquired thing), and others might feel nostalgic.


Overall feelings: 7.5 = 8
I don’t really know how I felt about it. There are moments when I enjoyed it, and there were moments I couldn’t take it.
Would I recommends this?
Not to everyone. I know there will be people who will dislike it completely. I do recommended it to people who loves seeing some twist in storylines, are obsessed with shojou and its clichés, loves a mixture of comedy and drama, doesn’t mind love triangle/square, and can appreciate the good even when there are some huge flaws.

maybe i'm a bit biased because this is one of my all-time favorites..
orginally i began reading this because of the art..then i saw how they kinda resemble natsume and mikan

its funny and romantic in its own way..i like how its got likeable characters,,that is, you'd love everybody..

there's also substance in the story..like how the story progresses,,at first i thought it's gonna be shallow since the main characters were kids..but heck..i was totally wrong..

this is really amazing..words aren't really enough..so for those who haven't tried reading this..i hope you will..it really moved me.. ^.^

Kodocha. this is a pretty popular manga. i have to say, i was pretty skeptical about reading this at first because the storyline seemed poor, and i'm not a fan of old art. but I am glad to say that i read it, because it is simply amazing. the story follows Sana Kurata. she is the daughter of a famous writer, and happens to be famous herself, owning her own talk show called Child'sToy. Sana's only wants in life are to be able to be with her mother, stay by her bodyguard/"boyfriend"'s side, and enjoy an everday school life. the first two wishes are in place, but not so much the third. Akito Hayama, the class's "monkey boy" rules over the boys, making them cause chaos everyday. this aggravates Sana, and she tries to tell Akito to stop. but his rebellious nature due to hard family life rejects Sana's pleads. upon finding out about his family problems, Sana sets about trying to soften up the hard heart of Akito. and that's basically the gist of it

story: i would think that this story is pretty unique. having a hyper-active child star getting deeply involved with a boy who sees life as nothing more than living simply because you have no choice is pretty interesting. her efforts in trying to change him result in both having a mutual love toward each other. that's nice. the story is portrayed so nicely, and their love grows so deeply. rivalry drama is really good too, seeing as her rival is her best friend. this story has a good sense of humor while at the same time having a deep emotional feel to it. it makes you wanting more and more.

character: this is Kodocha's greatest point. the characters have such life to them. Sana, the hyper-active girl who sees life as a glass so full it's spilling over, and Akito, one who found life so dull it was almost as if there wasn't even a glass to begin with. this may seem like a typical stereotype, but there's something much more deep to them. as you read on, you'll discover all of their insecurities, all of their hopes, and you'll find yourself wanting the best for them. the way their relationship grows is so captivating, that you being to really feel both of their happiness, their sadness, and their love for each other. the side characters really help the two main characters grow. and the character development is outstanding. seeing the way that Sana grows from a crazy insane child to a mature young lady (still crazy from time to time) and how Akito changes and starts to love life is a beautiful sight. and, they have their funny moments too. although Akito seems to be quite lifeless, you'll see that he's hopelessly clueless about small things. and of course Sana's crazy haired mother and her companion chipmunk Maro. characters get a 10.

art: i'm not a real fan of old art, but Kodocha would be an exception. it may not be the greatest, but feelings were portrayed well. art:8

enjoyment: this story is hopelessly funny, and unbearably dramatic (unbearably in a good sense) you'll enjoy every chapter from start to finish.

overall: this story is really great. the length wasnt too long, going no further than 10 volumes. i would recommend this to everyone

I picked Kodocha a while back, hearing many great things about this series. I can gladly say it didn't disappoint!

Story: (8)
The story revolves around Sana, a quite successful child actor, and how her relationship develops with fellow classmate, Akito. The beginning is quite typical, Sana immediately hating Akito and arguing endlessly over each other's attitudes. The beginning is the most surrealistic part of the manga. Unless you find an elementary classroom completely ruled by a group of boys to be normal. However, it is much more realistic than most series. As the story progresses, things become more realistic and the relationship between Akito and Sana develop. The only real complain I have over the storyline is the last arc, where the problem stems from something which I personally find silly and it just seemed to be the manga-ka's attempt to add one more volume to the series. Overall, though, it is very good.

Art: (7)
The art was so-so. Backgrounds were quite plain and sometimes it felt like the manga-ka just didn't feel like adding details. The character's limbs were all stick-thin and some characters were very similar to one another. However, while the art lacks in overall details, it shines in the expressions of the characters. Obana Miho knows what she's doing when she draws facial expressions.

Character: (8)
While some supporting characters were stereotypical, the main cast is rather nice and stems away from the annoying stereotypes. Sana, our main little gal, is rather out-going and actually has a backbone. Akito is a rather socially awkward guy whom also isn't the ideal romantic hottie. Other characters, such as Sana's mom, Tsuyoshi-kun, Rei, and Kamura had their individual quirks to set them apart from the others. They're given a fair amount of background story and development.

Enjoyment: (9)
The chapters seemed to disappear with how fast I was reading them! Except for the last arc which irked me, every other chapter was a nice and enjoyable ride through Sana's life.

Overall: (8)
Frankly, I think the fact that the main couple were kids made everything more enjoyable. It made things steer away from your typical Teenage romance series to a children's awkward journey into a relationship. Kodocha is a cute story of two kids, but not to the point it's too childish for older people to enjoy :)