Manga Review: Princess Jellyfish, volume 1 and 2
By: RaeManga Review: Princess Jellyfish, volumes 1 and 2
To start, know that Princess Jellyfish is a pretty good value. Printed in double volumes, you’ll have plenty to read with each purchase. But is it worth your time? I think the answer is yes. Because this is a review for the first two omnibus volumes of the series, I’ll try to limit spoilers in case you haven’t already started the series.
From an early age, Tsukumi Kurashita’s mother told her that when girls grow up, they should become princesses. 18 years old and in Tokyo, Tsukumi reveals that she instead has become an otaku. She lives in a sizable retro building with other otaku she met online. It’s clear from the start that she has intense social anxiety, and the women don’t allow men in their building. Hidden behind a drab appearance and bundle of nerves, Tsukumi has one defining feature – a love of jellyfish.One night, Tsukumi goes to see her friend – a small spotted jellyfish at the pet store. She realizes in horror that the store has put another incompatible jellyfish in the same tank, and goes to alert the clerk. Panicked by this nervous woman shouting at him, he shoves Tsukumi out into the street, where she’s rescued by a tall, beautiful woman.
Much to Tsukumi’s surprise, the woman turns out to be Kuronosuke – a young man who likes to wear wigs and women’s clothing when going out. Kuronosuke takes a liking to Tsukumi, and quickly decides he wants to polish her up. Suddenly Tsukimi is dabbling in a world she’s never known before – a world with beautiful dresses, boys, and the fleeting promise that maybe, just maybe, she could fall in love.Things get intense when the girls discover that their building is part of a redevelopment project. With no social skills and no jobs or money, how can they fight for their home?
As charming as it is ridiculous, Princess Jellyfish is both a comedy of errors and a slow-burn romantic drama. You have to go in prepared for some bizarre events and humour, but the story is engaging and I found myself really wanting to see more of Tsukimi and Kuronosuke’s adventures. The stunning artwork is also a treat – the coloured pages are an ethereal callback to the jellyfish theme, and even the black and white pages are gorgeously detailed. More impressively, the cast of Princess Jellyfish is visually diverse, ranging in height, facial features, and body shapes. Considering all the manga in which differences in characters are highlighted only by different hairstyles and clothing, it’s refreshing to see something just a little different.
Where I’m torn is on the characters. If asked only to rate Kuronosuke and Tsukimi, I would have given 5 stars, no question. At the beginning of the series, I was wary that Kuronosuke’s cross-dressing would be some kind of cheap, comedic entertainment. Instead, he is a smart, self-assured young man with a love of fashion. Kuronosuke remembers being young, looking at his mother’s beautiful dresses, and being told that when he grows up, he won’t get to dress like that, because boys wear Tuxedos. Meanwhile, Tsukimi is lonely after the loss of her mother. Her social anxiety has forced her to live a fairly closed-in life, and though she has found friends in her roommates, part of her wonders what it’s like to be normal. She doesn’t believe she could be beautiful like her mother, or the other girls she sees outside.
On the other hand, most of the side characters seem like shallow caricatures. There’s the evil vixen and aloof love interest. The absent father and meddling chauffeur. Tsukimi’s roommates so far have just served to be the weird background comedy, which I suppose is the point, but I wish we got to know more about them than just their obsessions. Is this the way it should be, considering their characterization of otaku with no social skills or outside relationships? Maybe.
Princess Jellyfish is cute and fun, with a little reminder to do what truly makes you happy. And really, despite any flaws in the characterization, the plot is addicting, and it makes for a great read with a lot of heart.Volume 3 of Princess Jellyfish releases on October 14th and is available for preorder on Amazon!
