Manabi Straight. Forward Go!
In this review I’m taking a look at the anime Manabi Straight. It’s another school anime like Lucky Star or Azumanga Daioh. I’d say the story falls somewhere between those two. It’s not as outrageously wacky as Azumanga, but not as fluffy as Lucky Star.
Here’s a short description.
Manabi Straight is set in the year 2035, a time when schools are nearly empty. A falling birth rate and an increasing tendency of young people to skip High School and join the workforce has left even good schools in a precarious situation. Seioh Academy is in trouble. Even the students don’t seem to care. There is only one person on the student council, until a new girl arrives.
Manabi lives up to her motto of “Forward go!”…
That should be enough back story to get you up to speed. Manami Amamiya, nicknamed Manabi, transfers to Seioh Academy. After hearing the school song she makes up her mind to love the school. Yeah, she’s like that, she makes up her mind very quickly. She nominates herself for Student Council President. The faculty are a bit unsure about that, she’d just arrived after all. She convinces them that she has the school’s best interest in mind, and gets elected. that’s where the fun begins. Manabi lives up to her motto of “Forward go!”, she doesn’t do things halfway. With the help of her new friends she takes on the role of Student Council President to very interesting results.
The only problem I really have with it is the art style. it wasn’t until I’d watched a couple of episodes that I realized she was in high school. The girls are in their teens, but the way they’re drawn they look 12 or so at the oldest. That sort of thing bugs me. I suppose the decision to draw them this way was to highlight their innocence. Manabi herself is very childlike. She’s full of wonder at the world around her, with an eagerness to explore it. It still bugs me though.
I love this anime. It’s a very touching look at high school life. These are formative years. The friends you make and the legacy you leave behind. School leaves a pretty deep impression on the rest of your life. This anime explores that, and does it well.
I look forward to buying this anime. I have to add this to my collection.
anime, review, anime review, Manabi Straight, Lucky Star, Azumanga Daioh, school life, high school, Seioh
August 7th, 2007 at 4:16 am
[...] watery eyes and large round heads. They sometimes look like children or even toddlers. The anime Manabi Straight is a good example of this. The main characters are drawn to look much younger than they are. Manabi [...]