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Reviewed by Lisa Anderson 17-year-old Kippei Katakura is known for being a playboy. Humorous and carefree, he spends his school days chasing girls and fooling around, caring more for play than their feelings. One day responsibility lands on his family’s doorstep; in the form of his 5-year-old cousin Yuzuyu. After her mother’s sudden disappearance, Kippei’s family takes her in, along with placing Kippei in charge of looking after her! Aishiteruze Baby follows the story of Kippei and Yuzuyu, as each helps the other learn several valuable lessons about getting through life. Abandoned by her mother, Yuzuyu must overcome her doubts, learning that she still have a family that loves her, people that are not about to leave her alone again. Meanwhile, Kippei must struggle with his new responsibilities for little Yuzuyu; from taking her to and from school, learning how to make a proper bento, to comforting Yuzuyu during a sleepless night. While Kippei may be throwing himself into his new role, many of the girls as school miss their old Kippei. One even sees Yuzuyu as a threat and decides to get her out of the way in order to bring back the old Kippei. I’ll say it now - if you don’t like cute, this story isn’t for you. Aishiteruze Baby thrives on cute moments, and not all of them stem from Yuzuyu. I’m not talking so sweet that you’ll get cavities from reading; instead I mean the type of cute that makes you smile without realizing it. Of course, there’s more to Aishiteruze Baby than just cute moments. There is also an interesting plot that weaves through questions on family and life, both dramatic and ordinary. There are also moments that center around just what love is; be it for friends, family, or something more romantic. Another strong point in Aishiteruze Baby is the mind of the characters. Misunderstandings are treated with intelligence. Some conflicts may be drawn out a bit, but never beyond realism. When things are resolved, they are handled smartly, without leading into yet another drawn-out issue. No one is overwhelmingly emotional or weak, angry or scared. There is a very nice mix of everything that makes up a person, something that was a nice surprise to see in a shojo story. In the end, while much of Aishiteruze Baby is cute, there is more to it than that. There is a nice human interest story, one about love and family, responsibility and finding happiness. While Aishiteruze Baby may be aimed at girls, it certainly isn’t limited to them. Teens will probably enjoy Aishiteruze Baby the most, but the story is hardly for them alone. Instead it for anyone that enjoys a cute, emotional story; one that is worth reading again and again. Comment on this review of Aishiteruze Baby v1 on the Manga Life Forums. |
6 October 2009
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