Furu Anime Panikku

Ever wondered where the Imouto Complex theme in popular modern series such as Da Capo originated from? I have always been puzzled by this question, although the theme does not appeal to me at all, in any sense.

When I chanced upon this manga released by Mitsuru Adachi (also the author of the well-known baseball series, H2) in 1980, I realised that it might be the ancestor of the ever-popular theme among hordes of otakus. After all, I don’t particularly know of any series with a similar theme in the 1980s.

The name of the manga? Miyuki.

As I am feeling rather sluggish, I suggest you read the Wikipedia link above for more details, as my introduction would be merely a few lines.Basically, the story is about this guy, Wakamatsu Masato, who has a girlfriend named Miyuki and lives with his younger sister who also goes by the same name. Hence, there are 2 Miyukis. Sounds rather uninteresting right? Wait up, there’s a twist.

Masato and his sister are not blood-related, and hence theoretically speaking, it’s perfectly normal if they are a couple.

This might sound like a rather common plot line now, but I am absolutely certain that no one in the 1980s could have conjured up such an idea. I’m not sure if I should praise Mitsuru Adachi for his ingenious creativity, or comment on how “twisted” his mind is. For someone who might have been one of the first few to intergrate the theme of siscon into manga, it shows how “perversely” prolific he really is.

Despite not being a fan of siscon, I found this manga to be quite an enjoyable read. High school comedy paired together with teenage romance is an interesting mix. Fanservice is also present, but those who are caught up with the present moe fanservice will be sadly disappointed.

The art style is unlike any present day anime or manga’s. In fact, I doubt anyone would be reading the manga for the art. That is, unless you adore the art styles that were present when manga first debuted.

Before I began, I was expecting to drop Miyuki halfway, but I kept on going on till the very end. I had no idea that the storyline would fuel the desire of wanting to know how the plot develops. Also, the humor is what made reading the manga most entertainment. It is simple yet extremely effective. If I had to make a comparison, it would be something like Doraemon’s comical elements.

The romance development would have been awesome 20 years ago, but not in the 21st century. With the widespread romance in modern media, predicting how it ended was a piece of cake.

Now, on to the characters.

Like how all male anime fans have a grudge against harem leads, I have a strong dislike for Masato. He indecisiveness was what made him my most hated character in this series. I found him rather similar to Ito Makoto (School Days), except that he was not so much of a jerk. At least he didn’t go around screwing both girls.

Makoto’s character could have been modeled after Masato, with a few more additional traits added, which makes him one of the most hated male anime characters. Makoto has done Masato proud as his successor.

I pity Miyuki (Masato’s (ex) girlfriend). Imagine getting dumped by your other half, who suddenly decides to choose his/her non-blood related sibling over you. Miyuki should have pulled a Nice Boat on Masato. It was (un)fortunate that such a brillant idea did not strike Mitsuru Adachi when he was working on the manga.

This picture has no relevance to this post, since no one was stabbed in Miyuki

Miyuki can be pleasing, or as boring as an balding old fart. It really depends on what you are looking for. Those who are either looking for a slice of lighthearted manga or have too much time to spare might want to check it out. 12 volumes shouldn’t take too long to complete. For those who only want moe, moe and more moe, I would advise you to stay away.

If you have enjoyed the manga and want an increased dosage, you can start on the anime, the movie or the live action. Good luck though, as my search for anything other than the manga was futile.

And lastly, I have no idea what’s up with siscon being the rage. It may seem really appealing to have an imouto in the 2D world, but having one in real life can be a pricking pain in the ass. Those who have younger sisters in real life will know exactly what I’m saying.