Manga spotlight: To Love-Ru
Honestly, I loved the anime series. The anime had an overall story arc, but most of the episodes were mostly one-shots that focused on many of the zany (and often sexy) side characters on the show. However, that didn’t detract from the show much. If you liked the anime, then you’ll like the manga too.
To Love-Ru is an unpretentious ecchi harem comedy. What I mean by unpretentious is that it never pretends to be more than what it is: light hearted comedy with some rather hilarious ecchi thrown in. The plot, what there is of it, involves Rito, the male protagonist finding himself living with a lovely and sexy alien, Lala. Lala is running away home and ends up as a freeloader in Rito’s home. Conveniently, Rito only lives with his sister, Mikan, who accepts Lala right away, much to Rito’s dismay.
Not many guys would complain about having to wake up with a nude sexy alien next to them.
While most young men could only dream of living with an sexy space alien, Rito has been in love with Haruna Sairenji, the gentlest and one of the most beautiful classmates in his class, since middle school. His feelings for Haruna and his slowly developing feelings for Lala form the basis of a friendly triangle romance. Haruna and Lala are actually good friends as well.
If there's even the slightest chance for a misunderstanding to occur to embarrass Rito. Rest assured it will occur.
Rito never manages to catch a break. But he never fails to get embarrassed when seeing yet another view of Haruna's pantsu.
Lala and Haruna are beautifully drawn, and I can understand why they would have a considerable fan following. Lala is outgoing, bursting out of the seams in her tight outfits (when she bothers to wear clothes that is) and has a complete disregard for modesty. Haruna Sairenji, while also beautiful, is modest, gentle and kind, the perfect dream girl to bring home to your parents. As a fan of the manga, I find myself switching my opinions constantly about which girl I’d rather see end up with Rito. Both are wonderful as co-lead female protagonists.
Lala, Haruna and Rito's growing group of female companions as they head to the beach.
None of the Rito's female companions, including loli assassin Golden Darkness, are immune to Rito's tendency to get an eyeful of their pantsu.
To make Rito’s life even more interesting, Rito gains a number of sexy female companions who are either school mates or aliens. Among his school mates are Yui Kotegawa, a tsundere type girl who belongs to the discipline committee and Saki Tenjoin, the rich and haughty “queen” of the school who falls in love with Zastin, Lala’s loyal retainer. Aliens include a sexy doctor; Golden Darkness, a blonde loli asssasin sent to kill Rito; and Ren/Run, an alien who changes sex upon sneezing. The manga also includes several characters not seen in the anime such as Lala’s younger sisters; Oshizu Murasame, a ghost; and Celine, a carnivorous plant who becomes sort of a daughter to Rito.
Yui Kotegawa gets her clothes melted away...again. Tsundere protestations are so cute. You just know she secretly loves the attention. ;)
Rito, that lucky guy. :)
Rito and every female character in the manga has their clothes blown off, thrown into embarrassing situations and are the victim of a number of sexual innuendos. That may not appeal to every reader, but I have to admit that I love it. I recommend this manga, especially for fans of the anime who’d like the story to continue beyond the conclusion in the anime where Rito finally made a choice between Lala and Haruna.
Note from Jin: Hey folks, just noticed that there’s been quite a few visitors coming to read my posts on anime and manga. Thanks for the patronage! However, I’ve also noticed that some folks are checking out either my anime category but not bothering to check what I write on manga and vice versa. To make it easier to find stuff, I’m combining the two categories (since most of you who watch anime also read manga and vice versa).
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