Instant Teen: Just Add Nuts, Vol. 02

おとなにナッツ [Otona ni Nuts] #2

by Haruka Fukushima

Meet Natsumi Kawashima, a homely fifth grader with a craving for curves of her own. One day, after eating a packet of mysterious pink nuts, her wish comes true and she is transformed into a beautiful, sexy woman! Now endowed with a mind for recess and a body for supermodel glitz and glamour, will Natsumi find happiness or heartbreak as a result of her newfound adulthood and sudden legion of fawning admirers?

Genres: Manga, Shojo, Comedy, Romance, Comics

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2001

About the author

Name in Japanese: フクシマハルカ
She is a Japanese shōjo manga artist. She made her manga debut in 1999 in Nakayoshi Magazine with her award-winning manga Sakuranbo Kiss. She considers Otona ni Nuts (Instant Teen: Just Add Nuts) to be her masterpiece.

Reviews

[Bibliothecat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for the complete series



Eleven-year-old Natsumi can't wait to become an adult and rid herself of all the limitations children are put under. As fate has it, Natsumi comes by a pack of magical nuts that turn her into an eighteen-year-old. Even though she is thrilled, she's starting to see that life as an adult isn't all fun and games. And in the end, it's up to her childhood friend Asuma to help her out whenever her adult-shenanigans have gone wrong.

Instant Teen: Just Add Nuts ended up with a rather embarrassing-sounding title for its English translation. Interestingly, I find this manga's plot to be incredibly similar to Fukushima's other work, Ai ga Nakuchane!, which was never actually translated to English. Natsumi's story focuses on how she becomes older by eating nuts whereas the other work focuses on a girl who becomes more stylish by the use of magical make-up. Not just the premise but the characters, main and supporting, are very similar. Fukushima does rather like plots that tamper with characters' appearances, especially younger characters, and I do have to say that she does it rather well.

I've always appreciated how Fukushima writes younger characters. Natsumi loves the idea of becoming an adult but doesn't quite grasp what that entails. Above all, she doesn't realise that taking these nuts doesn't actually change who she is on the inside: a child. Her friend Asuma seems to understand that better than she does, though, and I appreciate the resulting banter. They're pretty cute together and yes, there's a bit of a romance which I think has a sweet development.

Despite their similarities, I find myself liking Fukushima's Ai ga Nakuchane! a tad more. It probably comes down to length, which might come as a surprise, given that one is a four-volume series whereas the other is a oneshot. Natsumi's story has more time to develop, which I'd generally always consider an advantage, but in this particular case, I really enjoyed the oneshot's pacing and Natsumi's story became rather repetitive.

There's quite a bit of sexualising which I probably could have done without but I would still deem this a harmless manga that can be read by the intended younger audience without worry. Otherwise, it's a fun manga but nothing outrageously special.

[Ceejay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second volume of Instant Teen was a really fun read. There are two stories in this volume. In the first story, Natsumi, as an adult goes on a photo shoot on an exotic tropical island. Asuma goes with her as her brother. While there, Natsumi catches the eye of an extremely wealthy guy. Problems develope. In the second story, Natsumi and Asuma go on a class ski trip. They both go as kids, but they "borrow" plant seeds from Dr. Morinomiya collection. Situations arise from unexpected consequences that pop up from taking those pills. As I said, this is a fun read!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a cute read but the whole story is kinda disturbing. A kid turning into a hot teen? I will hope the moral of the series is to be a kid while you can. And not get into perverted situations with the mind of a fifth grader. Cute but a just perverse situation.

[Rowena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really, really glad that I decided to reread this series - JUST SO CUTE!!! I love them: the story, the characters, the illustrations. The story line could possibly (maybe) be a little more complicated - but overall a very enjoyable and relaxing read!! :) :)

[Reader17 Der · Rating 3 out of 5]

The was a cute series that made me laugh.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read/rated in grade school.

[Chrissie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot isn't as strong as the previous volume, though the art work is just as gorgeous. The set up gets a little old, though.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

So silly! I think my students will be able to relate to wanting to be older, though.

[Maka · Rating 5 out of 5]

HILARIOS!!!

[Samantha Ewasiuk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another fucked up lame boring Manga. I don't know why she making all her manga so badly like this. This manga make no sence at all. The story/plot/characters make no sence at all. She was all about growing up and being a adult. It was all about her and only her. She could not even see how her best friend felt/was going through at all. She only cares about being cool/sexy/adult/popular/a star. She think being a adult is all about being popular/sexy/cool nothing else. She does not care about being a chid/enjoying being a kid. She almost lost her best friend and is the only friend she have it seem. She was being hit on by older men and dating them like WTF OMG.