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Disney Manga: Magical Dance, Volume 1
A young girl joins a dancing competition with her fellow students and soon realizes that she has two left feet! She spends a lot of time practicing but is discouraged by her results. Because of the young girl's passion and dedication, Tinker Bell appears to grant her a wish. When Tinker Bell casts a spell on a magical card, the young girl enters the magical world of Disney and learns the joys of dancing!
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 8, 2017
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This manga was super cute. If it wasn't Disney, I probably would have given it a 4 star rating, but the cameos by the Disney characters made me bump it up an extra star. I really enjoyed seeing all the characters come to help Rin achieve her dream of being a great dancer.
There was a cliffhanger at the end that makes me really excited for volume 2. Also, I 100% ship Rin and Kai. :)
I would recommend this to any Disney fans because it's really cute and happy.
This manga was super cute. If it wasn't Disney, I probably would have given it a 4 star rating, but the cameos by the Disney characters made me bump it up an extra star. I really enjoyed seeing all the characters come to help Rin achieve her dream of being a great dancer.
There was a cliffhanger at the end that makes me really excited for volume 2. Also, I 100% ship Rin and Kai. :)
I would recommend this to any Disney fans because it's really cute and happy.
June 1, 2017
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I just adored the cover (Disney x (as my boyfriend would call it) Shugo Chara). Not only that but I also quite liked this mangaka's other work (Kilala Princess). And then there is the dancing and getting famous part. So it had all the elements to be a favourite of mine, and that........ turned out to be completely and utterly true! Oh my, I enjoyed this one so much. I was quite sad that it was over. I wanted more, and thankfully I saw that there will be more volumes!
Really, why did the first Disney figure she meets have to be Tinkerhell? And why is it the one character that sticks with her all the time. Can't we have another character? Please? Bleh. Though thankfully she is silent in this one, and seemingly kind. Though I am sure that is just a farce. (Sorry, I just don't like Tinkerhell.)
Thankfully the next character is Mickey! Yay! And then there is Stitch (and later also Lilo), Chip & Dale (Yay! So happy to see these two make an appearance), Ariel (Whoop, another favourite!!), Cinderella (Yay!!!). Sometimes they pop up in Rin's world, but sometimes she has a chance to visit their world. I just adored how the characters were exactly as they normally are supposed to act/be. Mickey talks like Mickey. Cinderella is the wonderful princess.
You can slightly see the outcome in each chapter, especially if you know the specific characteristics of the Disney figures that show up. For instance you just know that Stitch is perfect if you want to do a windmill spin move (since he is so bouncy and spinning).
The art is typical shoujo manga style. The boys are all delightfully hot, the girls all sparkle.
And not only the art shows its shoujo manga roots, but also the story. A big dream, some drama (of course a bit exaggerated), a mean girl, some magic events happening, romance (of course). It has got it all. <3
One minus point is the fact that ARC is formatted just as the manga would, which means you have to start at the last page. Which is easier to do in paper format, with a tablet of phone this means swiping/scrolling to the last page so you can start. :P
I would highly recommend this one. Rin is adorable, hard-working, dedicated, sweet, kind, and you will be rooting for her. Plus also shipping her and Kai. Disney x dancing x romance? What more could anyone want?
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I just adored the cover (Disney x (as my boyfriend would call it) Shugo Chara). Not only that but I also quite liked this mangaka's other work (Kilala Princess). And then there is the dancing and getting famous part. So it had all the elements to be a favourite of mine, and that........ turned out to be completely and utterly true! Oh my, I enjoyed this one so much. I was quite sad that it was over. I wanted more, and thankfully I saw that there will be more volumes!
Really, why did the first Disney figure she meets have to be Tinkerhell? And why is it the one character that sticks with her all the time. Can't we have another character? Please? Bleh. Though thankfully she is silent in this one, and seemingly kind. Though I am sure that is just a farce. (Sorry, I just don't like Tinkerhell.)
Thankfully the next character is Mickey! Yay! And then there is Stitch (and later also Lilo), Chip & Dale (Yay! So happy to see these two make an appearance), Ariel (Whoop, another favourite!!), Cinderella (Yay!!!). Sometimes they pop up in Rin's world, but sometimes she has a chance to visit their world. I just adored how the characters were exactly as they normally are supposed to act/be. Mickey talks like Mickey. Cinderella is the wonderful princess.
You can slightly see the outcome in each chapter, especially if you know the specific characteristics of the Disney figures that show up. For instance you just know that Stitch is perfect if you want to do a windmill spin move (since he is so bouncy and spinning).
The art is typical shoujo manga style. The boys are all delightfully hot, the girls all sparkle.
And not only the art shows its shoujo manga roots, but also the story. A big dream, some drama (of course a bit exaggerated), a mean girl, some magic events happening, romance (of course). It has got it all. <3
One minus point is the fact that ARC is formatted just as the manga would, which means you have to start at the last page. Which is easier to do in paper format, with a tablet of phone this means swiping/scrolling to the last page so you can start. :P
I would highly recommend this one. Rin is adorable, hard-working, dedicated, sweet, kind, and you will be rooting for her. Plus also shipping her and Kai. Disney x dancing x romance? What more could anyone want?
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 18, 2023
I only checked this out from the library because volume 2 has Winnie the Pooh on the cover so I want to read the series as part of my Pooh Project. I did not realize that this is an adaptation of an arcade game called Disney Magical Dance on Dream Stage (You can see the game in action here: https://youtu.be/OTjLbVVbCSM ) and that Pooh is not even in the first volume.
The story is paper thin, with a girl named Rin who wants to join her school dance team but is held back by a mean girl and her own doubts. Tinker Bell hangs around Rin like her personal fairy godmother and occasionally brings in some random Disney characters to bolster Rin's confidence or teach her a new dance. Guest stars this time include Mickey Mouse, Lilo & Stitch, Chip 'n' Dale, the Little Mermaid, and Cinderella.
This is not good, and I'd normally stop here, but I'm going to read the next, concluding volume anyhow for that Pooh appearance.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Side Story Comic 1 -- Card 1: Mickey Mouse -- Card 2: Stitch -- Card 3: Chip & Dale -- Side Story Comic 2 -- Card 4: Ariel -- Side Story Comic 3 -- Card 5: Lilo and Stitch -- Card 6: Cinderella
The story is paper thin, with a girl named Rin who wants to join her school dance team but is held back by a mean girl and her own doubts. Tinker Bell hangs around Rin like her personal fairy godmother and occasionally brings in some random Disney characters to bolster Rin's confidence or teach her a new dance. Guest stars this time include Mickey Mouse, Lilo & Stitch, Chip 'n' Dale, the Little Mermaid, and Cinderella.
This is not good, and I'd normally stop here, but I'm going to read the next, concluding volume anyhow for that Pooh appearance.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Side Story Comic 1 -- Card 1: Mickey Mouse -- Card 2: Stitch -- Card 3: Chip & Dale -- Side Story Comic 2 -- Card 4: Ariel -- Side Story Comic 3 -- Card 5: Lilo and Stitch -- Card 6: Cinderella
September 13, 2020
Cute art but I was a tad bit bored with it and I loved kilala princess way more
June 28, 2017
Super cute Disney manga. Rin is a not so talented dancer on a more talented squad. She is asked to leave and not compete with the group when she keeps messing up, but with hard work and the help of some Disney characters she is able to show them just how good she is.
The book is divided up into smaller chapters or stories, each one featuring a different Disney helper. A very helpful 'how to read manga' guide is in the back (or front of non-manga books) showing readers new to the style how to read the frames.
Good for ages 9 and up - the only hang up might be getting used to the format but the graphics are adorable and the story is fun
The book is divided up into smaller chapters or stories, each one featuring a different Disney helper. A very helpful 'how to read manga' guide is in the back (or front of non-manga books) showing readers new to the style how to read the frames.
Good for ages 9 and up - the only hang up might be getting used to the format but the graphics are adorable and the story is fun
July 7, 2017
Conseguí una copia en Netgalley y claro... vi a Sitch en la portada y no lo pude evitar...
Debo reconocer que no sabía que se basaba en un juego (creo que se llama Disney Magical Dance on Dream Stage y es como una máquina de baile o algo así jajajaja) y ahora me ha entrado curiosidad jajajaa
La historia es muy simple y ya me gustaría ser la prota y que me vinieran a ver los personajes de Disney jajaja (sí lo sé... un poco loca estoy)
Un cómic curioso para pasar el rato y de Stich!!!
Debo reconocer que no sabía que se basaba en un juego (creo que se llama Disney Magical Dance on Dream Stage y es como una máquina de baile o algo así jajajaja) y ahora me ha entrado curiosidad jajajaa
La historia es muy simple y ya me gustaría ser la prota y que me vinieran a ver los personajes de Disney jajaja (sí lo sé... un poco loca estoy)
Un cómic curioso para pasar el rato y de Stich!!!
June 8, 2017
soooo cute
Rin is so adorable - yes, so very Tohru Honda in her clumsiness and awkwardness (although I am accused of thinking everyone is like Tohru Honda, which is not true) - and really, hulu dancing to pop music? good idea!
Rin is so adorable - yes, so very Tohru Honda in her clumsiness and awkwardness (although I am accused of thinking everyone is like Tohru Honda, which is not true) - and really, hulu dancing to pop music? good idea!
January 8, 2022
Read both volumes. This was okay. It’s definitely a manga for children. I really liked Kilala Princess but this one was just okay. Simple plot and things tend to be resolved very quickly.
April 22, 2025
I love Nao Kodaka's works, and this did not disappoint- I really did enjoy this manga! The art was beautiful, and the story was light and cute. It felt very much like a comfort read ^^ Another thing is that I think the Disney characters were done so accurately?? It can be hard to use an existing character and make their dialogue and behavior seem right, but Kodaka never failed. I was so happy to see Ariel in her style again, I just love her. One thing though-- I've never played the game so I don't know if that explains it-- BUT WHY DOES EVERYONE ACT LIKE THE DISNEY CHARACTERS AREN'T THERE?? Kai sees Stitch, but he isn't unnerved at all. It drove me a little crazy, but I loved it other than that, so I'll give it a pass, hehe.
(This book contains no sensitive content. I would give it a rating of all-ages)
(This book contains no sensitive content. I would give it a rating of all-ages)
June 5, 2022
I read this one to screen it for my middle school manga madness unit. I loved it. It's super cute. Rin wants to be a dancer more than anything. She puts in the work, but she just can't seem to dance like a pro. Luckily, Tinkerbelle comes to her rescue with dance cards that summon different Disney characters. What I love most is that each character teaches a memorable and important lesson: dancing is for everyone, getting the crowd involved, family always supports each other, you can dance in water, tom boys can be princesses too.
I love the little romance brewing between Rin and Kai too. I can't wait to see which Disney characters pop up in volume 2.
I love the little romance brewing between Rin and Kai too. I can't wait to see which Disney characters pop up in volume 2.
July 19, 2017
Can not get into this one. It just does not hold my attention. Rin wants to be the best dancer ever and end up on the Dance Magic Stage. Maybe a little help from Tinkerbell is in order. Her and her magic cards help bring other Disney characters to life to help Rin achieve her dream. Seriously. The beginning is so slow. It full of a girl who doubts herself, while everyone make fun of her, or givers her serious warnings, that they intend to wind up on top no matter what. It’s so over dramatic for what appears to be no reason.
October 30, 2017
Read this one just now. It's a cute little manga with lots of Disney cameos (which of course you know I would love). I liked how each character came in with a little something to teach the main character, but honestly, all the other characters are kind of hard to get behind as everyone in this class/school is pretty brutal/un-supportive until MC kicks them into gear.
I would honestly recommend Kilala Princess over this one, but if you are looking for another Disney manga after that one, this one would suffice. (Same artist/author so that was a bonus because I love the art!)
I would honestly recommend Kilala Princess over this one, but if you are looking for another Disney manga after that one, this one would suffice. (Same artist/author so that was a bonus because I love the art!)
August 12, 2018
Rin is a young girl who wants to do the best she can and dance well so she can help her classmates win the dance nationals. Unfortunately, she is not a good dancer. When Tinker bell hands her a magical Disney dance card, Rin uses the power of the card to summon her new Disney friends to help give her the inspiration to dance better. Will she succeed? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good Manga. Fans of Disney will enjoy this read. Look for this book at your local library and wherever books are sold.
This was a pretty good Manga. Fans of Disney will enjoy this read. Look for this book at your local library and wherever books are sold.
March 18, 2018
Magical! Some of our favorite Disney characters help Rin out on her journey to becoming a great dancer. The artwork was beautiful and the story was brilliant, Rin is a genuine sweetheart with a will to persevere. I recommend for fans of Kilala princess & Disney.
September 3, 2017
Super cute! A young girl's dream is to be the best dancer. Along the way she meets Tink who promises to help her achieve her dream through magical cards that bring Disney characters to her aid. Absolutely ADORABLE. ♥
March 5, 2018
A lire avec des yeux d’enfants, et des rêves pleins la tête. Sur fond de danse et de personnages de Disney, le lecteur suit une héroïne qui poursuit son souhait de devenir une danseuse. Mignon, frais et sympathique. Un petit air de Danse avec les stars, choupi.
November 12, 2021
Another Disney manga I've read. I don't know the game (who is mentioned in the manga) but I like the manga 😊 It's one story and I don't know a movie or something else. So it was completely new for me. And I like it 👍
October 17, 2017
A really cute beginning to what will probably be a really cute manga series.
December 20, 2017
Adorable yet confusing read as there's a lot going on at once and it's a very "animated" manga with lots of movements and large drawings in the panels.
January 5, 2019
Mickey, Stitch, Chip & Dale, Lilo & Stitch, and, Cinderella.
February 7, 2019
Really short whiplash chapters.. really wish there was a little more depth.
April 25, 2020
Sympa mais sans plus..
June 8, 2021
As for the girl just dance and got cards from the people she I don't know
It was cute I like it I really like the little Cinderella story that was cute it was like a super cute
It was cute I like it I really like the little Cinderella story that was cute it was like a super cute
May 24, 2023
˗ˏˋ4.5 stars´ˎ˗
May 17, 2025
Honestly speaking, Disney was a luxury for me and I only watched the movies and shows that appeared on basic cable channels. There weren’t a whole lot, so I usually avoided talking about Disney shows and movies as a kid leading to many unfavorable situations. Now, as an older person it’s hard to watch those shows primarily because they are linked to a memory I want to avoid. But this volume felt different.
I have had this volume in my collection for months now but I didn’t know what to expect. I was relatively surprised that although this story uses a lot of common tropes, it was a fun and uplifting read. It is an interesting concept and I love how the dance style or dance moves correlates with the Disney characters’ personality. I also liked how the story retains the themes of hard work, dedication, friends and kindness throughout.
The story follows Rin who loves dancing but is unfortunately not as great as some of her other classmates even after practicing endlessly. However it doesn’t discourage Rin and with the help of Tinker Bell and friends, she finds a new way to enjoy dancing while keeping up with her classmates for the competition. Each chapter introduces a new dance move with a new Disney character to help.
Rin is an easily lovable character. She’s a hard worker and takes things in a positive light. I liked how she worked hard to earn her spot back for the dance competition, although I didn’t understand why a student was telling Rin to prove herself in the first place. We unfortunately don’t get a lot of background on Rin but it doesn’t impact the overall story. I personally loved Rin and connected with her character immediately.
There are a lot of characters in this volume but also not a lot. The Disney characters don’t need an introduction because they are true to their personalities from their original story. They are significant to the story but also not the highlights. Kai is the typical cool male lead and I ship him with Rin. They both blush around each other and Kai really seems to care about Rin. The rest are basically characters relevant primarily during the chapter so not much mentioning.
I loved the artwork. It’s really cute and gives of this light-hearted feel. It was expressive and varied between simple or descriptive backgrounds depending on the scene. I didn’t understand or recognize most of the dance moves but they looked cool and impactful. Like many older manga series, I always love how it uses many variations of grey and black tones to add dynamics and personality.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and one I regret not picking up sooner. I loved the concept and enjoyed how the drama wasn’t stretched out. I’m looking forward to seeing more Disney characters in the next volume and if Rin ever reuses any of her existing cards.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
I have had this volume in my collection for months now but I didn’t know what to expect. I was relatively surprised that although this story uses a lot of common tropes, it was a fun and uplifting read. It is an interesting concept and I love how the dance style or dance moves correlates with the Disney characters’ personality. I also liked how the story retains the themes of hard work, dedication, friends and kindness throughout.
The story follows Rin who loves dancing but is unfortunately not as great as some of her other classmates even after practicing endlessly. However it doesn’t discourage Rin and with the help of Tinker Bell and friends, she finds a new way to enjoy dancing while keeping up with her classmates for the competition. Each chapter introduces a new dance move with a new Disney character to help.
Rin is an easily lovable character. She’s a hard worker and takes things in a positive light. I liked how she worked hard to earn her spot back for the dance competition, although I didn’t understand why a student was telling Rin to prove herself in the first place. We unfortunately don’t get a lot of background on Rin but it doesn’t impact the overall story. I personally loved Rin and connected with her character immediately.
There are a lot of characters in this volume but also not a lot. The Disney characters don’t need an introduction because they are true to their personalities from their original story. They are significant to the story but also not the highlights. Kai is the typical cool male lead and I ship him with Rin. They both blush around each other and Kai really seems to care about Rin. The rest are basically characters relevant primarily during the chapter so not much mentioning.
I loved the artwork. It’s really cute and gives of this light-hearted feel. It was expressive and varied between simple or descriptive backgrounds depending on the scene. I didn’t understand or recognize most of the dance moves but they looked cool and impactful. Like many older manga series, I always love how it uses many variations of grey and black tones to add dynamics and personality.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and one I regret not picking up sooner. I loved the concept and enjoyed how the drama wasn’t stretched out. I’m looking forward to seeing more Disney characters in the next volume and if Rin ever reuses any of her existing cards.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
December 5, 2017
This manga is comically bad. It's absolutely terrible. It's so bad, I found myself laughing, which saved it from getting only one star.
What made this so bad? There were a bunch of things working together.
The premise doesn't translate well to manga. It's a dancing manga, and dancing is one of those things that don't usually translate well (along with music). Not to say dancing can't work, but it takes more skill to make the pictures pop off the page and show movement than Kodaka-sensei has displayed here. Some scenes work all right, but for the most part, it's stiff and disjointed with the dancing.
The use of Disney also didn't help. It's unclear what Disney is in this universe, whether these characters just exist side-by-side with the humans (which is kind of implied by Rin's reaction to Tinkerbell and other characters' reaction to the adorable Stitch) or if Disney is the conglomeration it always has been (implied by Rin's Disney-branded clothing). The characters don't quite fit most of the time and serve as crutches to solve the dilemma in each chapter. Also, apparently cheating is fine if done by Disney chipmunks.
The writing is meh, both when it comes to so-thin-they're-practically-see-through characterization and story. That kind of makes sense, when you consider that it's based on an arcade game. Each chapter is episodic, with Rin kind of stinking at dancing once again at the start of the chapter and then becoming awesome by the end with the help of Disney ex Machina. Because believe in yourself or something. And Disney magic in the form of cards (because arcade game).
Anything to redeem this? Other than me finding this funnier than it was supposed to be, much like I said about Kilala Princess, the art is pretty. The character designs fit pretty well in with the Disney characters that populate this universe. The Disney characters look good. There are a couple intentionally funny bits that actually land the joke.
So am I going to give volume 2 a chance? Oh heck no. This was awful, and I doubt anyone over the age of 8 could enjoy it without reading it somewhat ironically. Would I recommend you read the first volume at least to enjoy the unintentional laughs? Maybe, but only if you could read Kilala Princess un-ironically.
What made this so bad? There were a bunch of things working together.
The premise doesn't translate well to manga. It's a dancing manga, and dancing is one of those things that don't usually translate well (along with music). Not to say dancing can't work, but it takes more skill to make the pictures pop off the page and show movement than Kodaka-sensei has displayed here. Some scenes work all right, but for the most part, it's stiff and disjointed with the dancing.
The use of Disney also didn't help. It's unclear what Disney is in this universe, whether these characters just exist side-by-side with the humans (which is kind of implied by Rin's reaction to Tinkerbell and other characters' reaction to the adorable Stitch) or if Disney is the conglomeration it always has been (implied by Rin's Disney-branded clothing). The characters don't quite fit most of the time and serve as crutches to solve the dilemma in each chapter. Also, apparently cheating is fine if done by Disney chipmunks.
The writing is meh, both when it comes to so-thin-they're-practically-see-through characterization and story. That kind of makes sense, when you consider that it's based on an arcade game. Each chapter is episodic, with Rin kind of stinking at dancing once again at the start of the chapter and then becoming awesome by the end with the help of Disney ex Machina. Because believe in yourself or something. And Disney magic in the form of cards (because arcade game).
Anything to redeem this? Other than me finding this funnier than it was supposed to be, much like I said about Kilala Princess, the art is pretty. The character designs fit pretty well in with the Disney characters that populate this universe. The Disney characters look good. There are a couple intentionally funny bits that actually land the joke.
So am I going to give volume 2 a chance? Oh heck no. This was awful, and I doubt anyone over the age of 8 could enjoy it without reading it somewhat ironically. Would I recommend you read the first volume at least to enjoy the unintentional laughs? Maybe, but only if you could read Kilala Princess un-ironically.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews