Pixie Pop: Gokkun Pucho, Vol. 1

Pixie Pop: Gokkun Pucho #1

by Ema Tōyama, Aska Yoshizu (Translator)

Mayu, the daughter of a cafe owner, is down-in-the-dumps unlucky in love--until she meets Puchyo, the magical fairy of beverages. Now, whenever Mayu drinks something, she transforms accordingly-milk makes her grow, water turns her invisible, and pork soup turns her into a cute little piglet. But what will help her win the man of her dreams?

Genres: Manga, Romance, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Shojo, Comics, Anime

190 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2004

About the author

Japanese Name: 遠山 えま

She made her debut in September 2003 in the monthly manga magazine Nakayoshi with her story, Tenshi no Tamago ("Angel's Egg", no relation to the anime movie of the same name). Gokkun! Pūcho is considered her best representative work. Tokyopop has licenced it under the title Pixie Pop. All of her works are published by Kodansha, and they are enjoyed mainly by preteen and teen girls. None of her series have yet become anime.

Reviews

[Sesana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This actually makes me pretty sad. I loved I Am Here! and was really looking forward to reading something else by Ema Toyama. But Pixie Pop isn't nearly as good. I suppose that the concept is interesting: Mayu gains the ability to change form depending on what she drinks. But she isn't really doing anything with it, other than stalking her crush. And she is fairly creepy about it. Whether you're a sparkling vampire or a temporarily invisible girl, it is not romantic to sneak into somebody's house and watch them sleeping. It's creepy. I just can't root for this romance. Even aside from that, I didn't much like Mayu or the fairy Puchyo. Not sticking around for this one.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for complete series



Mayu finally finds the courage to tell her long-term crush Amamiya that she likes him - unfortunately, it seems he doesn't even know who she is! Trying to tell herself to get over him, Mayu heads off for a drink at her parents' café where the drink fairy Pucho appears. It seems Mayu drank a fairy potion by accident which now transforms her depending on what she drinks.

If you are looking for a deep and meaningful manga - this is not it. But that doesn't mean it isn't a good one! It is unapologetically soaked in cuteness and uses it to its advantage. I found that many cutesy manga take themselves too seriously which is often awkward in the face of all the sugar. One look at Pixie Pop will tell you it's a cutesy manga: it screams pink, has hearts and glitter and extremely pronounced eyes. But if you're willing to go along with the ride, it is simply fun. It pokes fun at its over the top cuteness, it is silly but most importantly it intends to be silly.

There are lots of clichés but I feel as though Touyama knew what she was doing. They're not there because she couldn't think of anything better, they are there because they're such commonplace in this genre and Pixie Pop both embraces and makes fun of it. If you've read a couple of manga by Touyama, you'll know that she dabbles in all sorts of genres and they definitely don't all suit the same reader. If you have enjoyed other works of hers, it doesn't mean you'll like this one, nor should you read it with the expectation that it has a similar feel to her other works - it won't, unless you're picking up Mamacolle.

I think Pixie Pop receives a lot of undeserved criticism from people who are either not the target audience or simply had different expectations based on the author's other works. The protagonists are very young and this is definitely for the younger manga readers. Where others have found this perhaps shallow and lacking, I thought it was absolutely hilarious. Mayu is a fun protagonist whose reactions to all the silly situations she gets herself into are just to laugh for. It's pretty unrealistic such as Mayu staying away all night without so much as a word to or from her parents, Amamiya's past crush simply dragging him off to the USA and so on. But let me repeat, this manga is not trying to be serious or realistic.

Although I said that this is not the right manga if you are looking for depth, at times, I was surprised by some of the more thoughtful moments. Amamiya is pretty down to earth with how he explains he doesn't want to go out with someone he doesn't even know - shoujo female characters can be quite obsessive and it's one of the things that

Pixie Pop likes to poke fun at. I also like that when it comes down to it, Mayu seems to give her friendship with Pucho at least the same value as her feelings for Amamiya.

One of my personal main downsides to this manga is that Amamiya is ultimately a pretty boring male character. He may be down to earth but he's also pretty cold and the story only briefly touches on the reasons why. Beyond that, we don't ever really get to know anything about him. But hey, this is Mayu's story and she's so hilarious and enthusiastic about winning Amamiya's affections that I can root for her regardless of how little we know about him.

The art is cute although I know that quite a few people no longer like this style of shoujo eyes. I'm perfectly happy with it, though I do prefer Touyama's more recent style. It's not everyone's manga and I do think it'll be harder to read the older one is. But I stand by what I said: this manga receives a lot of undeserved backlash for something that is so good at deliberately being over the top.

[Audrey (Warped Shelves) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This wasn’t really spectacular or very compelling, to be honest. Some parts made me laugh and other parts I kinda just rolled my eyes. Also, I hate Pucho.

Pixie Pop is just something I saw at the library and thought to read. I grabbed the other two books so I’ll finish the series regardless. I just don’t really love this manga. It’s okay though, and the art is pretty!

[Victoria Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first picked up this volume when I was going into middle school and really loved it for the magical girl aspect of the storyline! It depicts a realistic infatuation often one-sided that adolescent girls tend to experience so young. I could relate at the time to Mayu’s crush. Even though now it seems more comical to me I still enjoyed this series and am happy I decided to read it again!

[Amanda B.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

God reading this for the first time since high school is surreal and nostalgic. I connected with this book so much from having a one sided love go on for 5 years but also the pain and suffering the characters endures is exactly how I felt during those times.
Of course reading it now is a little silly and I do cringe at remembering those memories but it still holds itself dear to my heart!

[Guguk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karena suka sama Bakpao Loncat , aku jadi pasang mata kalo nemu komik Ema Toyama-sensei lagi (^///^)

Gambar : 4.5 ☆...ya si Pucho, ya si Pamo-chan, ya anjing-anjing yang dijatuhcintai oleh Pucho --> ini semua terlihat empuk-empuk-menggemaskan! (✧ω✧)
Belum lagi pas si Mayu berubah wujud jadi ...babi! ｡ﾟ( ﾟ^∀^ﾟ)ﾟ｡

Cerita : 2.5 ☆...yah~ abaikan kisah roman-anak-anjing masa SMP.., walau kadang ada momen-momen yang manis dan bikin mesam-mesem-mesum sendiri (//≧▽≦//) //gakbisajujur
Paling nggak, yang aku suka dari sifat si Mayu itu dia lebih ngeduluin temen ketimbang urusan "cinta" ∑d(≧ω≦o)

Oh iya, aku juga suka pasangan pendampingnya si Nazuna, teman Mayu yang perhatian tapi agak cuek soal cowok, dan si Ryota, teman tokoh cowok yang sering tersipu-sipu ^///^

[Rereader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this volume when it was first released in 2004 and was stoked to see the library not only had it, but the rest of the series! I remember enjoying it a lot when I was younger and wanted to see if my feelings would change. Shockingly enough, I really enjoyed this! It's nothing super special and Mayu's obsession with Amamiya can be annoying, but I actually like her and want to root for her. I also like her dynamic with Pucho and I LOVE that Pucho doesn't cut her any slack and even calls her out on her poor behavior early on. The artwork/art style is VERY early 2000's, but I do like it and adore the facial expressions.

This is a fun, quick, light read and I'm glad I decided to reread it now that I'm older. It may not be for anyone, but if you're in the market for something cute and fun, give this a shot!

[Luna's Little Library · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is cute escapism and I let a lot slide in the magical girl manga genre (which this falls into) but nope Pixie Pip will not be a series I will continue with.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute

[Catalina Arrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Digamos que no me disgustó, pero tampoco fue malo. Sinceramente ya no me acuerdo de lo sucedido, solo el final.

Divertido para pasar el tiempo, pero no tiene mucha trascendencia.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really deep storyline, but entertaining all throughout. Loved it!

[read chelsea read · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a cover buy. I thought it'd be cute.
Nope. Nope. Nope.

[Andres Anzaldua]

this manga is so good

[Devinne W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Ava DeWitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

adorable! this was my first manga. loved it!

[Moonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 (This review is for all 3 books in the series). There’s nothing more cozy than a good wish fulfillment story with a character learning their lesson. In Ema Tooyama’s debut novel (I Am Here, Mission’s Of Love), unlucky middle schooler Mayu Kousaka gets more than she bargained for after accidentally drinking a magical soda. The curse allows her to gain fantastical abilities whenever she drinks. This toasty cup of tea features a fun premise, great slackstick, and a sweet romance between a down in the dumps Cinderella type and a hardened jerk who both need a strong wake up call. The adorable artwork complements this sugary premise.

While the story remains simplistic and shallow, Ema Toyama’s manages to craft a fun setting with all the right story beats and genre ingredients: magic transformations, love rivals, a midpoint party, strong friendships, and wacky misadventures; it’s zippy dialogue and the positive change arcs between Mayu and her new fairy friend Pucho are what elevate the otherwise bare-bones writing.

More exploration of the side cast and getting to know our characters more would have added more spice, but not every story has to be deep. Ema Tooyama shoots for a fuzzy fantasy about first love and manages to stick the landing.

+Extremely creative premise; great balance between establishing magical rules and creating natural character conflict
+Strong blend of romance, comedy, and friendship
-Quick pace results in shallow character work
-Somewhat unlikeable deuteragonist

[Sara I · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the description I was more than a little interested in this manga series. It looked cute and funny. In middle Mayu is the daughter of a cafe owner who had told a boy she liked him a bit ago. He asked who she was and embarrassed her soooo much. She's determined to get over him but it's hard when he sits right next to her and she keeps running into him. To make matters worse she's been stuck on a strictly water diet after drinking a strange drink accidentally.

It was meant for Puchyo, the magical fairy of drinks. She was going to drink it and become an adult. Instead Mayu got it and now they argue back and forth about how wrong Mayu was and how silly Mayu is and etc. etc. Whenever Mayu drinks something that isn't water she has strange side-affects. from being bold and flirty to turning invisible to turning into a pig.

Pros:This manga is really fun and cute. It was happy and a bit ridiculous. I liked it pretty well and will probably get the next one just for fun. I don't think it will be a favorite for me, but I'll still enjoy it.

Cons:I got confused a couple times and there is slight romantic content. Otherwise there is some magic and I think that was it.

[Laura (ローラ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mayu, while drowning her sorrows in soda pop accidentally drinks a special concoction that belongs to Pucchou -- a drink fairy. This special 'magical' drink was supposed to turn Pucchou into an adult. Now whenever Mayu drinks something, she transforms. Pucchou, heartbroken that she can never grow up, and Mayu, heartbroken that the boy of her dreams has rejected her, team-up to realize their dreams together.

This story is only 3 volumes long, which is the perfect length to create believable characters while also avoiding the repetitive nature that is usual in magical girl stories. The characters are all exceptionally cute, and the art style is clear and consistent. With few characters, this story is well crafted. It has a lovely upbeat ending and doesn't leave any unanswered questions. I would definitely recommend this series to tween-aged manga-readers.

[Rebekah]

This book is a typical Manga. For those who are new to this genre, it is a Japanese book with sketches and words. Readers who are not familiar with Manga might think it is a comic book. Many times the artist is also the author of the book. The book begins at the back and works toward the front. Many Mangas are done in a series. This particular book is the first in a series. This book is this author's first published work. It is about a twelve year old girl entering middle school. The unique feature of this story is the beverage fairy who influences the family's cafe.

[Soobie is expired · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was very promising but the execution's extremely childish.

That's Tōyama's first volume and I guess it shows. The concept seems to be funny - a girl who can transform into different things according to what she drinks - but I found this volume a bit confused. It seems that the scenes aren't developed enough and the plot moves forward too quickly.

I usually lile Tōyama's art and you can recognize it even in this early work of her.

I've already ordered volume #2 and I'll probably read volume #3, the series finale.

[The Local Spooky Hermit · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I like cute fluffy silly cute stuff so what? Funny enough right next to it is a series that I can only describe as splatterpunk in manga form. On the other end a really emotionally draining manga about the darker side of life struggles. so yeah once in a while I just want a cute story of a young girl with crush that has a drink fairy that tries to fight/help her get the boy to notice her and they keep bumbling it up. Its easy on the soul and eyes. Great palate cleanser...

[Astrud · Rating 4 out of 5]

a girl named mayu has accidentally drunken a special pixie drink that will turn a small pixie into a beautiful woman w/ extraordinary powers. this gives special powers too, in a way, when she drinks milk, she becomes giant, when she drinks water she becames invisble, and stangely enough, when she drank pork miso soup, she became pig!

[Margaryta · Rating 4 out of 5]

EEK! Cuteness to a whole new level!!!! Loved the storyline - original, though the main girl character could have used just a bit of a touch-up to her personality.

The other girl, who claims to love Mai's crush - hate her to hell. She was what ruined the whole story for me, but I managed to read the whole thing. Loved it so badly, especially the art.

[Maud · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out my short series review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfo_m...

Love the art style and all the different transformations whenever Mayu drinks something. Wasn't crazy about the love interest though, he was a bit too cold for me. But other than that it is a fun, cute and short manga series that I definitely recommend!

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

/sigh
It's a guilty pleasure, these types of stories. All sugar, sweetness, dreams, and magic, not to mention every lovesick character is 12 years old. I go to Pixie Pop when I need a dose of innocence and pink. That being said, it's not a very deep read and yes, there are "better" stories out there, I suppose. But come on. The adorable cafe, guys. The frills. The tea. Gah.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3 or more is good for comics, manga or graphic novels. I never really know how to rate some of these. There are some where I'm totally in love, know automatically it is a 5 star, but then some I am just not sure about in the first couple volumes.*

Cute.

I read this for the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2015. Challenge: 19. A book that was previously published in another language.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thought I'd try something cute instead of a dark manga. And maybe I should just stick to the weird.
Didnt like this at all. Mayu was such a whiney annoying over the top transformer. Maybe do us a favor and disappear for good.

[Leilani · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book series is short, but cute!!!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out load funny with characters with very unique personalties

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOOOOO GGGOOOOODDDD