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+Anima #1
+Anima 1
The +Anima are beings who possess animal-like powers. In this alternate universe, they walk among us--shunned by society--as they search for others who have similar traits.
Cooro is a crow-like boy who is on a quest to find other +Anima. When he meets Husky, a disrespectful boy with a past shrouded in mystery, he finds a kindred spirit who also possesses animal-like powers. Together, they try to gain acceptance in a world cruel to anyone or anything that is different...
Cooro is a crow-like boy who is on a quest to find other +Anima. When he meets Husky, a disrespectful boy with a past shrouded in mystery, he finds a kindred spirit who also possesses animal-like powers. Together, they try to gain acceptance in a world cruel to anyone or anything that is different...
187 pages, Paperback
First published December 16, 2000
39 people are currently reading
2854 people want to read
About the author
Natsumi Mukai
67 books91 followersJapanese Name (迎夏生)
Loves stuffed animals & owns dogs (corgis).
Loves stuffed animals & owns dogs (corgis).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
April 16, 2010
Oh my gosh! This book is super duper adorable!!! My friend showed this to me and I ended up making fun of Husky when I saw him on the second cover she was carrying, but now I take it all back! I read this in one week and when I had to stop to eat I would have a fit because I wanted to read it so bad! As the story progresses the characters get more amazing! Natsumi Mukai does not make her kids super 'smart' and doesn't make them the kind of kids who can do everything. She has done an amazing job in portraying children with such personalities.
I loved it, but hey that is just me; I'm leaving the desition to YOU.
P.S I know you'll like it so don't sit there and read this, READ THE MANGA.
I loved it, but hey that is just me; I'm leaving the desition to YOU.
P.S I know you'll like it so don't sit there and read this, READ THE MANGA.
March 16, 2014
Cooro is a boy with crow wings who is searching for other +Anima, rare humans with some animal-like features and abilities that are often treated as second class citizens. But Cooro's light-hearted outlook and determined nature make him confident he'll succeed and find new friends. His first encounter is at a circus featuring a mermaid...
I remember the striking cover image of Cooro for this first volume catching my eye forever ago but never tried the series until now. It's an fun, light read. The main cast are all quirky in different ways and the adventures of this volume introduce them and their key attitudes and characteristics nicely. The art is cute, clean, and easy to follow.
Overall +Anima is off to an amusing start and I can definitely see myself continuing.
I remember the striking cover image of Cooro for this first volume catching my eye forever ago but never tried the series until now. It's an fun, light read. The main cast are all quirky in different ways and the adventures of this volume introduce them and their key attitudes and characteristics nicely. The art is cute, clean, and easy to follow.
Overall +Anima is off to an amusing start and I can definitely see myself continuing.
November 15, 2017
Meh. It's cute and fluffy with not much thought or resonance behind it. A little coming-of-age adventure with a rag-tag band of youths that cover the character archetype spectrum. You've got your adorable, lovable idiot, the stubborn non-nonsense one, the strong and silent type, and the token girl. It's one of those youth manga that you'll read and forget about the moment the covers are closed. I'd recommend it for middle-schoolers who might be interested in getting into manga and have parents that are worried about content. Other than that, veteran otaku might want to skip this for something more fulfilling.
September 15, 2009
AMAZING series. I loved it.
March 16, 2024
Be warned that this is a slice-of-life fantasy with little plot—while Cooro is looking for more +Anima, there is no end goal explicitly stated. This volume introduces Cooro, Husky, Senri, and Nana. Each chapter feels like an episode with no plot carrying over as a central issue throughout the book. It’s slow paced and still establishing its world and lore, but I really liked this book. The art style is gorgeous, too!
February 20, 2022
Four kids with animal powers find each other and become friends.
Cooro the crow-boy rescues Husky the fish-boy from his tank at a travelling circus. Husky is forced to dress as a girl so that the circus can advertise a mermaid (apparently a merman wouldn't be as big a draw). So far the story is very fluffy and middle school feeling but I already have the second one so I'll give it a try.
Cooro the crow-boy rescues Husky the fish-boy from his tank at a travelling circus. Husky is forced to dress as a girl so that the circus can advertise a mermaid (apparently a merman wouldn't be as big a draw). So far the story is very fluffy and middle school feeling but I already have the second one so I'll give it a try.
September 6, 2024
I've missed this so much
August 19, 2022
This was fine. A little juvenile, which I knew going into it. I did like the hidden maturity in some of the interactions.
December 31, 2025
Nostalgic and silly
December 1, 2024
Everyone who joins Cooro's group starts off trying to kill him,kill his friends or have stolen from Cooro and Husky.
The girls in the cave are sexist and thieves.
The main character is an airhead but in the most annoying way possible.
The story was alright but it could have been better.
The girls in the cave are sexist and thieves.
The main character is an airhead but in the most annoying way possible.
The story was alright but it could have been better.
June 16, 2019
**CW: child endangerment/enslavement/abuse; an instance of an abusive, alcoholic father; themes of extreme prejudice and hints of hate crimes**
Sometimes there are absolute gems in the vast oceans of manga, and +Anima has always been one. Memories of the first four volumes or so stuck with me long after I left high school, and a year or two ago, I found myself wanting to read the series so bad that I spent a few harrowing months hunting for copies of all 10 volumes. I'm so glad I did, because this series is wonderful and I recommend everyone give it a shot.
To give better insight, we open this series with a semi-lighthearted and fun tone, but with undercurrents of more serious themes. Cooro, our easygoing main character with crow wings and the ability to fly, is shown trying to help free Husky, a boy with the +anima ability to morph into something akin to merfolk, from his current set of circumstances in a circus sideshow. Right away, we're dealing with a situation that borderlines on child enslavement; we learn that Husky owes a debt to the circus's ringmaster and cannot readily leave of his own accord, despite his desire and attempts to. When he does try, he's forcibly bound, and Cooro eventually has to pull a fast one in order to get them both out of there.
And so it goes. The entire first volume is here to set up a light-hearted dynamic between the characters as Cooro and Husky go on to meet and befriend Senri and Nana, a bear +anima and a bat +anima, respectively. The four end up on a journey together without much of a destination or goal in mind, beyond the pervading sense that they're trying to find a place for themselves. This is because the story continues to world-build and give us the heavier themes and person-vs-society conflict throughout the chapters in this first volume.
We learn quickly that +anima are feared, if not outright loathed, by nearly all established social environments, due to their differences and abilities. In the circus, they're considered quality sideshow fodder with little to no personal rights. In the small mountain town where Cooro and Husky meet Senri, the townsfolk have come to accept Senri due to his protective nature but a destructive gang and their gold-hungry boss consider +anima to be little more than the same sort of worthless garbage they see the townsfolk as. We get little insight into the first city that the boys go into where they eventually meet Nana, but we see even among other children that they are regarded with fear, prejudice and jealousy for their differences. All of this is, again, set-up for both the worldbuilding and the larger story, and it hints at the greater horrors that our four protagonists are going to face throughout the series.
Additionally, we learn via Nana's backstory that it's possible many individuals who are +anima have faced abuse or violence in their past, and carry the scars of trauma. This isn't going to be the case for all of them, but it is certainly the case for Nana as we learn through her flashbacks (which might be indicative of her having PTSD.)
Despite the heavy topics and darker elements, this series is beautiful, and the way it opens is still fun in spite of that undertone. Besides this, the art style is very vivid, lively and absolutely beautiful. It's worth reading if you get the chance, and I highly recommend you pick this up.
Sometimes there are absolute gems in the vast oceans of manga, and +Anima has always been one. Memories of the first four volumes or so stuck with me long after I left high school, and a year or two ago, I found myself wanting to read the series so bad that I spent a few harrowing months hunting for copies of all 10 volumes. I'm so glad I did, because this series is wonderful and I recommend everyone give it a shot.
To give better insight, we open this series with a semi-lighthearted and fun tone, but with undercurrents of more serious themes. Cooro, our easygoing main character with crow wings and the ability to fly, is shown trying to help free Husky, a boy with the +anima ability to morph into something akin to merfolk, from his current set of circumstances in a circus sideshow. Right away, we're dealing with a situation that borderlines on child enslavement; we learn that Husky owes a debt to the circus's ringmaster and cannot readily leave of his own accord, despite his desire and attempts to. When he does try, he's forcibly bound, and Cooro eventually has to pull a fast one in order to get them both out of there.
And so it goes. The entire first volume is here to set up a light-hearted dynamic between the characters as Cooro and Husky go on to meet and befriend Senri and Nana, a bear +anima and a bat +anima, respectively. The four end up on a journey together without much of a destination or goal in mind, beyond the pervading sense that they're trying to find a place for themselves. This is because the story continues to world-build and give us the heavier themes and person-vs-society conflict throughout the chapters in this first volume.
We learn quickly that +anima are feared, if not outright loathed, by nearly all established social environments, due to their differences and abilities. In the circus, they're considered quality sideshow fodder with little to no personal rights. In the small mountain town where Cooro and Husky meet Senri, the townsfolk have come to accept Senri due to his protective nature but a destructive gang and their gold-hungry boss consider +anima to be little more than the same sort of worthless garbage they see the townsfolk as. We get little insight into the first city that the boys go into where they eventually meet Nana, but we see even among other children that they are regarded with fear, prejudice and jealousy for their differences. All of this is, again, set-up for both the worldbuilding and the larger story, and it hints at the greater horrors that our four protagonists are going to face throughout the series.
Additionally, we learn via Nana's backstory that it's possible many individuals who are +anima have faced abuse or violence in their past, and carry the scars of trauma. This isn't going to be the case for all of them, but it is certainly the case for Nana as we learn through her flashbacks (which might be indicative of her having PTSD.)
Despite the heavy topics and darker elements, this series is beautiful, and the way it opens is still fun in spite of that undertone. Besides this, the art style is very vivid, lively and absolutely beautiful. It's worth reading if you get the chance, and I highly recommend you pick this up.
October 17, 2013
In the country of Astaria where it seems to be in a time period like the Middle Ages, Cooro, a crow +Anima with a slight tendency to get himself into predicaments, searches for other +Anima to join him on a quest to find an area where they can be accepted into the seemingly unfair society. They have trouble with this as they have the ability of transforming one of their body parts into an animal's body part that can aid them. On this journey, he finds three other +Anima that travel with him on his quest. They are Husky, a fish +Anima, Senri, a bear +Anima, and Nana, a bat +Anima. They meet up in crazy situations such as not paying fees, protecting special flowers, and stealing belongings, but they all have interesting pasts that have led up to why they are they way they are.
I absolutely loved this manga. With all of the adventure and hilarious moments in this book, there was barely anything to hate. I also liked the designs of the characters, but I do believe that the characters were introduced a bit to quickly for my liking. Even with this comment, those that look forward to reading this book should read it. Its a given that this book with be extremely enjoyable. I would recommend this awesome book to manga lovers and comic lovers that are not really taken to the liking with a book full of romance. Once you start reading this series, you will be chomping at the bit for more!
I absolutely loved this manga. With all of the adventure and hilarious moments in this book, there was barely anything to hate. I also liked the designs of the characters, but I do believe that the characters were introduced a bit to quickly for my liking. Even with this comment, those that look forward to reading this book should read it. Its a given that this book with be extremely enjoyable. I would recommend this awesome book to manga lovers and comic lovers that are not really taken to the liking with a book full of romance. Once you start reading this series, you will be chomping at the bit for more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2012
I love these books! They are so adorable and lovable. They are well-thought out and interesting and wonderful. Her characters all seem so real. They all have problems and really specific and personal histories that go back pretty far. Her characters aren't perfect, and she is able to make them come to life and feel like real human beings.
I love the idea behind this manga. I love the idea of being able to transform into an animal and have cool powers and be special. (I wish I could do it. That would be so cool!)
My best friends gave these to me to read. They were the first manga I ever read in my entire life and I didn't get it at first. They had the books and I tried reading it, but I couldn't figure out how to read it backwards, and so the first book they read it out loud to me <3 Aren't they sweet? Anyways, I decided that I wanted to continue reading them online, and I was just planning to just look at +Anima a little bit and I ended up reading like the first 7 books in two days (It would've been sooner except I had school and sleep and whatnot, stupid distractions!)
Senri is my favorite!! He is so adorable! I definitely recommend these books to those who love mangas, and to those who love animals, and to those who love interesting stories. This is a very good series with wonderful writing and amazing art!
I love the idea behind this manga. I love the idea of being able to transform into an animal and have cool powers and be special. (I wish I could do it. That would be so cool!)
My best friends gave these to me to read. They were the first manga I ever read in my entire life and I didn't get it at first. They had the books and I tried reading it, but I couldn't figure out how to read it backwards, and so the first book they read it out loud to me <3 Aren't they sweet? Anyways, I decided that I wanted to continue reading them online, and I was just planning to just look at +Anima a little bit and I ended up reading like the first 7 books in two days (It would've been sooner except I had school and sleep and whatnot, stupid distractions!)
Senri is my favorite!! He is so adorable! I definitely recommend these books to those who love mangas, and to those who love animals, and to those who love interesting stories. This is a very good series with wonderful writing and amazing art!
October 3, 2016
Cooro and Huskey meet they leave to travel together. They meet a gang in a small town and meet Senri, "Guardian of the flowers" after beating the Garrison Gang he goes with them. They then meet a colony of thieving children. Who steal from them, they chase them to a cave where Husky's perls are stolen by an +Anima named Nana. Getting back there stuff they go to catch Nana but end up losing the perls. Nana joins them to Husky's dismay and he storms off. Nana goes after her and they kind of bond. Shows someone seaming to know Cooro.
Nana who stole Husky's perls was kind of being kind of a bad but over the rest of the book and the next one she started to warm up the them. She almost became a cautious girly girl.
My opinion is that it was very interesting, I like the idea of +Anima, people with the powers of animals. I also like Cooro the Crow +Anima and how free spirited he is. Something I didn't like was how I had to read it right to left instead of left to right. And how its difficult to find which box comes next. I also didn't really like Nana and was kind of upset when she joined the group, not to mention both Cooro and Husky look like they should be girls.
Nana who stole Husky's perls was kind of being kind of a bad but over the rest of the book and the next one she started to warm up the them. She almost became a cautious girly girl.
My opinion is that it was very interesting, I like the idea of +Anima, people with the powers of animals. I also like Cooro the Crow +Anima and how free spirited he is. Something I didn't like was how I had to read it right to left instead of left to right. And how its difficult to find which box comes next. I also didn't really like Nana and was kind of upset when she joined the group, not to mention both Cooro and Husky look like they should be girls.
March 23, 2013
Ahhhh, this book....This is so adorable.
So this, after reading Kick-Ass, was a great way to clear my mind. Although I'm not sure what I'm supposed to think of Husky after that...entrance.
The basic plot is a common one; slightly idiotic main character with huge emote-bonding (FRIEEEENDSHEEEEEEP) decides to bring together (inadvertently) a large cast of characters who benefit from said emote-bonding. It's not as huge as the actual adventuring and picking-up-character part, but it's still there.
The +Anima are half human, half [insert animal here], and they are generally shunned by society. To make an interesting plot, four of these non-human +Anima gather together and begin travelling as a group. ANd lots of adventures ensue.
Super cute, with nice artwork and thoughtful character designs, this should definitely be one of those series to be on your "read" shelf.
So this, after reading Kick-Ass, was a great way to clear my mind. Although I'm not sure what I'm supposed to think of Husky after that...entrance.
The basic plot is a common one; slightly idiotic main character with huge emote-bonding (FRIEEEENDSHEEEEEEP) decides to bring together (inadvertently) a large cast of characters who benefit from said emote-bonding. It's not as huge as the actual adventuring and picking-up-character part, but it's still there.
The +Anima are half human, half [insert animal here], and they are generally shunned by society. To make an interesting plot, four of these non-human +Anima gather together and begin travelling as a group. ANd lots of adventures ensue.
Super cute, with nice artwork and thoughtful character designs, this should definitely be one of those series to be on your "read" shelf.
May 26, 2015
This has to be one of my favorite manga so far. The characters weren't perfect in every way and I liked that. The characters were absolutely adorable and I would love to meet them in real life. I look forward to reading the rest of the books. I also liked this book because it was a quick and easy read. I love all the authors works. I would recommend this to anyone who knows how to read manga.
December 27, 2017
Read this whole series years ago. It was good.
April 16, 2021
This manga is really fantastic.
April 16, 2021
This storie is really amazing.
May 27, 2021
loooved this
October 19, 2021
reread my childhood fav manga.
December 19, 2021
Love them so much
May 17, 2022
I never wanted to put it down
March 8, 2022
If you're looking for or expecting something super complex or heavy, this isn't the manga for you. However, that does not mean that +Anima is a bad story at all. It's perfect for a very young audience or people looking for a light, gentle read without a lot of angst, darkness, or pessimism. It's also not very long, only ten volumes, and so is a very quick read. You can find scanlations of it free online fairly easily, too, which is nice!
The story is not super complicated, but that doesn't make it shallow or trite either. Instead, the mangaka has managed to create an admirably easy-going story with fun world-building and likeable characters. It's episodic in nature, with a few slightly extended arcs that explore each of the character's backstories and motivations. The characters are likewise fairly simple, and yet multi-faceted at the same time. It's very clear that this is meant to be a child-friendly manga; there is some violence, but it is largely kept clean and is never super-graphic. Even the villainous characters are shown to have softer sides to them; I think it does a good job of showing that people are never simply good or bad, but can have a blend of both traits.
The story follow Cooro, an eleven-year-old boy traveling the countryside looking for other +Anima, people who have animal spirits attached to them that allow them to change their bodies to take on those animal features. Cooro, a crow +Anima, can grow wings that allow him to fly. Among his friends are Husky, a grouchy young boy whose fish Anima, lets him take on a mermaid-like form, Nana, a young girl who can grow bat wings and ears and use a supersonic voice, and Senri, a quiet teenager with a bear Anima. Together, the four of them travel from town to town, making friends with normal humans and other +Anima alike, and learning about what it means to exist in a world that doesn't always accept people who are different.
The world-building is interesting to me; I'd almost call it a light, child-friendly version of a dystopian. In the story, +Anima are persecuted, as are the Kim-un-kur, the mountain people that Senri came from. The story often touches on prejudice, racism, slavery, and other related topics in a very light, gentle way; I could see this being a good way to help smaller children begin to learn about such things. It also touches on body modification and human experimentation later on in the story.
The main concept of the +Anima was again, something that was simple but not uninteresting; over time, the story reveals what exactly the +Anima are, how a person becomes one, and what it really means. I won't reveal the details here, but I will say that it was well-done.
As for the art style, it's very clean, very classic early 2000s cutesy anime. The main characters are all about 11 (except Senri, who'd about 16) and so veer towards very cutesy exaggerated expressions. Every character has their own unique designs, which is really nice, and the clothing and settings are beautiful. I kept wondering while reading it why this was never adapted into an anime; it would have made an excellent one.
Overall, I'd say if you're in the mood for something lighthearted, gentle, and easy to read, or for something that you could read with a young child, this is an excellent manga to choose from. It's not especially groundbreaking, but it's definitely a fun read! :)
The story is not super complicated, but that doesn't make it shallow or trite either. Instead, the mangaka has managed to create an admirably easy-going story with fun world-building and likeable characters. It's episodic in nature, with a few slightly extended arcs that explore each of the character's backstories and motivations. The characters are likewise fairly simple, and yet multi-faceted at the same time. It's very clear that this is meant to be a child-friendly manga; there is some violence, but it is largely kept clean and is never super-graphic. Even the villainous characters are shown to have softer sides to them; I think it does a good job of showing that people are never simply good or bad, but can have a blend of both traits.
The story follow Cooro, an eleven-year-old boy traveling the countryside looking for other +Anima, people who have animal spirits attached to them that allow them to change their bodies to take on those animal features. Cooro, a crow +Anima, can grow wings that allow him to fly. Among his friends are Husky, a grouchy young boy whose fish Anima, lets him take on a mermaid-like form, Nana, a young girl who can grow bat wings and ears and use a supersonic voice, and Senri, a quiet teenager with a bear Anima. Together, the four of them travel from town to town, making friends with normal humans and other +Anima alike, and learning about what it means to exist in a world that doesn't always accept people who are different.
The world-building is interesting to me; I'd almost call it a light, child-friendly version of a dystopian. In the story, +Anima are persecuted, as are the Kim-un-kur, the mountain people that Senri came from. The story often touches on prejudice, racism, slavery, and other related topics in a very light, gentle way; I could see this being a good way to help smaller children begin to learn about such things. It also touches on body modification and human experimentation later on in the story.
The main concept of the +Anima was again, something that was simple but not uninteresting; over time, the story reveals what exactly the +Anima are, how a person becomes one, and what it really means. I won't reveal the details here, but I will say that it was well-done.
As for the art style, it's very clean, very classic early 2000s cutesy anime. The main characters are all about 11 (except Senri, who'd about 16) and so veer towards very cutesy exaggerated expressions. Every character has their own unique designs, which is really nice, and the clothing and settings are beautiful. I kept wondering while reading it why this was never adapted into an anime; it would have made an excellent one.
Overall, I'd say if you're in the mood for something lighthearted, gentle, and easy to read, or for something that you could read with a young child, this is an excellent manga to choose from. It's not especially groundbreaking, but it's definitely a fun read! :)
May 21, 2024
People in these reviews are saying that +Anima is a fluffy little no-plot slice of life. It is anything but.
First discovering this series in middle school, I've reread it at least a dozen times. This includes reading it as an adult in my twenties. Let this serve as my disclaimer of bias.
This is a ten-volume series that talks about themes of colonization, enslavement, international politic, war, prejudice and superstition as well as innovations in science, ethical experimentation, coerced consent (not in a sexual context) and asking the question "what is the price worth paying to belong?"
The kids only get powers because they /almost die/ (aside from Cooro). The 'token girl,' Nana, is a spitfire who's father tried to kill her. The 'serious one' has extreme gender dysphoria (in a publication from 2000), the 'silent one' has selective mutism and is an indigenous person who was kidnapped from his people and put into slavery. The 'fun quirky' character of Corro is only showing a bright face in order to keep himself going, because if he stops and actually pays attention to his present he'll get caught up with depression.
The only critique I have for this series is the way that, in the nation where +Anima are enslaved (seen Vol. 7-9), there is a character who is treated as a savior because she collects slaves to travel with her and makes sure they have basic rights--while still keeping them as her property. ***Trigger warning*** because the +Anima slaves with her all are portrayed as adoring and appreciative of her for what she's done. Like, yes--she's their best option. But she should absolutely be using her influence (which you learn she has plenty of) to abolish the system of enslavement.
That being said, this was written in 2000, and the progressive themes and the treatment of these kids with PTSD is quite good.
First discovering this series in middle school, I've reread it at least a dozen times. This includes reading it as an adult in my twenties. Let this serve as my disclaimer of bias.
This is a ten-volume series that talks about themes of colonization, enslavement, international politic, war, prejudice and superstition as well as innovations in science, ethical experimentation, coerced consent (not in a sexual context) and asking the question "what is the price worth paying to belong?"
The kids only get powers because they /almost die/ (aside from Cooro). The 'token girl,' Nana, is a spitfire who's father tried to kill her. The 'serious one' has extreme gender dysphoria (in a publication from 2000), the 'silent one' has selective mutism and is an indigenous person who was kidnapped from his people and put into slavery. The 'fun quirky' character of Corro is only showing a bright face in order to keep himself going, because if he stops and actually pays attention to his present he'll get caught up with depression.
The only critique I have for this series is the way that, in the nation where +Anima are enslaved (seen Vol. 7-9), there is a character who is treated as a savior because she collects slaves to travel with her and makes sure they have basic rights--while still keeping them as her property. ***Trigger warning*** because the +Anima slaves with her all are portrayed as adoring and appreciative of her for what she's done. Like, yes--she's their best option. But she should absolutely be using her influence (which you learn she has plenty of) to abolish the system of enslavement.
That being said, this was written in 2000, and the progressive themes and the treatment of these kids with PTSD is quite good.
August 3, 2025
This is a librarian review. I try to leave notes on books I’m considering for a middle school library for others in the school library profession because manga is hardly ever professionally reviewed for us to properly vet before buying. I mainly just look for troublesome issues for younger ages, such as sexual content, language, or extreme violence. I also leave other mentions and notes further down.
Rating:
The copy I have from 2006 has no rating listed anywhere I could find inside or outside. However, I'd say this would be fine for a middle school and up.
Language:
No heavy language! This is awesome!
Sexual Content:
None whatsoever. No revealing clothing or inappropriate jokes or innuendo, either. (Another score for this one.)
Alcohol:
One of the character's father is shown to be an alcoholic and abusive to his wife and child. This is shown in a flashback scene in which he came back home with a bottle of something and is frustrated with the crops he's been working on. The girl, Nana, tries to keep him from hitting her mother before running away.
Violence:
Related to the paragraph describing alcohol and domestic abuse above, Nana accidentally stabs her father with a small pair of sewing scissors (he smacks his hand into them while she's holding them) and we see a bit of blood. She runs into the forested area, and he pursues. She hides until she's able to escape. This is a short scene and is the only one we see about her background.
Final thoughts:
I think this is totally fine for middle school up. It's an older series, but given that it's so hard to find appropriate manga for younger ages, I think it's still worth offering. I'll personally be putting it in a manga club collection even if it isn't in our library collection.
Rating:
The copy I have from 2006 has no rating listed anywhere I could find inside or outside. However, I'd say this would be fine for a middle school and up.
Language:
No heavy language! This is awesome!
Sexual Content:
None whatsoever. No revealing clothing or inappropriate jokes or innuendo, either. (Another score for this one.)
Alcohol:
One of the character's father is shown to be an alcoholic and abusive to his wife and child. This is shown in a flashback scene in which he came back home with a bottle of something and is frustrated with the crops he's been working on. The girl, Nana, tries to keep him from hitting her mother before running away.
Violence:
Related to the paragraph describing alcohol and domestic abuse above, Nana accidentally stabs her father with a small pair of sewing scissors (he smacks his hand into them while she's holding them) and we see a bit of blood. She runs into the forested area, and he pursues. She hides until she's able to escape. This is a short scene and is the only one we see about her background.
Final thoughts:
I think this is totally fine for middle school up. It's an older series, but given that it's so hard to find appropriate manga for younger ages, I think it's still worth offering. I'll personally be putting it in a manga club collection even if it isn't in our library collection.
December 22, 2021
Cooro and Husky aren't like other boys. They're anima, children with animal features and qualities. After breaking free of their servitude at a cruel freakshow circus, they go on a journey in search of others like themselves. Cooro is a crow and Husky is a fish. As they travel the world doing good deeds, they recruit a bear boy, a cat woman and a bat girl. Together they get into all kinds of wacky antics while fighting against the oppression their kind faces on a daily basis.
The low rating isn't because this series is bad, it's just extremely cliche and childish in my opinion. I think it would be good for young kids who have no experience reading manga. It's extremely light, simple, easy to follow and doesn't contain anything overly violent, dark or sexual in nature. For someone like me who generally reads books and manga with excessive gore, dark themes and adult content it definitely didn't appeal to me that much, even though I was in the mood to read something lighter than I'm accustomed to.
Not a bad manga, just not for me. Even so, it's undeniably cute and wholesome. I think it would appeal to kids and young girls, especially if they have minimal experience reading manga.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
The low rating isn't because this series is bad, it's just extremely cliche and childish in my opinion. I think it would be good for young kids who have no experience reading manga. It's extremely light, simple, easy to follow and doesn't contain anything overly violent, dark or sexual in nature. For someone like me who generally reads books and manga with excessive gore, dark themes and adult content it definitely didn't appeal to me that much, even though I was in the mood to read something lighter than I'm accustomed to.
Not a bad manga, just not for me. Even so, it's undeniably cute and wholesome. I think it would appeal to kids and young girls, especially if they have minimal experience reading manga.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
February 23, 2020
4/5 stars
This is my reread of +Anima. When I first came across this manga, I was an awkward misfit in 8th grade. I remembered loving the premise of the story dealing with children shunned because of who they are, and even if I'm not a +Anima myself (obviously), I related to Cooro, Husky, Senri, and Nana so much.
Fast-forward to present-day adult me, and I still love this book. It's a valuable read to youth and grown-ups alike because it preaches a resonating theme of acceptance and community. The lessons are clearly fleshed out in a straightforward storyline accompanied by clean, neatly organised illustrations.
The only negative I have about this first volume is that there is a lack of direction or aim in the story so far. From what I know of this manga, there is no great overarching storyline, but rather the chapters are individual episodes telling stories in a succession. However, I felt like there needed to be a stronger cliffhanger or purpose highlighted at the end of the volume, otherwise, this book seemed like a heartwarming short story in itself instead of a series.
This is my reread of +Anima. When I first came across this manga, I was an awkward misfit in 8th grade. I remembered loving the premise of the story dealing with children shunned because of who they are, and even if I'm not a +Anima myself (obviously), I related to Cooro, Husky, Senri, and Nana so much.
Fast-forward to present-day adult me, and I still love this book. It's a valuable read to youth and grown-ups alike because it preaches a resonating theme of acceptance and community. The lessons are clearly fleshed out in a straightforward storyline accompanied by clean, neatly organised illustrations.
The only negative I have about this first volume is that there is a lack of direction or aim in the story so far. From what I know of this manga, there is no great overarching storyline, but rather the chapters are individual episodes telling stories in a succession. However, I felt like there needed to be a stronger cliffhanger or purpose highlighted at the end of the volume, otherwise, this book seemed like a heartwarming short story in itself instead of a series.
May 11, 2023
I haven’t read this manga since I was a kid and I’d say, it’s a semi good intro into manga. Cooro, Husky, Nana, and Senri are relatively young. Cooro, Husky and Nana being at least 11 (as Cooro was shown as a baby and then it said 11 years later). Senri is likely an mid-late teen just barely or close to his 20th birthday - or at least that’s the impression I get. Each chapter is episodic with no goal or destination in mind yet for our cast as all of them are introduced here.
It appears like a manga meant for kids but with Nana we get into some dark territory of domestic abuse, child abuse, and attempted homicide towards a child. It isn’t graphic and it only last a few pages but I imagine it can be upsetting for some people.
Having said that it was a relaxing and nostalgic read for me and I look forward to more.
You may not find a whole lot of action, or a interesting plot, but it’s a nice adventure regardless. What's that one famous saying, "It isn't about the destination, but the journey."
It appears like a manga meant for kids but with Nana we get into some dark territory of domestic abuse, child abuse, and attempted homicide towards a child. It isn’t graphic and it only last a few pages but I imagine it can be upsetting for some people.
Having said that it was a relaxing and nostalgic read for me and I look forward to more.
You may not find a whole lot of action, or a interesting plot, but it’s a nice adventure regardless. What's that one famous saying, "It isn't about the destination, but the journey."
March 5, 2024
+Anima’s totally new to my eyes. The art reminds me of Mar as well as the child-like glee with which the story is told and the manner of its telling. The premise is interesting. There’s a select group of people called Animas who are hybrid humans. In this world humans might have a pair of wings, a mermaid’s tail or bear claws. From what I gather the +Anima have tattoos that symbolize an element, or animal, that they can emulate. These powers operate much like Wolverine’s claws, even in how they are hidden from plain view.
Simple village outings occupy our antagonists. Thieves, bullies and the like. I can’t imagine what adventures await these children. I’m curious to find out, not curious enough to break my back for volume 2. If the library has it I don’t mind checking it out. On to the next!
Simple village outings occupy our antagonists. Thieves, bullies and the like. I can’t imagine what adventures await these children. I’m curious to find out, not curious enough to break my back for volume 2. If the library has it I don’t mind checking it out. On to the next!
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