Minima, vol. 1

Minima! volume 1
Machiko Sakurai
Del Rey, 182 pp.

What would you do if your favorite toy came to life and became your best friend? Well, that's just what happens to Ame Oikawa, a shy schoolgirl. Nicori is a super-cute doll with a mind of its own—and a plan to make Ame's dreams come true!

You know what? Shy isn't the word to describe Ame, the most shy, quiet, and easily-embarrassed school girl you'll see in a manga. You'd think she was just coming out of being a hikikomori actually, judging by her reactions when people talk to her.

This book starts out a bit confusing with Ame buying a plush toy that was on sale. She soon finds out that it can talk, and it's name is Nicori. Suddenly, the press fires up and Ame and Nicori are all over the news. Why? Because it's a talking doll, people. Be excited. (Actually, thinking about it, Japanese news usually covers weirder things.) With Ame in the news, she doesn't really respond. She just cares about that plush toy Nicori.

Ame doesn't have a lot of friends because she's so shy. So naturally, her classmates are somehow flocking to her more and more. They ask her about crushes, and think she likes someone in the class. So Nicori pulls out a picture that is Ame's of one of the most popular guys in the school. Obiously she reacts to this in a negative way, freaking out and comparing the guy to merchandise. So after all the popularity of the Nicori toy, Ame gets kidnapped. So it's up to Nicori to save her!

The story isn't so great. It's a bit confusing in the beginning, with many plot elements being thrown at you. Ame doesn't make the story any easier, because she only says a few lines throughout the book. Speaking of the characters, none of them are really special. We've got her classmates Midori, the popular class guy Sasaki, and a few girls that occasionally ridicule Ame. Their personalites aren't shown very much, and their one-dimensional.

The art isn't so great either. It looks rather amateur, with it being good in one panel and in the next blah. It's inconsistent. The characters aren't drawn well and are rather simplistic. And Nicori is so simple he looks like he could have been designed by a six year old. Really, he's so simple and plain you could probably illustrate him perfectly on Microsoft Paint.

This is one of Del Rey's earlier publications, so it isn't that great. The covers cut off a bit short, so the pages stick out of them about a millimeter, leaving them to be damaged. They did include a few translation notes, which are helpful for those who might not get the parody of the NHK or why a mother would buy high-grade sushi to celebrate something.

Art: 2
Characters: 1.5
Quality: 4
Story: 2.5

Overall: 2.5. Or a D+. Really, there were things that could be improved on such as characters and the story. But then again, Your milleage may vary with this book. You may like it more than me or you may dislike it. It's a matter of opinion.

If you're looking to buy this for a tween girl, I'd say pass on this one and pick up something like Kitchen Princess or Mamotte! Lollipop. You could also look into Shugo Chara! if they're willing to read magical girl. (All titles mentioned are from Del Rey and rated T.)