Angelic Layer
Manga-ka: CLAMP
Translated by originally- Tokyopop in 2002, Dark Horse ominous release in 2012.
Rating: 10+
First Published: 1999
Genre: Modern Sci-fi, near future, school life, mild mystery, technology, battle, life lessons, inspiration, friendship.
Cover Price: Out of print, but you can find it on eBay or used Amazon for $36+ for the first ominous manga. You can watch the anime on Amazon Prime or YouTube.
Blurb: “Junior high student Misaki Suzuhara has just arrived in Tokyo to live with her glamorous TV news star aunt and to attend the prestigious Eriol Academy. But what excites her above everything is Angelic Layer, the arena game where you control an “Angel” – a miniature robot fighter whose moves depend on your mind! Misaki’s small, just like her Angel, Hikaru, but her natural battle skills have been recognized by a very odd scientist, Ichiro “Icchan” Mihara. Before she knows it, Misaki is an up-and-coming contender in Angelic Layer . . . and in way over her not-very-tall head! How far can enthusiasm take her in an arena full of much more experienced fighters . . . and a game full of secrets?”
Musings: A toy, an action figure, or doll. It’s more than a play object for our imagination. It’s a friend, a companion. So what if, in a special grid, layer, whatever we think to, your doll does? It sounds heavenly, a dream fit for angels.
Welcome to the world of “Angelic Layer!”
New to the big city, our 7th grade leading maiden, Misaki, views on a massive TV a live broadcast of two dolls fighting, engrossed instantly in this new game called Angelic Layer. Noticing her awe for it, a man in a lab coat and glasses shows her where she can buy her own Angel Egg at Piffle Princess, making her own Angel doll to enter battles with like the beautiful one she saw on TV…and to have a friend.
But like every story, especially a grand CLAMP manga, this game is more than it seems and connects to Misaki in ways she could never fathom.
Having a battle-style manga with a female protagonist was a fresh take on the genre and only this group of creative goddesses could do it. They expressed they wanted to make a light-hearted, more comedic story, illustrated in a relaxed style. It’s not as detailed as their other works, but still pretty, whimsical, and their goal, a lot of fun.
That’s what I love about CLAMP; they experiment with art styles and genres in each series. And still, their work is always captivating and has their signature. I appreciate this.
The manga quickly got picked up for a manga adaptation, the two made in conjunction with each other, which was new. I own the anime and would still put it in the older kids category. But CLAMP said in an interview the anime made the story more serious. Lol! This cracks me up! After just reading this first volume, I don’t see too many differences, maybe there is more in the other four.
I know the main couples are changed between the anime and manga, but I actually like all the pairings from both media forms. The results of the final battle are different too.
This manga is rated for ages 10 and up. I do agree with that rating, although I will say the lab coat man (who ironically calls himself Ic-chan in front of her, lol,) waiting for her and agreeing to meet up with a 12-year-old hasn’t aged well. For this story, it is revealed later, but as a heads up. Even the manga’s crowd often calls him creepy and concerned for the girl. Misaki is a little too dense and trusting. Goodness.
“Angelic Layer” also alludes to other works of theirs. The school they attend is called Eriol, which is the name of an important main character in my favorite manga, “Cardcaptor Sakura.” Misaki also names her battle angel doll Hikaru, the name of the lead character in their “Magic Knights Rayearth.” Both Hikaru look so much alike too. But, in “Angelic Layer,” MKR is a manga…manga inception!
The big connection here is this manga takes place in the same universe as their manga for college-age boys (that I love;) “Chobits.” Some of the characters appear in both series (or hint at it) and Chobits also has a close to the future world like ours with incredible tech, this time computers that look like humans. I watched “Chobits” first, so seeing some of the characters in both made me giddy!
And, of course, elements of “Angelic Layer” is in “Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles,” such as Piffle Princess is its own world!
If you want a story where a sweet, short, eager young girl strives to gain the crown as the dues (owner/user) to her angel or the thought of your favorite toy coming to life with your thoughts or an endearing battle light-hearted story and comedy, open your wings and take flight to this adventure, angel! ^_^
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Educator of young minds by day, super nerdy savior of justice, and cute things by night, Morgan Straughan Comnick has a love for turning the normal into something special without losing its essence. Morgan draws from real-life experiences and her ongoing imagination to spark her writing. In her spare time, she enjoys doing goofy voices, traveling to new worlds by turning pages, humming child-like songs, and forcing people to smile with her “bubbliness.” It is Morgan’s mission in life to spread the amazement of otaku/Japanese culture to the world and to stop bullying; she knows everyone shines brightly.
For more information about Morgan and her works, check out her website, which also has links to all her social medias: http://morganscomnick.com
