Manga Review: Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy, Volume 1, by Maki Minami

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Publish Date: October, 2013

Volumes: 12

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf!

Wishlist Thursday.

Next Volume.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A new series by the author of the best-selling S•A!

Hime Kino’s dream is to one day do voice acting like her hero Sakura Aoyama from the Lovely?Blazer anime, and getting accepted to the prestigious Holly Academy’s voice actor department is the first step in the right direction! But Hime’s gruff voice has earned her the scorn of teachers and students alike. Hime will not let that stand unchallenged. She’ll show everyone that she is too a voice acting princess, whether they like it or not!!

To make matters worse, Sakura’s grouchy son, Senri, is in Hime’s class, and he seems determined to stomp on her dreams. He even has the nerve to call Lovely?Blazer stupid! But Hime won’t be deterred by naysayers, her new nickname (“Gorilla Princess”), or even getting demoted to the Stragglers group. She’s ready to shine, and nothing is going to stand in her way!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.

Review:

I was really excited when Shojo Beat announced they were releasing this. I hadn’t even heard about the series, but as soon as I noticed it was by the same author as SA, I wanted it. I really enjoyed that series, and honestly kind of missed the humor and sidenotes, and especially the little funny comics at the end. Honestly, this was a little bit of a weak start, but I’m really excited for the series to get going, because I’m sure it’s going to be good.

So Hime is just starting at a school that has a voice acting program, because that’s what she wants to do, even though her voice tends to go deep and masculine when she’s trying to be cute. Because of this, she gets put in a group with the other stragglers, Tsukino (who has a very quiet voice), Sho (who has a temper), and Zaizen (arrogant with an accent). Then there’s Kudo, who’s top of the class, and who Hime immediately doesn’t get along with (but he also likes helpless animals, which he relates to Hime).

I’m not completely attached to any of the characters, but there’s a big set up for all kinds of adventure. It’s obvious the attraction between Hime and Kudo is going to grow, and I’m already finding their interactions really funny, particularly when he looks at her like a poor kitten and wants to comfort her and then freaks out about it. The straggler group is entertaining. I haven’t gotten to know any of them enough, but I’m looking forward to that, as well as their stories and families. 

This was a really good opening, and I’m excited to read more.