I'm going to talk about a manga,
Ballroom e Yokoso, and also a bit about manga in general.
Japanese comic has a certain degree of fame of having a great, almost ridicule variety of stories and setups, in comparison with European or American comic. From cop drama, to political thriller, to superheroes, horror, science fiction, passing to every kind of romance you can imagine of, to comics about climbing, diving, cooking, strolling, horse riding, collectors, racing, every kind of sport be popular or minority, betting (an entire subgenre almost!), people overclocking computers, well... you get the idea. And also competitive ballroom dancing, the idea behind Ballroom e Yokoso.
Manga also have a reputation of being able to take any kind of boring hobby or sport and give you the super intense, vibrant version where everything is amazing. From the 'slightly enhanced' version of the real thing to the over the topness. Something slow like Golf, chess? You can bet some mangaka can do it incredible thrilling, even for people who has no prior knowledge of that activity.
So Tomo Takeuchi, a female author which no known previous works (!) comes with Ball e Yokoso, also know as simply Welcome to he Ballroom, and gives an incredible version of the sport of competitive Ballroom dancing. And she gives in spades, with a incredibly intense and just magical version of ballroom dancing, using the typical shonen setup of a young man who starts the sport from zero, and gradually gaining ability through hard work and talent. And god, so much hot bloodness, hype, passion, fury and excitement, in the most unexpected of places, a comic about ballroom dancing. As a master of her work, her drawing conjures human emotions with the easiness of snapping fingers. In fact, even if this isn't the precisely the only 'passionate manga about sport/hobby/art', it's one of the best ones I've read, it has something special that places it above most.
A specialty of the author, faces full of emotion
Don't be confused, this comic doesn't reach unrealistic, over-the-top craziness with named 'ultimate skills', or ridiculous abilities, or crazy plot twists, while the setup is classical shonen, it's more in the middle territory of shonen and seinen, though inside of the 'realistic' style it's almost bursting out with larger than life emotion and passion. Here, everyone is INTENSE AS HELL. And, it works, instead of resulting too hammy, you get sucked into the story.
Dramatic coaches / Manly tears and manly support
And all thanks to the drawing. Not that the writing is bad or anything, it's clearly above average, but this comic clearly points out that yeah, this is a visual medium, and even more, manga in general usually has a more pure visual narration [than European or American comic], full of style and dynamism, and again this work presents itself as squarely 'manga' in that regard. in special Takeuchi has two strong points, the dynamic in her poses and panelling and a great domain of faces, showing whatever emotion,
So this post is going to contain lots of images for us to enjoy! Sorry for people with mobile connections.
Manly sacrifices / Intense hand holding
The story is very straight-forward, simple or 'classic' we could say, the approach used isn't really unique or particularly complex, but with a very good characterization that serves as hook to support the weight of the story beyond the pretty pages. There is a good range in the characters with ambition, jealousy, insecurity, love, companionship, fears, trust, and more playing a role in the story, but I just don't want to spoil it.
And you know, despite my remarks of the the intense the drawing, said characterization can be subtle too.
While not a 'fanservice' series, it's one of those, of the sexy ones, she can't help but draw sensuality in it, and very appropriately with the theme of dancing, as they also practice some latino dances full of sexiness. Everyone here is hot and fabulous.
Hot girls:
Do not open this, it's too much
http://i.imgur.com/e99X6wg.png
Nuclear-grade MILFs
http://i.imgur.com/D2vucxZ.png
Do I recommend the series? Well... the author is doing a Togashi on us, the series is right now in a longish hiatus. Ouch. But you know what. I don't regret starting it, in the last weeks I was feeling a bit
off, I wasn't getting fun in games nor I was finding any really good tv series, and this comic showed me that doh, of course there are good things out there!
edit: oh, it got a nomination in the Manga Taisho Awards.
