Book reviews
Nibel1
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Gakuen Alice review
Alice academy one of my favorite manga ever
Tbh it started childishly and i was thinking about dropping it at first
But always had a strong feeling that made me continue reading
Characters are great story is great the way of writer thinking and how she gave every character agood development is so enjoyable also it have agreat twist and feeling train after chapter 70 so if you want to drop it before that do not and bare with it a little more you wont regret i promise .
I hope it can have a second part to the story
I heared that it have but yea not the same story line it is music and comedy more
So i was dissapinted i just want more from this story
Also it show how people is greedy for power and can do anything just to get their goal no matter what and how great friendship is .. so give it a try
Tbh it started childishly and i was thinking about dropping it at first
But always had a strong feeling that made me continue reading
Characters are great story is great the way of writer thinking and how she gave every character agood development is so enjoyable also it have agreat twist and feeling train after chapter 70 so if you want to drop it before that do not and bare with it a little more you wont regret i promise .
I hope it can have a second part to the story
I heared that it have but yea not the same story line it is music and comedy more
So i was dissapinted i just want more from this story
Also it show how people is greedy for power and can do anything just to get their goal no matter what and how great friendship is .. so give it a try
LtLinks11
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Gakuen Alice review
it is one of very best manga in which we can read all the the chapters repeatedly unlike some manga where very few chapters are good but after reading 162&163 chapter i felt like may be mikan and natsume both will be dead well i cant say exactly but until now most of the things i expected became true in this manga but this time i pray that my expectation is wrong and both are alive if natsume dies maybe i will never read a manga ever again.i recommend it very strongly u can enjoy each and every chapter and even anime is available even
though it has slight differences.
Emanharlem551
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Gakuen Alice 's review
At any given point in our lives, there is probably a moment when each of us might think think, "It would be awesome to have superhuman abilities"- or something to that effect. Indeed, everywhere we look, in media, books, music, that wish is reflected- But what might it be like if humans really had special powers?
Often, when people look at something they want, they tend to look only at the positives; "Superpowers? Sure!!" was the way my mind worked before reading Gakuen Alice. But when a person has more, more is required of them… and what if what was given was unwanted?
So starts the story of Gakuen Alice; an institute set up specifically for kids with special talents, called “Alices”. The possibilities seem endless- teleportation is a common ability. Shadow-charming, mind reading, predicting the future, hallucinations, and flying… are no longer distant dreams. At a glimpse, Gakuen Alice is heaven; what could a kid want more than to spend time with other supernaturals, away from nagging parents and the stress of the outside world?
Yet… as the story progresses, we learn that things are not so simple; beneath the mask of an academy set up for kids who are deemed “special” lurks a shadow.
Though many students who pass through the gates of Gakuen Alice never have any reason to encounter this dark reality, those who do cross paths with it are thrust into a life of unimaginable suffering and terrors. Once inside the shadow, one cannot escape; age does not matter. Young, old... even those who have long since left behind the gates are bound to the Academy, and for one reason only; having seen the academy’s true side, and for their individual talents.
Our main character Sakura Mikan enters the Academy through a set of special circumstances… and they certainly can’t all be by coincidence. As the gears of fate move on, Mikan begins to learn that life really isn’t all “good”. The world of the Alices is a tough world to live in, and as Mikan begins to learn of her past, she realizes further that things are never as they appear- and suddenly, superpowers don’t appear so super anymore.
Yet, in the midst of the darkness and pain brought onto Mikan and her friends, they learn that there are two sides to every coin. As they go through adventures and misadventures together, they learn priceless lessons on love, hope, trust, and above all, “kizuna” (bond). Through these bonds and relationships, Mikan and her friends are able to get through even when the odds come crashing down on them.
Personally, I was amazed at all the twists and turns in what I simply thought of as a school comedy for children. Gakuen Alice is much more, a true masterpiece that will remain in readers' hearts for generations. The tears, laughter, love, and a whirlwind of emotions come right at the reader through the pages of the story. Gakuen Alice is a story to be enjoyed by readers all over the world through the years.
Often, when people look at something they want, they tend to look only at the positives; "Superpowers? Sure!!" was the way my mind worked before reading Gakuen Alice. But when a person has more, more is required of them… and what if what was given was unwanted?
So starts the story of Gakuen Alice; an institute set up specifically for kids with special talents, called “Alices”. The possibilities seem endless- teleportation is a common ability. Shadow-charming, mind reading, predicting the future, hallucinations, and flying… are no longer distant dreams. At a glimpse, Gakuen Alice is heaven; what could a kid want more than to spend time with other supernaturals, away from nagging parents and the stress of the outside world?
Yet… as the story progresses, we learn that things are not so simple; beneath the mask of an academy set up for kids who are deemed “special” lurks a shadow.
Though many students who pass through the gates of Gakuen Alice never have any reason to encounter this dark reality, those who do cross paths with it are thrust into a life of unimaginable suffering and terrors. Once inside the shadow, one cannot escape; age does not matter. Young, old... even those who have long since left behind the gates are bound to the Academy, and for one reason only; having seen the academy’s true side, and for their individual talents.
Our main character Sakura Mikan enters the Academy through a set of special circumstances… and they certainly can’t all be by coincidence. As the gears of fate move on, Mikan begins to learn that life really isn’t all “good”. The world of the Alices is a tough world to live in, and as Mikan begins to learn of her past, she realizes further that things are never as they appear- and suddenly, superpowers don’t appear so super anymore.
Yet, in the midst of the darkness and pain brought onto Mikan and her friends, they learn that there are two sides to every coin. As they go through adventures and misadventures together, they learn priceless lessons on love, hope, trust, and above all, “kizuna” (bond). Through these bonds and relationships, Mikan and her friends are able to get through even when the odds come crashing down on them.
Personally, I was amazed at all the twists and turns in what I simply thought of as a school comedy for children. Gakuen Alice is much more, a true masterpiece that will remain in readers' hearts for generations. The tears, laughter, love, and a whirlwind of emotions come right at the reader through the pages of the story. Gakuen Alice is a story to be enjoyed by readers all over the world through the years.
kanemalakos7
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Gakuen Alice review
I really love this manga!
Story (10) because this is not your usual manga/anime, it has a unique plot with lots of twists and surprises as you read
Art and Character (10) I liked the drawing of the characters and they are all cute!
Enjoyment (10) because i enjoyed a lot reading this manga, I never got bored reading this.
Overall (8) I recommend this manga to everyone out there! because it is full of adventures. I also love the cuteness of everything!! the love story (although they're too young XD), value for friendship, family and alot more. I gave it a 7 because I'm disappointed at the ending! It was released just recently and the author seemed to rush the last chapter. T_T I really hope there is a sequel to this manga as it left me hanging!, there are things left unsolved. I guess the 180-chapter isn't enough XD
Althougghhh!! I'm sure you'll love this! :)
Story (10) because this is not your usual manga/anime, it has a unique plot with lots of twists and surprises as you read
Art and Character (10) I liked the drawing of the characters and they are all cute!
Enjoyment (10) because i enjoyed a lot reading this manga, I never got bored reading this.
Overall (8) I recommend this manga to everyone out there! because it is full of adventures. I also love the cuteness of everything!! the love story (although they're too young XD), value for friendship, family and alot more. I gave it a 7 because I'm disappointed at the ending! It was released just recently and the author seemed to rush the last chapter. T_T I really hope there is a sequel to this manga as it left me hanging!, there are things left unsolved. I guess the 180-chapter isn't enough XD
Althougghhh!! I'm sure you'll love this! :)
ReaderElaine5
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Gakuen Alice review
Personally, Gakuen Alice was one of the first Mangas' that I've read. It's very different from any other Shoujo Mangas. Why? The love in this story is different from any other I've read. The emotions are very light but later on dwell deeper and deeper. I'm not just talking about love here. I'm talking about Mikan's (the main female character) feelings for her friends and family.
The story is even better. There's not witches or Harry Potter magic really in this story. Everything is centered around 'Alices' which are the special power that each student at the Academy holds. There are different Alice forms as well. (Might be a Spoiler: Some people with the fourth alice form can die from using their power too much.) I loved that little twist with the Alice forms.
The characters are very well done. Each is different, none of them except Mikan were a cliche. Everyone was different in this story from other mangas.
If you love anything that has to do with powers, great comedy or a very well done love story than read Gakuen Alice. I promise you that you will love it. Even if it seems a bit childish at first...keep on reading. It's truly a wonderful story.
The story is even better. There's not witches or Harry Potter magic really in this story. Everything is centered around 'Alices' which are the special power that each student at the Academy holds. There are different Alice forms as well. (Might be a Spoiler: Some people with the fourth alice form can die from using their power too much.) I loved that little twist with the Alice forms.
The characters are very well done. Each is different, none of them except Mikan were a cliche. Everyone was different in this story from other mangas.
If you love anything that has to do with powers, great comedy or a very well done love story than read Gakuen Alice. I promise you that you will love it. Even if it seems a bit childish at first...keep on reading. It's truly a wonderful story.
alidan10
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Gakuen Alice 's review
Gakuen Alice, it's now one of them anime classics. Well, that's what I classify it as. I'm kind of surprised that not many people have reviewed this manga considering the anime was quite popular...
Well, the story is about a girl named Mikan Sakura who finds out her best friend Hotaru Imai has transferred to a 'genius school' called Gakuen Alice or Alice Academy. Desperate on not letting er friend go, she decides to run away from home and join her friend in this new school. Upon miraculously entering this school, she learns that it is a school for kids who have special powers called Alices.
Story: 9
I love the story. I found it very unique with these Alices and how the school has been categorised into different sections, depending on Alices. I have heard many times that the story gets dark. That's very true. As you go through the manga, you discover the secrets of this academy and how dark it really is. Yes Alices look fun to have but with an Alice comes responsibility.
Art: 9
The art is beautiful. Everyone is detailed though looks can sometimes be re-used. I loved how the festivals were drawn. Everything was bright and fun-looking. Not every manga details their festivals. As usual, there isn't much I am able to say about art.
Character: 9
Like the art, it is well done but can be re-used. I mean, if you look at Natsume and Ruka/Luca verse Hotaru and Mikan, you can see how both relationships are very similar, as are the characters. One is cold, the other is more innocent and nice.
Other than that little that one thing I love the characters! There are so many loveable characters in this manga like Natsume, Tsubasa and You-chan. Ruka is very special too. They all have their awsum quirks that make you love them. Natsume himself is very hard to replace. While waiting for a new chapter, I continuously try and find a substitute for him but no character so far is so cold yet very protective as him.
Everyone also develops. You see their emotions, it's not the same emotions throughout the whole series. Mikan, what I like about her is that she's dense but not too dense. I find that the main characters tend to be too too dense for my liking. Everyone goes through their tough times and you learn about what made them who they are now.
Enjoyment and Overall: 9
I love this series so so much. Everything about it is enjoyable. There's basically a bit of everything, action, adventure, romance, drama, supernatural... There are lots. I would increase the score to 10 but that depends if the ending impresses me or not. I'm hoping that it'll be very very satisfying! (:
Well, the story is about a girl named Mikan Sakura who finds out her best friend Hotaru Imai has transferred to a 'genius school' called Gakuen Alice or Alice Academy. Desperate on not letting er friend go, she decides to run away from home and join her friend in this new school. Upon miraculously entering this school, she learns that it is a school for kids who have special powers called Alices.
Story: 9
I love the story. I found it very unique with these Alices and how the school has been categorised into different sections, depending on Alices. I have heard many times that the story gets dark. That's very true. As you go through the manga, you discover the secrets of this academy and how dark it really is. Yes Alices look fun to have but with an Alice comes responsibility.
Art: 9
The art is beautiful. Everyone is detailed though looks can sometimes be re-used. I loved how the festivals were drawn. Everything was bright and fun-looking. Not every manga details their festivals. As usual, there isn't much I am able to say about art.
Character: 9
Like the art, it is well done but can be re-used. I mean, if you look at Natsume and Ruka/Luca verse Hotaru and Mikan, you can see how both relationships are very similar, as are the characters. One is cold, the other is more innocent and nice.
Other than that little that one thing I love the characters! There are so many loveable characters in this manga like Natsume, Tsubasa and You-chan. Ruka is very special too. They all have their awsum quirks that make you love them. Natsume himself is very hard to replace. While waiting for a new chapter, I continuously try and find a substitute for him but no character so far is so cold yet very protective as him.
Everyone also develops. You see their emotions, it's not the same emotions throughout the whole series. Mikan, what I like about her is that she's dense but not too dense. I find that the main characters tend to be too too dense for my liking. Everyone goes through their tough times and you learn about what made them who they are now.
Enjoyment and Overall: 9
I love this series so so much. Everything about it is enjoyable. There's basically a bit of everything, action, adventure, romance, drama, supernatural... There are lots. I would increase the score to 10 but that depends if the ending impresses me or not. I'm hoping that it'll be very very satisfying! (:
maggiic6
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Gakuen Alice 's review
this manga had everything
romance, action, alot of adventure, school life. magic.......
and it wasnt like one of those cheesy super girl who has powers kinda manga
it was something else....
the art was really good
and what i really liked is that all of mikan's classmates had a character info and you would see the same ppl throughout the story and you would know their names......and you would also see different ppl as well :P
and as the story progressed, it got more serious ad it was just really good........
so if you dont give this at least a rating of 8 or higher
then there is something wrong with you :P jk
everyone has their own opinions...
romance, action, alot of adventure, school life. magic.......
and it wasnt like one of those cheesy super girl who has powers kinda manga
it was something else....
the art was really good
and what i really liked is that all of mikan's classmates had a character info and you would see the same ppl throughout the story and you would know their names......and you would also see different ppl as well :P
and as the story progressed, it got more serious ad it was just really good........
so if you dont give this at least a rating of 8 or higher
then there is something wrong with you :P jk
everyone has their own opinions...
lucille01215
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Gakuen Alice 's review
Gakuen Alice might be a shoujo manga, but it is none like I have ever seen. The story is about a young girl named Mikan Sakura, who had never had a better friend than Hotaru Imai. But, when Hotaru is discovered to have a special ability called an 'Alice', she transfers to a private school named 'Gakuen Alice (Alice Academy)'. Hearing horrible rumors of that academy, Mikan runs away from home without telling her guardian, her grandfather (her parents are deceased and not much is known about them).
When she stood upon the gates of the academy, Mikan discovers she had an Alice as well, and is soon transferred to the academy! But, why is the academy so secretive? Why are the teachers and principal keeping such a close eye on her? And...could this somehow involve her mother?
This is a must-read-manga, for it perfectly blends comedy, mystery, and action all together with a hint of romance.
When she stood upon the gates of the academy, Mikan discovers she had an Alice as well, and is soon transferred to the academy! But, why is the academy so secretive? Why are the teachers and principal keeping such a close eye on her? And...could this somehow involve her mother?
This is a must-read-manga, for it perfectly blends comedy, mystery, and action all together with a hint of romance.
Yukina_Tsu6
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Gakuen Alice 's review
It was never really my intention to read or watch Gakuen Alice, but while searching for characters Romi Paku voiced, I found out that Natsume was voiced by her so I gave it a go. I didn't know what to expect, so when I finally started watching it, I was surprised and here's why:
Story:
The beginning of the story is simple and very shojou-like where a young female protagonist discovers she had magical powers and attended a new school (sort of like Kamichama Karin). To be honest, if I wasn't kept slightly entertained by the anime, I would've put the manga down imediately. The story remains simple for about 4 volumes and then the plot starts to thicken and darken. At this point, it starts to become more like a 12-13+ manga, unlike the anime, which was aimed at a younger audience. The story has a nice balance of 'happy' and 'sad' moments, leaving hooked and wanting to read more. The parts of the story which really stuck with me were the relationships between Mikan and her friends. As the story progresses through the darker arcs, you begin to symphathise with them and understand their feelings (I cried during one part). The story has everything - romance, comedy, betrayal, fighting - you name it and it has it, which is one of the reasons why I continued reading it. So overall, if you can muster enough motivation to read past volume 4, the story is worth reading through and is very well thought out (to the point where it starts to become unpredictable).
Art:
The art at the beginning (as with most mangas) isn't as good as the art in the later volumes. However, as you read through you begin to realise that each character is growing and this is clearly shown in the art. For exaple, if you compare the art of chater 1 to chapter 140, you can see that each character has grown and they start to look more middle school-like. The expressions are drawn really well (although the tears can be too thick.)
Character:
Ah, the characters. This'll take a while. Each character plays an important part in the manga. I won't go into detail with Mikan since she's the protagonist, but the more I read, the more I believe that Mikan is growing up. She goes through a lot throughout the story and soon starts to think for herself instead of being the spoilt girl she was at the beginningof the story. Hotaru, Mikan's best friend, doesn't really chage much in attitude, but as the story progresses, she becomes more open to her feelings and sharing her ideas with others. Ruka - you can't help but feel sorry for him - is a great asset to Natsume as a best friend as Natsume only tells Ruka about his thoughts and feelings. In a way, he was able to help Natsume out of the darkness. And Natsume, being the main male character, has one of those close-to-darkness stories enveloping him. Natsume changes the most in the series and I becomes probably the most noble character. His character changes drastically, but he doesn't turn into one of those who-blush-whenever-they-see-the-girl-they-love types (like Syaoran) and its quite surprising what he decides to do and how he does it. He is one of those characters who you can't help but want to root for. Anyways, many character's pasts are revealed, leading to character development and there is a wide range of different characters, both good and bad.
Enjoyment:
I enjoyed reading Gakuen Alice very much. The comedy was hilarious is some places and the gets really interesting. Each character, with their own unique personality, makes this manga enjoyable (especially when Tsubasa teases Ruka and Natsume~)
Overall:
Need you ask? Although I wasn't very satisfied with how the anime turned out, I can say with certainty that the manga is worth reading. To really feel for the characters you have to read it slowly and with feeling. The art is not the best, but very good nonetheless. Characters are lovely and entertaining. Story is one of the best and most indepth out there. I would recommend this to any shojo manga lover as well as those who like stories with a lot of turmoil.
Story:
The beginning of the story is simple and very shojou-like where a young female protagonist discovers she had magical powers and attended a new school (sort of like Kamichama Karin). To be honest, if I wasn't kept slightly entertained by the anime, I would've put the manga down imediately. The story remains simple for about 4 volumes and then the plot starts to thicken and darken. At this point, it starts to become more like a 12-13+ manga, unlike the anime, which was aimed at a younger audience. The story has a nice balance of 'happy' and 'sad' moments, leaving hooked and wanting to read more. The parts of the story which really stuck with me were the relationships between Mikan and her friends. As the story progresses through the darker arcs, you begin to symphathise with them and understand their feelings (I cried during one part). The story has everything - romance, comedy, betrayal, fighting - you name it and it has it, which is one of the reasons why I continued reading it. So overall, if you can muster enough motivation to read past volume 4, the story is worth reading through and is very well thought out (to the point where it starts to become unpredictable).
Art:
The art at the beginning (as with most mangas) isn't as good as the art in the later volumes. However, as you read through you begin to realise that each character is growing and this is clearly shown in the art. For exaple, if you compare the art of chater 1 to chapter 140, you can see that each character has grown and they start to look more middle school-like. The expressions are drawn really well (although the tears can be too thick.)
Character:
Ah, the characters. This'll take a while. Each character plays an important part in the manga. I won't go into detail with Mikan since she's the protagonist, but the more I read, the more I believe that Mikan is growing up. She goes through a lot throughout the story and soon starts to think for herself instead of being the spoilt girl she was at the beginningof the story. Hotaru, Mikan's best friend, doesn't really chage much in attitude, but as the story progresses, she becomes more open to her feelings and sharing her ideas with others. Ruka - you can't help but feel sorry for him - is a great asset to Natsume as a best friend as Natsume only tells Ruka about his thoughts and feelings. In a way, he was able to help Natsume out of the darkness. And Natsume, being the main male character, has one of those close-to-darkness stories enveloping him. Natsume changes the most in the series and I becomes probably the most noble character. His character changes drastically, but he doesn't turn into one of those who-blush-whenever-they-see-the-girl-they-love types (like Syaoran) and its quite surprising what he decides to do and how he does it. He is one of those characters who you can't help but want to root for. Anyways, many character's pasts are revealed, leading to character development and there is a wide range of different characters, both good and bad.
Enjoyment:
I enjoyed reading Gakuen Alice very much. The comedy was hilarious is some places and the gets really interesting. Each character, with their own unique personality, makes this manga enjoyable (especially when Tsubasa teases Ruka and Natsume~)
Overall:
Need you ask? Although I wasn't very satisfied with how the anime turned out, I can say with certainty that the manga is worth reading. To really feel for the characters you have to read it slowly and with feeling. The art is not the best, but very good nonetheless. Characters are lovely and entertaining. Story is one of the best and most indepth out there. I would recommend this to any shojo manga lover as well as those who like stories with a lot of turmoil.
winnett14
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Gakuen Alice 's review
I had originally planned to review this manga once it was over (which would’ve been in a a couple of volumes), but I re-decided because of the relatively small fan-base Gakuen Alice has conjured up in the past few years. I feel as if I should step in and give this manga some recognition it deserves. But first (before I get into the details), imagine that you’re a kid again. Except that in this new childhood, you’re given super powers (called "alices"), money, toys, and guess what? You never have to see your parents. It does sound enticing, let’s be honest, and even more so
to our adult selves, but you really can’t help but see the possible effects this spoilt environment could have on a child, right? This is Gakuen Alice (lit. Alice Academy), and though I won’t say it’s the darkest long-running shoujo I’ve ever seen, I will say that it is the darkest long-running shoujo that I’m still following.
Mikan Sakura (the protagonist) is a Mary-Sue, without a doubt. She’s cheerful, cute, optimistic and energetic, and in the words of the mangaka, Higuchi Tachibana, she “forgets her worries quickly, and is very dependent on others”. (Even her name sounds like something out of a moe-generator!). Anyways, we first meet her on a quest to get in contact with her best friend, Hotaru, and after following her own life’s philosophy (“never give up!”) she manages to track her down in Tokyo. Mikan (a 10-year-old girl) then travels from her little village all the way to the city in hopes of reuniting with her friend.
And she does. She arrives at the gates of a place called Alice Academy. Then almost by “coincidence” (and I say this in hyphens for a very good reason), she meets a ill-tempered boy, Natsume, and gets enrolled into the academy through a series of coincidental events. In the beginning, Gakuen Alice begins as a very sweet and childish comedy, introducing Mikan Sakura to the world of alices. She plays dodge ball, she goes shopping, she laughs, and, of course, Mikan is occasionally homesick, and she cries.
If not for the occasional dark undertones so early on, we may believe that’s all G.A. has to offer (a heartwarming slice-of-life story about a simple girl). But starting as early as chapter 10, it becomes clear that “alices” play a much bigger part in the world (as well as Mikan’s ultimate destiny). The story then takes on a dark tone-shift every other arc until halfway through the manga; it is then when it stops becoming a sweet “feel-good” manga, and something more horrific for a ten-year-old to experience.
And that is Gakuen Alice.
The characters are good --they’re loveable, but ultimately, a bit flawed. Lots of the main characters are actually built on top of high school tropes (cold girl, bad boy, nice guy, etc. etc), and though they begin quite cliche, the mangaka, Higuchi Tachibana, provides a great back-story for them. The dark nature in some of them seem unconvincing for their age, but I don't imagine the story working any other way. Not only that, reasons for the character's motivations are established quite later on, which may provide a greater re-read value for the beginning. On the other hand, the side characters are completely original. Mikan's new friends aren't just some faceless girls (or guys) who chatter about games and love. Every single one of them have an interesting and fresh personality, and even though they are absolutely charming, they never outshine the flawed main characters.
(But seriously, it's a story about a bunch of 10-year-olds. Don't expect to find the meaning of life within them. This is a manga that was originally meant for kids/pre-teens, but as the years past, the Gakuen Alice fan base grew up, and Higuchi Tachibana slowly made the story more mature with each passing year. I would seriously not recommend this manga for a child to read. There are some really, really brutal parts in here.)
The plot of Gakuen Alice is hard to describe: it is mostly about Mikan's life in the academy, but it constantly switches between slice-of-life drama, and straight-up action. The shift between these two sub-genres isn't overpowering because, unlike most shoujos, Gakuen Alice actually has definable arcs. And as someone who has helped contribute to the official Gakuen Alice timeline, I have to say, the plot is pretty air-tight. There are few things that aren't explained clearly, and even then, they are negligible. As a result of that, the answer to some very important questions posed within the manga are weak, but not entirely implausible, and since this manga is fantasy, it's acceptable. And most surprisingly: lots of effort actually went into the creation of this manga. Some things are purposefully put into the beginning of G.A. just so that the mangaka could bring it back up 100 chapters later.
Oh, and I must say... the art. I don't personally rate on art, but I do feel that it needs to be talked about. At first, it starts out as a more childish version of the standard “shoujo-art style”. During the course of the series, however, it evolves into something a tad more unique, that is, up until the last 50 chapters or so. The art style seems to be devolving recently, and often looks lazily drawn. There seems to be no reason as to why it looks the way it does, so I suppose I can't say much more: it honestly looks like a typical shoujo.
Despite that criticism, Gakuen Alice is a very thrilling experience even to the most refined shoujo readers. It contains a lot of sub-genres within, ranging from young love to extreme turmoil. Furthermore, it does it within one completely static setting: the Academy. It manages to take a twist on a beloved shoujo set-up, and because of that, I'll be rounding it's 7.0 up to an 7.5 (good), with my overall rating as an 8.0. Go into Gakuen Alice expecting the best, and you'll come out mildly disturbed by the worst.
Gakuen Alice is certainly no overwhelming masterpiece, but it really does deserve all the praise it gets.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Mikan Sakura (the protagonist) is a Mary-Sue, without a doubt. She’s cheerful, cute, optimistic and energetic, and in the words of the mangaka, Higuchi Tachibana, she “forgets her worries quickly, and is very dependent on others”. (Even her name sounds like something out of a moe-generator!). Anyways, we first meet her on a quest to get in contact with her best friend, Hotaru, and after following her own life’s philosophy (“never give up!”) she manages to track her down in Tokyo. Mikan (a 10-year-old girl) then travels from her little village all the way to the city in hopes of reuniting with her friend.
And she does. She arrives at the gates of a place called Alice Academy. Then almost by “coincidence” (and I say this in hyphens for a very good reason), she meets a ill-tempered boy, Natsume, and gets enrolled into the academy through a series of coincidental events. In the beginning, Gakuen Alice begins as a very sweet and childish comedy, introducing Mikan Sakura to the world of alices. She plays dodge ball, she goes shopping, she laughs, and, of course, Mikan is occasionally homesick, and she cries.
If not for the occasional dark undertones so early on, we may believe that’s all G.A. has to offer (a heartwarming slice-of-life story about a simple girl). But starting as early as chapter 10, it becomes clear that “alices” play a much bigger part in the world (as well as Mikan’s ultimate destiny). The story then takes on a dark tone-shift every other arc until halfway through the manga; it is then when it stops becoming a sweet “feel-good” manga, and something more horrific for a ten-year-old to experience.
And that is Gakuen Alice.
The characters are good --they’re loveable, but ultimately, a bit flawed. Lots of the main characters are actually built on top of high school tropes (cold girl, bad boy, nice guy, etc. etc), and though they begin quite cliche, the mangaka, Higuchi Tachibana, provides a great back-story for them. The dark nature in some of them seem unconvincing for their age, but I don't imagine the story working any other way. Not only that, reasons for the character's motivations are established quite later on, which may provide a greater re-read value for the beginning. On the other hand, the side characters are completely original. Mikan's new friends aren't just some faceless girls (or guys) who chatter about games and love. Every single one of them have an interesting and fresh personality, and even though they are absolutely charming, they never outshine the flawed main characters.
(But seriously, it's a story about a bunch of 10-year-olds. Don't expect to find the meaning of life within them. This is a manga that was originally meant for kids/pre-teens, but as the years past, the Gakuen Alice fan base grew up, and Higuchi Tachibana slowly made the story more mature with each passing year. I would seriously not recommend this manga for a child to read. There are some really, really brutal parts in here.)
The plot of Gakuen Alice is hard to describe: it is mostly about Mikan's life in the academy, but it constantly switches between slice-of-life drama, and straight-up action. The shift between these two sub-genres isn't overpowering because, unlike most shoujos, Gakuen Alice actually has definable arcs. And as someone who has helped contribute to the official Gakuen Alice timeline, I have to say, the plot is pretty air-tight. There are few things that aren't explained clearly, and even then, they are negligible. As a result of that, the answer to some very important questions posed within the manga are weak, but not entirely implausible, and since this manga is fantasy, it's acceptable. And most surprisingly: lots of effort actually went into the creation of this manga. Some things are purposefully put into the beginning of G.A. just so that the mangaka could bring it back up 100 chapters later.
Oh, and I must say... the art. I don't personally rate on art, but I do feel that it needs to be talked about. At first, it starts out as a more childish version of the standard “shoujo-art style”. During the course of the series, however, it evolves into something a tad more unique, that is, up until the last 50 chapters or so. The art style seems to be devolving recently, and often looks lazily drawn. There seems to be no reason as to why it looks the way it does, so I suppose I can't say much more: it honestly looks like a typical shoujo.
Despite that criticism, Gakuen Alice is a very thrilling experience even to the most refined shoujo readers. It contains a lot of sub-genres within, ranging from young love to extreme turmoil. Furthermore, it does it within one completely static setting: the Academy. It manages to take a twist on a beloved shoujo set-up, and because of that, I'll be rounding it's 7.0 up to an 7.5 (good), with my overall rating as an 8.0. Go into Gakuen Alice expecting the best, and you'll come out mildly disturbed by the worst.
Gakuen Alice is certainly no overwhelming masterpiece, but it really does deserve all the praise it gets.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Moon_Light12
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Gakuen Alice 's review
Addictive And Inspiring
the story is very nice. though the characters are somewhat, very young, you can still feel their hardships, sorrows, happiness, and triumphs. personally, i learned that there is always a bright side even in the darkest moments. while reading there are some funny parts and some parts that can make you cry. it's a story about real life and freindships.
A brave little girl chasing after her best friend to only find uncovering her past and her destiny. I'm really amazed by the bravery and courage of this little girl.
the story is very nice. though the characters are somewhat, very young, you can still feel their hardships, sorrows, happiness, and triumphs. personally, i learned that there is always a bright side even in the darkest moments. while reading there are some funny parts and some parts that can make you cry. it's a story about real life and freindships.
A brave little girl chasing after her best friend to only find uncovering her past and her destiny. I'm really amazed by the bravery and courage of this little girl.
Alpharon5
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Gakuen Alice 's review
[Review] Gakuen Alice
"I haven't love so much a girl until I met you" - Luca/Ruka Nōgi
"I don't like that ugly face, so smile" - Hotaru Imai
This manga was the reason I started with anime & related stuff.
I stopped reading it because in Spain they only released until the volume 20 :(
And now, being nostalgic, I finished the anime and right after, reading it.
I'll try not to make spoilers ~
Story: 9/10
It starts really simple, Mikan (the main character) only wants to follow her best friend (Hotaru) that leaves from her town to go to an elite academy and discovers that if she wants to assist the same school as Hotaru she needs to have an "alice" (special power) like her.
However, there's much more behind this. The teachers, the students and even the academy itself has a big secret and darkness inside.
Between the arcs they are very much plot points that'll make you surprise, sad or any other emotion. And Mikan's past/ future story (well, all character in general) has an emotive development until the end. I'm sure that if you aren't a non-sensitive person, you will feel one with the story.
What I kind of dislike a bit is that it's an open plot, the end makes you feel that there is more, but it isn't.
Art: 8.5/10
The art is simple, too. I've seen very bad drawings in other anime/manga, but this one is quite nice. I must admit that the facial expressions and actions in general are perfectly drawn, you really get to know how the characters are feeling. And like they said before, every detail in the background is well drawn (for examples in the Christmas event or sport festival), too.
... Sorry but the character design are not my taste in general --- okay, when I discovered it for the first time I found it awesome~ how obvious was that I never saw other drawings :D
Character and development: 10/10
And this one is very obvious. The four main characters (Mikan, Hotaru, Natsume and Luca-pyon), each of them has their own story. Not only these four, every single character that appears has a function there. They're people who at first you will hate but, at the final arc, you will love them.
I don't wanna say so much about this because spoilers, I can only say that Tachibana did a great job with the development of every character.
Enjoyment: 9/10
I laughed, cried, was angry when things doesn't go well.
This anime starts with a lot of comedy, although when the story goes on, comedy is less, but it's still there. The more I continued reading, the most I wanted to read more, I've finished it in three days I think, lol.
Still, I enjoyed it so much, every arc was interesting and a clue to the final arc.
General: 9/10
If it wouldn't be because of the art and the final, I'm sure it'd be a masterpiece.
I really recommend to read this, the anime is too short compared how much deeper it is.
Note: This is my first review, I hope I've done it clear and well ;-;
"I haven't love so much a girl until I met you" - Luca/Ruka Nōgi
"I don't like that ugly face, so smile" - Hotaru Imai
This manga was the reason I started with anime & related stuff.
I stopped reading it because in Spain they only released until the volume 20 :(
And now, being nostalgic, I finished the anime and right after, reading it.
I'll try not to make spoilers ~
Story: 9/10
It starts really simple, Mikan (the main character) only wants to follow her best friend (Hotaru) that leaves from her town to go to an elite academy and discovers that if she wants to assist the same school as Hotaru she needs to have an "alice" (special power) like her.
However, there's much more behind this. The teachers, the students and even the academy itself has a big secret and darkness inside.
Between the arcs they are very much plot points that'll make you surprise, sad or any other emotion. And Mikan's past/ future story (well, all character in general) has an emotive development until the end. I'm sure that if you aren't a non-sensitive person, you will feel one with the story.
What I kind of dislike a bit is that it's an open plot, the end makes you feel that there is more, but it isn't.
Art: 8.5/10
The art is simple, too. I've seen very bad drawings in other anime/manga, but this one is quite nice. I must admit that the facial expressions and actions in general are perfectly drawn, you really get to know how the characters are feeling. And like they said before, every detail in the background is well drawn (for examples in the Christmas event or sport festival), too.
... Sorry but the character design are not my taste in general --- okay, when I discovered it for the first time I found it awesome~ how obvious was that I never saw other drawings :D
Character and development: 10/10
And this one is very obvious. The four main characters (Mikan, Hotaru, Natsume and Luca-pyon), each of them has their own story. Not only these four, every single character that appears has a function there. They're people who at first you will hate but, at the final arc, you will love them.
I don't wanna say so much about this because spoilers, I can only say that Tachibana did a great job with the development of every character.
Enjoyment: 9/10
I laughed, cried, was angry when things doesn't go well.
This anime starts with a lot of comedy, although when the story goes on, comedy is less, but it's still there. The more I continued reading, the most I wanted to read more, I've finished it in three days I think, lol.
Still, I enjoyed it so much, every arc was interesting and a clue to the final arc.
General: 9/10
If it wouldn't be because of the art and the final, I'm sure it'd be a masterpiece.
I really recommend to read this, the anime is too short compared how much deeper it is.
Note: This is my first review, I hope I've done it clear and well ;-;
N0tActive6
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Gakuen Alice 's review
The gakuen alice manga is one of the best manga i have been reading, these past few months. Thre is comedy, romance, magic. I just gotta read it as soon as a chapter comes out. The story about Mikan and her parents past are the most interesting.
I have also watched the anime version of this manga. The anime was still great but this is better because it involves a lot more story. Gakuen alice manga is very moving, i found it hard to guess what's going to happen next.
I cant think of any negative comments about gakuen alice. I highly reccomned it.
I have also watched the anime version of this manga. The anime was still great but this is better because it involves a lot more story. Gakuen alice manga is very moving, i found it hard to guess what's going to happen next.
I cant think of any negative comments about gakuen alice. I highly reccomned it.
k_la_anne13
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Gakuen Alice review
You don't expect a "magical girl" manga to punch you in the gut with so many emotions but this was one of the many surprises that awaited me when I picked up this series. What sounds like such a childish concept on the surface (girl follows her best friend to a magical school and discovers abilities of her own), delves into some intensely dark territory spanning illicit affairs, conspiracies, tragedy and facing the difficult task identifying friend from foe, lie from truth and even right from wrong.
I gave it a 9 overall, but a 7 for both story (the world was needlessly complicated and art). However the characters more than make up for that.
I was astounded at the delicate balance of light and happy moments that were interspersed with angst and so much sadness. The relationships that develop between the characters especially Hotaru, Mikan, Narumi, Natsume, Ruka and Bear happen at a natural and organic pace. To see them overcome their barriers and learn to trust and depend on each other is really endearing to see, especially in the face of some of the heartbreak that they must survive together.
I don't really know what to make of this Manga, it gripped me and I just kept coming back to it, even when I would insist that my heart just couldn't take it anymore. All I know is that it sucked me in completely, had me laughing and crying, and often, I would think about the chapter I just read for days afterwards. The world can be a little complicated at times, but you just keep coming back to the characters who are so great. Nastume especially does the angsty hero so well, especially as brave little boy who just wants to protect those who are dear to him - no matter what the cost.
It's one of my classics for sure.
I gave it a 9 overall, but a 7 for both story (the world was needlessly complicated and art). However the characters more than make up for that.
I was astounded at the delicate balance of light and happy moments that were interspersed with angst and so much sadness. The relationships that develop between the characters especially Hotaru, Mikan, Narumi, Natsume, Ruka and Bear happen at a natural and organic pace. To see them overcome their barriers and learn to trust and depend on each other is really endearing to see, especially in the face of some of the heartbreak that they must survive together.
I don't really know what to make of this Manga, it gripped me and I just kept coming back to it, even when I would insist that my heart just couldn't take it anymore. All I know is that it sucked me in completely, had me laughing and crying, and often, I would think about the chapter I just read for days afterwards. The world can be a little complicated at times, but you just keep coming back to the characters who are so great. Nastume especially does the angsty hero so well, especially as brave little boy who just wants to protect those who are dear to him - no matter what the cost.
It's one of my classics for sure.
aish_y14
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Gakuen Alice review
This is a MUST read!! This is my favourite manga of all time. I watched the anime back when I was 12, and was very unsatisfied as I knew so much more could be done with the storyline and romance. And then I found the manga and I instantly fell in love. One thing for me that is a staple in manga is the characters, and how much development they get. With gakuen alice, you grow to love every single character and it really does make you feel a strange nostalgic feeling as you feel apart of their journey. It does an amazing job of
being a great balance between light hearted moments and others i was sobbing at and there wasnt a chapter i was ever bored with. The romance was amazing. I loved how mikan and natsume we’re almost fated to be with eachother, it really added a lot of depth to their already adorable romance. The manga does a great job also at world building, we are shown a great amount of detail with the school and alices, it really seems realistic! I reread this manga as a 19 year old today and it still brought me so much nostalgia and joy with every page. The one thing i feel could have been better was the ending. I had a strange empty feeling back at 13 and still today after reading it. It was partially ofc due to me being on such a journey with these characters that it felt sad i couldn’t experience more, but i realised if the ending was better i would have felt less sad and more a happy sad feeling? I think the ending could have been more passionate with mikan and natsumes reunion, and ofc spoilers))) but i mean how are we meant to be satisfied with hotaru still missing? It felt a bit rushed but dont let this put you off as the ride itself of reading the manga makes up for it. I also noticed that a sequel manga was made, which I recommend people read after gakuen alice as it is set after the ending and i didnt find it out till recently. It shows us some adorable mikan and nastume moments as they are older. It isnt finished being translated into english so im waiting for more chapters but maybe we will finally get a more satisfying ending with this manga to make up for it, aka it would make the entire thing perfect:)
Silvermuffin6
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Gakuen Alice review
Plot - Mikan Sakura grew up with her grandfather on the countryside of Japan. When her best friend, Hotaru, transfers to a prestigious school in Tokyo, Mikan follows her. The school is actually an elite Academy for gifted people with "Alices," an ability that is unique depending on the individual being. Once Mikan arrives to the gates of the school, she encounters an Alice teacher named Narumi, gets enrolled due to a series of events, and is told that she possesses a rare Alice. Despite her initial view of the so-called greatness to the school, Mikan slowly discovers that beneath the grand facade of the
Academy, there is a never-ending stream of lies and buried secrets. The school's increasingly manipulative and sinister actions towards her make it a dangerous place to be. Little does Mikan know that her enrollment in Alice Academy set the gears in motion to an even greater tragedy.
Storyline - When you start reading the manga you may think the story is about, well friendship and romance like any other shoujo manga but that infact is not true for Gakuen Alice. This manga isn't an ordinary shoujo manga. The manga is more focused on friendship rather than romance. Its beautifully written and drawn. The storyline gradually becomes more and more compelling leaving you wanting more.
Story- 9/10
Characters - Well Gakuen Alice is a manga with many characters and each of these characters is important in their own way. The character development is very good. You get to more and more about each character. Each character is funny, unique and unforgettable
Characters - 10/10
Art - The art is pretty good from the very start and it improves with each arc.
Art- 10/10
Enjoyment - Well this is one manga that I think everyone will enjoy. Its not just humorous but also very feely. You'll be laughing like a maniac but at points crying like a baby.
Enjoyment - 10/10
Overall- Overall the manga was truly enjoyable. The protagonists story is one that I think everyone would want to follow through the end. I highly recommend this manga
Overall - 10/10
Storyline - When you start reading the manga you may think the story is about, well friendship and romance like any other shoujo manga but that infact is not true for Gakuen Alice. This manga isn't an ordinary shoujo manga. The manga is more focused on friendship rather than romance. Its beautifully written and drawn. The storyline gradually becomes more and more compelling leaving you wanting more.
Story- 9/10
Characters - Well Gakuen Alice is a manga with many characters and each of these characters is important in their own way. The character development is very good. You get to more and more about each character. Each character is funny, unique and unforgettable
Characters - 10/10
Art - The art is pretty good from the very start and it improves with each arc.
Art- 10/10
Enjoyment - Well this is one manga that I think everyone will enjoy. Its not just humorous but also very feely. You'll be laughing like a maniac but at points crying like a baby.
Enjoyment - 10/10
Overall- Overall the manga was truly enjoyable. The protagonists story is one that I think everyone would want to follow through the end. I highly recommend this manga
Overall - 10/10
KyasutoNaito2
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Gakuen Alice review
By far, Gakuen Alice is basically my One and only favourite manga that I've read. The art in the early chapters of the manga wasn't the best really. But as it progressed further and further into the deepening plots, the author used darker tones, that really made the characters and scenes turn into something rather magical. I found the plotline o be interesting too. This isn't some typical shoujo manga with a cold guy and a laughing giggly girl falling in love. But it's something that makes it stand out, and what basically nobody could copy, or replace. The earlier chapters might point to a
rather cheesy manga, but I guarantee you, you will instantly become addicted after a twist has happened
I absolutely adore this manga, each and every day I pray for the new chapter because the final plot is making my heart race, wanting to see what ever so happened. And trust me almost none of the manga's I've read make me feel this way. I recommend it 100% top to bottom. I'm extremely passionate to reading this manga. Definitely NOT a boring read.
I absolutely adore this manga, each and every day I pray for the new chapter because the final plot is making my heart race, wanting to see what ever so happened. And trust me almost none of the manga's I've read make me feel this way. I recommend it 100% top to bottom. I'm extremely passionate to reading this manga. Definitely NOT a boring read.
Nibel1
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Gakuen Alice review
I was actually amazed at the plot because it's not the typical magic genre; this one totally hit my interest!
The anime was really good and interesting, but I didn't expect the manga to be this excellent, a work of a genius! Although the story in the anime was left hanging, it was well-explained in the manga (except for one character though, I didn't get to see his past).
I love how the characters developed from Natsume (how he fell in love with Mikan without so much rush), Mikan (on how she deserved to be called the academy's light), Hotaru (with her relationship with Mikan), Ruka (on how he fought for himself) until the last supporting characters.
The twists also evoked my interests, like just when you thought that an issue would come to an end, another conflict will rise. The only thing that got me a bit disappointed is the ending. I never thought that the main problem would be actually a predicament in the end. But still, I think that pretty tells the readers that it should go back to where it all started.
But what I loved the most about this series is that, although it was deemed as a shoujo manga, it's not the typical one where events are predictable. The scenes (kissing/hugging/intimate parts) aren't cliche and will actually give you the sense of giddiness.
The anime was really good and interesting, but I didn't expect the manga to be this excellent, a work of a genius! Although the story in the anime was left hanging, it was well-explained in the manga (except for one character though, I didn't get to see his past).
I love how the characters developed from Natsume (how he fell in love with Mikan without so much rush), Mikan (on how she deserved to be called the academy's light), Hotaru (with her relationship with Mikan), Ruka (on how he fought for himself) until the last supporting characters.
The twists also evoked my interests, like just when you thought that an issue would come to an end, another conflict will rise. The only thing that got me a bit disappointed is the ending. I never thought that the main problem would be actually a predicament in the end. But still, I think that pretty tells the readers that it should go back to where it all started.
But what I loved the most about this series is that, although it was deemed as a shoujo manga, it's not the typical one where events are predictable. The scenes (kissing/hugging/intimate parts) aren't cliche and will actually give you the sense of giddiness.
Knightmare_Otaku11
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Gakuen Alice review
If you are gonna read this, please read the whole thing through ^^ before drawing a conclusion. It was disappointing.
Gakuen alice is a part of my childhood. I saw the anime right after it got released but back then I didn't like reading manga so I didn't read the manga. Yesterday I finished all the chapter and as much as I would like to tell you my time was worth it, it wasn't. I loved everything about the manga. The story, the characters, art and I fell in love eventually.
You must be wondering what went wring right? It was completely rushed in the end because the production company lost its funding, they couldn't produce anymore and closed down. So the manga ended :)) tell me how can I judge this beautiful piece of work just because of a tragedy like that.
In my opinion, read it because you'll like it but don't read it if you don't like an open ending. I cried at the end a bit because of it.
Gakuen alice is a part of my childhood. I saw the anime right after it got released but back then I didn't like reading manga so I didn't read the manga. Yesterday I finished all the chapter and as much as I would like to tell you my time was worth it, it wasn't. I loved everything about the manga. The story, the characters, art and I fell in love eventually.
You must be wondering what went wring right? It was completely rushed in the end because the production company lost its funding, they couldn't produce anymore and closed down. So the manga ended :)) tell me how can I judge this beautiful piece of work just because of a tragedy like that.
In my opinion, read it because you'll like it but don't read it if you don't like an open ending. I cried at the end a bit because of it.
Gakuen Alice
Author
Higuchi, Tachibana
Artist
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