Manga hunter here and boy do I have some recommendations for you. I was watching a very old Anime music video (AMV) and went into a zodiac mood, so these recommendations all have something to do with the zodiac. Zodiac includes the Chinese zodiac with the animals and the constellation one as well. While we are at it, let’s tell each other what zodiac sign we are and what animal, so we can stay connected and enjoy these recommendations when we have the time.
By the way, here is the AMV that put me in a zodiac mood (please like the person of this YouTube channel):
Manga
Fruits Basket by: Natsuki Takaya (licensed by TokyoPop and relicensed by Yen Press)
(image from MyAnimeList)
Tohru Honda, an orphaned high-school girl, is taken in by the wealthy Shigure Sohma when he realizes she has nowhere else to go. However, the Sohma family shares a secret, and it isn’t long before Tohru discovers that there’s a reason why her classmates, Yuki and Kyo Sohma, never let girls get near them, and never talk about their lives before they lived with Shigure. And before she knows it, Tohru has become so tangled up in the lives of each member of the Sohma family that she couldn’t leave even if she wanted to.
As she learns more and more about the truth of the Sohma family and the nature of their secrets, she desperately searches for a way that she can save them. But what can one girl do, especially when it seems that she may have been part of someone’s plan all along . . .
(summary from Baka-Updates)
You guys must have saw this coming. I have read Fruits Basket, since I was in High School. I enjoyed watching the zodiac members turn into their zodiac animal when hugged by the opposite sex and Tohru’s reaction when they change back is pretty funny. It was also through this story that I became aware of the cat of the zodiac. I’m not sure where, but in another zodiac, the cat takes the place of the rabbit, so people born in the year of the rabbit are also year of the cat. Hooray for you! I would love to talk about this and the drama that appears as the story continued to the very end, but I don’t want to spoil it to the people who haven’t read it yet. I will also add that this was adapted into an anime, which was also funny, and the anime is already in the anime recommendation of my site. This is also in my manage collection, except that it is not a complete set until I find the last volume I am missing. I must HUNT for it.
Genjuu no Seiza by: Matsuri Akino (licensed by: TokyoPop)
(image from Baka-Updates)
Kamishina Fuuto would like to think he’s a normal boy, but he is the reincarnation of the High Priest of Darashaal, a tiny Asian country that has just celebrated the inauguration of… its new high priest. Clearly, only one of them is the true priest, and unfortunately for Fuuto, it is he. As the celestial guardians come to dispose of him, they discover that he is not, as their leader Naaga says, a fake. Fuuto just wants to be normal and live a normal life, but he is constantly drawn into trouble, as he has an extremely keen spiritual sense and the ability to soothe ghosts.
(Summary from TokyoPop)
This was a fun read and I heard that the ending sucked, but there were sequels for this manga, so I still have hope. This had the zodiac involved since the warriors of the main character (said to be the reincarnation of a priest) were based off of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. The main character likes to be in denial about his destiny, but that doesn’t stop him from helping others in need of his power. I especially love the chapters when spirits are involved. Only eight volumes were released into the States before the licensing company shut down, so it is best to read it online where you can, but do buy the volumes that are published just to have the blissful feeling of actually owning it.
Urami Koi, Koi, Urami Koi by: Akitaka
(image from Baka-Updates)
The Twelve City, a land governed by the leaders of the families who bear in their names the Chinese zodiac. In a city where youkai and humans coexist, the cat youkai who holds a grudge against the Rat Family appears in front of Nekuni Kyouichi, the head of the Rat Family. It’s a malice-covered Hateful cat who is aiming for his life. But that youkai is Nekogasaki Natsuho, who’s also extremely anxious around other people… Just like the saying “Curiosity killed the cat” goes, will these feelings also kill the cat?
(summary from Baka-Updates)
The story of the cat of the zodiac happens once again, but with a Demon twist. The cat of the zodiac is a demon and so are the descendants. The head of the families are the twelve members of the zodiac, but the main character in this is the rat of the zodiac and his interest in the cat of the zodiac. It has some romance and I love routing for the cat of the zodiac and the rat of the zodiac ship. There is also another animal added that was said could have been part of the zodiac, but it is an interesting twist and he is the main bad guy as far as I can tell. I would love to give more detail, but I don’t want to give too much spoilers.
Online Comic
Sinsi by: Jeong Eun-suk
(image from Baka-Updates)
The 12 animals of Zodiac are given powers to rule the time. However, the dog commits suicide, thus removing himself from his role. The rat and the cow attempt to find the 13th animal, the cat, to replace the dog.
However…
(summary from Sura’s Place)
The cat of the zodiac takes a star role in this online comic. The zodiac animals all have power and are in charge of time in the world, but with one zodiac member wanting to end humanity that might prove difficult. The cat of the zodiac is a girl in this one and based on what I have read, there is more to her past life and she might be falling in love with the rat of the zodiac. I also have to admit that her power as the cat is really cool. This hasn’t been updated for a while, but I hope for more translations as I look at the raws of the online comic.
Anime
(image from MyAnimeList)
The heroine, Tsukiko, enrolled to a school that was recently changed from all-boys school to co-ed. Since the area where the school is conveniently rural and the rather exclusive curriculums the school has, up until now the heroine is the only one female who enrolled to the school.
(summary from MyAnimeList)
This is not the Chinese Zodiac, but the Greek Zodiac constellations in the form of hot guys. I admit that this is definitely a reverse harem and this was a visual novel game. The heroine in the game had no eyes, but in the anime, her whole face was revealed and that made me excited, but each episode is very short and you never know which character she decided on. I actually thought it was good for laughs on my part.
Fairy Tail (licensed by FUNimation Entertainment)
(image from MyAnimeList)
A superficial but kind-hearted celestial mage, Lucy Heartfilia, joins a famous wizarding guild in Magnolia Town called Fairy Tail, where the members use their powers to earn rewards in exchange for fulfilling quests. Here she befriends an impetuous but faithful dragon-slayer wizard, Natsu Dragneel, who is scouring the land for his missing father. The two form a bond with fellow mages Erza Scarlet and Gray Fullbuster, and together they tackle daunting challenges, taking on several powerful allies and foes along the way.
(Summary from MyAnimeList)
The zodiac is involved with this anime through Lucy, who uses keys to summon spirits based on the Greek Zodiac. The powers of the zodiac granted through the keys are unique in their own way. This was actually my favorite concept in this anime and I even own all the keys of the zodiac from the anime. I wantch this anime on my spare time once in a while. As a side note, my favorite zodiac member in this anime is Leo.
Digimon Tamers (Flatiron Film Company)
(image from MyAnimeList)
Takato Matsuda, Ruki Matsuno, and Lee Jenrya are children who have, by fate, recieved real Digimon, unlike the imaginary ones in the card game they play. Each of the children, or “Digimon Tamers,” have their different views on how Digimon should be treated. But when other Digimon begin to appear around Japan, they must put aside their differences to fend off the digital intruders; even though Yamaki, who is the head of a secret organization called Hypnos is trying to eliminate all of the Digimon himself.
(summary from MyAnimeList)
This is the third season of the Digimon series. I bet some of you are wondering why this would be counted as a zodiac thing. Well, in one arc of the series there were enemy Digimon nicknamed guardians and they were based on the Chinese Zodiac. Only one Digimon from that enemy group became a good guy and that was the Rabbit of the Zodiac. The ending of this anime was a little sad, so heads up on that.
Visual Novel
Hitofuta Kitan by: Profitrolle
(Image from Visual Novel Database)
Our protagonist Hinokami Chie transfers to Tsukumori Gakuen due to her parents’ work. There she meets a black cat with two tails, and that’s when strange things start to happen; including the introduction of another transfer student.
Chie learns she is the owner of the ‘Hitofuta no Sho’ – a legendary scroll. With the cat’s guidance, she must face the responsibility of sealing a mysterious dark force gone astray…
(Summary from Visual Novel Database)
This Visual Novel is here because the evil beasts that need to be defeated are supposed to be based on the Zodiac. I want to give more information, but I don’t know much about this game. I just heard about it recently and read reviews. It sounds interesting and if an English version is out, I plan to play it. There is a review of this online, but it gives a lot of negatives, so just try to look pass that and just find the story. Heh, heh.
Click on the picture below for the review:
(Image from Breadmasterlee)
Starry☆Sky～in Winter～ by:Honeybee
(image from Visual Novel Database)
The fourth of the four Starry Sky games starring the characters from the drama CD’s of the same name.
Starry Sky takes place at Seigatsu Gakuen, a school which specializes in horoscopes, astronomy and other related topics. The main characters are all based on horoscopes.
Starry Sky Winter features Kazuki Shiranui (Aries), Hayato Aozora (Virgo) and Tsubasa Amaha (Aquarius).
(summary from Visual Novel Database)
This is the fourth installment of the Starry Sky Visual Novel series. There are three more before this one, but I like this one better since the characters are adorable. As mentioned with the anime, the boys are based on the zodiac, so enjoy this when you can.
Click on the picture below for the review on the arcs for this installment:
(image from Love-Colored Sky)
This was a pretty long post, but I hope you guys will enjoy all these works and as always, please support the creators of these works and the translators, as well as licensors, when you can.
Manga Hunter 