Bayangkan Terbang, Ubatku, Bercinta Apabila Masa Berhenti
Bayangkan Terbang
Language: Bahasa Malaysia
Publisher: Anjung Taipan Sdn. Bhd.
Cartoonist: Xu Pei Yu, Ke Ying Mei
Category : Shoujo
Bayangkan Terbang by Xu Pei Yu and Ke Ying Mei, write a touching story about teenagers making their way into the foray of the working environment. Cally Tang, a recent high school graduate, tries her luck at pursuing her passion of drawing by signing up at a reputable design and arts organization. She comes up with her own unique designs, hoping to catch the attention of potential buyers, but always ends up being shot down by her boss and delegated to more menial tasks. While passing fliers during one of many such occasions, she meets with a young boy, Hau, who incidentally is going through the troubles opposite to hers. Hau has an indispensable talent for music, and has no shortage of head-hunters looking for his hand, but he just can’t seem to find what’s right for him.
Without giving too much away, Bayangkan Terbang is an enjoyable read that incorporates the two contrasts of having an attractive plot with realism together well. The journeys that Cally and Hau respectively go through are easily representative of young working adults who are first trying their hand at earning their own living. With the right elements of hardship, rivalry and a touch of mutual infatuation injected in, Bayangkan Terbang is almost like a diary of real-life experiences given a touch of manga treatment. I wouldn’t classify it as shoujo, but it’s definitely not shonen either. Either way, it’s a great read for people who have a head on their shoulders.
Ubatku
Language: Bahasa Malaysia
Publisher: Art Square Creation Sdn. Bhd.
Cartoonist: Takamiya Satoru
Category : Shoujo (love)
Ubatku sets itself apart from the previous manga, in the sense that it deters completely away from the real world setting for an entirely fairy tale approach. Inori, of the Girl’s Witch Academy, is graduating from her final year. In order to complete her studies, she needs to make the most handsome boy in school, Aoi, fall in love with her. As luck would have it, Aoi is one of the coldest characters around, and hilarity ensues as Aoi tries time and again to get Aoi to fall for her.
The manga is a refreshing break from many of the over-the-top mushy stories we’ve been getting around here. There’s a fresh dose of humour to be found in Ubatku, but it doesn’t get to the point where it becomes irritating. Plus, there’s a very interesting part which keeps happening over and over again which lends a helping hand to the “hook” of the story, which I won’t tell so that you can find out about it yourself.
Bercinta Apabila Masa Berhenti
Language: Bahasa Malaysia
Publisher: Art Square Creation Sdn. Bhd.
Cartoonist: Nakamura Sayumi
Category : Shoujo
Bercinta Apabila Masa Berhenti has to be one of the best shoujo stories I’ve read till now. If you don’t believe me, wait until I explain the plot.
Nakamura Sayumi has written a perfect love story revolving around three childhood friends – Shinogu, a guy, and two girls, Haruhi and Moe. After junior high, Shinogu and Moe split ways with Haruhi when they pursue their education in different high schools. During this time, Shinogu and Moe’s relationship strengthens. But what happens when Haruhi suddenly turns up cute as a button at their school three years later? What buttons will she end up pushing?
To the author’s credit, she wraps up the ending beautifully, and sparks fly throughout the entire story. Since the characters are former friends, you’d expect things to turn out ugly, but Sayumi-san manages to keep the integrity of the characters as she tells the story. All in all, it is a worthwhile read, and definitely worth your money. I’m not just making a sound bite here, Bercinta is a value read.
Ratings:
Bayangku Terbang: 4.2 out of 5
Ubatku: 3.7 out of 5
Bercinta Apabila Masa Berhenti: 4.9999 out of 5!
Tags: Bayangku Terbang, Ubatku, Bercinta Apabila Masa Berhenti, Bayangku, love when time, love when time stops, Shigonu Haruhi Moe, Aoi, Girl’s Witch Academy
Bercinta Apabila Masa Berhenti gets my full recommendation on this one. I don’t want to give too much away, try reading it yourself. Ubatku on the other hand, while it scores better, can’t live up to the other two great stories. Bayangku Terbang is also an enjoyable read and gets thumbs up from me. In a nutshell, these three stories all bear resemblance to real-life situations, so shoujo should be able to relate to the characters in these stories.