blue
blue ()
Genre	Drama, Shoujo-ai, La nouvelle manga, Alternative
Manga
Authored by	Kiriko Nananan
Publisher	Magazine House (Japan)
Serialized in	COMIC Are!
Original run	1996 –
No. of volumes	1

Blue is a manga by Kiriko Nananan, serialized in 1996 in the alternative manga magazine COMIC Are!, about two high school aged girls Kayako Kirishima and Masami Endo find that their friendship is turning into something more. At the same time the two girls are unsure about their future and feel confused about their current life. Image File history File links Bluemanga. ... There are many articles named Drama: Drama, the art form. ... Utena and Anthy from Revolutionary Girl Utena, a popular shōjo-ai couple. ... An example of Nouvelle Manga by Frédéric Boilet and Kan Takahama La Nouvelle Manga is an artistic movement combining French comics with Japanese manga. ... Alternative manga are Japanese comics that are published outside of the more commercial manga market, or also manga that have different art styles from that commonly found in the most popular manga magazines. ... A page from the Marmalade Boy manga, volume 1 (Japanese version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics and print cartoons; outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... Kiriko Nananan (魚喃キリコ Nananan Kiriko) is a mangaka famous for her josei work. ... A page from the Marmalade Boy manga, volume 1 (Japanese version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics and print cartoons; outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... Kiriko Nananan (魚喃キリコ Nananan Kiriko) is a mangaka famous for her josei work. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Alternative manga are Japanese comics that are published outside of the more commercial manga market, or also manga that have different art styles from that commonly found in the most popular manga magazines. ... This is a listing, by country of publication and target audience, of manga magazines. ...

Plot

Kayako Kirishima who lives in Niigata is almost ready to go off to college but is lonely and unsure of her future. Masami Endo is a girl who has been ostricized and made a social outcast for having an abortion. The two girls meet each other in class one day and become good friends. Gradually Kirishima falls in love with Endo and the relationship becomes more personal. Niigata is the name of several places, times and things: Niigata City Niigata Prefecture This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

In the middle of the book summer vacation happens and Endo leaves to go off with her boyfriend. During this time Kirishima misses her and can't wait for her to return. When Endo does return she lies about her experiences and says that she was traveling with old friends. Kirishima knows she is lying and becomes upset with Endo souring the relationship. Eventually the two forgive each other, but times have changed and Endo decides to go off to Tokyo and pursue a career in art while Endo decides to stay in her hometown. The manga ends with a Kirishima riding off in a train to Tokyo as Endo looks longingly towards the train.

Notes

A film adaptation of the same name was made in 2001 (see Blue (2001 film)). While the book has overtones of a romance between Kayako and Masami, like most shounen-ai there is no explicit reference to a sexual relationship. Consequently that makes this book fall somewhere into the genre of shoujo-ai. Unlike most female-authored romantic manga the work doesn't focus on expressionistic art and melodrama to tell its story, in its place are minimalist, realistic imagery and storytelling. In accordance to this style the layouts are muted and many sequences of panels only show subtle movement to highlight a particular emotion. Blue (2001) is a Japanese movie directed by Hiroshi Ando. ... Shōnen-ai (少年愛 from 少年 shōnen young man + 愛 ai love) refers to anime or manga that deals with love between young men, especially of the bishonen variety. ... Utena and Anthy from Revolutionary Girl Utena, a popular shōjo-ai couple. ... On White II by Wassily Kandinsky, 1923. ... This article is about on art and design. ... Realism is commonly defined as a concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary. ...

The manga was very highly regarded in Japan, for its unconventional realism, and was popular enough to spawn a live action film adaptation. Additionally, Frédéric Boilet had it adapted to French as a part of his La nouvelle manga movement (of which Nananan considers herself a part). The current English edition by Fanfare/Ponent Mon is borrowed from the French publication. Frédéric Boilet (born January 16, 1960, in Épinal, France) is a French cartoonist and a mangaka. ... An example of Nouvelle Manga by Frédéric Boilet and Kan Takahama La Nouvelle Manga is an artistic movement combining French comics with Japanese manga. ... A fanfare is a short piece of music played by trumpets and other brass instruments, frequently accompanied by percussion, usually for ceremonial purposes. ...

An additional Blue review with manga scans: http://www.dvdvisionjapan.com/bluemanga.htm