Preview

Manami Amamiya, nicknamed Manabi, is a very energetic girl who just moved to town. In a near future where the natality rate is small (in light of a concient effort to control population birth rate, as seen on a 0 rate in Japan as of 2006), schools suffer a student body reduction, leading several schools to close it's doors due to lack of students - and this seams to be the destiny of Manabi's new school, Seol High School. However, for Manabi, live is to be lived to it's fullest, and she couldn't care less for challenges and problems, as her slogan is simple: Massugo Go! (Straight!, thus the anime's name)

Pacing

At this pleasant comedy on the best "Make you feel good" style, Manabi Straight! brings us lovelly charismatic characters that make us think about our own approach towards problems that seams impossible to solve (and sometimes are). Manabi is always filled with life and energy, and makes friends quickly with her contagious joy, expanding such joy to the viewer, making everyone start having a more active approach to life, and not only that, to embrace live and it's hardships, never letting yourself down.

The character development follows the anime proposal and Manabi's personality, and although energetic and active, she is not the usual cliched clumsy annoying girl some titles reach while trying the same goal. Manabi insists on her goals, but she know how to respect other boundaries. With time, her new friends fill in the gaps in what seams a personality cicle: the demanding and mature Mei Etoh; the insecure and crybaby Mika Inamori; the strong and sports-fanatics Mutsuki Uehara; the influent and 'mad' Momoha Odori. Although their personalities often contradict, Manabi manages to deal and merge all of them into an amazing bond, the same way as she expands such friendship feeling to the viewer, though there are some cliched or melodramatic moments that spoil the title pacing a little.

As the anime advances, the friends face new hardships, dilemnas and common student problems, and unite to bring their ideals to bear, and even during the hard times or even failure, they meet their destiny with happiness and a subtle feeling of a job well done which makes us think about our own goals, attitudes and past. They try, they fight, and even if they fail, they know they did their best while living the fullest.

Conclusion

A simple, small, pleasant and memorable comedy, Manabi Straight manages to entertain not only with it's excelent message on life, but also with an outstanding art, excelent dubbing from the original cast, and a nice nostalgic feeling that reaches all ages. With very little restrictions, Manabi will certainly please even the more sceptical fans.

With an equally good sound track, Manabi Straight deserves to be considered one of those titles you cannot miss.