Chocolate Christmas by Takeuchi Naoko

Christmas is sneaking up on me, as usual. This manga had two chapters, a winter chapter and a summer chapter, since this is meant as a holiday post I will be largely ignoring the summer chapter in this review.



Chocolate Christmas by Takeuchi Naoko

Art and story (c) Takeuchi Naoko

Genre: Shojo
Length: One Volume – 2 Chapters



           This manga was written by the very famous Takeuchi Naoko, the creator of Sailor Moon. Now, this is several years older than Sailor Moon, so, especially if you've never read anything by Takeuchi before, it has several flaws that can bother the eye. The first chapter, the Christmas themed one, is more than a little messy (the second chapter is much better in character art and clothing) and has a few panel placement problems. Takeuchi's art has a particular style of lanky arms and legs with skinny bodies, and long faces. Hair is generally

poofy and fluffy that floats around the face, and eyes are large and set above dainty, pointed noses. I am a big fan of her dreamy style of art, but there were plenty of times the eyes were too close to each other or the body movement was stiff or awkward. One of my favorite things about Takeuchi's art is her interesting clothes but there isn't much of that in this manga, at least nothing particularly outstanding, though Wink Rain, the second chapter, is much improved in that regard. Backgrounds weren't impressive, mostly tones, nothing worth noting.
           Christmas eve 1986, Ryouko finds herself alone listening to a radio program with a DJ named 'Choco' daydreaming she could be like all the happy couples meeting up on such a romantic evening. After receiving a cake from her father who is away working, Ryouko decides to give her cake to Choco instead since he is alone on the holiday, too. Before she knows it, though, a year has passed and it looks like another Christmas eve alone is approaching. Being a lonely matchmaker is definitely no fun, especially one with unrequited love for a radio jockey.
           I gotta say that this manga, at first, is a bit of a jumble. With so many things being said at once that you aren't entirely sure where you stand plot wise. Then when you do get your bearings, nothing happens for a really long time. Its predicable and corny so when nothing happens its annoying because you already know how it is going to end yet can't see why it hasn't yet. The characters are a little underdeveloped besides the main one to the point that her friend, who is in the story a ton, just sort of confuses things by floating in and out. The relationships are very typical of Takeuchi comics though, with the male lead teasing the female. I just can't say I enjoyed trying to figure out exactly when things were happening. The time line is impossible to comprehend so exactly how long it is between things can get you confused, too. Its still cute, though I think it needs a couple of reads before you can actually enjoy the act of reading it. Its not really worth it though unless you're a Takeuchi Naoko fan already. The second chapter almost makes up for it, though, it is confusing at times, too, but the art is much improved in it. Still, I had hoped for better.


3/5 Disappointing if you're expecting a simple Christmas love story.