The Wallflower (manga)

The Wallflower

Cover of volume 1, featuring Kyohei
ヤマトナデシコ七変化
(Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge)
Genre Horror, Comedy-drama, Slice of Life, Romance
Manga
Written by Tomoko Hayakawa
Published by Kodansha
English publisher
Demographic Shōjo
Magazine Bessatsu Friend
Original run 2000 – 2015
Volumes 36
Anime television series
Directed by Shinichi Watanabe[1]
Studio Nippon Animation[1]
Licensed by
Network TV Tokyo, TV Aichi
Original run October 3, 2006 – March 27, 2007
Episodes 25
Television drama
Network TBS
Original run January 15, 2010 – March 19, 2010
Episodes 10

The Wallflower (Japanese: ヤマトナデシコ七変化 Hepburn: Yamato nadeshiko Shichi Henge, lit. "Perfect Girl Evolution") is a manga series written by Tomoko Hayakawa. The individual chapters have been serialized in Bessatsu Friend since its premiere in 2000, and in 36 tankōbon volumes in Japan by Kodansha. The series was licensed for an English language release in North America by Del Rey Manga and in Singapore by Chuang Yi, under the name My Fair Lady. The series ended in January 2015 after 36 volumes.[2]

Nippon Animation adapted part of the manga series into a twenty-five episode anime series which aired on TV Tokyo and TV Aichi from October 3, 2006 through March 27, 2007.[1][3] The anime adaptation has been licensed for Region 1 release by A.D. Vision,[4] who paid $500,000.[5] In 2008, The WallFlower became one of over 30 ADV titles whose North American rights were transferred to Funimation Entertainment.[6]

Plot

The Wallflower is about a girl named Sunako who was called ugly by the first and only person to whom she confessed her love. This incident sparks a life change, and as a result Sunako shuns all forms of beauty, both in herself as well as in life. Concerned by her change for the worst, Sunako's aunt, the owner of a huge mansion where four very handsome high school students live (for free), demands the boys to transform her niece into the "perfect lady," and in return they will be able to continue living there for free. They are given a deadline and if they are unable to uphold their deal then they would have to either pay a lump sum of cash or vacate the premises.

While the four of them manage to make Sunako physically beautiful enough to become a lady, the problem lies with her attitude and interests (which Sunako has no intention of changing). Up until the most recent release in the story, they manage to convince Sunako's aunt that her niece is indeed a lady befitting the mansion in which they live (and prevent the rent from skyrocketing to triple the required amount). However, in reality Sunako has not changed at all. Sunako has the tendency to spurt out in a nose bleed when seen by bright creatures, especially around Kyohei.

It is a humorous tale following Sunako and the four boys through unusual and ridiculous situations where Sunako is confronted with many unwanted experiences of being a lady, while also channeling the idea of self and beauty.

Media

Manga

The Wallflower manga series is written by Tomoko Hayakawa. The individual chapters have been serialized in Bessatsu Friend since its premiere in 2000, and in 36 tankōbon volumes in Japan by Kodansha. The series is licensed for an English language release in North America by Del Rey Manga and in Singapore by Chuang Yi – under the name My Fair Lady and in Indonesia by Level Comics under the name Perfect Girl Evolution.

Anime

Because the manga's creator, Tomoko Hayakawa, is an avid admirer of J-Rock singer Kiyoharu, it was decided that Kiyoharu would perform the theme music for The Wallflower anime. His songs, "Slow" and "Carnation" play over the opening and ending themes, respectively. The songs were a collaboration between Kiyoharu and Takeshi Miyo. The background orchestral music was written by two respectable Japanese composers, Hiromi Mizutani and Yasuharu Takanashi.

The opening theme "Slow" plays over recycled footage from the first episode, and is more of a love ballad. Episode 14 onwards shows the second version of the opening sequence which portrays more original footages. Whether this change was made due to growing popularity or the initial reception is unknown.

The first closing theme, "Carnation", the more upbeat of the two, is set to a small computer animation of Hiroshi dancing in the corner as the credits scroll up the page.

∞Changing∞, the second ending theme by Bon-Bon Blanco, presents the viewers with an even faster rhythm while preserving the use of computer animation (Hiroshi, Josephine and Akira dancing to the song) in the sequence.

Live action drama

In the 18th issue of Bessatsu Friend, it was announced that a live action drama adaption of the manga has been green-lit for airing in January 2009.[7] On November 30, the cast was announced for the live action drama.[8] Actor and member of the J-pop group KAT-TUN, Kazuya Kamenashi stars as Kyohei, while actress Aya Ōmasa plays the lead role as Sunako. This is broadcast on TBS with the opening theme, KAT-TUN's "Love Yourself (Kimi ga Kirai na Kimi ga Suki)." They added one more main character, Nakahara Takeru, the landlady's son.

Influence

The Wallflower has inspired a fashion line by Julie Haus that appeared in the 2008 New York Fashion Week.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Yamatonadeshiko Shichihenge". Newtype USA. Vol. 5 no. 11. November 2006. p. 19. ISSN 1541-4817.
  2. ↑ "The Wallflower/Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge Manga to End in 3 More Chapters". Anime News Network. October 8, 2014.
  3. ↑ "テレビ東京·あにてれ ヤマトナデシコ七変化". TV Tokyo. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  4. ↑ "ADV Acquires The Wallflower". Anime News Network. May 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
  5. ↑ "ADV Court Documents Reveal Amounts Paid for 29 Anime Titles". Anime News Network. January 30, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Funimation Picks Up Over 30 Former AD Vision Titles". Anime News Network. July 4, 2008.
  7. ↑ "The Wallflower Manga Gets January Tv Drama Green-Lit". Anime News Network. November 12, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  8. ↑ "Cast for the Wallflower Tv Drama Announced". Anime News Network. December 2, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  9. ↑ Huguenin, Patrick (September 3, 2008). "Young designer works a haute pace before Fashion Week". New York Daily News.

Further reading

External links

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