Manga Review: MeruPuri, Vol. 1

[theliteraryadventures]

TITLE: MeruPuri, Vol. 1
BY: Matsuri Hino
SERIES: めるぷり メルヘン☆プリンス [MeruPuri: Märchen Prince] (#1)
RELEASES: July 5, 2005 by VIZ Media
GENRE: Fantasy
AGE RANGE: Teen
RATING: 1 out 5
SYNOPSIS: All high school freshman Airi Hoshina ever wanted was to someday live in a cozy home with a loving husband, and find joy in the little things in life. As a result, she makes it her daily mission to get to school on time because school legend has it that the longer one's non-tardy streak is, the better boyfriend one will find. But just when her daily routine is working like clockwork, an occurrence of falrytale proportions threatens to disrupt her grand plan.

On the way to school one morning, Airi loses her mirror - one that had been passed down to her through generations - and suddenly finds herself in a bizarre situation. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect Aram, a little boy from a magical kingdom, to have emerged from the mirror in the short time it took her to track it down!



REVIEW: High schooler Airi Hoshina dreams of a cozy home. She hopes for a loving husband and wants to enjoy life’s simple joys. One morning, Airi is on her way to school when she loses her mirror. It is an heirloom passed down through generations. Aram, a little boy from a magical kingdom, comes out of the mirror! It surpassed her wildest dreams that it happened in such a short time while she was searching for it.
One of the strangest stories I have ever read; I find it strange that the main love interest is literally a child. I find it hard to see how a teenager could fall in love with a child who became a teenager.
If Aram were not a child, I would have enjoyed the story more. Imagine escaping from your brother and entering another world. Having lost your magic, you turn into a child instead of your teenage self.
Airi was in a state of shock and confusion upon discovering Aram’s true nature. She found it hard to match the image of the sweet child with the thought of him as a teenager from a magical kingdom. Airi experienced surprise at the beginning, but then curiosity took hold. She felt wonder about his mysterious world and the magical adventures ahead.
Instead, the author is trying to weave a story of love between a teenage girl and an elementary school boy. Meru Puri tries to explore an unusual romance. The age gap and Aram’s transformation prevent complete enjoyment of the experience. The idea of love between a teenager and a child, even in a fantasy, brings up questions. It makes us think about the dynamics of their relationship and whether it is appropriate.
It’s hard to find anything positive about Meru Puri. The story attempts to merge fantasy and romance, but it misses the mark. The transformation and gap make it feel awkward. Magical elements are intriguing. Nonetheless, the romance between a teen and a child feels inappropriate. This overshadowing feeling dims any charm the story could bring.
In the end, the story struggles to blend fantasy and romance because of the awkward age gap. This makes it tough to appreciate the full charm.