Perfect World (manga)

Perfect World
Cover of the first volume
パーフェクトワールド
(Pafekuto Warudo)
GenreDrama, romance[1]
Manga
Written byRie Aruga
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineKiss
DemographicJosei
Original runFebruary 2014 – January 25, 2021
Volumes12
Television drama
Directed byKeiichirō Shiraki
Written byMayumi Nakatani
Original networkFuji TV, Kansai TV
Original run April 16, 2019 – June 25, 2019
Episodes10
Live action film

Perfect World (Japanese: パーフェクトワールド, Hepburn: Pafekuto Warudo) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rie Aruga. It was serialized in Kodansha's josei magazine Kiss from February 2014 to January 2021.

The series has been adapted into a live action film and TV drama in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The series has also been praised by critics and the recipient of the Kodansha Manga Award in the shōjo category in 2019.

Plot

26 year old Tsugumi Kawana is reunited with her high school crush, Itsuki Ayukawa. Since they last meet, Itsuki has begun to use a wheelchair due an accident which injured his spinal cord.

Media

Manga

The series is written and illustrated by Rie Aruga. It premiered in February 2014 in Kiss.[2] In April 2019, the author revealed the series was entering its final stage.[2] The manga ended on January 25, 2021.[3][4] Kodansha published the series in 12 volumes.[5]

In February 2018, Kodansha USA announced they licensed the series digitally.[6] At Anime Expo 2019, they announced a print release for the series.[7] The series is also licensed by M&C! in Indonesia.[8]

Volume list

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 February 13, 2015[9]978-4-06-340948-2March 20, 2018[1][a]978-1-64-212190-2
2 August 12, 2015[10]978-4-06-340962-8May 15, 2018[11][a]978-1-64-212238-1
3 March 11, 2016[12]978-4-06-340980-2June 19, 2018[13][a]978-1-64-212288-6
4 September 13, 2016[14]978-4-06-340995-6July 17, 2018[15][a]978-1-64-212317-3
5 March 13, 2017[16]978-4-06-398014-1August 21, 2018[17][a]978-1-64-212395-1
6 September 13, 2017[18]978-4-06-398032-5September 18, 2018[19][a]978-1-64-212474-3
7 April 13, 2018[20]978-4-06-511136-9October 16, 2018[21][a]978-1-64-212508-5
8 September 13, 2018[22]978-4-06-513184-8February 19, 2019[23][a]978-1-64-212649-5
9 March 13, 2019[24]978-4-06-514897-6July 2, 2019[25][a]978-1-64-212925-0
10 November 13, 2019[26]978-4-06-517686-3February 8, 2022[27][a]978-1-63-699687-5
11 August 12, 2020[28]978-4-06-520542-6June 21, 2022[29][a]978-1-68-491286-5
12 March 12, 2021[30]978-4-06-522785-5July 12, 2022[31][a]978-1-68-491311-4

Film

Main article: Perfect World (film)

A live-action film adaptation was announced in the July 2017 issue of Kiss.[32] It was directed by Kenji Shibayama and its scripts were done by Keiko Kanome. Takanori Iwata and Hana Sugisaki played the leads.[33] It released in Japanese theaters starting on October 8, 2018.[34] E-girls performed the film's main theme.[35]

Hong Kong-based film distributor Infinity was originally set to release the movie in the region in October 2018,[36] however, Hong Kong–based film distributor Neofilms released it instead. It opened in theaters there on November 1, 2018.[37]

TV Drama

A live-action TV Drama adaptation was announced on January 30, 2019. It was directed by Keiichirō Shiraki, written by Mayumi Nakatani, and Tori Matsuzaka and Mizuki Yamamoto performed the leads. It aired on Fuji TV and Kansai TV starting on April 16, 2019.[38][39] It ran for ten episodes.[40]

Reception

The series was awarded best Shōjo manga at the 43rd Kodansha Manga Awards.[41]

Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network praised the first volume, stating the characters were "well thought out" and the author's research in the subject was "evident", though she was a bit critical of the art, saying it can be "unflinching when it needs to be".[42] Sean Gaffney from A Case Suitable for Treatment also praised the series for its characters and story, concluding with "it's not perfect, but I am absolutely ready to read more about this world".[43] Demelza from Anime UK News also praised the first volume, despite having some mixed feelings on some parts of it.[44] In their review of the second volume, they praised it for improving on some of their concerns with the previous volume, while stating it can be hard to read due to its themes.[45]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l English release dates and ISBN numbers represent the digital release

References

  1. ^ a b "Perfect World, Volume 1". Kodansha USA. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 20, 2019). "Rie Aruga's Perfect World Romance Manga Heads Toward 'Final Stage'". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Mateo, Alex (October 25, 2020). "Perfect World Manga Ends Serialization in 3 Chapters". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  4. ^ "実写映画＆ドラマ化も果たした、有賀リエ「パーフェクトワールド」がKissで完結". Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 25, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  5. ^ Mateo, Alex (August 14, 2020). "Perfect World Manga Ends in 12th Volume". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  6. ^ Ressler, Karen (February 27, 2018). "Kodansha USA Licenses Starving Anonymous, Perfect World, Liar x Liar Manga Digitally". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  7. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 6, 2019). "Kodansha Licenses 6 New Manga, Acquires Saiyuki, Chobits, Clover". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  8. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (December 5, 2016). "M&C! Licenses Enchanted by You!, Sincerely Kiss, Perfect World Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  9. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（１）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  10. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（２）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "Perfect World, Volume 2". Kodansha USA. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  12. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（３）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  13. ^ "Perfect World, Volume 3". Kodansha USA. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（４）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  15. ^ "Perfect World, Volume 4". Kodansha USA. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（５）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  17. ^ "Perfect World, Volume 5". Kodansha USA. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  18. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（６）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  19. ^ "Perfect World, Volume 6". Kodansha USA. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  20. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（７）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  21. ^ "Perfect World, Volume 7". Kodansha USA. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  22. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（８）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  23. ^ "Perfect World, Volume 8". Kodansha USA. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  24. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（９）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  25. ^ "Perfect World, Volume 9". Kodansha USA. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  26. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（１０）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  27. ^ "Perfect World, Volume 10". Kodansha USA. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  28. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（１１）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  29. ^ "Perfect World, Volume 11". Kodansha USA. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  30. ^ "パーフェクトワールド（１２）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  31. ^ "Perfect World, Volume 12". Kodansha USA. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  32. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (May 27, 2017). "Perfect World Romance Manga Gets Live-Action Film". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  33. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (June 11, 2017). "Live-Action Perfect World Film Reveals Cast, Staff, 2018 Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  34. ^ Chapman, Paul (April 21, 2018). "Perfect World Live Action Movie Poster Promises Romance". Crunchyroll. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  35. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 4, 2018). "Perfect World Film's Trailer Previews E-girls Theme Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  36. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 10, 2018). "Live-Action Perfect World Film Opens in Hong Kong in October". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  37. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 25, 2018). "Perfect World Film's Video Reveals November Opening in Hong Kong". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  38. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 30, 2019). "Rie Aruga's Perfect World Romance Manga Gets Live-Action TV Series". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  39. ^ "岡崎紗絵：月9の"メガネ美女"、新連ドラで山本美月の妹に". Mantan Web (in Japanese). March 12, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  40. ^ "パーフェクトワールド" (in Japanese). Kansai TV. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  41. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (May 10, 2019). "43rd Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Winners Announced". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  42. ^ Silverman, Rebecca (May 1, 2018). "Perfect World GN 1 Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  43. ^ Gaffney, Sean (March 29, 2018). "Perfect World, Vol. 1". A Case Suitable for Treatment. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  44. ^ Demelza (June 11, 2020). "Perfect World Volume 1 Review". Anime UK News. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  45. ^ Demelza (September 5, 2020). "Perfect World Volume 2 Review". Anime UK News. Retrieved May 15, 2021.