Time Stranger Kyoko

Alright, here’s the issue with Time Stranger Kyoko: it’s too short. It’s simple really, but this “it’s too short” issue brings up more issues.

First, let me bring your attention to the cover used on MAL. You see that beautiful, colorful image that features those 12 characters? Yeah? Well, guess what? You won’t know shite about them at all except for the three in the center—Kyoko and her two knights—and even then, barely. You want to know the background about that elf girl? Too bad, you won’t. You see that Jeanne lookalike? There’s no story to her, sorry. And yeah, all those hot guys there? You’ll barely even remember their names by the end of this three-volume series.

Here’s the conclusion I came up with, and hopefully this will help you understand why this series had potential, but utterly fell flat:

It’s like Arina Tanemura wanted to make something big like Fushigi Yugi, but either decided she was too lazy to make twelve different and interesting background stories for each character and just wanted to get to the good bits of a large cast duking out a “war” OR her publisher decided to cut her off short because they realized it couldn’t compete with Fushigi Yugi and would be seen as just an imitation. I want to believe it’s the latter since I’m a fan of Arina (her older works at least) but we will never know.

Honestly, I was looking forward to this series. I didn’t particularly like Fushigi Yugi, but I loved the idea of a fantasy world where the main character has to go and “collect” her warriors to fight for her. I’m sure any of you with the same interest was disappointed—and confused—to hear that Time Stranger Kyoko only had 3 volumes to it. And again, the issue is brought up: it’s too short.

I will say that it was a nice short read. If you’re looking for something quick and easy to digest, in exchange for bad characterization, this is the series for you. But just acknowledge the fact that it could’ve been something even bigger and better.

Whatever happened to Time Stranger Kyoko to make it this way…it’s unfortunate that it happened.

Story - 7
It started out good, but then it was kinda...rushed. Manga would have been better if there were more chapters.

Art - 6
I didn`t really like the eyes, they were just too huge for me. Characters` faces are too much like each other. But other than that, the art is beautiful.

Character - 5
Characters aren`t developed much, and there was almost nothing about strangers like Yami, Toba, Rin...

Enjoyment - 7
The monologues were just great. It was touching and cute, so I enjoyed it.

Overall: 6
Manga`s nice, but it could have been WAY better than that.

it's not the best she's written. it started out good and than suddenly it just ended. it's not very detailed about the other characters.

Art: The art is very nice.
I like Arina Tanemuras style.
The cuteness of it.

Story: The story wasn't too good.
Not bad but just not that good either.
Some parts very rushed.
Everything went so fast.
Alot of funny moments.
Loving her way of adding that in.

Characters: The characters was okay.
Alot of twists in the different characters stories.

I adored the romantic cute parts in it.
She has a way of creating these super romantic cute moments with
her characters in the stories that she creates.
Her way of her style is already so cute and then she can add in such
romantic cute parts in it that just is too adorable.

It was too predictable, I could always tell who would make a couple, what the next problem was going to be, etc. It was just so cliche and as a love-comedy, it wasn't even remotely funny. The characters were so bland, some even annoying, and I curse my curiosity for making me read it to the end.