When it comes to books that get turned into movies or TV shows, 9 times out of 10 I read the book first. Manga tends to be the exception to that rule, as I enjoy watching anime in my spare time. When I find one I really fall in love with, I’ll seek out the manga. Princess Jellyfish by Akiko Higashimura is an extra special case, as I was gifted the full box set after expressing how much I had enjoyed the anime. The box itself is covered in gorgeous art, and each volume looks gorgeous on the shelf. The artwork inside has such a delightful style to it, I was pleased to learn that the anime had stuck fairly close to its roots.
Because I already know the first part of the story (the anime covers about the first four volumes), reading it feels like revisiting old friends while getting some new glimpses into their lives. Anime is not a one to one adaptation of course, so comparing and contrasting what changed between the two and thinking about why those changes might have been made can feel like a fun puzzle. Localization is part of that puzzle, but with characters that are very rooted in Japanese culture sometimes that isn’t always easy. The manga solves this by including several pages of “translation notes” in the back, which includes definitions that English audiences may not be familiar with, along with explanations of jokes or phrases that don’t quite work when translated without some backstory.
The story follows Tsukimi, an 18 year old aspiring illustrator who is obsessed with jellyfish, moving to Tokyo into an apartment complex with a group of woman known for being a bit strange. Each one has something that they are deeply passionate about, but is viewed as “nerdy” or “odd” from an outside point of view. When they’re together, the girls feel comfortable being themselves but struggle with feelings of insecurity when facing the outside world.
There’s a ton of plot hooks and interesting story beats I could discuss, but I think the core message of Princess Jellyfish is what keeps me coming back to it. It’s about learning to embrace who you are, even if others may find it strange. It has a very strong theme of community, about relying on friends and loved ones to help you through tough times and how we are more powerful together than we are alone. It’s about learning to love yourself. And most importantly… it’s about jellyfish.
Higashimura, Akiko. Princess Jellyfish: Volume 1. Kodansha Comics. 2016.
