First Chapter Impression: "Mahou Shounen Natsuki x Loveits"

Synopsis

Natsuki Nanahoshi was just an ordinary junior high boy with an unlikely secret when he is one day given a staff. This leads him to meet a stuffed animal of all things who inadvertently makes him into a magical boy only to be chased by a pair of mysterious people the next moment. Thus begins the magical adventures of Natsuki involving sorcery and… kissing?!

The Good

For being only one chapter, what the story has presented so far is highly intriguing. First, there is the protagonist Natsuki. There have been all kinds of unconventional male leads before, and they all had interesting personalities but that’s not the point here. Rather than how the character is portrayed being the strong point of the chapter, it is how the story works around the character that makes the work so interesting.

With the idea of a magical boy with a liking towards feminine things, its expected that the comedy would take focus on poking at this aspect. When done right, it’s not bad, but it’s nice that the comedy is going a different direction and is more lighthearted than anything. The fact that it’s more towards how the people react to Natsuki in feminine items and them flailing about is a personal plus for this writer.

Outside of the character work and comedy, the flow of the story in terms of transition and action is another plus for the series. With the structure of the scenes, it makes the motions of the characters look very smooth. Other than that there is the general design of the chapter; while it may not seem much at first glance, the overall art style doesn’t seem all that much, but the costume design, as well as the design of the mascot, makes for a fun visual with all the little details they have.

The Bad

Being one chapter, there isn’t much too really judge on. With it being a rather long chapter, however, there are one or two points that can be pointed out. The most noticeable thing that can be said against the series is the story concept. While the direction is different, the story just seems to be a twist of the typical magical girl formula, just with a different character structure. On a minor note, there were some parts that just seemed slightly rushed but only if you look really closely at certain scenes.

Conclusion

The fact that it takes a different direction with the comedy and Natsuki’s portrayal makes it worth the read. While there are points which have been done before, like with any manga/anime, the execution is what makes it work. From how Natsuki’s “illness” is handled to the exposition of how he is to be a magical boy, there are just different refreshing points to the work. And the fact that it’s only one chapter so far makes it even better.

Rating: 8/10