Happy Mania

I recently read the first volume of Moyoco Anno's series Happy Mania. The series revolves around 24 year old Shigeta and her quest to find the perfect man.

I found the first volume very entertaining and I can't wait to start reading the second one. It's basically a chick flick in manga form. The characters are two dimensional and at times stereotypical , but are likable and relatable. I was really intrigued by the manner in which Anno develops her characters and presents them to the reader. The reader does not understand the characters through their actions but the manner in which they are described by Shigeta. For example, Takahashi, Shigeta's coworker has a very big crush on her. However, Shigeta thinks he is a total dork. Because the reader shares the same perspective as Shigeta, he or she has no choice but to interpret Takahashi as a "dork". Meanwhile, Takahashi's character does not do any actions that would cause the reader to label him as a "dork" and he does not do any actions that would cause the reader not to label him as a "dork".
                                                      Shigeta's character functions in a very similar manner. The reader receives only a very superficial impression of her. He or she sees Shigeta's physical actions, things she tells to other characters and thoughts she tells herself. But, the reader never catches a glimpse of her inner life or even of her true character.
                                                     Shigeta seems hollow, devoid of any inner workings, of any individuality and shaped only by the actions that are visible to others. She develops an infatuation with every single eligible bachelor she meets and her entire being becomes consumed with trying to impress that particular man. Even though the reader has been following her for the entire first volume, he or she knows nearly nothing about her. The reader knows that Shigeta is single, twenty four years old, and works in a book shop. However, no defining aspects of her character are ever revealed. The reader doesn't know what kind of music she likes, what kind of food she likes, what she looks for in a friend or what she is even looking for in a romance (the only criteria she ever mentions is that she wants someone who will not cheat on her). The reader gets the impression that she is very fashionable and stylish but has no idea what her personal style is.

Although having a hollow and a two dimensional protagonist may be viewed as a disadvantage in many comics or serial narratives, in this case it works to Anno's advantage. Because Shigeta is so hollow and so unspecific, Anno's followers (mostly single women in Japan) are able to project their personalities onto her and their experiences onto Shigeta's relationships.