I read ‘Thigh High: Reiwa Hanamaru Academy’ by Kotobuki so you don’t have to
I read ‘Dick Fight Island’ and ‘Sweat and Soap’, and now I can add ‘Thigh High’ to the list of questionable manga I have subjected my eyeballs too.
The thing is, even though the titles are sensationalist, and the content often explicit, I’m rarely burned by titles like this.
I actually really enjoyed ‘Dick Fight Island’ by Reibun Ike, and that’s because at its core there is an intriguing plot and a clear character arc.
Can the same be said for ‘Thigh High: Reiwa Hanamaru Academy’ by Kotobuki?
Uh.
Well.
First, here’s the synopsis:
“Every day is leg day in this ultra-cute high school comedy! The students at Hanamaru Academy are putting the boot (and booty!) to gender norm uniforms. Instead of wearing drab blazers, these beauty-builders are obsessed with the length of their skirts and the size of their chests as they try to navigate high school.”
I think what this manga does is flip the stereotypes of what many high school girls are plumped with, and also the expectations of what presenting as an “attractive” young woman might mean.
I feel like you could dig deep down into the ethics. ‘Thigh High’ shows peer pressure acting in ways that seems utterly ridiculous on these hyper-masculine physiques. Being shamed into wearing a bra, hoiking skirt hems up, being popular and cute, and using tradionally “feminine” wiles to get what you want.
It’s interesting! But I think that the main driving force of this manga is to be light and very silly, and so there is not enough depth of exploration into these issues.
The cast of characters was difficult for me to pin down, and I don’t think volume one treats us to enough of one particular character to beceom emotionally attached. And there isn’t really a plot… That I can find?
But the ARTWORK.
A moment of silent apprecation for the artwork because it is absolutely stunning…
…
…
Ok. Good.
Respect and awe where it is due because these young men in skirts are beautifully realised.
For me, I think ‘Thigh High’ lacks the emotional pull that I naturally seek in every narrative. Even if it’s supposed to be a bit daft, I love to fall in love with at least one of the characters. It keeps me coming back.
That said, I am intrigued to see if volume two can provide more of a narrative journey and make the overall arc clearer. Because right now? I couldn’t really tell you where it’s going.
If you like manga with fun titles and mildly outrageous concepts, and if you want something that isn’t too deep, then sure, give ‘Thigh High’ a go. It’s fine. I like it. But I struggle to shut off my academic brain that wants to pull apart the patriachal debates you could have with it. I really want it to push that line harder, and I don’t think it will (which is fine!) and without a character I can root for there isn’t much left to hold my attention.
Apart from the artwork. So good.
I gave it 3 out of 5 stars in the end. Just felt right.
Written by Sarah
