Love Com (Japanese: ラブ★コン, Hepburn: Rabu★Kon, sometimes spelled Love*Com), also known as Lovely Complex, is a romantic comedy shōjo manga by Aya Nakahara. It was published by Shueisha in Bessatsu Margaret from 2001 to 2006 and collected in 17 tankōbon volumes. The series is about the romance between a tall girl and a short boy who are treated as a comedy duo by their classmates. In 2004, it received the 49th Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo.[2]

The story has been adapted as a live-action movie released in 2006, a 24-episode anime television series broadcast in 2007, and an adventure game released for PlayStation 2 released in 2006. Two drama CDs have also been produced. The manga and the live-action movie are licensed in North America by Viz.[3][4]

A sequel series called Love Com D (or Lovely Complex Deluxe or "Lovely Complex Two") began serialization in the May 2009 issue of the bimonthly shōjo manga magazine Deluxe Margaret, focusing on Risa's younger brother.[5][6]

Plot [ edit ]

Love Com is a love story between a boy and a girl in Sakai, Osaka. The girl, Risa Koizumi, is 172 centimetres (5 ft 8 in) tall—much taller than the average Japanese girl. The boy, Atsushi Ōtani, is 156 cm (5 ft 1 in)—way below the height of the average Japanese boy. Because of this, the pair are called the "All Hanshin Kyojin" after a popular comedy duo that has a similar height difference. The difference in their heights is extremely exaggerated (in the opening credits of the anime, for example, the top of Ōtani's head doesn't even reach Risa's chin when it should be approximately level with her mouth.)

During summer school, a very tall student named Ryouji Suzuki (from another class) shows up and Risa immediately falls for him because he is tall. There is a girl that Atsushi likes as well, so Risa and Atsushi decide to put aside their differences and help each other get their love interests. Their efforts fail spectacularly as Suzuki and the girl whom Ōtani had a crush on - Chiharu Tanaka - end up becoming a couple. All is not lost though, since Risa and Ōtani become close friends. As they get to know each other better, Risa's feelings for Atsushi begin to blossom, and her love life gets complicated from there on.

One notable fact about Love Com is that instead of speaking standard Japanese, almost all characters speak in Kansai-ben.[7] Many native Osakan voice actors are employed in the anime. While having one or two characters speaking Kansai-ben is common in many anime shows, having all characters doing so is unusual in media produced for a nationwide audience.[citation needed]

Characters [ edit ]

Creation and development [ edit ]

According to the afterward of volume 6, Ōtani ("big valley") was going to be named Nakatani ("middle valley"), but Aya Nakahara changed her mind because naka was "too middlin'."[8]

Media [ edit ]

Manga [ edit ]

The manga was written and illustrated by Aya Nakahara. It was initially serialized in Japan by Shueisha in the shōjo (aimed at teenage girls) manga magazine Bessatsu Margaret from September 2001 to December 2006. The untitled chapters were collected in 17 tankōbon volumes.[9] The manga is licensed in English in North America by Viz Media, with 16 volumes published as of January 2010.[3] The Viz edition is licensed for distribution in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment,[10] which released volume one in May 2008.[11] The series is also licensed in France by Delcourt,[12] in Italy by Planet Manga,[13] in Mexico by Grupo Editorial Vid,[14] in Spain by Planeta DeAgostini,[15] in Taiwan by Tong Li Publishing,[16] in Hungary by Mangafan[17] and in Vietnam by TVM Comics.[18]

No. Japan release date Japan ISBN North America release date North America ISBN 1 25 March 2002[19] ISBN 4-08-847487-2 3 July 2007[20] ISBN 978-1-4215-1343-0 2 25 July 2002[21] ISBN 4-08-847532-1 4 September 2007[22] ISBN 978-1-4215-1344-7 3 25 October 2002[23] ISBN 4-08-847563-1 6 November 2007[24] ISBN 978-1-4215-1345-4 4 25 February 2003[25] ISBN 4-08-847604-2 1 January 2008[26] ISBN 978-1-4215-1538-0 5 25 June 2003[27] ISBN 4-08-847642-5 4 March 2008[28] ISBN 978-1-4215-1738-4 6 24 October 2003[29] ISBN 4-08-847676-X 6 May 2008[30] ISBN 978-1-4215-1739-1 7 25 February 2004[31] ISBN 4-08-847715-4 1 July 2008[32] ISBN 978-1-4215-1740-7 8 23 July 2004[33] ISBN 4-08-847762-6 2 September 2008[34] ISBN 978-1-4215-1741-4 9 25 November 2004[35] ISBN 4-08-847802-9 4 November 2008[36] ISBN 978-1-4215-1742-1 10 25 March 2005[37] ISBN 4-08-847836-3 6 January 2009[38] ISBN 978-1-4215-1743-8 11 25 July 2005[39] ISBN 4-08-847877-0 3 March 2009[40] ISBN 978-1-4215-2369-9 12 22 December 2005[41] ISBN 4-08-846017-0 5 May 2009[42] ISBN 978-1-4215-2370-5 13 25 April 2006[43] ISBN 4-08-846050-2 7 July 2009[44] ISBN 978-1-4215-2371-2 14 14 July 2006[45] ISBN 4-08-846074-X 1 September 2009[46] ISBN 978-1-4215-2372-9 15 25 December 2006[47] ISBN 4-08-846124-X 3 November 2009 ISBN 978-1-4215-2373-6 16 13 March 2007[48] ISBN 978-4-08-846148-9 5 January 2010 ISBN 978-1-4215-2383-5 17 25 September 2007[49] ISBN 978-4-08-846215-8 2 March 2010 ISBN 978-1-4215-3234-9

Movie [ edit ]

Love Com was adapted as a live-action movie directed by Kitaji Ishikawa with screenplay by Osamu Suzuki. It starred Ema Fujisawa as Risa Koizumi and Teppei Koike as Atsushi Ōtani. It was released in theaters on 2006-07-15, and on DVD on 2007-01-01. An English-subtitled DVD was released in North America by Viz Media on 2008-02-19.[4]

Anime [ edit ]

The anime television series was produced by Toei Animation and directed by Konosuke Uda, with music by Hironosuke Sato and character designs by Hideaki Maniwa.[50] The opening theme songs were "Kimi + Boku = Love?" (キミ+ボク=LOVE?) by Tegomass (episodes 1–13) and "Hey! Say!" by Hey! Say! 7 (episodes 14–24); the ending themes were "Kiss ~ Kaerimichi no Love Song~" (キッス〜帰り道のラブソング) by Tegomass (episodes 1–13) and "Bon Bon" by Hey! Say! 7 (episodes 14–24).[50] It was broadcast on TBS, CBC, and MBS from 7 April 2007 to 29 September 2007.[51]

The Italian distributor Dynit licensed the anime for a DVD release.[52] In Italy was broadcast on 24 October 2010 on Rai 4 and ended on 17 April 2011.

In April 2012, Discotek Media announced that they will distribute the Love Com anime on DVD in North America in one subtitled boxset.[53]

Episode Title [54] Original air date[51] 1 "Freshman Year Summer! I'll Definitely Find a Boyfriend!"

Transcription: " Kou-1 no Natsu! Zettai Kareshi, Tsukuttaru wa! " (Japanese: 高1の夏!絶対カレシ、つくったるわ! ) April 7, 2007 ( ) High school girl Risa Koizumi, who is far taller than average, is friends with high school boy Atsushi Otani, who is far shorter than average, and together are known as All Hanshin Kyojin. Koizumi develops a crush on Ryoji Suzuki. Otani says he will help Koizumi begin a relationship with Suzuki if Koizumi helps him begin a relationship with her friend Chiharu Tanaka. Otani and Koizumi invite Suzuki and Chiharu to the pool along with their other friends Nobuko "Nobu" Ishihara and Heikichi Nakao who are already dating. Otani and Koizumi accidentally spend more time with each other than with their crushes and Suzuki and Chiharu end up developing crushes on each other and begin dating. Otani and Koizumi console each other and attend a summer festival where they challenge each other to find love before the other does. 2 "The Ex-Girlfriend Love Triangle?!"

Transcription: " Moto Kano to Sankakukankei!? " (Japanese: 元カノと三角関係!? ) April 14, 2007 ( ) 3 "A Guy You Like or a Guy from the Past?"

Transcription: " Suki na Otoko ka, Mukashi no Otoko ka? " (Japanese: 好きなオトコか、昔のオトコか? ) April 21, 2007 ( ) 4 "Kiss! I've Fallen For You!"

Transcription: " Chū! Suki ni Natchaimashita! " (Japanese: チュッ!好きになっちゃいました! ) April 28, 2007 ( ) 5 "Send Forbidden Love Flying!"

Transcription: " Kindan no Ai o Buttobase! " (Japanese: 禁断の愛をぶっ飛ばせ! ) May 5, 2007 ( ) 6 "A Maiden's Determination! Love-Love Confession Plan!!"

Transcription: " Otome no Ichidai Kesshin! Raburabu Kokuhaku Dai Sakusen!! " (Japanese: 乙女の一大決心! ラブラブ告白大作戦!! ) May 12, 2007 ( ) 7 "Sunk! Worst Confession in History"

Transcription: " Gekichin! Shijō Saitē na Kokuhaku " (Japanese: 撃沈!史上サイテーな告白 ) May 19, 2007 ( ) 8 "Comeback Impossible! Major Heartbreak!!"

Transcription: " Saiki Funō! Dai Shitsuren!! " (Japanese: 再起不能!大失恋!! ) May 26, 2007 ( ) 9 "Resuscitation!! Aim for Girlfriend Status!!"

Transcription: " Kishikaisei!! Mezase Kanojo no Za!! " (Japanese: 起死回生!!めざせ彼女の座!! ) June 2, 2007 ( ) 10 "A Confrontation with the Ex-Girlfriend?! The Epic Breast-Baring Battle!!"

Transcription: " Moto Kano to Taiketsu!? Chichi Dashi Daitakusen!! " (Japanese: 元カノと対決!?乳だし大作戦!! ) June 9, 2007 ( ) 11 "Absolute Death! Revived Love with the Ex-Girlfriend?!"

Transcription: " Zettai Zetsumei! Moto Kano to Fukkatsu Ai?! " (Japanese: 絶対絶命!元カノと復活愛?! ) June 16, 2007 ( ) 12 "Recapture Love! Improve as a Girl with Winning Honmei Chocolate!!"

Transcription: " Ai o Torimodose! Honmei Choko de Onna o Migaku!! " (Japanese: 愛を取り戻せ!本命チョコで女を磨く!! ) June 23, 2007 ( ) 13 "Heating Up! A First Kiss in His Room?"

Transcription: " Hatsunetsu! Aitsu no Heya de Fāsuto Kissu? " (Japanese: 発熱!あいつの部屋でファースト·キッス? ) June 30, 2007 ( ) 14 "A Killer Crush on Maity"

Transcription: " Maiti ni Kyunshiniya! " (Japanese: マイティにキュン死にや! ) July 7, 2007 ( ) 15 "A Dangerous Man, Maity's Sweet Temptation"

Transcription: " Kiken na Otoko Maiti no Amai Yūwaku " (Japanese: 危険なオトコ マイティの甘い誘惑 ) July 14, 2007 ( ) 16 "Maity's Magic! The Transforming Patterns of Love?!"

Transcription: " Maiti no Mahō! Hengesuru Renbo Yō!? " (Japanese: マイティの魔法! 変化する恋模様!? ) July 21, 2007 ( ) 17 "Love's Iron Fist! Catch, O Maiden Soul!!"

Transcription: " Ai no Tekken! Uketomero, Otome Tamashii!! " (Japanese: 愛の鉄拳! 受け止めろ、乙女魂!! ) July 28, 2007 ( ) 18 "The Best Birthday in History"

Transcription: " Shijō Saikō no Tanjōbi " (Japanese: 史上最高の誕生日 ) August 4, 2007 ( ) 19 "Sudden Downturn!! The First Date Is the Beginning of Disaster"

Transcription: " Kyūten Chokka!! Hatsu Dēto wa Fumei no Hajimari " (Japanese: 急転直下!!初デートは不運の始まり ) August 11, 2007 ( ) They go on their first date and are embarrassed in a stadium. She starts to have second doubts after he bumps into her ex-girlfriend attending the same event but they gently reaffirm their love. In the end, she meets her rival, the next door neighbor idol! 20 "Declaration of War!! The Dangerous Beauty Burns with Envy!!"

Transcription: " Sensen Fukoku! Shitto ni Moeru Denjarasu Bishōjo!! " (Japanese: 宣戦布告!!嫉妬に燃えるデンジャラス美少女!! ) August 18, 2007 ( ) 21 "Premonition of Separation?! Risa and Ōtani Walk Separate Paths"

Transcription: " Wakare no Yokan?! Risa to Ōtani ga Ayumu Betsubetsu no Michi " (Japanese: 別れの予感?!リサと大谷が歩む別々の道 ) September 8, 2007 ( ) 22 "A Catastrophic Declaration from Ōtani!!"

Transcription: " Ōtani kara no Hakyoku Sengen!! " (Japanese: 大谷からの破局宣言!! ) September 22, 2007 ( ) 23 "Various Paths!! Everyone Embraces Their Own Circumstances"

Transcription: " Shinro wa Iroiro!! Minna ga Kakaeru Sorezore no Jiko " (Japanese: 進路はいろいろ!!みんなが抱えるそれぞれの事故 ) September 22, 2007 ( ) 24 "Together Forever"

Transcription: " Zutto Issho!! " (Japanese: ずっと一緒!! ) September 29, 2007 ( )

Reception [ edit ]

Love Com received the 2004 Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo manga.[2]

The English edition of Love Com has been favorably reviewed, with praise especially for Nakahara's comedic timing,[55] sympathetic characters,[56][57] and deft depictions of emotions.[55] A reviewer at Anime News Network praised it as "the standard by which all other modern romantic comedies should be measured" for its handling of the range of its characters' emotions.[57] The first volume was named by the Young Adult Library Services Association as among the best graphic novels for teens for 2007.[58]

The live-action movie of Love Com was named by Young Adult Library Services Association as one of 16 movies that are 2009 Fabulous Films for Young Adults on the theme of coming of age around the world.[59]

References [ edit ]

Further reading [ edit ]