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33rd out of 225 books
—
37 voters
Children of the Sea, Volume 1 (Children of the Sea/海獣の子供 #1)
R to L (Japanese Style). When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does.Ruka's dad and the other adults who work at the aquarium are only distantly a...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
July 21st 2009
by VIZ Media LLC
(first published 2007)
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Having grown up pretty much on the beach (a one-and-a-half–minute walk from it at any rate), I've long held a certain affection for the sea and all it holds. While a special joy for me surrounded the quality of the morning air that hangs so heavily in coastal regions, the creatures that inhabit the ocean, both at depth and in shallows, also struck a deep chord of interest. In second grade, I was elated when my class spent a three-day field trip at a marine institute on Catalina Island. Beyond sn...more
This book is absolutely beautiful - the visuals and the plot itself. Since it has some spiritual elements in the story, readers who dislike legends, myths or native spiritualities may not enjoy it as much.
It's difficult to fully grasp the meaning of the story and characters, because it holds so many spiritual and religious concepts. (At least, it was for me.) It's very sophisticated and had to reread the series to fully understand it. I also did some brief research on religions in the Pacific ar...more
It's difficult to fully grasp the meaning of the story and characters, because it holds so many spiritual and religious concepts. (At least, it was for me.) It's very sophisticated and had to reread the series to fully understand it. I also did some brief research on religions in the Pacific ar...more
The story starts out on the water, with a boy and an older woman on a sailboat. The woman starts to tell the boy a story, which may be told as flashbacks, it's unclear.
The story is about Ruka, a girl whose parents are divorced. Her father works at an aquarium on the Tokyo Bay, and shares custody with Ruka's mother. Ruka is known as being hot-headed, and her temper gets her kicked off the handball team. While she is 'running away', she winds up at the bay, where she sees a boy swimming out in th...more
The story is about Ruka, a girl whose parents are divorced. Her father works at an aquarium on the Tokyo Bay, and shares custody with Ruka's mother. Ruka is known as being hot-headed, and her temper gets her kicked off the handball team. While she is 'running away', she winds up at the bay, where she sees a boy swimming out in th...more
This manga intrigued me a couple of times on various shelves at various bookstores until I went to the library, found that they had it, and checked it out. The artwork is just stunning. A beautiful mix of sketchy and refined. Every drawing is done with care. With many manga...when a panel is not as important an artist will put less care into it - fewer lines, less definition, but with this manga Daisuke Igarashi puts his all into every panel. The artwork alone is worth reading this manga, but th...more
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A very intriguing fantastical story of the sea. Two children were raised in the sea by dugongs and now are living partially on land with a guardian who works with Ruko's father at an Aquarium. Ruko has just been kicked off the summer kickball team as she is too rough and she spends her time near the ocean. She meets Umi, one of the sea boys, and begins to find out about his mysterious life. At the same time, scientists are reporting the disappearance of certain common fish life from aquariums ar...more
A star in Japan, Daisuke makes his English language debut with volume one of Children of the Sea. The story revolves around Ruka, a girl whose summer vacation is dashed when she’s kicked off the handball team for excessive and repeated violence. Footloose, she finds herself drawn to the aquarium where her father works—and where she once saw a ghost. But Umi is not a ghost; he’s a kind of Mowgli of the sea, and in fact was raised by dungos, a manatee-like creature. How much cooler than wolves is...more
This is one of those fine examples of a manga series where not only is the artwork beautiful, but the presentation of the manga volumes themselves are nice looking and are of a slightly higher quality than most manga. It should be no surprise that such a series is treated this way since this has been one of the more unique manga that I've read within the past year or so.
The synopsis kinda doesn't do this series any justice. You kinda have to pick it up and read for yourself. It's definitely a my...more
The synopsis kinda doesn't do this series any justice. You kinda have to pick it up and read for yourself. It's definitely a my...more
If I could give this book 5 stars just for the drawings, I would. My goodness. I wasn't sure what to make of the book when I first saw it (mostly because it had a weird guy on the back--who actually isn't that weird) but I gave it another try and holy-moly, those drawings are...the most...they're so detailed and beautiful and realistic. I mean, when Umi opened his mouth sometimes, I was like: ....Okay? But besides that--it was really something I wouldn't mind seeing over and over again. Apparent...more
The art is stunning and surreal. The pages are just gorgeous to look at. I've never come across a manga where I just stared at the pages for the art. It's incredibly breath taking. The ocean is naturally a beautiful thing, and this art definitely captures the beauty and mystery of the ocean quite well.
Everything about the story is well crafted. It goes on at a relaxed pace that gives me time to absorb everything from the art, to the dialogue, to the characters.
And I have to say, the quality is a...more
Everything about the story is well crafted. It goes on at a relaxed pace that gives me time to absorb everything from the art, to the dialogue, to the characters.
And I have to say, the quality is a...more
2.75/5 stars.
I don't know why I didn't like this.. I think because at times, even though this is clearly meant to be read from right to left, I felt like some pages were written in a way that made me actually question which order I was supposed to read the dialogue, and that never is a good sign.
Also, everything seemed a bit too fast or watered down or too vague. This was a bit of a headache to read since no one was really fleshed out. They were just characters, and I didn't really feel anything...more
I don't know why I didn't like this.. I think because at times, even though this is clearly meant to be read from right to left, I felt like some pages were written in a way that made me actually question which order I was supposed to read the dialogue, and that never is a good sign.
Also, everything seemed a bit too fast or watered down or too vague. This was a bit of a headache to read since no one was really fleshed out. They were just characters, and I didn't really feel anything...more
Thank god that Viz is still using their Signature line to bring out some of the most thoughtful and interesting manga in Japan even though they know it's likely to run at a loss. AND they did a masterful job of the production of this one- gorgeous paper, amazing print quality, colour pages at the start.
As this is the first volume it seems to be mostly set up for an intriguing tale of fish disappearing and some children who were raised by manatees who may be the only ones who can work out what's...more
As this is the first volume it seems to be mostly set up for an intriguing tale of fish disappearing and some children who were raised by manatees who may be the only ones who can work out what's...more
What an unusual book. I'm most closely reminded of Saturn Apartments, not for the content but for the same slow and easy style of unfolding the story. Our viewpoint character here, Ruka, seems like a fairly typical troubled teenager. Things only get odd when she meets a boy named Umi, and discovers that he and his brother, Sora, were raised by dugongs. Manatees, yes. Something big is happening, but that's off to the side. Mainly, it's about the three teenagers, especially Ruka. I'm looking forwa...more
Gorgeous and unique, but not really my style. Children of the Sea tells the story of Ruka, a young girl who is fascinated by two boys (Umi and Sora), who were raised by dugongs and feel a deep connection to the sea. The story develops very slowly - too slowly for me - but the concept is intriguing and I can see why this is such a highly rated series. I am so very glad that Viz is bringing manga like Children of the Sea to the States, though, because this is a beautiful volume that proves that co...more
Apr 24, 2011
Cory
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fans of Studio Ghibli
Recommended to Cory by:
Anila
Chapter 1
One word: Wow.
The art reminds me of this. I love the water color style. It just fits.
While the beginning was slow, it soon became sort of ambient. Ruka is someone I can stick with. She seems independent and willing to grow.
And there's a black character, Umi, who doesn't look like a weird Chocolove -- Joco, from Shaman King -- caricature. He reminds me of Ed, from Cowboy Bebop.
Fans of this will like I Can Hear the Sea, otherwise known as Ocean Waves.
One chapter down, seven more to go.
One word: Wow.
The art reminds me of this. I love the water color style. It just fits.
While the beginning was slow, it soon became sort of ambient. Ruka is someone I can stick with. She seems independent and willing to grow.
And there's a black character, Umi, who doesn't look like a weird Chocolove -- Joco, from Shaman King -- caricature. He reminds me of Ed, from Cowboy Bebop.
Fans of this will like I Can Hear the Sea, otherwise known as Ocean Waves.
One chapter down, seven more to go.
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Japanese graphic novel-the art is not typical of most of the manga we see here. Quite detailed and more realistic, there are many drawings of undersea life. In this story a young teen girl is at loose ends during the summer school break and starts hanging out at the seaside aquarium where her father works. She becomes involved with the two adopted sons of the aquarium director who ha discovered them being raised by Dugong (South Sea manatees). The whole book has a mysterious feel and the story i...more
Beautiful artwork.
Slow intro.
Interesting story.
As I read this graphic novel (my first), I realized that I am not a graphic novel person. Perhaps, if I had started reading graphic novels and manga earlier in my life the process might be more enjoyable.
I can appreciated the art and the story of "Children of the Sea" although I could not enjoy it the way it should be enjoyed and savored. As I was reading the book backwards, and reading the panels right to left, I'm sure that more than once I read t...more
Slow intro.
Interesting story.
As I read this graphic novel (my first), I realized that I am not a graphic novel person. Perhaps, if I had started reading graphic novels and manga earlier in my life the process might be more enjoyable.
I can appreciated the art and the story of "Children of the Sea" although I could not enjoy it the way it should be enjoyed and savored. As I was reading the book backwards, and reading the panels right to left, I'm sure that more than once I read t...more
So, with Borders going out of buisness, I visited on the day when 80% of the store was empty and everything was 90% off. I essentially cleared off their manga bookcase which wenty from FIVE HUGE THINGS, to three small bookshelves that could fit in my room. And even those weren't filled, all of them probably could've fit on one. But enough of that, I basically took all the manga they had left figuring I could've selled the ones I didn't like, but one really caught my eye: Children of the Sea. It...more
Children of the Sea, Volumes 1-3
Absolutely gorgeous: if you're into marine biology at all, feel at home at the aquarium, or even just like watching underwater Nature episodes, you have to pick up Children of the Sea for Daisuke Igarashi's poetic renderings of underwater sealife (and VIZ Signature includes spectacular color pages with magnificent watercolor work). His art balances between realistic enough to illustrate the ocean and the creatures within in with fidelity (and his true interest and...more
Absolutely gorgeous: if you're into marine biology at all, feel at home at the aquarium, or even just like watching underwater Nature episodes, you have to pick up Children of the Sea for Daisuke Igarashi's poetic renderings of underwater sealife (and VIZ Signature includes spectacular color pages with magnificent watercolor work). His art balances between realistic enough to illustrate the ocean and the creatures within in with fidelity (and his true interest and...more
This series is amazing. The story is mysterious and draws you in like a receding wave, plunging your mind into the otherworldy realm of the ocean. The author/artist has an incredible ability to create scenes of this underwater world that make you feel like you're right there with the characters. I haven't encountered a comic yet that captures the essence of the natural world like "Children of the Sea". Bravo!
There's a great mystery unfolding here, and the art is often gorgeous. From the moment I picked this book up, I wanted to love it absolutely. The only thing keeping me from being more enthusiastic about the book is the characters. The lead girl is pretty flat and the blonde boy Sora feels more like a manga cliche than a real person so far, but by the end of the book, everyone was starting to feel unique, and that mystery of disappearing sealife is enough to bring me back.
One glaring error that i...more
One glaring error that i...more
This was the first traditional manga I've read, so I had to get a bit used to the "backwards" reading style.
In a storyline that brings to mind the animated movie "Ponyo," a little girl with a strange connection to the sea meets two brothers who are more ocean creature than human.
This one was pretty fun, with enjoyable artwork. However, I wasn't always thrilled by the translation. It seemed as if the words most frequently spoken by Ruka, the main character, were "Huh," "Oh," and "What?" I found...more
In a storyline that brings to mind the animated movie "Ponyo," a little girl with a strange connection to the sea meets two brothers who are more ocean creature than human.
This one was pretty fun, with enjoyable artwork. However, I wasn't always thrilled by the translation. It seemed as if the words most frequently spoken by Ruka, the main character, were "Huh," "Oh," and "What?" I found...more
Love the concept (something is happening in the ocean and it's somehow connected to a pair of boys found swimming in the ocean and presumed to have been raised by manatees), love the artwork, particularly the beautiful watercolor section in the beginning. The story obviously had yet to develop, but there's a lot of potential here. I look forward to the rest of the series.
Daisuke Igarashi's Children of the Sea is gorgeous and whimsical. Although the story might seem to develop "slowly," the mysterious "children of the sea" draw you inexorably. I have no real idea where plot of this series might be headed, but I can't help but feel that some Miyazaki-esque eloquent statement about nature, and human nature, is in store.
When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does.Ruka's dad and the other adults who work at the aquarium are only distantly aware of what the children are experiencing as they get caught up in the mystery of the worldwide disappearance of the oceans' fish.
I finally got around to picking up this series thanks to interlibrary loan...and I'm really glad I did. Is it the best most captivating manga I've read? Not really. But it was very enjoyable, the artwork was fantastic, and the story is just intriguing enough that I have already requested volumes 2 and 3 so I can continue reading the series...
I think the main plot about the disapperance of the worlds fishes is interesting but something that did not have a chance to evolve in this first book.
Umi and Soras upbringing by dugongs is original but I don´t buy it that Umi and Sora just adapted their water abilities as a cause of that. There could be a more beliveable explanation for that.
All in all the first book worked as an okay teaser for what is to come, I hope.
Umi and Soras upbringing by dugongs is original but I don´t buy it that Umi and Sora just adapted their water abilities as a cause of that. There could be a more beliveable explanation for that.
All in all the first book worked as an okay teaser for what is to come, I hope.
This is one of the prettiest manga books I own. Everything about it screams quality. From the perfect cover and paper and the page count (over 300!) to the awesome art of Daisuke Igarashi. Only the story is not exactly "there" in the first volume. Not that it isn't interesting, but I hope it will get better in later volumes. That's why just 4 stars.
Haunting and intriguing... layers of story apon layers of story. I've only read this volume, and cannot tell you if I will like where it's going, but it's interesting. The art is engaging and the characters very understandable, very... real. Surreal at times, and yet plausible. Nice work there!
I'm not really sure whether I like this book, care for the subject matter or was really blown away by this interesting book. I just don't really know how I feel about this book. There's a chance I may read Volume 2 and 2 but I am not in a rush. The characters really don't do anything for me. I'm more drawn to the magical sea and odd event more than anything else. Will the story be worth the investment in time? I don't know and do I care to find out?
The artwork is simply amazing, I can go on and...more
The artwork is simply amazing, I can go on and...more
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Daisuke Igarashi (五十嵐大介 Igarashi Daisuke) is a critically acclaimed manga artist. He began his professional career in 1993. Igarashi is known among manga fans for his bold, detailed art style and innovative storytelling.
While he is not a major commercial force in Japan, Igarashi is well respected in critical circles. His manga Witches received an Excellence Prize at the 2004 Japan Media Arts Fest...more
More about Daisuke Igarashi...
While he is not a major commercial force in Japan, Igarashi is well respected in critical circles. His manga Witches received an Excellence Prize at the 2004 Japan Media Arts Fest...more
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