Kilala Princess Volume 1

December 11, 2006
Manga based on Kingdom Hearts, the
\t\t video-game using classic Disney characters, have been quite successful, and
\t\t this book copies the formula closely, but for girls. Kilala dreams of finding
\t\t "true love like the Disney princesses"—Cinderella, Aurora (Sleeping Beauty),
\t\t Snow White, Belle, Jasmine and the out-of-place mermaid, Ariel. Kilala's
\t\t clumsiness and spunky nature make her unlikely to be chosen to wear her
\t\t school's princess crown, but when her best friend is kidnapped after winning
\t\t the contest, Kilala sets out with handsome stranger Rei (sent to find the
\t\t rightful owner of a mystical tiara) to find her. A magical gate leads her to
\t\t the princesses, starting with Snow White. The animation-inspired characters are
\t\t faithful to their original models and beautifully drawn, but the style contrast
\t\t can be a bit odd. Character interaction within the same panel is kept to a
\t\t minimum to avoid the abrupt comparison. The little girls the brand name Disney
\t\t Princesses was developed for will eat this up with a shovel. It's comfortable,
\t\t easy to read, and hits their favorite fantasies hard: what if I were a
\t\t princess? what if I were specially picked by the handsome prince? what if I got
\t\t to meet the characters I love? Nongirly girls may find the whole thing
\t\t regressive and predictable.