yurimother

[yurimother]

Yuri Anime Review - Whisper Me a Love Song Series Premiere

A delightful school romance that captures unfettered joy and attraction

2023 was nothing short of an incredible year for Yuri anime, packed with an astonishing lineup of new offerings, including Yuri Is My Job!, Stardust Telepath, The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess, I’m in Love with a Villainess, my personal favorite, the runaway success that was The Magical Revolution Of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady and of course the continuation and conclusion of the surprise Yuri sci-fi Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. Whisper Me a Love Song has the unenviable task of following up and providing a cap on this unprecedented boom of Yuri anime. The adaptation of Eku Takeshima’s high school romance manga was initially announced alongside many of the aforementioned works. However, it ended up being delayed from its initial January debut for various reasons, not the least of which was the switch in directors from Xin Ya Cai to Akira Mano.

Further compounding the pressure on this series is the comparisons it will draw to Bloom Into You, one of the most beloved and well-received Yuri series of all time. Now, these comparisons are mostly unfair, as Bloom Into You had the mighty weight of Kadokawa’s marketing behind it, although, to be fair, Whisper Me a Love Song’s campaign has been no slouch. Moreover, the two series are very different, save for their shared high school setting and Yuri romance. Bloom Into You was a slow-burn romance that leaned into shounen drama, while Whisper Me a Love Song takes a noticeably lighter tone and incorporates more slice of life elements. It does not help that the Whisper Me a Love Song manga debuts the same year that Bloom Into You concluded its serialized run and would go on to replace the latter as the top Yuri series in many audiences’ eyes, and for myself, would go onto fill the same niche of an extended high school romance. All this is to say that the expectations around Whisper Me a Love Song are unreasonably mammoth. However, the anime’s debut episode assured us that we are in for a warm and harmonious display of young love.

The Welcome Concert

The show begins as Himari Kino (Hana Shimano) wakes up for her first day of high school. At a welcome ceremony for new students, she witnesses the light music club band, SSGIRLS, perform their song "Humming Love,” and the temporary lead vocalist, Yori Asanagi (Asami Seto), instantly enchants her. This scene catalyzes the series’ ongoing story and helps highlight some of the most critical aspects and features of this adaptation: the music and the animation. 

Whisper Me a Love Song does not set the world on fire visually, boasting animation that, at its best moments, can be described as “pretty good.” Yet, it does more than a serviceable job, smartly utilizing its resources and clever framing that keeps the viewer’s attention and makes the story easy to follow while saving on animation. There are some flaws, such as stiffer animation during dialogue-heavy scenes and the noticeable use of 3D CGI elements for background characters and objects, like flower petals. However, these do not distract from the narrative nor detract from one’s enjoyment. However there are positives as well to point out here.

For one, the series does a fantastic job with its lighting, applying generous highlights to characters’ faces and hair, enhancing their features, and preventing them from coming across visually as flat or simplistic. The frequent use of a light, soft background that bathes the subjects in a warm glow matches this choice, and they work together in tandem to help convey the anime’s light and happy tone. The anime occasionally employs this lighting to accentuate story beats, such as when Yori peaks through the curtain at the crowd, casting most of her body in shadow as she worries about performing in front of such a large crowd.

This welcome ceremony has noticeably different animation than the rest of the episode. Here, the members of SSGIRLS are injected with an electric sense of movement, playing their instruments with enthusiasm and energy that honestly felt jarring when compared to the more limited shorts of Himari reacting to the performance. Given its importance in the story and the fact that the anime reuses this scene for the opening theme, it is clear why the animation was given more attention and resources. However, and I am likely in the minority here, I actually dislike it for this reason. The heavily referenced footage stands out a bit too much, especially given that it is intercut with more straightforward static shots of Himari, creating a jarring effect that pulls focus away from the characters and their feelings.

The Musical Advantage

Where the series did not disappoint me is musically. In recent years, Yuri works have drawn more and more from musical-themed settings, including Hello, Melancholic!, The Moon on a Rainy Night, and Amongst Us, not to mention the myriad of “Yuri-ish” musical series. However, the apparent disconnect is that manga and webtoons are visual mediums devoid of sound and score. While some titles, such as  After Hours and The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy at All, mitigate this flaw by releasing companion playlists or soundtracks, it is not the same as incorporating the music into the product itself.

Here, Whisper Me a Love Song’s jump to animation truly adds to the experience, elevating it above its source material. Himari’s instantaneous infatuation is so much more believable when we, the viewers, can experience the music alongside her; her “loving” obsession with Yori made that much more real because we also hear the upperclassman’s performance, provided by Kana Sasakura’s wonderful singing voice. Studios Cloud Hearts and Yokohama Animation Laboratory are, of course, aware of music’s central role in the story and have done it justice, giving the fictitious SSGirls multiple chances to shine, not just in the episode itself but also in performing the opening theme, “Follow Your Arrows.”

Returning to the episode, after the welcome ceremony, Himari runs into Yori and begins to fangirl over her, confessing that she “fell in love at first sight.” Yori is stunned by this sudden confession and taken with Himari’s cuteness and openness. After confiding in her bandmates, she realizes that she has fallen in love, much to the other’s delight.

Supporting Characters Steal the Show

These conversations are excellent, as they give us the chance to get to see more of the series’ other characters. Like the original manga, Whisper Me a Love Song has a terrific supporting cast that adds to the humor and drama. Each of the other characters has a striking, unique design and personality that helps them stand out, like the drummer Mari, who is slightly more stoic and comes from a wealthy family. She is contrasted well by the playing keyboardist, Kaori, who often flirts and teases Mari. Siblings Miki and Aki act as the best friends of the lead characters, usually providing them guidance and encouragement. Each girl excels on screen thanks to some stand-out writing and performance. While each is different from the others,, they all have one unifying characteristic: their encouragement and excitement for Yori and Himari, which is infection, making us want to root for them, too. The lone exception is Aki, who herself harbors feelings for Yori, which will come into play in future episodes.

I like these supporting characters even more than I did in the manga, thanks in no small part to Minami Yoshida's fantastic work adapting Eku Takeshima’s characters to the screen. They capture each character perfectly; Himari is cute, ditzy, and full of adoring exuberance. Yori’s appearance portrays her as cool and elegant, but her movements and posture help convey her more anxious and apprehensive nature. And, of course, each of their friends is striking and memorable, and their depiction matches their personality. For example, Mari is prim and proper, weaning her uniform and hair unadulterated from modification and maintaining a hardened, no-nonsense expression. However, Kaori has a more rounded, goofier face, complete with a dopey smile and a bright yellow hoodie, betraying her more playful personality.

Rooftop Romances

The episode's high points come in its second half, two scenes on the rooftop with Himari and Yori alone. The first begins with Yori singing as she thinks about Himari and her confusing feelings for her, while unbeknownst to Yori, Himari walks upstairs thinking about Yori’s singing. It is an excellent reflection of the central conflict these two will face in their upcoming “romance,” the fact that their feelings of love for each other are different, with Yori’s being a more mature romantic attraction and Himari’s a child-like obsession for the older girl’s singing.

Put plainly, it is beautiful, showcasing the best singing we hear from Yori, a light, melodic hum, and some of the best emotional work of the episode as she makes sense of her feelings. Unfortunately, this scene also showcases Whisper Me a Love Song’s weakest aspect, its pacing.

The rhythm of the manga was already a frustrating issue, as it both fussed about with little for extended stretches and introduced and resolved conflicts with little time for rumination or exploration. This issue is only exacerbated by the anime’s truncated story. The first episode alone covers two and a half chapters of the manga and sees Yori change her emotional state about a half dozen times, first being anxious about singing, then confused by her feelings for Himari, then realizing she might be in love, confessing that love, feeling the embarrassment of her misunderstanding, and at last confirming that she is in love with Himari and vowing to make the other girl recognize and reciprocate her feelings. It is less of an emotional rollercoaster and more of a rapid, rambling barrage of issues and feelings that have no time to breathe or create any real impact in the story. I wished they had spent a few episodes playing out this arc, letting Yori slowly come to terms with these new feelings of love for Himari and working to overcome her trepidation surrounding them.

After plotting with her friends how to make Himari fall for her, the episode ends as Yori walks up to the roof to find Himari already waiting for her, a nice flip on the previous rooftop scene. There, Himari requests Yori sing for her, which she does. It is an exceptional sequence. The characters' feelings and differing attractions for each other come across so clearly. Himari is so visibly excited to hear Yori sing, and the older girl has such a wonderful mix of cool and collected affection and awkwardness that you cannot help but smile while watching it. Both girls have such a warm, gentle, and loving disposition, perfectly matched by the soft orange sky and quiet, empty rooftop. As Yori sings, the perspective shifts and employs some scenic Yuri, focusing on the sky and indirect views of each character until finally settling back on Himari’s blushing, glowing face from Yori’s perspective, a perfect encapsulation of the adoring girl that she has fallen in love with.

Conclusion

I am so happy with Whisper Me a Love Song. The anime did everything it needed to, from maintaining the manga’s fun, light tone of young love to adding excellent music that helps you understand how these characters became drawn to one another. It has flaws, with middling animation quality and an unfortunate dedication to the poor pacing and speed of the manga. Nevertheless, these do not distract from an overall adorable and fun experience. Most importantly, the anime nails the excitement, affectionate, and intense joyfulness of its two characters and their love for each other. I cannot wait to enjoy every second of their relationship and confidently declare that this Yuri series is an easy recommendation, untainted by the usual list of qualifications or warnings I am usually required to make. Whisper Me a Love Song is just a sweet, simple, and delightful school romance that you should absolutely watch. 

Ratings: Story – 8 Characters – 10 Art – 6 LGBTQ – 9 Sexual Content – 0 Music – 7 Final – 8

You can stream Whisper Me a Love Song with English subtitles on HIDIVE.

This review is made possible by Avery Riehl and the rest of the YuriMother Patrons. Support the Patreon today for early access, exclusive content, and to help fund LGBTQ+ content.

[yurimother]

Yuri Anime Review - Whisper Me a Love Song Series Premiere

A delightful school romance that captures unfettered joy and attraction

2023 was nothing short of an incredible year for Yuri anime, packed with an astonishing lineup of new offerings, including Yuri Is My Job!, Stardust Telepath, The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess, I’m in Love with a Villainess, my personal favorite, the runaway success that was The Magical Revolution Of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady and of course the continuation and conclusion of the surprise Yuri sci-fi Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. Whisper Me a Love Song has the unenviable task of following up and providing a cap on this unprecedented boom of Yuri anime. The adaptation of Eku Takeshima’s high school romance manga was initially announced alongside many of the aforementioned works. However, it ended up being delayed from its initial January debut for various reasons, not the least of which was the switch in directors from Xin Ya Cai to Akira Mano.

Further compounding the pressure on this series is the comparisons it will draw to Bloom Into You, one of the most beloved and well-received Yuri series of all time. Now, these comparisons are mostly unfair, as Bloom Into You had the mighty weight of Kadokawa’s marketing behind it, although, to be fair, Whisper Me a Love Song’s campaign has been no slouch. Moreover, the two series are very different, save for their shared high school setting and Yuri romance. Bloom Into You was a slow-burn romance that leaned into shounen drama, while Whisper Me a Love Song takes a noticeably lighter tone and incorporates more slice of life elements. It does not help that the Whisper Me a Love Song manga debuts the same year that Bloom Into You concluded its serialized run and would go on to replace the latter as the top Yuri series in many audiences’ eyes, and for myself, would go onto fill the same niche of an extended high school romance. All this is to say that the expectations around Whisper Me a Love Song are unreasonably mammoth. However, the anime’s debut episode assured us that we are in for a warm and harmonious display of young love.

The Welcome Concert

The show begins as Himari Kino (Hana Shimano) wakes up for her first day of high school. At a welcome ceremony for new students, she witnesses the light music club band, SSGIRLS, perform their song "Humming Love,” and the temporary lead vocalist, Yori Asanagi (Asami Seto), instantly enchants her. This scene catalyzes the series’ ongoing story and helps highlight some of the most critical aspects and features of this adaptation: the music and the animation. 

Whisper Me a Love Song does not set the world on fire visually, boasting animation that, at its best moments, can be described as “pretty good.” Yet, it does more than a serviceable job, smartly utilizing its resources and clever framing that keeps the viewer’s attention and makes the story easy to follow while saving on animation. There are some flaws, such as stiffer animation during dialogue-heavy scenes and the noticeable use of 3D CGI elements for background characters and objects, like flower petals. However, these do not distract from the narrative nor detract from one’s enjoyment. However there are positives as well to point out here.

For one, the series does a fantastic job with its lighting, applying generous highlights to characters’ faces and hair, enhancing their features, and preventing them from coming across visually as flat or simplistic. The frequent use of a light, soft background that bathes the subjects in a warm glow matches this choice, and they work together in tandem to help convey the anime’s light and happy tone. The anime occasionally employs this lighting to accentuate story beats, such as when Yori peaks through the curtain at the crowd, casting most of her body in shadow as she worries about performing in front of such a large crowd.

This welcome ceremony has noticeably different animation than the rest of the episode. Here, the members of SSGIRLS are injected with an electric sense of movement, playing their instruments with enthusiasm and energy that honestly felt jarring when compared to the more limited shorts of Himari reacting to the performance. Given its importance in the story and the fact that the anime reuses this scene for the opening theme, it is clear why the animation was given more attention and resources. However, and I am likely in the minority here, I actually dislike it for this reason. The heavily referenced footage stands out a bit too much, especially given that it is intercut with more straightforward static shots of Himari, creating a jarring effect that pulls focus away from the characters and their feelings.

The Musical Advantage

Where the series did not disappoint me is musically. In recent years, Yuri works have drawn more and more from musical-themed settings, including Hello, Melancholic!, The Moon on a Rainy Night, and Amongst Us, not to mention the myriad of “Yuri-ish” musical series. However, the apparent disconnect is that manga and webtoons are visual mediums devoid of sound and score. While some titles, such as  After Hours and The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy at All, mitigate this flaw by releasing companion playlists or soundtracks, it is not the same as incorporating the music into the product itself.

Here, Whisper Me a Love Song’s jump to animation truly adds to the experience, elevating it above its source material. Himari’s instantaneous infatuation is so much more believable when we, the viewers, can experience the music alongside her; her “loving” obsession with Yori made that much more real because we also hear the upperclassman’s performance, provided by Kana Sasakura’s wonderful singing voice. Studios Cloud Hearts and Yokohama Animation Laboratory are, of course, aware of music’s central role in the story and have done it justice, giving the fictitious SSGirls multiple chances to shine, not just in the episode itself but also in performing the opening theme, “Follow Your Arrows.”

Returning to the episode, after the welcome ceremony, Himari runs into Yori and begins to fangirl over her, confessing that she “fell in love at first sight.” Yori is stunned by this sudden confession and taken with Himari’s cuteness and openness. After confiding in her bandmates, she realizes that she has fallen in love, much to the other’s delight.

Supporting Characters Steal the Show

These conversations are excellent, as they give us the chance to get to see more of the series’ other characters. Like the original manga, Whisper Me a Love Song has a terrific supporting cast that adds to the humor and drama. Each of the other characters has a striking, unique design and personality that helps them stand out, like the drummer Mari, who is slightly more stoic and comes from a wealthy family. She is contrasted well by the playing keyboardist, Kaori, who often flirts and teases Mari. Siblings Miki and Aki act as the best friends of the lead characters, usually providing them guidance and encouragement. Each girl excels on screen thanks to some stand-out writing and performance. While each is different from the others,, they all have one unifying characteristic: their encouragement and excitement for Yori and Himari, which is infection, making us want to root for them, too. The lone exception is Aki, who herself harbors feelings for Yori, which will come into play in future episodes.

I like these supporting characters even more than I did in the manga, thanks in no small part to Minami Yoshida's fantastic work adapting Eku Takeshima’s characters to the screen. They capture each character perfectly; Himari is cute, ditzy, and full of adoring exuberance. Yori’s appearance portrays her as cool and elegant, but her movements and posture help convey her more anxious and apprehensive nature. And, of course, each of their friends is striking and memorable, and their depiction matches their personality. For example, Mari is prim and proper, weaning her uniform and hair unadulterated from modification and maintaining a hardened, no-nonsense expression. However, Kaori has a more rounded, goofier face, complete with a dopey smile and a bright yellow hoodie, betraying her more playful personality.

Rooftop Romances

The episode's high points come in its second half, two scenes on the rooftop with Himari and Yori alone. The first begins with Yori singing as she thinks about Himari and her confusing feelings for her, while unbeknownst to Yori, Himari walks upstairs thinking about Yori’s singing. It is an excellent reflection of the central conflict these two will face in their upcoming “romance,” the fact that their feelings of love for each other are different, with Yori’s being a more mature romantic attraction and Himari’s a child-like obsession for the older girl’s singing.

Put plainly, it is beautiful, showcasing the best singing we hear from Yori, a light, melodic hum, and some of the best emotional work of the episode as she makes sense of her feelings. Unfortunately, this scene also showcases Whisper Me a Love Song’s weakest aspect, its pacing.

The rhythm of the manga was already a frustrating issue, as it both fussed about with little for extended stretches and introduced and resolved conflicts with little time for rumination or exploration. This issue is only exacerbated by the anime’s truncated story. The first episode alone covers two and a half chapters of the manga and sees Yori change her emotional state about a half dozen times, first being anxious about singing, then confused by her feelings for Himari, then realizing she might be in love, confessing that love, feeling the embarrassment of her misunderstanding, and at last confirming that she is in love with Himari and vowing to make the other girl recognize and reciprocate her feelings. It is less of an emotional rollercoaster and more of a rapid, rambling barrage of issues and feelings that have no time to breathe or create any real impact in the story. I wished they had spent a few episodes playing out this arc, letting Yori slowly come to terms with these new feelings of love for Himari and working to overcome her trepidation surrounding them.

After plotting with her friends how to make Himari fall for her, the episode ends as Yori walks up to the roof to find Himari already waiting for her, a nice flip on the previous rooftop scene. There, Himari requests Yori sing for her, which she does. It is an exceptional sequence. The characters' feelings and differing attractions for each other come across so clearly. Himari is so visibly excited to hear Yori sing, and the older girl has such a wonderful mix of cool and collected affection and awkwardness that you cannot help but smile while watching it. Both girls have such a warm, gentle, and loving disposition, perfectly matched by the soft orange sky and quiet, empty rooftop. As Yori sings, the perspective shifts and employs some scenic Yuri, focusing on the sky and indirect views of each character until finally settling back on Himari’s blushing, glowing face from Yori’s perspective, a perfect encapsulation of the adoring girl that she has fallen in love with.

Conclusion

I am so happy with Whisper Me a Love Song. The anime did everything it needed to, from maintaining the manga’s fun, light tone of young love to adding excellent music that helps you understand how these characters became drawn to one another. It has flaws, with middling animation quality and an unfortunate dedication to the poor pacing and speed of the manga. Nevertheless, these do not distract from an overall adorable and fun experience. Most importantly, the anime nails the excitement, affectionate, and intense joyfulness of its two characters and their love for each other. I cannot wait to enjoy every second of their relationship and confidently declare that this Yuri series is an easy recommendation, untainted by the usual list of qualifications or warnings I am usually required to make. Whisper Me a Love Song is just a sweet, simple, and delightful school romance that you should absolutely watch. 

Ratings: Story – 8 Characters – 10 Art – 6 LGBTQ – 9 Sexual Content – 0 Music – 7 Final – 8

You can stream Whisper Me a Love Song with English subtitles on HIDIVE.

This review is made possible by Avery Riehl and the rest of the YuriMother Patrons. Support the Patreon today for early access, exclusive content, and to help fund LGBTQ+ content.

#yuri #lgbt #girls love #lgbtq #gl #queer #gay #lesbian #anime #manga #reviews #Whisper Me a Love Song #Yuri Anime

[yurimother]

One of our editors has been having a difficult time post-surgery -- if you're able to share this, it would be much appreciated.

[yurimother]

PREVIEW: Yuri Anime Review - Whisper Me a Love Song - Episode 1

This is an early preview. Read the full review only on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/102735881?pr=true

A delightful school romance that captures unfettered joy and attraction.

2023 was nothing short of an incredible year for Yuri anime, packed with an astonishing lineup of new offerings, including Yuri Is My Job!, Stardust Telepath, The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess, I’m in Love with a Villainess, my personal favorite, the runaway success that was The Magical Revolution Of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady and of course the continuation and conclusion of the surprise Yuri sci-fi Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. Whisper Me a Love Song has the unenviable task of following up and providing a cap on this unprecedented boom of Yuri anime. The adaptation of Eku Takeshima’s high school romance manga was initially announced alongside many of the aforementioned works. However, it ended up being delayed from its initial January debut for various reasons, not the least of which was the switch in directors from Xin Ya Cai to Akira Mano.

Further compounding the pressure on this series is the comparisons it will draw to Bloom Into You, one of the most beloved and well-received Yuri series of all time. Now, these comparisons are mostly unfair, as Bloom Into You had the mighty weight of Kadokawa’s marketing behind it, although, to be fair, Whisper Me a Love Song’s campaign has been no slouch. Moreover, the two series are very different, save for their shared high school setting and Yuri romance. Bloom Into You was a slow-burn romance that leaned into shounen drama, while Whisper Me a Love Song takes a noticeably lighter tone and incorporates more slice of life elements. It does not help that the Whisper Me a Love Song manga debuts the same year that Bloom Into You concluded its serialized run and would go on to replace the latter as the top Yuri series in many audiences’ eyes, and for myself, would go onto fill the same niche of an extended high school romance. All this is to say that the expectations around Whisper Me a Love Song are unreasonably mammoth. However, the anime’s debut episode assured us that we are in for a warm and harmonious display of young love.

…..

Rooftop Romances

The episode's high points come in its second half, two scenes on the rooftop with Himari and Yori alone. The first begins with Yori singing as she thinks about Himari and her confusing feelings for her, while unbeknownst to Yori, Himari walks upstairs thinking about Yori’s singing. It is an excellent reflection of the central conflict these two will face in their upcoming “romance,” the fact that their feelings of love for each other are different, with Yori’s being a more mature romantic attraction and Himari’s a child-like obsession for the older girl’s singing.

This scene is beautiful, showcasing the best singing we hear from Yori, a light, melodic hum, and some of the best emotional work of the episode as she makes sense of her feelings. Unfortunately, this scene also showcases Whisper Me a Love Song’s weakest aspect, its pacing.

BE THE FIRST TO READ THE FULL REVIEW ON THE YURIMOTHER PATREON

#yuri #lgbt #gay #girls love #gl #anime #Whisper me a Love Song #Review #Reviews #Preview #lgbtq #queer #lesbian #manga #GL Anime #Yuri Anime

[yurimother]

'Whisper Me a Love Song' Yuri Anime Now Streaming

The first episode of Cloud Hearts and Yokohama Animation Laboratory's high school Yuri romance anime Whisper Me a Love Song (Sasayaku You ni Koi o Utau) is now streaming in North America on HIDIVE. The first episode premiered on April 13, and new episodes are simulcast every Saturday at 12:30 PM EST.

Whisper Me a Love Song follows first-year high school student Himari Kino, who, at a welcome ceremony, witnesses Yori Asanagi singing and instantly falls in “love.” She immediately confesses her admiration to Yori, who misinterprets Himari’s feelings as romantic. However, once she realizes her mistake, Yori swears that she will make Himari fall for her for real. The anime will run for 12 episodes, according to HIDIVE.

The anime is based on the manga of the same name by Eku Takeshima. The manga began serialization in Comic Yuri Hime in February 2019. As of March 2024, Ichjinsha has published nine collected volumes of the series in Japanese, and Kodansha USA has published eight in English.

The anime, which was delayed from its initially announced January premiere, is directed by Akira Mano at Cloud Hearts and Yokohama Animation Laboratory. Mano replaced the initially announced director, Xin Ya Cai, due to “health reasons.” Additional staff includes character designer Minami Yoshida and script supervisor Hiroki Uchida join Mano.

The anime stars Hana Shimano as Himari Kino and Asami Seto as Yori Asanagi. Additional cast includes:

Konomi Kohara as Mari Tsutsui

Mikako Komatsu as Aki Mizuguchi

Ai Kakuma as Kaori Tachibana

Yuna Nemoto as Shiho Izumi

Reina Ueda as Momoka Satomiya

Chika Anzai as Hajime Amasawa

Aoi Koga as Miki Mizuguchi

You can stream Whisper Me a Love Song today with English subtitles on HIDIVE in North America, the British Isles, and Australia.

#yuri #lgbt #lgbtq #gl #queer #anime #manga #gay #girls love #lesbian #news #Whisper Me a Love Song #Youtube

[yurimother]

Dystopian Yuri Series 'Kimi ga Shinu made Koi wo Shitai' Licensed in English

During its panel at Sakura Con, Kodansha USA announced that it has licensed Nachi Aono's fantasy Yuri tragedy series I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day (Kimi ga Shinu made Koi wo Shitai), also known as My Wish is to Fall in Love Until You Die. The first volume will be released in February 2025.

The publisher describes the series:

At the mysterious orphanage where Sheena lives, death is nothing new to its residents—girls who no longer have families of their own, who are raised as weapons of war, taught to kill and take the lives of others without batting an eye. Everyone, that is, except Sheena, who wishes for nothing more than the growing conflict around her to end. On the night of her roommate's death, Sheena meets a strange girl covered in blood, who smiles despite the turmoil surrounding them. The next day, the girl appears as a new student in Sheena's class and introduces herself as Mimi. Initially thought to be a school myth, there are now whispers in the orphanage's halls that Mimi is their secret weapon—an immortal who cannot die. When Mimi is later assigned as Sheena's new roommate, Sheena's world grows even more complicated when she begins living with someone who loves and welcomes death, when all Sheena wants to do is stop it…

The manga is serialized in Comic Yuri Hime in August of 2018. The seventh collected volume was released in Japanese by Ichijinsha in February. It is highly praised for its characters, romance, and difficult story that highlights the horrors and cruelty of war. In 2021, it won first place in the story category and third place overall in Yuri Navi's Yuri Manga Sousenkyo popularity poll.

You can check out I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day when it releases in English next February.

Source: Kodansha Website

#yuri #lgbt #gay #lgbtq #gl #lesbian #queer #girls love #anime #manga #news

[yurimother]

Yuri Manga 'I Can't Say No to the Lonely Girl' Released

On March 19, Kodansha Comics released the first volume of Kashikaze's Yuri manga I Can't Say No to the Lonely Girl (Ronriigaaru ni Sakaraenai).

The publisher describes the series:

In this juicy yuri manga, the goody-goody high school girl Sakurai meets a lonely girl—and ends up entangled in a web of blackmail that might just lead to romance. It’s hard to keep up with school when you can never say no to a devious classmate!

The first volume begins when straight-laced high school student Sakurai asks her teacher to write her a recommendation letter. In exchange, Sakurai has to convince truant delinquent Honda to come to school. Sakurai agrees but soon finds that Honda has a deal of her own. For every day Honda attends school, Sakurai must grant her one "wish..."

I Can't Say No to the Lonely Girl was serialized in Comic Yuri Hime from October 2019 until its conclusion in October 2022. Ichiojinsha collected the series in six published volumes in Japanese.

Kashikaze released a follow-up one-shot doujin, Lonely Girl ni Sakaraenai dj—Kekkyoku Sonna Kimi ga Suki, in 2023, following side characters Wakana and Yuina.

The second English volume is scheduled for release on May 28. Diana Taylor translated the manga, with lettering by Belynda Ungurath and editing by Tomoko Nagano.

Check out the first volume of I Can't Say No to the Lonely Girl today digitally and in paperback: https://amzn.to/3TwEOCo

Reading official releases helps support creators and publishers. YuriMother makes a small affiliate commission from sales to help fund future coverage.

#yuri #lgbt #gay #gl #lgbtq #queer #anime #girls love #lesbian #manga #news

[yurimother]

English License of Viral Yuri Manga 'The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All' Rumored

Sumiko Arai's popular Yuri manga Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta (The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All) is allegedly licensed in English.

This information comes from manga publisher Denpa, which replied to a post on X (formerly Twitter) saying that the series was already licensed but that they could not say who due to legal reasons, as at the time of writing, the license has not been officially announced.

The manga follows high school student Aya Oosawa, a gyaru with an interest in rock music who develops a crush on a "boy" at a music store, not realizing that the "boy" is actually her female classmate Mitsuki Koga. As the girls grow closer at both the music store and at school, Mitsuki works to keep the truth of her two identities a secret.

Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta was initially posted to Twitter in April 2022, where it gained immense popularity for its story and striking visuals, including its use of black, white, and green coloring and character designs. The series is based on a 2021 manga Arai uploaded in 2021, although the original only had a few episodes before the relaunch.

The popularity of the series on Twitter led to Kadokawa picking it up for print publication. The first volume was released in April 2023, and the second in February 2024. The first volume sold over 150,000 copies within the first week of release. Additionally, the series won the 2023 Next Manga Award in the web manga category.

A drama CD is scheduled for release in Japan on March 27. The drama CD features Akari Kitou as Aya, Mariye Ise as Mitsuki, Kenjiro Tsuda, and Tasuku Hatanaka.

If the series is licensed in English, we can hopefully get an official announcement soon.

Sources: Denpa Books Twitter

#yuri #lgbt #girls love #lgbtq #gay #queer #gl #lesbian #anime #manga #news

[yurimother]

Yuri Anime 'Whisper Me a Love Song' Announce April 13 Debut; HIDIVE to Simulcast

Last Friday, an announcement posted to the official website for the upcoming television anime adaptation of Eku Takeshima's Whisper Me a Love Song (Sasayaku You ni Koi o Utau) revealed that the series will premiere on April 13. Additionally, on Wednesday, Sentai Filmworks announced that it has licensed the anime and will stream the anime internationally on HIDIVE.

Whisper Me a Love Song follows first-year high school student Himari Kino, who, at a welcome ceremony, witnesses Yori Asanagi singing and instantly falls in "love." She immediately confesses her admiration to Yori, who misinterprets Himari's feelings as romantic. However, once she realizes her mistake, Yori swears that she will make Himari fall for her for real.

The release date announcement also included a new key visual (above) and information about the opening and ending themes. Whisper Me A Love Song's opening theme, "Follow your arrows," is performed by the fictional band SSGIRLS from the anime and sung by Kana Sasakura, who provides the singing voice for main character Yori Asanagi.

Sentai Filmworks will simulcast the anime exclusively on HIDIVE in North America, Australia, the the British Isles. The North American premiere will be screened at Anime Boston 2024 on March 29.

The anime, which was delayed from its initially announced January premiere, is directed by Akira Mano at Cloud Hearts and Yokohama Animation Laboratory. Mano replaced the initially announced director, Xin Ya Cai, due to "health reasons." Character designer Minami Yoshida and script supervisor Hiroki Uchida join Mano.

The anime stars Hana Shimano as Himari Kino and Asami Seto as Yori Asanagi. Additional cast includes:

Konomi Kohara as Mari Tsutsui

Mikako Komatsu as Aki Mizuguchi

Ai Kakuma as Kaori Tachibana

Yuna Nemoto as Shiho Izumi

Reina Ueda as Momoka Satomiya

Chika Anzai as Hajime Amasawa

Aoi Koga as Miki Mizuguchi

Ichijinsha serializes the original manga in Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime. Kodansha USA publishes the manga in English and will release the eighth volume on March 26.

Sources: Official Anime Website, HIDIVE Press Release

#yuri #girls love #lgbt #gay #gl #lgbtq #Whisper Me a Love Song #lesbian #anime #queer #manga #sasayaku you ni koi wo utau #wlw #Youtube

[yurimother]

Gender Bender Yuri Light Novel 'Miss Savage Fang' Released in English

On February 20, Yen Press released the first volume of Kakkaku Akashi's light novel series Miss Savage Fang: The Strongest Mercenary in History Is Reincarnated as an Unstoppable Noblewoman (Savage Fang Ojou-sama) under its Yen On imprint. The gender bender light novel focuses on a male mercenary reborn as a woman and becomes involved in a bisexual love triangle.

Miss Savage Fang follows Envil "Savage Fang," a renowned mercenary who, after dying in a civil war, awakens inside the body of the very tyrant who started the conflict, Mylene Eltania. Mylene boasts incredible magic and combat skills, and striking vermilion-tinged locks, showing that she is chosen by gods. Using her knowledge and skills from her past life, the new Mylene works to reshape the world. Taking advantage of this second change before it is too late.

Kayahara illustrates the light novels. Kadokawa published the series in two Japanese volumes in 2021. A manga adaptation illustrated by Umashi was serialized on Shueisha's Isekai Young Jump from 2022 until its conclusion in May 2023. Shueisha published three collected volumes of the manga.

Sarah Moon translated Miss Savage Fang into English. Yen Press will release the second volume on June 18, 2024. The publisher has also licensed the manga adaptation for publication in July.

You can check out the first volume of Miss Savage Fang in paperback and digitally today: https://amzn.to/4a0Iy60

YuriMother makes a small affiliate commission from sales to help fund future coverage.

#yuri #girls love #lgbt #lgbtq #gl #gay #queer #lesbian #anime #manga #Miss Savage Fang #Light Novel #News #Bisexual #Bi

[yurimother]

Yuri Romance Light Novel from the Creator of 'Adachi and Shimamura' Licensed in English

On Friday, Yen Press announced that it has licensed the Yuri drama light novel series My First Love's Kiss (Watashi no Hatsukoi Aite ga Kiss Shiteta) and will release the first volume in August 2024. The series is written by Adachi and Shimamura creator Hitoma Iruma and illustrated by popular Yuri artist Fly (Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki).

The publisher describes the series:

Takasora Hoshi’s life is upended when a girl from her class named Umi Mizuike and her mother temporarily move into her family’s cramped apartment. From the outset of this arrangement, Takasora finds herself annoyed by Umi’s behavior...and her good looks. And though the two girls initially agree to avoid interfering with each other’s lives, Takasora can’t help but start to wonder where Umi keeps wandering off to at night…

My First Love's Kiss is connected to Iruma's high school Yuri series Adachi and Shimamura, with crossover characters appearing in later volumes. However, unlike that series, its story is more bittersweet and gloomy.

The light novels began publication in Japan in January of 2022 under ASCII Media Works's Dengeki Bunko imprint. The third and final Japanese volume was released in December of that year.

Hitoma Iruma is a Japanese author best known for his series Ground Control to Psychoeletric Girl and Adachi and Shimamura, both of which received anime and manga adaptations. He frequently collaborates with Bloom Into You creator Nio Nakatani, working with her on the Bloom Into You spin-off series, Regarding Saeki Sayaka, and the original light novel works End Blue and Shoujo Mousou Chuu.

Fly is an illustrator known especially for her Yuri artwork and for illustrating Bottom-Tier Characters Tomozaki and Chasing after Aoi Koshiba, as well as creating Kemono Friends and providing the character designs for P.A. Works' Iroduku: The World in Colors. Fly has also contributed artwork, cover illustrations, and manga for several anthologies, including four volumes of Syrup (Licensed by Seven Seas), the first Bloom Into You Anthology (Seven Seas), and éclair (Yen Press).

You can check out My First Love's Kiss when Yen Press releases the first volume in English this August.

Source: Press Release, Email Correspondence

#yuri #lgbt #gay #lgbtq #gl #queer #lesbian #girls love #anime #manga #light novels #news #adachi and shimamura

[yurimother]

Fan Favorite Yuri Series 'Handsome Girl and Sheltered Girl' Licensed in English; Omnibus Release September 2024

On February 14, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that it has licensed the popular Yuri romance manga Handsome Girl and Sheltered Girl (Ikemen Girl to Hakoiri Musume). The manga is written by Mocchi Au Lait and illustrated by majoccoid.

The publisher describes the series:

When Okuma Satomi’s friend seeks her help wrangling guys for a crossdressing cafe, Satomi winds up with a boyfriend! Sort of. After asking her handsome and aloof classmate, Kanda Mizuki, to help out in the cafe, Mizuki agrees, but on one condition: the two of them must go on a date. Satomi eagerly agrees, delighted to have such a good-looking guy interested in her, but Mizuki realizes that Satomi has completely misunderstood something crucial: Mizuki is a girl! Will this case of mistaken identity blossom into something beautiful, or will the truth leave both girls brokenhearted?

Handsome Girl and Sheltered Girl was originally serialized in Comic REX from September 2019 until its conclusion in October 2020. It was based on a work posted on Twitter before being picked up for serialization. Ichijinsha published two collected volumes of Handsome Girl and Sheltered Girl in Japanese.

Despite its lack of an international release, the manga quickly became popular with English-speaking audiences and is highly ranked on cataloging websites such as MyAnimeList and Anime-Planet.

Creator Mocchi Au Lait is a pair known for their Yuri manga works, many of which have a shared world and lose connections. In addition to Handsome Girl and Sheltered Girl, they have contributed to several anthologies, including Yuri Drill, Syrup (licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment), and the official Yuri Is My Job! Anthology. Many of their works are independently released online. Their other serialized works include Yamitsuki and the currently running adult comedy series Warui ga Watashi wa Yuri ja Nai (Sorry, I'm Not Yuri) from Kadokawa.

Illustrator majoccoid, also known by the circle name Haratama, has also contributed to several manga anthologies and is currently the illustrator of Shimesaba's romance manga series Tayutau Kemuri wa Tsukamenai, which is serialized in Comic HOWL.

The complete series of Handsome Girl and Sheltered Girl will be released in English in September 2024 as a single omnibus under Seven Seas' GL label.

Source: Press Release, Seven Seas Website

#yuri #lgbt #girls love #lgbtq #gl #lesbian #gay #queer #anime #manga #news #handsome girl and sheltered girl

[yurimother]

Secret High School Yuri Romance 'Rainbows After Storms'

On February 2, Viz Media announced that it has licensed Ruka Kobachi's high school Yuri manga series Rainbows After Storms (Hana ni Arashi) in English. The first volume will be released in Fall 2024.

The manga follows Nanoha and Chidori, best friends attending the same all-girls high school. They share the same group of friends, the same classes, and they and also share a heart-pounding secret: they're lovers.

Rainbows After Storms was serialized online on Shogakukan's Sunday Webry from 2017 until its completion in August of 2023. Shogakukan published the manga in 13 collected volumes.

Ruka Kobachi is known primarily for Rainbows After Storms. She also contributed to ASCII Media Works' Éclair Yuri anthologies, which are published in English by Yen Press.

Be sure to check out Rainbows After Storms when it is released in English this Fall.

Source - Viz Media X (Formerly Twitter)

#yuri #girls love #gay #lgbt #lgbtq #gl #lesbian #queer #anime #manga #news

[yurimother]

GL Webtoon 'Amongst Us' Creator Announces Kickstarter for Book Two

Webtoon Author Shilin Huang announced Friday that she is set to begin crowdfunding efforts to fund a second bound volume of her GL series Amongst Us in March. This comes aftera four-year gap following a successful Kickstarter for the first volume, Soulmates, which exceeded its CA$ 17,000 funding goal five times over.

Amongst Us is a slice of life webcomic about eccentric musicians and girlfriends Veloce and Blackbird. Set in the modern day, the series jumps between their lives as young adults and their first meeting in school. It is published for free digitally on Webtoon, Tapas, X (formerly Twitter), and the author's website.

The series is an alternative universe spin-off of Shilin's long-running fantasy webtoon Carciphona, although it is entirely separate from it and can be enjoyed without having read Carciphona.

The second Amongst Us book will feature episodes 21-48 of the series.

Amongst Us has received praise from fans and critics for its striking characters, humor, and artwork. I awarded the first volume a perfect 10/10 score, praising it as "a masterful combination of comedy an subtle romance."

Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the series and released a new edition of the first book in August of 2023.

You can check out Amongst Us – Book 1: Soulmates digitally and in paperback today, and read the full webtoon for free online.

YuriMother makes a small affiliate commission from sales to help fund additional coverage.

#yuri #girls love #gay #lgbt #gl #lgbtq #lesbian #queer #anime #manga #news #Amongst Us

[yurimother]

Yuri Tragedy 'The Summer You Were There' Ends in January

Yuama's high school Yuri drama manga The Summer You Were There (Kimi to Tsuzuru Utakata) is coming to an end in January.

The most recent issue of Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime, where the series has been serialized since its premiere in May 2020, announced the manga will soon in January in the magazine's March 2024 issue.

The Summer You Were There is licensed in English by Seven Seas Entertainment. The publisher describes the series:

Shizuku is a shy high schooler who hardly talks to other people. Instead, she loses herself in writing, crafting a novel that she never intends to show anyone. But when her cute, popular classmate Kaori gets her hands on Shizuku’s manuscript, everything changes. Kaori suggests that, in order to give Shizuku material for her next book, the two of them should start dating! Can this mismatched pair create their own happily ever after?

Seven Seas is scheduled to release the English version of the fifth volume in July 2024. The as-of-yet-unpublished sixth compiled volume will be the series' last.

Author Yuama posted on X (formerly Twitter) confirming the announcement and thanking readers for their continued support.

Yuama is a Yuri mangaka known for her series The Summer You Were There, and The Girl I Want is so Handsome! (Ikemensugi desu Shiki-senpai!), which is also published in English by Seven Seas. She has contributed to the Love Live! Sunshine!! manga anthology as well as Ichijinsha's Doujin Onna Yuri Anthology and the Yuri Is My Job! Official Comic Anthology.

You can check out The Summer You Were There in English digitally and in paperback today: https://amzn.to/3uA8sOD

Reading official releases helps support creators and publishers. YuriMother makes a small affiliate commission to help fund future coverage.

#yuri #girls love #lgbt #gay #gl #lgbtq #anime #lesbian #queer #manga #yuri manga #news #gl manga #lesbian manga #lgbtq manga #the summer you were there

[yurimother]

'Comic Yuri Hime' Reveals Cover Artist for 2024

The January 2024 issue of Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime magazine was released on November 17 and revealed the new cover illustrator for the year, Fukahira.

Comic Yuri Hime, the long-running monthly Yuri manga magazine which currently serializes popular works like I'm in Love with the Villainess, Whisper Me a Love Song, and Yuri is My Job, features a different artist on its color illustrations each year. Previous artists include Fly (Chasing After Aoi Koshiba), Rolua, Eri Takenashi (Kannagi), Mebachi, and Shiromizakana (Lucky Star, K-ON!).

Fukahira is primarily known as the character designer behind popular VTubers such as Inugami Korone (hololive) and Shellin Burgundy (NIJISANJI). They also illustrate several light novels such as Juussai no Saikyou by Seiju Amano and are the character artist and primary illustrator of 1000-REKA's recently released Yuri visual novel Hayasaki no Kuroyuri (Early-Blooming Black Lily).

#yuri #lgbt #girls love #gay #lgbtq #queer #gl #lesbian #anime #manga #Comic Yuri Hime #yuri manga #gl manga

[yurimother]

Final Volume of Heartwarming Queer Manga 'The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This' Released

On Tuesday, Seven Seas Entertainment released the fourth and final volume of Takashi Ikeda's Yuri romance series The Two of Them are Pretty Much Like This (Futari wa Daitai Konna Kanji) in English.

The manga follows the daily lives of girlfriends and roommates Erie Sakuma, a 30-year-old writer, and Wako Inuzuka, a 20-year-old voice actress.

The publisher describes the final volume:

Wanko finally manages to land a major role after multiple auditions. At the same time, Ellie reaches a turning point as she works on her original project! The story of the sweet relationship between a twenty-two-year-old rookie voice actress and a thirty-two-year-old scriptwriter reaches its happy ending!

The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This was serialized online on Comic Boost from January 3, 2020, until its conclusion on February 25, 2022. Gentosha collected the series in four Japanese volumes published between August 2020 and April 2022.

The series received praise from critics for its positive portrayal of adult queer women in a relationship and its grounded stories. Erica Friedman of Okazu awarded the final Japanese volume a 10/10 score and called it "a great story about two queer women I’d have over for lunch any time, with the occasional heartbreakingly good portraiture."

Takashi Ikeda is a Japanese mangaka known for his series The Two of Them are Pretty Much Like This and Whispered Words (Sasameki Koto), a classic school Yuri series from the early 2000s which was adapted into an anime by Studio AIC in 2009 and is published in English by One Peace Books.

The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This is translated into English by Anh Kiet Ngo with lettering by Rina Mapa.

You can check out The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This Volume 4 today in English digitally and in paperback: https://amzn.to/3RdYETl

Reading official releases helps support creators and publishers. YuriMother makes a small affiliate commission from sales to help fund future coverage.

#yuri #lgbt #gay #lgbtq #queer #gl #lesbian #girls love #anime #manga #news #lesbian manga #yuri manga #gl manga