Behind the Scenes!! Vol. 1

Gr 7 Up—Ranmaru grew up in a family of fishermen, but now he is a first-year college student. He has trouble fitting in with the other students, but when he accidentally stumbles onto a film set, he finds his calling with the Art Squad, a group that is in charge of creating sets, props, costumes, and makeup effects for all four of the college film clubs. Ranmaru is artistically talented and has his own collection of art supplies, which makes him a valuable member of the team. This is a funny, fast-paced, and lighthearted manga, filled with many entertaining scenes in front of and behind the camera. Unfortunately, some readers will find it hard to empathize with Ranmaru, which may detract from the story. Ranmaru has low self-esteem and keeps apologizing for things and overreacting to any and all criticism, sometimes crossing the fine line between a comic character and an annoying one. Hatori's artwork is filled with energy, action, and surprised reaction shots.