Teenage girl has to hide a literal monster illness, and she transforms into a kaiju, as a metaphor for adolescence and the tumultuous feelings that come with it, told in cute, shoujo-styled artwork.
I should just end it right there.
I've never seen a kaiju or Godzilla movie, not in full anyway, but I know my shoujo manga, and 'Kaiju Girl Caramelise, Vol. 1' mixes these two genres in a playful, funny, charming, adorable, endearing, heartfelt, teary way.
Pretty much all the high school shoujo genre cliches are here: The socially-awkward, outcast female lead; the popular bishonen love interest who is not as perfect or happy as he appears; mean girls who are infatuated with said love interest and are deadly jealous of said female lead for getting his attention; the weird, embarrassing parent who acts more like a child her/himself; the other, prettier female lead who becomes friends with the heroine, and is quirky or otherwise eccentric to counter her polished reputation and appearance. Add in a variety of cake in there and you have cuteness in the barrel.
But it is handled well. The manga is written surprisingly thoughtfully and delicately. Everyone is insecure and hiding themselves in different ways. The art is absolutely brilliant; cute, round and sparkly, appropriate for slice-of-life and comedic scenes, but it knows when to be serious as well. The ginormous kaiju that the heroine, Kuroe Akaishi, turns into when she can't control her lovesick emotions anymore, looks stunningly awesome.
I think all teenagers can relate to Kuroe on some level; the poor, self-hating yet precious, sweet, funny, sparkling bundle of nerves. There's the pressure to be normal and perfect in a cruel, judgmental world, where problems cannot be acknowledged - cannot be revealed out in the open. No acceptance, no outward "ugliness", no "bad" emotions, no cries for help. Even though repressing feelings and any kind of psychological issues is not healthy living. It comes to the point that when something good does come in a depressed outcast's path, they will refuse to believe it is genuine, and try to push it away because they are made to think they don't deserve it. They've been hurt and disappointed too many times before.
Anyone can relate to this. Anyone can be coerced, unconsciously or not, to feel ugly and unlovable.
It is so easy for a story, be it sci-fi or fantasy, to allege the "Who's the real monster?" message, but in this world, we've made it too easy.
Everyone is a monster to a degree. Everyone is battling their own personal demons. Kuroe's monster is just more literal.
And since the world is much harder on teenage girls than anyone else, well... the allegory is inevitable.
As much as I adore and relate to the lonely, awkward, marginalized Kuroe - I'd hug her, not caring about any spikes on her body - I think my favourite character is Manatsu, the friendly, pretty girl with a kaiju fetish. I won't spoil anything else, but oh my, Kuroe unleashing as a giant, barely-rampaging monster has nothing on Manatsu's fanatic, otaku craze. It is all delectable and in jest, and Kuroe needs a friend other than a boy.
Kuroe's mum is a fun character, too. She uses humour and smothering affection to try to make her daughter feel normal and loved despite her unpredictable, incurable condition. She's a little strange - though no stranger than her kaiju child - but she loves her darling Kuroe dearly, and will go to any lengths to protect her. We need more attentive parents like this in manga and anime, please.
Their little dog is named Jumbo King. Good old Japan.
'Kaiju Girl Caramelise, Vol. 1' (goddess, even the title is freaking cute, did I mention I love Japan!?) - sweetness, self-awareness, remarkable wokeness, comedy, and heart. And pancakes. Recommended to anyone.
Final Score: 4.5/5
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