Mink (manga)

Last updated • 1 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Vivian4comp.jpg
Hyde in 2013.jpg
Takanori Jinnai IMG 7311-2 20140413.JPG
Jia Ben Jia Nai Zi - Kanako Enomoto - Kyoto Racecourse.jpg
Tachikawa modeled several of her characters after celebrities. (Clockwise from L to R) Mink is modeled after Vivian Hsu (pictured in 2005); Illiya is modeled after Hyde (pictured in 2013); Azumi is modeled after Kanako Enomoto (pictured in 2014); and Johnny is modeled after Takanori Jinnai (pictured in 2014).
Mink Shiraishi (白石 みんく, Shiraishi Minku)
Mink is a second year junior high school student. She uses the software WANNA-BE to transform into Cyber Idol Mink. [a] Tachikawa chose Mink's name by thinking of names that started with the "m" consonant, as she felt it suited Mink's "cute" design. [2] Mink's design is based on Vivian Hsu. [2] [3]
Motoharu Toriumi (鳥海 素晴, Toriumi Motoharu)
Motoharu is a second year high school student who is left to settle his father's debt with his agency, Bird Music. He scouts Mink and becomes her manager. In Tachikawa's original concept draft, Motoharu's family name was Izaki and he was originally unrelated to Mahoko. [4] Motoharu's design is based on Yoshihiko Inohara. [2] [3]
Mahoko Toriumi (鳥海 真帆子, Toriumi Mahoko)
Mahoko is Mink's best friend [5] and Motoharu's younger sister. They do not live together due to their parents' divorce. By volume 4, Mahoko uses WANNA-BE to transform into Maco, a member of the girl group Minkle. In Tachikawa's original concept draft, Mahoko's family name was Itazaki and she was originally an assistant at Bird Music who was unrelated to Motoharu. [4]
Kanoka Moriyama (森山 叶花, Moriyama Kanoka)
Kanoka is Mink's best friend [5] and technology-savvy. By volume 4, Kanoka uses WANNA-BE to transform into Canon, a member of the girl group Minkle.
Om (オムくん, Omu-kun)
Om is a mascot of the software program WANNA-BE. [5]
Illiya (イリヤ, Iriya)
Illiya is the lead singer of Mink's favorite band Jagunna and is described as a "charismatic artist". [5] He produces Mink's music and also co-starred in a drama with her. After volume 3, he leaves to go to Los Angeles to establish his own record label, GIL (Golden Illiya Label). Illiya's design is based on Hyde. [2] [3]
Azumi Mizuhara (水原愛純, Mizuhara Azumi)
Azumi is a popular idol singer. [5] Throughout the series, she becomes jealous of Mink's popularity and often tries to thwart her, [6] only for Mink to become even popular. Azumi's design is based on Kanako Enomoto. [3]
Johnny Hotta (ジョニー堀田, Jonī Hotta)
Johnny is a paparazzo nicknamed the "Celebrity Killer". [6] Johnny's design is based on Takanori Jinnai. [3]
Yuka Akane (茜結花, Akane Yuka)
Yuka is a new transfer student in Mink's class who is also employed by Bird Music as a rookie idol. [7]
Kyo J. Falwell (鏡・J・ファーウェル, Kyō J Fāueru)
Kyo is an engineer from the year 2099 and the creator of WANNA-BE.

Media

Manga

Mink, originally titled Cyber Idol Mink in Japan, is written and illustrated by Megumi Tachikawa. It was serialized in the monthly shōjo manga magazine Nakayoshi from the September 1999 issue to the January 2002 issue. [8] A two-part conclusion was released in the 2002 edition of Summer Vacation Land (なつやすみランド), a yearly special issue of Nakayoshi. [8] The chapters were later released in six bound volumes by Kodansha under the Kodansha Comics imprint. [8]

Despite not being good with computers, Tachikawa had decided to use futuristic technology as a concept in creating Mink for the year 2000. [2] In an interview with Nakayoshi, she stated that she worked closely with her editor for every chapter. [2] For every chapter, the concept took 2-3 days, the outline and drafts took about 5 days each, and the inking process took about 3-4 days. [2] Tachikawa stated that Mahoko and Kanoka were "fun" to draw because they act as "serious" counterparts to Mink, while she tried to make Illiya look as "cool" as possible. [2]

In August 2003, Tokyopop announced they had licensed Mink for North American English distribution. [9] [10] In 2009, Tokyopop no longer held the license after Kodansha allowed their contract with Tokyopop to expire. [11]

Mink
Cyber Idol Mink vol 1 JPN.jpg
Cover of the Japanese version of vol. 1, first released on March 3, 2000 (2000-03-03)
電脳少女☆Mink
(Saibā Aidoru Minku)
Genre Comedy, [1] romance [1]
ImprintKodansha Comics
Magazine Nakayoshi
Demographic Shōjo
Original runSeptember 1999 – January 2002
Volumes6
No.Original release dateOriginal ISBNEnglish release dateEnglish ISBN
1 March 3, 2000 (2000-03-03) [12] 978-4-06-178933-3 April 13, 2004 (2004-04-13) [1] 1-59182-715-9
  1. "Birth of a Virtual Girl" (バーチャル・ガール誕生！！, Bāchuaru Gāru Tanjō!!)
  2. "I'm Gonna Be a Star!" (あたし　アイドルやります！？, Atashi, Aidoru Yarimasu!?)
  3. "My First TV Appearance" (初TVでハプニング, Hatsu Terebi Hapuningu)
  4. "Christmas Debut" (クリスマス・デビュー！！, Kurisumasu Debyū!!)
  5. "The Love Song of Mink and Cyber Idol Mink" (みんくとMinkのラブソング, Minku to Mink no Rabu Songu)
  • Manga essay: "Little Parakeet in Love♡" (コザクラインコに夢中♡, Kozakurainko ni Muchū)
2 September 4, 2000 (2000-09-04) [13] 978-4-06-178945-6 June 15, 2004 (2004-06-15) [14] 1-59182-716-7
  1. "Chocolate Panic" (チョコレート・パニック, Chokorēto Panikku)
  2. "A Ring of Angels" (天使のリング, Tenshi no Ringu)
  3. "Won't You Be My Heroine? (Part 1)" (ヒロインになれない！？　前編, Hiroin ni Narenai!? Zenpen)
  4. "Won't You Be My Heroine? (Part 2)" (ヒロインになれない！？　後編, Hiroin ni Narenai!? Kōhen)
  • Special section: "The Prince of the Far White Sands" (黄砂の果ての王子, Kōsa no Hate no Ōji)
3 April 4, 2001 (2001-04-04) [15] 978-4-06-178933-3 August 10, 2004 (2004-08-10) [16] 1-59182-717-5
  1. "Is Our Idol Really a Transfer Student?" (アイドルは転校生！？, Aidoru wa Tenkōsei!?)
  2. "Angry Girl"
  3. "Beware of Scandals" (スキャンドルにご用心, Sukyandoru ni Goyōshin)
  4. "Alice in Wonderland" (アリス・イン・ワンダーランド, Arisu in Wandārando)
  5. "The Last Christmas" (ラスト・クリスマス, Rasuto Kurisumasu)
4 September 4, 2001 (2001-09-04) [17] 978-4-06-178970-8 October 12, 2004 (2004-10-12) [18] 1-59182-718-3
  1. "Watch Out for Scandals! (Part 2)" (スキャンドルにご用心2, Sukyandoru ni Goyōshin 2)
  2. "The Platinum Network" (プラチナ・ネットワーク, Purachina Nettowāku)
  3. "Robot Virus Chaos" (ロボット☆ウイルス☆大混乱, Robotto Uirusu Daikonran)
  4. "Circus Game" (サーカス・ゲーム, Sākasu Gēmu)
  5. "The Birth of Minkle" (Minkle誕生！！, Minkle Tanjō!!)
5 February 4, 2002 (2002-02-04) [19] 978-4-06-178982-1 January 11, 2005 (2005-01-11) [20] 1-59532-423-2
  1. "Boy Trouble!!" (デートでピンチ！！, Dēto de Pinchi!!)
  2. "Version 2.0" [b]
  3. "Minkle in Hawaii"
  4. "A Midsummer Night's Meteor" (真夏のコメット, Manatsu no Kometto)
  5. "Back to the Future" (未来からの鎖, Mirai kara no Kusari)
6 October 2, 2002 (2002-10-02) [8] 978-4-06-364002-1 April 12, 2005 (2005-04-12) [22] 1-59532-424-0
  1. "Cinderella Limit (Part 1)" (シンデレラ・リミット（前編）, Shinderera Rimitto (Zenpen))
  2. "Cinderella Limit (Part 2)" (シンデレラ・リミット（後編）, Shinderera Rimitto (Kōhen))
  • Conclusion: "The Island of Shooting Stars (Part 1)" (星の降る島（前編）, Hoshi no Furu Shima (Zenpen))
  • Conclusion: "The Island of Shooting Stars (Part 2)" (星の降る島（後編）, Hoshi no Furu Shima (Kōhen))

Reception

Anime News Network drew comparisons from Mink to Corrector Yui for integrating futuristic technology elements into the magical girl genre. [23] Anime News Network also reviewed volumes 2 and 3 favorably, describing them as "saccharine". [6] [7] Da Vinci described the series as a light read perfect for a commute. [5]

Notes

  1. ↑ In the Japanese version, Mink's name is written in hiragana for her true form and in Roman letters when she is transformed.
  2. ↑ In the Japanese version, the chapter was titled "Version 2". [21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mink volume 1". TokyoPop . Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "【第１回】立川 恵先生の巻" [(Manga artist voice no. 1) Megumi Tachikawa]. Nakayoshi (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 9, 2001. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Tachikawa, Megumi (August 10, 2004). Mink. Vol. 3. Los Angeles: Tokyopop. p. 72. ISBN   1-59182-717-5.
  4. 1 2 Tachikawa, Megumi (August 10, 2004). Mink. Vol. 3. Los Angeles: Tokyopop. p. 170-171. ISBN   1-59182-717-5.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Watanabe, Yuka (June 16, 2012). "謎のソフトで変身っ！？ 大好きな先輩のために、私、アイドル頑張っちゃいます！" [Transforming with a mysterious software?! For the sake of my beloved senpai, I will do my best as an idol singer!]. Da Vinci (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Cooper, Liann (June 3, 2004). "Right Turn Only!!: Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Cooper, Liann (August 27, 2004). "Right Turn Only!!: Shorter, but Sweeter!". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "電脳少女☆Ｍｉｎｋ（６）" [Cyber Idol Mink vol. 6]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  9. ↑ Mays, Jonathan (August 11, 2003). "Five new manga from Tokyopop". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Mink Manga". Tokyopop . Archived from the original on June 28, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  11. ↑ Loo, Egan (August 31, 2009). "Tokyopop Confirms Its Kodansha Manga Licenses Have Ended (Update 3)". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  12. ↑ "電脳少女☆Ｍｉｎｋ（１）" [Cyber Idol Mink vol. 1]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 27, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  13. ↑ "電脳少女☆Ｍｉｎｋ２" [Cyber Idol Mink vol. 2]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Mink volume 2". Tokyopop . Archived from the original on August 29, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  15. ↑ "電脳少女☆Ｍｉｎｋ（３）" [Cyber Idol Mink vol. 3]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Mink volume 3". Tokyopop . Archived from the original on October 24, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  17. ↑ "電脳少女☆Ｍｉｎｋ（４）" [Cyber Idol Mink vol. 4]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Mink volume 4". Tokyopop . Archived from the original on August 30, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  19. ↑ "電脳少女☆Ｍｉｎｋ（５）" [Cyber Idol Mink vol. 5]. Kodansha (in Japanese). Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Mink volume 5". Tokyopop . Archived from the original on November 11, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  21. ↑ Tachikawa, Megumi. 電脳少女☆Ｍｉｎｋ[Cyber Idol Mink]. Vol. 5. Tokyo: Kodansha. p. 1. ISBN   978-4-06-178982-1.
  22. ↑ "Mink volume 6". Tokyopop . Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  23. ↑ Silverman, Rebecca (July 27, 2022). "Bring Back More Magic[al Girls]". Anime News Network . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
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