After the loss of her cherished cat, orphan Karin Hanazono finds herself feeling isolated and hollow. With no friends and struggling academically, her resentful aunt begrudges having to care for her. Holding steadfast to the belief that God will one day offer her salvation, she clings tightly to the ring her mother left her.
In search of comfort, Karin spends time at her late cat's grave, where she unexpectedly encounters a boy named Kazune Kuujou, who claims he is on a quest to find God. However, Kazune criticizes her for seeking solace in her deceased pet. Angered by his words, Karin unknowingly channels energy into her mother's ring. Soon, she starts excelling in school, and her classmates begin to praise her for the first time. Unaware to her, the ring has bestowed divine powers upon her.
The discovery of the ring's extraordinary power attracts not only Kazune but also more malevolent individuals who seek to exploit Karin for their own dark purposes. Now, Karin must use her newfound abilities to defend herself against these sinister forces, all while remaining oblivious to the truth about her lineage and the existence of others with similar powers.
Kamichama Karin was published in English by Tokyopop from September 30, 2005, to May 1, 2007. Del Rey later acquired the license and continued publishing the series from June 24, 2008, to January 26, 2010.
I simply couldn't resist falling in love with this manga; it's incredibly adorable.
The story is intriguing and original, incorporating elements of Greek mythology that add to its appeal. Initially, I wasn't fond of the art style, but once I got accustomed to it, I found it to be quite beautiful.
The characters are among the best aspects of the manga. Karin undergoes significant development over the 32 chapters, as do the other characters.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I recommend it to those who enjoy cute romance and fantasy manga, as well as to fans of diverse genres.
Kamichama Karin is a manga series where my opinions often differ.
While there were downsides to this series, it was engaging enough to keep me reading until the final chapters.
Firstly, I read the translated version of the manga, but it still felt somewhat raw. Certain sentences were unclear, and I had to reread them multiple times to grasp their meaning.
Second, there were inconsistencies. For instance, when Kazune destroyed Kirio's ring, Kirio had to attempt kidnapping Yuki to obtain Zeus' ring's power. However, he could have simply worn the ring himself without going through the trouble of proposing to Karin, who wasn't even meant to have it.
Third, the fight scenes seemed to conclude too quickly. It felt like both parties only needed one swift blow before the opponent fell to the ground. This could also suggest that Kazune was too weak to prolong the fights.
My fourth and final criticism is that both Kazune and Karin appear too young for kissing in dark places.
However, there are positive aspects as well. The series was exciting, and I finished it in less than a week, eagerly anticipating what would happen next at the end of each chapter. The ending was satisfactory, and the overall plot seemed well thought out. Despite its flaws, it still appeals to my taste, so if you're interested in a story about a female Kami-sama, I recommend giving it a read.
Kamichama Karin does one thing perfectly—making you read it again and again even though you know the story isn't that great.
The story revolves around a young girl named Karin Hanazono. In the beginning, she is a girl who is no good at sports or school, lives with her mean aunt, and has really no talents except for self-pity. Both her parents died, and her cat Shi-chan just passed away. Then she meets a handsome boy while visiting her cat's grave. His words to her are: "What are you doing, stupid? Stop crying. You'll catch a cold if you stay out here, stupid girl. Girls are so stupid..." What does little miss Karin do? *punches boy repeatedly*
Then she meets a lovely young lady named Himeka Kojou. She hangs around with her, gets her makeup done by Himeka, and then a handsome young boy comes by. Himeka states that this boy is Kazune Kojou—her cousin—and the very same boy that called her stupid a while back. Later, Karin finds out that the ring on her hand that her dead mother gave her as a present can make her transform into a... GODDESS!
And our story begins.
The thing with Kamichama Karin is that it is extremely confusing and not very well planned. Koge-Donbo* has a bunch of ideas in the story—but none of the questions get answered. Some in CHU (the second series of Kamikarin) but other than that, none others. Also, it could be very serious and then come to a seriously unserious note, such as a joke or guy-guy kiss that gets all the girls startled.
The art is perfection—much to expect from Koge-donbo*'s brilliant artwork. And the characters are nicely laid out too. Sometimes they also are not what they seem AT ALL. And you'll be saying WTF about every five minutes with this one. The enjoyment is... well, I enjoyed this one a lot, being one of the first manga I ever read. Who couldn't resist? A little girl who turns into a goddess, saying I AM GOD!!! every time she transforms, yaoi-ness once in a while, comedy, romance, even gender-bending. Kamichama Karin has something for everyone.
This is my very first review, so here goes.
Kamichama Karin is undoubtedly one of the cutest manga ever. Every time I read it, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my, how adorable!"
The standout feature of this manga is clearly the charming character designs. Koge Donbo's artwork is simply outstanding. My favorite character is, without a doubt, Karin Hanazono. She’s full of energy and, of course, utterly adorable.
As for weaknesses, there aren't many to mention.
I was able to follow the storyline, which eventually led to a surprising revelation that I won’t spoil unless you read the manga yourself.
Overall, this manga is thoroughly enjoyable and stands out as one of the best magical girl series.
An incredibly adorable anime with no harsh language and charming illustrations. I appreciate how the characters' emotions are transparent to the reader. Reading this playful manga is like being caught in a whirlwind of fun. It's even more enjoyable to watch "Mr. Glasses-Guy" get his butt kicked.