Ningyo Series

Excellent manga. Unfortunately, it was discontinued. It lacks a defined objective or a formidable villain that needs to be defeated, giving it more of an episodic nature. The main characters come off as somewhat uninspired. Yuta is your typical good guy, while Mana fits the mold of an average brat, which is unexpected considering their dark and tragic backgrounds. However, the episodes themselves are exceptionally well-structured, captivating, and engaging.

TL;DR: The Ningyo series doesn't necessarily bring anything groundbreaking or thrilling to the table, but it's a series I thoroughly enjoyed.

L;DR:
I've been a fan of Rumiko Takahashi for some time and decided to dive into her mermaid series, which has garnered quite the reputation. People either love it or hate it. After reading the first few chapters, it was clear that I fell on the "love" side of the spectrum, so here's my review!

I can see why Mermaid Saga isn't one of Takahashi's most celebrated works. It definitely has its flaws. But somehow, I'm really attached to it. It's not exceptionally strong in any particular area. Take the characters, for example. There's not much to say about them. Yuta is... just a guy. Surprisingly, he attracts a lot of women. Mana is... just a girl. The side characters don't stick around long enough to matter. However, the characters are good enough, and what made me enjoy this manga so much wasn't the characters, but the story itself.

The story isn't the most original or action-packed out there. But it has its moments. I found myself deeply invested in each tale within the Mermaid Saga, with a few nearly bringing me to tears. Takahashi takes a basic premise and crafts intriguing, haunting mini-stories filled with enough intrigue to keep me engaged. There's also just enough suspense to make even these immortal characters seem vulnerable.

I devoured the entire series in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. Oh, how I wish there were more to the Mermaid Saga than just these few chapters. With more time, I think Takahashi could have developed the characters further and provided an overarching plot with a more conclusive ending. But perhaps it's best that it remains concise. The Mermaid Saga is short, sweet, and much more compact than Inuyasha ever was.

The art style is classic Rumiko Takahashi, reminiscent of her work in Ranma 1/2, which happens to be my favorite era of hers. I also thought there were some excellent character designs in this series. Okay, Yuta and Mana weren't anything special, but I appreciated the design of the Lost Souls and some side characters, especially Shingo.

Should you read it? That's a tough question. If you're a Rumiko Takahashi fan, I think you'll find value in this series and possibly enjoy it as much as I did. Or, if you're looking for a short series to fill gaps between longer-running shōnen manga, the Mermaid Saga is a solid choice. You don't need to binge it; each story spans a few chapters and fits nicely between arcs of other manga (or at least, that's what I assume. Like I said... I binged it!). While I didn't gain new enlightenment from this experience, I certainly enjoyed my time with the Mermaid Saga, and maybe you will too.

Ah geez, it's been ages since I last read this manga, but I feel compelled to write a review because it was among my favorites. As a naive 10-year-old, I stumbled upon Mermaid Saga in a library and thought, "Mermaid in the title? It must be a cute, shoujo story full of love, glitter, and pretty flower patterns." Well, I started reading, and boy, was I wrong! Instead, it was quite the opposite, disturbing yet fascinating, leading me to buy the manga and re-read it ten times over (though not recently).

Enough about my life story; let's dive into the review!

Story: 7/10

The story combines unoriginal concepts like immortality, man-eating mermaids, and crazy shotas to create something unique and intriguing. However, as a big fan, I wanted more. The plot had potential for elaboration, but the author chose to end it prematurely without resolution. The ending wasn't bad, but I expected more. Upon reaching it, I searched for continuation only to find it was truly finished. I wished for deeper insights into each character's past and future. You never discover if they revert to being normal humans. Hence, while the stories were interesting, I'm not entirely satisfied story-wise. Still, the short tales introducing new characters make it enjoyable.

Art: 8/10

Rumiko Takahashi's style is old-school, and I adore it for that. Though simple-looking at times, there's an undeniable beauty. Mermaid Saga's art surpasses many of her other series while staying true to her style. The atmosphere she creates is elegant yet eerie, perfect for this manga.

Character: 6/10

This area needs improvement. Most characters are one-dimensional, lacking standout qualities. Comparing with Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 and InuYasha, where characters bring the stories to life, I expected better. Generally, I felt indifferent towards the cast. This might have some of Takahashi's flattest characters ever. Despite being a short series, lack of character development isn't excusable. They weren't terrible, just not engaging.

Enjoyment: 10/10

I loved this manga as a kid and still do as a young adult. I'll likely reread it soon. Its concept is intriguing and worth the read. Short yet sweet, though the ending is bittersweet. I highly recommend it even if horror isn't your thing. Mana and Yuta's relationship is nice, though further development could enhance the romance aspect.

Overall, I give this manga a score of 7.5/10 (frustrated by MAL's inability to allow .5 scores). To me, it's a 10/10, but critically, it has flaws. Yet, its charm and personality shine through despite the characters' shortcomings. The atmosphere is spot-on, and this could have been one of Takahashi's best works if continued.

Honestly, all of these short stories are intriguing and hold great promise, but they never really went anywhere.

It's akin to the "monster of the week" formula (though here it's more like "villain of the week"), but without any overarching villain or grander plot.

The main characters lack a shared objective; in fact, they don't seem to have any goal at all. Mana and Yuta teamed up simply because she had nowhere else to go, and neither did he. But beyond that, they share nothing in common. This could have been explored further, but alas, there’s no room for character development when we need to introduce a brand new villain every week, right? Lol.

No wonder this series was "cancelled." However, if Rumiko had wanted to, she could have turned this into an amazing story.

Mermaid Saga is one of Rumiko Takahashi's earlier works that has faded from memory over time. Upon revisiting it, the reasons for its obscurity become somewhat apparent. It’s neither particularly bad nor notably good manga.

This manga lacks a substantial plot. It revolves around two individuals cursed with immortality, and that essentially forms the core narrative. The substance of the manga emerges not from its overarching story but from its episodic arcs, collectively creating what could be termed a "saga." Some of these arcs do contain intriguing moments, yet they are generally forgettable, often relying heavily on shock value.

I admire Rumiko Takahashi's artistic style. A significant portion of this manga was produced early in her career when her style had yet to fully mature. By the conclusion of the manga, however, there is a noticeable improvement in art quality. This pattern is common in many of Takahashi's earlier works, such as Maison Ikkoku and Urusei Yatsura. However, unlike those series, where the artistic progression is gradual, Mermaid Saga experienced an abrupt change due to a lengthy hiatus. For most of the manga, the artwork is merely adequate, achieving greatness only in the final few chapters. Nevertheless, the artwork remains visually pleasing throughout, always retaining Takahashi's distinctive charm.

The series features only two main characters, both of whom lack compelling personalities. They aren't detestable, but they also fail to inspire affection. While their relationship evolves slightly, it doesn’t foster emotional engagement. Secondary characters within the episodic arcs offer some interest, though they too remain unmemorable.

In summary, my experience with Mermaid Saga was mildly enjoyable, albeit with reservations. It offers some light entertainment but never reaches thrilling heights and includes stretches of tedium. It’s not a poor manga, yet it falls short of being truly commendable. I wouldn't recommend it broadly, except perhaps to devoted fans of Rumiko Takahashi. Even then, I'd suggest watching the Mermaid Forest TV series instead, as it presents the same story in a more engaging animated format. Truly.

Mermaid Saga – Spoiler Free – Mixed Feelings

TLDR
Overall: 5/10

Disclaimer: due to the nature of this work – a collection of short stories –, my normal parameters of Story, Art, Characters and Enjoyment with a weighted average won’t be applied. Instead, a global overview will be offered.

Mermaid Saga is a brief manga series, spanning just three volumes, that delves into the world of mermaids and their immortal powers. Consuming mermaid flesh can also grant immortality to others. This manga primarily consists of various short stories centered around this theme, featuring two constant protagonists – Yuta and Mana – who have achieved immortality through consuming mermaid flesh.

Despite its intriguing premise, the execution leaves much to be desired, landing squarely in the realm of mediocrity. Most of the stories follow a predictable pattern: the main characters arrive at a new location, someone desires to consume mermaid flesh or wants another to do so on their behalf, the protagonists caution them about the rare chances of gaining immortality and warn of the high likelihood of turning into monstrous beings known as “Lost Souls,” yet the individuals proceed to consume the flesh regardless.

This repetitive formula renders the stories rather unengaging and monotonous, though they are not entirely without merit. The artwork is functional but lacks finesse and feels somewhat dated. Scenarios, backgrounds, and landscapes are not the artist's strong points. There are some graphic depictions, but nothing overly surreal.

The two main characters, Yuta and Mana, grow increasingly tiresome due to their lack of character development and repetitive actions throughout the various stories. They appear devoid of distinct personalities beyond their immortality.

Mermaid Saga serves as a somber reminder that not every episodic tale warrants telling, particularly if it suffers from repetition and dullness. However, it does offer a degree of enjoyment – albeit minimal – and can be read quickly. Given that the stories aren't bad but also fail to shine, they evoke mixed feelings more than anything else.

Okay, this was the first manga I purchased, and I can say it's not too bad. The story is well-constructed and doesn't bore you, although it occasionally diverts from the main plot to delve into Yuta's past rather than focusing on his current journey with Mana. The characters are decent, and the artwork isn't bad either. If you're looking for something to enjoy during a semi-long trip, this manga is alright. It's an okay read but not as good as some of her other works, like InuYasha (even though I haven't read the manga version). I don't understand why she ended it without giving it a proper conclusion.