Choco and Mimi are in the eighth grade and they are best friends, despite the fact that Choco is serious, mature, and tolerable and Mimi is spoiled, ridiculous, and irksome. The cast also includes their stern teacher, Mr. Take; Ando and Mumu, a couple of boys in their class; and several pets, who are easily the best thing about ChocoMimi.
There’s not much story to this manga, which is told in a mix of regular paneling and four-panel styles. It’s primarily just jokes and gags, most of which are unfunny (though I did have to smile at a few, mainly the ones starring Mimi’s dog, Chiffon, who wants to be a manly samurai but instead gets dressed up by his master in ruffles and frills). Quite a lot of page space is given to building fabulous outfits for any occasion, including comments like “I added pom-poms” (to yellow pumps) and “I pin earrings on my socks.” Strangely, the girls’ definition of cute also seems to include being afflicted with a tragic case of pigeon toe.
I’m aware I’m not the target audience for this manga, but I doubt I would’ve liked it much as a kid, either. A story entirely devoted to Chiffon and the other critters would’ve been much more up my alley.
ChocoMimi is published in English by VIZ and volume one will be available on July 7, 2009. In Japan, it’s serialized in Ribon and four volumes have been released there so far.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Review originally published at Manga Recon.
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