Review: I Think I Turned My Childhood Friend Into A Girl by Azusa Banjo
June 6, 2022
Given the current controversy surrounding the publisher of this title and their unethical treatment of employees and contractors, we will be omitting their name from this review. Instead, we would like to direct you to the UW7S Twitter page as well as the UW7S website, which offers great insight into both their working conditions and the goals attached to their effort to unionize. Please support these wonderful folks who are the heart and soul (and talent!) behind the titles we buy from their employer. Holding a license means absolutely nothing without skilled and dedicated employees to bring it to life in a new language. THANK YOU UW7S!! We support you!
Happy Pride month, everyone! Our first review for the month of June is this ADORABLE title - I Think I Turned My Childhood Friend Into A Girl by Azusa Banjo. Now, I'll be honest, I was not chomping at the bit to read this one. Why? The title just didn't really grab me, though the cover art is undeniably beautiful. But by now you probably know I make it my business to read every single manga we bring into the shop - soooo I read it! And I'm SO glad I did!
Our story centers around Mido Kenshiro - a tall, good-looking, uber popular high school boy who is a closeted "cosmoholic". Mido loves makeup and has a real talent for applying it (which he routinely does for his older sisters), but he can't let his peers know about it for fear of ridicule. That is, except for his childhood friend and classmate, Hiura Mihate. Hiura is everything Mido is not. Where Mido is tall, Hiura is short. Mido? Outgoing and popular. Hiura? Introverted and geeky. The list goes on and on. But Hiura is the one person outside of Mido's family who knows about Mido's interest in makeup - and this makes him the perfect person to practice on!
I Think I Turned My Childhood Friend Into A Girl has a truly adorable pivotal moment as its central plot device - Mido convinces Hiura to allow him to put makeup on him in exchange for ramen. The effects of this little practice sesh are just too cute - Hiura finds a new sense of self confidence in this change of appearance and Mido, well....Mido just can't get over how beautiful Hiura is! Honestly, I wasn't even a full chapter in before the involuntary smiling started.
Hiura begins attending school in the girls' uniform after being formally reintroduced to the students with her new pronouns. I loved this. LOVED. THIS. It was so beautiful to see Hiura not only present herself the way she wanted to be seen, but to be received with kindness. There was absolutely zero ugliness in this story. No slurs, no homophobia, no grumbling behind the MC's backs. It's just pure sweetness and I am totally here for it!
With that said, there is a special chapter at the end of the volume that retells the beginning of the story from Hiura's perspective. It left me scratching my head a little bit as to Hiura's true motivation, but I suppose we're not supposed to know the whole story just yet, are we? What I can say is this one definitely gets a solid spot in my list of mangas I have every intention of keeping up with. It was so refreshing to see a sweet story that is interesting, beautifully drawn, and depicts a healthy budding romance. Not to mention, with a 13+ rating - this series is likely to stay sweet and healthy!
TLDR;
So adorable you won't be able to wipe the smile off your face! TOTALLY SWEET!
Release Date: 06/07/2022
Page Count: 164
Age Rating: 13+