Line #51 Magazine/MangaTimeKirara


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/manga_time_kirara_compile_1a_6136.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Kirara Family of Magazines]]
3	[[caption-width-right:350:Top (Left to Right): ''Kirara'' (featuring ''Manga/{{Yuyushiki}}''), ''Kirara Max'' (featuring ''Manga/KiniroMosaic'' and ''Manga/IsTheOrderARabbit''), ''Kirara Carat'' (featuring ''Manga/AChannel''). Bottom (Left to Right): ''Kirara Forward'' (featuring ''Manga/DreamEaterMerry'' and ''Manga/{{Hanayamata}}''), ''Kirara Miracle!'' (featuring ''Manga/SakuraTrick''), ''Kirara Magica'' (everything ''[[Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Madoka Magica]]'').]]
4
5	''Manga Time Kirara'' is a family of {{seinen}} {{manga}} magazines published by Houbunsha. Originally launched in 2002 as an offshoot of the GagSeries magazine ''Manga Time'', it was created to capitalize on the burgeoning ''{{moe}}'' trend that began at the tail end of the 20th century. Due to the brand's success, it expanded to include six magazines in total published under the ''Kirara'' name. Although there is wide variety in the types of manga they publish, they are all united by their ''moe'' art style. The assocation between ''moe'' and ''Kirara'' is so strong that ''moe'' SliceOfLife series are sometimes referred to as "Kirara-esque" even if they're not actually published in ''Kirara''.
6
7	[[AC:The ''Manga Time Kirara'' Family encompasses:]]
8	* ''Manga Time Kirara'': The flagship magazine, launched on May 17th, 2002. Intended to appeal to a younger market raised on anime, it recruited artists from the {{Doujinshi}} scene who didn't have much professional experience. Initially, it had an eclectic mix of stories (including male supporting characters, something which would become anathema to the main ''Kirara'' magazine), but by the 2010s its scope had narrowed to the point it mainly focused on SliceOfLife SchoolgirlSeries to capitalize on the "''moe'' boom".
9	* ''Manga Time Kirara Carat'': The DistaffCounterpart magazine, launched in January 2003. Originally created to cater to the female market with ''moe'' about male characters, it nonetheless ended up publishing largely the same kind of content as ''Kirara'' proper. It does have a slightly higher-than-average female readership, and therefore a slightly more female-friendly vibe.
10	* ''Manga Time Kirara MAX'': The "''Kirara'' to the max" magazine, launched in May 2004. ''MAX'' is largely similar to ''Kirara'' and ''Carat'', and can best be summarized as "more of the same", offering a platform for Houbunsha to provide more ''{{yonkoma}}'' for the masses.
11	* ''Manga Time Kirara Forward'': The "story manga" magazine, launched on March 23rd, 2006. Uniquely among the ''Kirara'' family, ''Forward'' publishes "story manga" (the Japanese term for the standardized manga style, with irregularly-sized panels) rather then ''{{yonkoma}}''. Coupled with its different editorial standards, this allows ''Forward'' authors a much freer hand to tell stories that, while keeping the ''moe'' aesthetic, otherwise shatter the typical ''Kirara'' mold, including angsty dramas, fanservice-y sports series, outright horror, ''shonen''-style supernatural action series, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking stories with male characters]].
12	* ''Manga Time Kirara Miracle'': The diverse magazine, launched on March 16th, 2011. Advertised as allowing for "[[https://natalie.mu/comic/news/45205 diverse worldviews and original heroines that no one would have thought of]]", it functioned like a ''Forward''-lite, keeping the off-beat premises but sticking closer to the traditional ''Kirara'' aesthetic. Unfortunately, that proved to be its undoing, as Houbunsha decided they didn't need it after all and cancelled it in 2017, while shuffling its most popular ongoing series to the other magazines in the family.
13	* ''Manga Time Kirara Magica'': The ''Madoka Magica'' magazine, launched on June 8th, 2012. An irregularly-published magazine decided solely to the franchise ''Franchise/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', which either '''is''' or '''isn't''' a ''Kirara'' series (due to some overlap in the production staff and its deliberate aping of the ''Kirara'' aesthetic), depending on who you ask.
14	* ''COMIC FUZ'': The online-only magazine, launched on March 29th, 2019. COMIC FUZ is Houbunsha's digital manga reading service. Although it isn't technically under the ''Kirara'' brand, several ''Manga Time Kirara'' series have been cycled out of the magazines and moved to digital distribution, and it also publishes digital-first manga by ''Kirara'' veterans such as Creator/ShotaroTokuno.
15
16	The ''Kirara'' family of magazines have also become somewhat infamous for carrying works with high levels of HomoeroticSubtext, or in some cases out-and-out {{seinen}} YuriGenre series, ''Manga/SakuraTrick'' being one of the biggest examples that got an anime.
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18	Many of their anime adaptations are licensed by Creator/SentaiFilmworks for North American viewers, and some have also received English dubs, such as ''Manga/KillMeBaby'', ''Manga/DreamEaterMerry'', and ''Manga/{{Hanayamata}}''.
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20	In addition, because of the format, each monthly release of one of the five magazines under the family can carry up to 26-27 series per issue. Works in these magazines are often authored by novices of ''professional'' manga; many of them were (or still are) {{doujinshi}} authors or illustrators.
21
22	In December 2017, Aniplex launched ''Kirara Fantasia'', a MassiveMultiplayerCrossover smartphone game which transports numerous characters from various Kirara properties into a fantasy setting. The game was only available in Japan and [[DefunctOnlineVideoGames shut down its online servers]] on February 28, 2023.
23	----
24	[[AC:Series Run in ''Manga Time Kirara'']]
25	%% Please identify current works from http://www.dokidokivisual.com/magazine/kirara/
26	[[index]]
27	* ''Manga/CastleTownDandelion'' (adapted by Creator/ProductionIMS in 2015)
28	* ''Manga/ChimidoroIceCream''
29	* ''Manga/ChottoIppai''
30	* ''Manga/ConvenientSemiFriend''
31	* ''Manga/DoujinWork'' (adapted by Studio Remic in 2007)
32	* ''Manga/KOn'' (adapted by Creator/KyotoAnimation in 2009)
33	* ''Manga/PlaceToPlace'' (adapted by Creator/{{AIC}} in 2012)
34	* ''Manga/ShiawaseTorimingu''
35	* ''Manga/ShoulderACoffinKuro''
36	* ''Manga/SlowStart'' (adapted by Creator/A1Pictures in 2018)
37	* ''Manga/StardustTelepath'' (adapted Creator/StudioGokumi in 2023)
38	* ''Manga/ThreeLeavesThreeColors'' aka ''Sansha Sanyou'' (adapted by Creator/{{Dogakobo}} in 2016)
39	* ''Manga/UraraMeirocho'' (adapted by Creator/JCStaff in 2017)
40	* ''Manga/{{Yuyushiki}}'' (adapted by Kinema Citrus in 2013)
41	[[/index]]
42
43	[[AC:Series Run in ''Manga Time Kirara Carat'']]
44	%% Please identify current works from http://www.dokidokivisual.com/magazine/carat/
45	[[index]]
46	* ''Manga/AChannel'' (adapted by Creator/StudioGokumi in 2011)
47	* ''Manga/AnimaYell'' (adapted by Creator/DogaKobo in 2018)
48	* ''Manga/AsteroidInLove'' (adapted by Creator/{{Dogakobo}} in 2020)
49	* ''Manga/BlendS'' (adapted by Creator/A1Pictures in 2017)
50	* ''Manga/DaitaiKonnande''
51	* ''Manga/TheDemonGirlNextDoor'' (Adapted by Creator/JCStaff in 2019)
52	* ''Manga/GAGeijutsukaArtDesignClass'' (adapted by Creator/{{AIC}} in 2009)
53	* ''Manga/{{Gokicha}}''
54	* ''Manga/GoodDayToYouHowAboutAGame''
55	* ''Manga/HidamariSketch'' (adapted by Creator/StudioSHAFT in 2007)
56	* ''Manga/HiyoAndVivid''
57	* ''Manga/{{Ichiroh}}''
58	* ''Manga/KOn'' (adapted by Creator/KyotoAnimation in 2009)
59	* ''Manga/KillMeBaby'' (adapted by Creator/JCStaff in 2012)
60	* ''Manga/TheLastUniform''
61	* ''Manga/Mono2017'' (adapted by Soigne in 2024)
62	* ''Manga/NewGame'' (adapted by Creator/{{Dogakobo}} in 2016)
63	* ''Manga/RPGRealEstate'' (adapted by Creator/{{Dogakobo}} in 2022)
64	* ''Manga/SekaiMaou''
65	* ''Manga/SwapSwap''
66	[[/index]]
67
68	[[AC:Series Run in ''Manga Time Kirara Forward'']]
69	%% Please identify current works from http://www.dokidokivisual.com/magazine/forward/
70	[[index]]
71	* ''Manga/AnneHappy!'' (adapted by Creator/SilverLink in 2016)
72	* ''Manga/DreamEaterMerry'' (adapted by Creator/JCStaff in 2011)
73	* ''Manga/{{Hanayamata}}'' (adapted by Creator/{{Madhouse}} in 2014)
74	* ''Manga/HarukanaReceive'' (adapted by [=C2C=] in 2018)
75	* ''Manga/ItoshiNoKarin''
76	* ''Manga/LaidBackCamp'' aka ''Yuru Camp'' (adapted by Creator/CStation, and later 8Bit, in 2018)
77	* ''Manga/PsychoStaff''
78	* ''Manga/PuellaMagiKazumiMagica''
79	* ''Manga/PuellaMagiSuzuneMagica''
80	* ''Manga/SchoolLive'' (adapted by Lerche in 2015)
81	* ''Tamayomi'' (adapted by Studio A-Cat in 2020)
82	* ''Manga/TonariNoKashiwagiSan''
83	* ''Manga/SlowLoop'' (adapted by Connect in 2022)
84	* ''Manga/{{Yotsukoto}}''
85	[[/index]]
86
87	[[AC:Series Run in ''Manga Time Kirara Max'']]
88	%% Please identify current works from http://www.dokidokivisual.com/magazine/max/
89	[[index]]
90	* ''Manga/BocchiTheRock'' (adapted by Cloverworks in 2022)
91	* ''Manga/ComicGirls'' (adapted by Nexus in 2018)
92	* ''Manga/{{Ichiroh}}''
93	* ''Manga/IsTheOrderARabbit'' (adapted by Creator/WhiteFox in 2014, second season co-produced by Kinema Citrus in 2015 and third season produced by Encourage Films in 2020)
94	* ''Manga/{{Kanamemo}}'' (adapted by Creator/JCStaff in 2009)
95	* ''Manga/KiniroMosaic'' (adapted by Creator/StudioGokumi in 2013)
96	* ''Manga/MagicOfStella'' aka ''Stella no Mahou'' (adapted by Creator/SilverLink in 2016)
97	* ''Manga/NullMeta''
98	[[/index]]
99
100	[[AC:Series Run in ''Manga Time Kirara Miracle!'' (Cancelled in October 2017)]]
101	%% Please identify current works from http://www.dokidokivisual.com/magazine/miracle/
102	[[index]]
103	* ''Manga/CastleTownDandelion'' (adapted by Creator/ProductionIMS in 2015)
104	* ''Manga/GourmetGirlGraffiti'' (adapted by Creator/StudioSHAFT in 2015)
105	* ''Manga/Mono2017'' (was moved in to Carat in October 2017; anime in development)
106	* ''Manga/SakuraTrick'' (adapted by Creator/StudioDeen in 2014)
107	* ''Manga/SweetMagicSyndrome''
108	* ''Manga/UraraMeirocho'' (adapted by Creator/JCStaff in 2017)
109	[[/index]]
110	----
111	!!Tropes common in ''Manga Time Kirara'' works:
112	* {{Dramedy}}: While most of their works are lighthearted, some do attempt to be a balance between comedy and drama. ''Manga/StardustTelepath'' and ''Manga/TheDemonGirlNextDoor'' are notable for their more melancholic tones against the often upbeat character and comedy. The final season of ''Manga/HidamariSketch'' incorporates this more then the rest of the series as [[spoiler: Sae and Hiro approach their graduation and the changes the Hidamari Apartments will deal with.]]
113	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
114	** If it was made today, a series like ''Manga/DoujinWork'' wouldn't be allowed to be serialized on ''Kirara'' per se. It could ''probably'' be serialized on ''Miracle!'' or ''Forward'', though.
115	** In terms of anime adaptations, ''Manga/DoujinWork'' and ''Manga/{{Kanamemo}}'' feel more unique compared to the traditional SchoolgirlSeries they would later become famous for.
116	* {{Iyashikei}}:
117	** Most series running in the non-''Forward'' magazines are meant to be sweet, heartwarming, and relaxing. Some series in ''Forward'' are also sweet, heartwarming, and relaxing, but it's more of a grab-bag in terms of genre.
118	** Although ''Manga/SchoolLive'' was published in the more experimental ''Forward'' brand (which should set off warning bells, as should the fact that it's written by a Creator/NitroPlus writer), the series subverts the concept since it fools the audience into thinking it's a typical easygoing SchoolgirlSeries at first. Then the [[FirstEpisodeTwist end of the first chapter/episode]] reveals that it's actually about a group of schoolgirls trying to survive in a ZombieApocalypse.
119	* JapaneseSchoolClub: Roughly half their works revolve around ''moe'' girls doing an activity together, often -- but not always -- under the auspices of an official school club. After the tremendous success of ''K-On!'', it seems the floodgates opened. Many, many manga authors rushed out to copy the formula of "four girls + school club + rock band", and put their own spin on it by swapping "rock band" for whatever hobby the author is interested in. Consequently, expect these works to have plenty of {{Exposition}} and {{Exposition Diagram}}s imparting extremely technical knowledge about how to perform the hobby, along with general gushing over what a life-changing experience it is.
120	* NiceGirl: It's usually expected to have at least one girl fitting into this bill.
121	* SchoolgirlSeries: Most of their series focus on groups of schoolgirls and their everyday lives.
122	* {{Seinen}}: Many of these works are usually geared towards an older adult male audience.
123	* SliceOfLife: Most of these works are set in a mundane world and focus on the characters' everyday lives.
124	* TheOneGuy: Recurring male characters are very ''very'' rare in non-''Forward'' Kirara series, enough so that when a series DOES feature a regular male cast it's noticeable (see ''Manga/PlaceToPlace'', ''Manga/CastleTownDandelion'', ''Manga/DoujinWork'', ''Manga/GAGeijutsukaArtDesignClass'', and ''Manga/BlendS'').
125	* SexyPackaging: Every chapter comes with an illustration on the title page. While the (non-''Forward'') manga are all relatively chaste, the title illustrations can get a little more risque.
126	* TokenMiniMoe: It is expected that at least one female character will fit into bill in any Manga Time Kirara works.
127	* YeahShot:
128	** In every manga chapter they publish, the first page will be four panels (arranged in a square instead of a column) and a detailed illustration taking up half the page. Although the content varies, it's fairly common to see the girls jumping exuberantly into the air.
129	** One of these happens in the openings of almost every anime based on a ''Kirara'' Manga, enough that it is called the "Kirara Jump", and occurs even in non-Kirara slice of life anime openings.
130	---> '''"Any anime where they jump in the opening is a god-tier anime."''' - Ryo, ''Manga/BocchiTheRock''
131	** This is referenced in ''Kirara Fantasia'': whenever a character uses a special move, they do the famous Kirara Jump first.
132
133	!!Tropes pertaining to the ''Manga Time Kirara'' family itself:
134	* ArtifactTitle: It has been editorially independent from ''Manga Time'' for a long time.
135	* BreakingOldTrends: ''Manga/ConvenientSemiFriend'' is much raunchier and more sexually-charged than the usual ''Manga Time Kirara'' fare, to the point the author spent the afterword to her first volume talking about how weird it is to see it published there.
136	--> '''Minori Chigusa''': The manga about saying "sefure"[[note]] "sex friends"[[/note]] over and over that defies the laws of 4-Koma and should by all accounts be considered out of bounds was not only allowed to be serialized in the precious 4-Koma magazine known as Kirara but also had commercials aired about it... I'm so grateful towards Houbunsha-san...
137	--> '''Ruka''': ''[pulling her shirt open to reveal her cleavage]'' It's not out of bounds! Also, here's some fanservice! [[ThankingTheViewer Thanks for buying!]]
138	--> '''Kohaku''': That kinda thing is out of bounds! Or rather, having sefure as a focal point would normally be no good for Kirara!
139	* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Manga Time Kirara Forward''. In contrast to the SliceOfLife {{Iyashikei}} works of the other magazines, ''Forward'' often features more action-heavy manga like ''Manga/DreamEaterMerry'' or horror-themed manga like ''Manga/SchoolLive'', not to mention two ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' ExpandedUniverse manga, ''Manga/PuellaMagiKazumiMagica'' and ''Manga/PuellaMagiSuzuneMagica'', both of which happen to even ''more'' {{dark\|erAndEdgier}} and {{blood\|ierAndGorier}}y than their parent series. That said, ''Forward'' also has {{Iyashikei}} like ''Manga/LaidBackCamp''.
140	* DistaffCounterpart: When ''Carat'' was launched, it was aimed specifically at female readers and focused on male main characters. However, this didn't last. Now it's effectively the same as ''Kirara'', although with a ''slightly'' higher female readership. Notably, ''Carat'' ran ''Manga/AnimaYell'', one of the few school club stories with an explicitly-female-oriented hobby, whereas most other ''Kirara'' school club stories revolve around either unisex hobbies or hobbies stereotypically associated with thirtysomething men.
141	* MassiveMultiplayerCrossover: ''[[https://kirarafantasia.com Kirara Fantasia]]'', a fantasy RPG which takes the girls of various ''Kirara'' magazines and gives them fighting prowess.
142	* NetworkRedHeadedStepchild: ''Forward'' is a ''magazine'' edition, in that it has very different editorial directions, despite sharing the {{moe}} connection with the other four.
143	* WordSaladTitle: "Kirara" ("Shiny") is not particularly meaningful as a title, and "Carat," "Miracle" and "Forward" are not helpful additions to "Kirara" title-wise.

Context Magazine / MangaTimeKirara