Set in 19^th century London, the story of Emma tackles the story of a maid who becomes in love with the son of a bourgeois family. Though it appears like a romantic story at its surface, Emma is definitely more than that because issues of discrimination, social unrest, inequality, and the acceptable behaviors in society. Emma is the maid of Mrs. Stownar who is the former governess of William Jones. He was forced to come visit his former tutor and he immediately becomes smitten with Emma.

Emma becomes equally smitten and they have a quiet but blissful courtship. Inevitably, the issue of their social divide forces them to rethink their relationship. William’s father is determined to marry into nobility to get a better social leverage. Eleanor, a naïve noblewoman, falls in love with William. No one approves of William’s relationship with the “hired help” especially when she is compared with Eleanor.

When you mention the word, Victorian, the image that instantly comes to mind is the setting where Sherlock Holmes and Mary Shelley became known-for. But neither of the two settings is just right for this series because this romance surprisingly reveals a spark of conscience and a wide range of emotions that will take the reader into a ride they will long remember.

After several months of hype about how “big things are coming soon”, the Bandai Entertainment is finally taking action. A massive step in the anime world is to be expected with Masayuki Fujikawa’s statement “We plan to reduce the time-lag that exists between release in Japan and elsewhere.” The flagship brand HONNEAMISE will plan and execute the release of their Blu-ray titles simultaneously around the world so that the international audience can get them as quickly as possible.

For example, the anime Freedom, the Diebuster, and the Gunbuster can now be released worldwide. The said shows can be released in the HD format and it will have English, Japanese, and French dubbing with the choice of English or Fresh subtitles. This release will cater to a large number of anime fans who have the ability to use Blu-ray disc. Local distribution will be conducted with established companies including the Bandai Visual in Japan, the Beez Entertainment in France and UK, and the Bandai Entertainment in the US.

Michiko is the typical “tomboyish” character that loves motorcycles, hates girly stuff, and dislikes being tall. While delivering pizzas one day, she is mistaken as one of the runway models there and is suddenly tossed into the catwalk. The show designer says that she cannot hack it though so Michiko goes away in humiliation. But Michiko’s pride has been damaged and she wants to prove to Mihara, the designer, that she can make it as a glamorous runway model. She wants Mihara to acknowledge her but to do this; she must take the first steps. She will not only need to convince the modeling agency to take her in, she must also learn who she really is.

Review:

The Walkin’ Butterfly is painfully hilarious but honest series that will make any viewer appreciate it. Modeling becomes more of a tournament than a glamorous job and the protagonist is subjected to numerous trials that increase in difficulty each time. But overall, while Walkin’ Butterfly is a manga to watch out for, it suffers from a lot of stereotypical storyline such as sports (baseball, basketball), common narrative structure, and a relatively common plot line. The protagonist is quite likable with her sincere but high-tempered attitude that appears a little naïve.