Ai Ore!


Ai Ore! is a Japanese manga series by Mayu Shinjo. It was adapted into a live action film in 2012.

Plot

''Ai o Utau Yori Ore Ni Oborero!''

Akira Shiraishi, a young high school boy with feminine features, joins Blaue Rosen, the all-female band for which Mizuki Sakurazaka, an androgynous girl of the same age, performs lead electric guitar.
Their high school life is anything but typical: Mizuki is the "prince" of her all-girl school while Akira is the "princess" of the neighboring all-boy school. A series of comical events brings them closer together, even as the prejudice of the people around them tries to pull them apart.

''Ai-Ore! Danshikō no Hime to Joshikō no Ōji''

After announcing that he is a boy during a concert for Blaue Rosen in the first book, Akira and Mizuki begin to date. But as their relationship heats up, so does the feud between the two's schools.

Publication

Written and illustrated by Mayu Shinjo, Ai o Utau Yori Ore ni Oborero! was serialized in Shogakukan's Shōjo Comic magazine. Its chapters were compiled into five tankōbon volumes published from June 26, 2006, to July 26, 2007. A second series titled Ai Ore! – Love Me was serialized in Monthly Asuka by Kadokawa Shoten and was published into tankobon format between May 22, 2008, to February 22, 2011. As it published Ai Ore!, Kadokawa Shoten also republished the first series into three volumes from February 23 to April 22, 2010.
When translating into English Viz Media combined the two series, with the first series collected into the three first volumes and the second series compiled in the remaining five books. Its first volume was published on May 3, 2011, while the last one was released on February 5, 2013. Viz also published a digital edition from June 17, 2011, to March 8, 2013. The two series were also published in Australia by Madman Entertainment, in France by Pika Édition and in Germany by Egmont Manga & Anime.

Anime

Along with the official announcement for the live-action film, Shinjo Mayu revealed that the manga was supposed to have an anime adaptation but was canceled due to unfortunate events.

Live-action

A live-action film adaptation, that would premier at the end of 2011, was first announced by Mayu Shinjo through her blog in July 2011. In January 2012, it was revealed that idol Karam from the K-pop band DGNA and actress Ito Ōno would star it. The film opened on August 25, 2012, and 2,000 copies of a "special mini-comic" by Shinjo herself were distributed. The film is directed by Sakurako Fukuyama and its main theme is "Ikenai 1-2-3" by DGNA.

Cast

Reception

Volumes 1, 2, 4, and 5 from the English publication of the series have been featuring in lists of 10 best-selling manga rankings such as The New York Times.