First Love Monster
First Love Monster is a Japanese manga series written by Akira Hiyoshimaru. It was first published in Kodansha's manga magazine Aria from 2013 to 2016 and later on the Pixiv Comics starting in 2018. An anime television adaptation aired from July to September 2016.
Plot
The story follows 15-year-old Kaho Nikaidō as she leaves home to live in a high school dormitory. Almost getting hit by a truck, she is saved by a boy named Kanade Takahashi. She falls in love with him, only to discover that he is her landlord's son and a fifth grader.
Characters
;Kaho Nikaidō
;Kanade Takahashi
;Tomu Kaneko
;Ginjirō Sannomiya
;Kazuo Noguchi
;Jōji Takahashi
;Kōta Shinohara
;Atsushi Taga
;Arashi Nagasawa
;Daikoku Nikaidō
;Chiaki Yokōchi
;Mafuyu Hayashi
;Shūgo Takahashi
;Yuki Fukaya
;Munemitsu Makurazaki
;Renren
Media
Manga
First Love Monster is written by Akira Hiyoshimaru, who began publishing the manga in Kodansha's shōjo magazine Aria on 28 January 2013. Its last chapter in the magazine was published on 28 November 2016. On 3 March 2017, the manga started publishing on Pixiv Comics.
The manga is licensed for English release in North America by Yen Press.
Audio drama
The limited edition versions of volumes three, four, and five include an audio drama CD.
Anime
An anime adaptation of the series was announced in the August issue of Aria. The cast of the audio dramas reprised their roles for the anime. The series aired from July to September 2016. Studio Deen produced the anime, with Takayuki Inagaki directed the series and Mariko Oka designed the characters. The anime has been licensed by Funimation and by Madman Entertainment for streaming. Medialink licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia and streaming this anime in their YouTube channel. The anime ran for 12 episodes, released over 6 Blu-ray and DVD volumes. An OVA episode was bundled with the manga's 8th volume and released on 17 February 2017.
Novel
A novel adaptation written by Makoto Nohara and with illustrations and supervision done by Akira Hiyoshimaru, was published by Kodansha on March 2, 2017. The novel also includes the short story Omae no Koto ga Suki Nan Da by doujin author Baku Yumemakurasaki.
Stage play
A stage play adaptation ran in Shinagawa Prince Hotel's Club eX from March 3 to March 12, 2017. Keita Kawajiri served as director and scriptwriter. The play featured Kokoro Okuda as Kaho Nikaidō, Yoshihiko Aramaki as Kanade Takahashi, Daiki Sagawa as Tomu Kaneko, Yūki Kamisato as Ginjirō Sannomiya, Shane as Kazuo Noguchi, Yūtarō as Kōta Shinohara, Kento Ono as Atsushi Taga, Ryōsei Tanaka as Arashi Nagasawa, Yūta Hoshino as Daikoku Nikaidō, and Naoya Goumoto as Shūgo Takahashi.
Reception
Rebecca Silverman, reviewing the first volume for Anime News Network, gave it an overall grade of C−. She criticized the series for its attempts at serious romance in what was essentially a comedy, and also found fault with author's skill at drawing people. She was most heavily critical of the age gap between the two romantic leads, commenting that upon examination, "First Love Monster comedy is overwhelmed by its creepy factor." She did, however, praise the series' dialogue, stating that "the way Kanade talks is a fun mixture of childlike and more adult."