There is a reason that âTomorrow Is Saturdayâ did not get its own anime as a parent story. It is uniquely uninteresting as a story, hence its score. Everything in this manga is done episodically. This essentially means that there are no climaxes in favor of smaller and simpler chapters. This can be done well by using humor and charm in the characters. Hence, the only meaning left in this manga is in the references to other material besides its character development and interactions (that assessment will come later). If one were to give an example of a good story, âAshitawa Doyoubiâ is not something that would come to mind, because of its complete lack of one. Arguably speaking, this is uninteresting, bland, and appears very one-dimensional. Itâs a âslice of lifeâ school setting at its core (at the time of writing this review, âcomedyâ isnât even listed with genresâ). On the bright side, pacing is simply a non-issue considering that progression doesnât exist. Nothing can possibly be called rushed in this type of setting, especially with how basic the premise of each chapter is. The only perceivable element to make the âstoryâ bearable was its comedic elements. No outright jokes were made, but the chemistry between the three protagonists are what found the comedy, which are largely unfunny after the first set of chapters. There was no ending, and no visible need for one considering the flat content already provided.
The artistic direction was unique in how simple it all was. That said, itâs not something that many can consider âmemorable.â Yamamoto, the artist and storywriter behind this work, has had much experience with different styles over the years. Even so, this is a clear step down from their other works. Itâs a simple style designed for a simple story. Thus, it is objectively consistent with the story and characters it supports. This does not mean that itâs particularly interesting. The panels and frames themselves had few issues, minus several translation notes to help give background when referencing Japanese culture. These are necessary, and can be tolerated in all cases that they were on the page. The quality and consistency of the style changed and fluctuated very little throughout the series. The backdrops and scenes were rather static given the school setting. If the story had occasionally called for a festival or major event, perhaps this could have inspired more creativity in this regard. The character designs stand out the most in this manga considering each one is so different from the other. Mina appears very expressive and small, much like the energy of a chihuahua. Yukari is academic and introverted in nature, which is matched by her glasses and hairstyle. Sanae is objectively the most mature of the three, and this idea is reinforced with her constant unamused stare and simple appearance. There was no questioning which character was which.
The interactions between the three of them usually feature them commenting on a common subject. Sanae will take up one opinion, while Yukari takes up the opposite. Mina will be caught in the middle almost every time and Sanae will usually take advantage of Minaâs naive nature. This formula makes up the entirety of the manga, with few deviations. One of the few things that this manga has going for it are how well established all of its characters are. They are absolutely well rounded and they acted as expected in every circumstance. This makes their conversations and antics interesting to a degree, but thereâs no growth or final destination in the plot. These characters are static; what that means is that they donât change from start to finish. Nothing changes from beginning to end. There isnât an antagonist. No supporting characters exist period. All thatâs given is the trio of protagonists, each with their pros and cons. These characters may well be memorable if not for the bland and simple âstoryâ that accompanies it.
That ends my objective assessment. What do I think of it?
The enjoyment factor is always a rough one to put in writing for me, considering Iâm very much an advocate for objective assessments in reviews and essays. However, I didnât really feel anything throughout the duration of this manga. These characters were more a proof of concept than meaningful protagonists. A lot of people might find it boring, as did I. It isnât worth re-reading, as it was barely worth reading to begin with. I merely appreciated the parent story âStop Teasing Me, Takagi-San!â and wanted to see what this manga had to offer. It really wasnât worth going out of my way for. Basically everything in this manga is featured in the anime adaptation of its parent story. That all said, I can imagine that this item would go well with collectors for the universe itâs set in. The two volumes of this series would look nice on a shelf alongside all of the Takagi-san volumes. That's it folks, this manga is a supplement, and not one thatâs worth it. The best description I can find to sum up all 52 chapters (this is messed up on MAL) is âuniquely boring.â
Thereâs nothing more to comment on, except the name of the manga being as bland as the nonexistent story it contains.
Tomorrow is Saturday.
