Watase Yuu
Watase Yuu (渡瀬悠宇) is the creator of the beautiful tale that we all love called Fushigi Yuugi. She debuted as a manga artist in Pajama de Ojama (A visit in Pajamas), when she was only 18-years old!!!. Being such a skilled artist, many people may think that she took drawing lessons, but actually she learned all by herself by reading and studying manga.
Ever since she was a little girl Yuu Watase have aspired to be a manga artist. As an artist she was influenced by the works of several creators like Osamu Tezuka, Shotaro Ishinomiri and Leiji Matsumoto. She says that her own manga is influenced by anime than other manga works. Her favorite animator is Mutsumi Inomata (from Leda and Windaria).
Watase-sensei is one of my favorite manga artists, her characters aren't only some piece of paper, they are truly masterpieces. It may sound silly but when you look at the characters eyes they seem to have a soul, and it is pretty hard to do. And they are all so good looking (it is so cruel since guys like them doesn't really exist ^-^). Also her stories are great, Fushigi Yuugi proves it. Actually it is one of my favorite series. As a matter of fact it is kinda addictive, I showed the anime to several friends and after they saw it they wouldn't get away from the TV screen.
Her Works
Even if it was her most famous series, Fushigi Yuugi isn't the first and probably will not be the last of this talented manga artist. Some of her other manga are:
- Pajama de Ojama (1989) - a love comedy about a girl who hears that you can be teleported to someone's bedroom by wearing the same pajamas. She tries it in order to get close to the guy of her dreams, but accidentally she ends up in another boy's room.
- Shishunki Miman Okotowari (1990) - this manga is about a teenage girl, named Asuka Higuchi, that goes to Tokyo looking for her father, but instead finds a half brother and a half sister that haven't meet their father neither.
- Epotrance! Mai (1995) - the story of a girl called Mai that is in love with Nimura, one of her classmates, but is to shy to do something about it.
- Ayashi no Ceres (1997) - translated as "Ceres the Fantastic", which is based in the Japanese legend of Tenyo. It is really cool, and the drawings are... pure art.
- Appare Jipangu! (1998) - 15 year-old Yusura owns a magical staff that lets her absorb the sadness of people and use it against bad people.
- Imadoki (2000) - is the story of Tampopo a girl who just entered a high-class school, the day before the beginning of the semester she meets Kouki the most popular boy in school!
- Alice the 19th (2001) - Alice is a shy girl who one day saved a rabbit from a car, which gave her the opportunity to talk with the guy she she likes, Kyo. But the rabbit is no ordinary rabbit...
- Zettai Kareshi (2003) - Riiko has always been unlucky in love. After visiting a strange website and filling a questionnaire of her ideal boyfriend, she wakes up the next day to a very special delivery.
- Sakura Gari (2007) - based on the Taishou Era, Sakura Gari tells the story of 16 year-old Tagami Masataka who starts work in the Saiki household as butler to family heir, Saiki Souma to pay for his education. Yaoi
- Arata Kangatari (2008) - Two boys sharing the same name inadvertently trade places in inverse worlds.
Credits: Part of the info above can be found in the magazine Animerica Vol 6, Issues 1-2.