is a manga series written and illustrated by . The individual chapters have been serialized in Kodansha magazine Bessatsu Friend since 2000, with 36 tankōbon volumes. Under the name My Fair Lady, the manga was licensed for an English-language release in North America by Del Rey Manga and Singapore by Chuang Yi. The Wallflower ended in January 2015 after 36 volumes.
Nippon Animation adapted part of the manga into a 25-episode anime series, which aired on TV Tokyo and other channels from October 3, 2006, to March 27, 2007. It has been licensed for Region 1 release by A.D. Vision, who paid $500,000. In 2008, The WallFlower became one of over 30 ADV series whose North American rights were transferred to Funimation Entertainment.
A television drama adaptation aired on TBS and its affiliates from January to March 2010.
Plot The series tells a girl named Sunako Nakahara who was called ugly by the first and only person, to whom she confessed her love. This incident causes her life to change, thus Sunako avoids all forms of beauty, both in herself and life. Concerned by her change for the worse, Sunako's aunt – the owner of a huge mansion where free four handsome high school boys live – demands the boys to transform her niece into the "perfect lady", and in return they will be able to continue living there for free. If the boys cannot uphold their deal in the deadline, they either to either pay a lump sum of cash or vacate the premises.
Although the four of them eventually make Sunako physically beautiful enough to become a lady, she has no intention of changing problems with attitude and interests. Up until the most recent release in the story, they eventually convince Sunako's aunt that her niece is indeed a lady befitting the mansion in which they live and prevent the rent from increasing to triple the required amount.
Characters Main characters
The main female protagonist of the series, Sunako is obsessed with darkness and a morbid fascination with blood as well as horror films.
Kyohei is male protagonist of the series. He is cocky, but has a soft spot for Sunako and empathizes with her more so than the others. Kyohei has troubles keeping down a part-time job because his fans will chase after him, or his boss (male or female) will sexual harass him.
The most intellectual of the four, Takenaga is called the "Boss" by his friends and is the least fazed by Sunako's morbid habits. When the quartet dresses Sunako up, He is usually responsible for doing Sunako's hair.
The most androgynous of the four, Yukinojo is gentle and is initially the most frightened of Sunako. Before coming to live at the mansion, he had a normal school life with a middle-class family. His mother and the Landladies are old friends and the Landlady has a soft spot for Yuki.
A ladies' man, Ranmaru is often going out with various beautiful older women. Like Takenaga, he comes from a wealthy family who own a series of hotel chains but was sent to live with the Landlady because he exploited his wealth and his parents wanted him to become normal. Ranmaru is shown to be better at kendo than Takenaga and usually responsible for doing her make-up whenever she has to dress up. However, his attempts are rarely successful in the long run and he is convinced that it is Kyohei's attitude towards Sunako that is the primary problem. Wanting to change his womanizing habits, his parents wanted him with a reserved and conservative girl of their preference, Tamao Kikunoi. Although Ranmaru rejects Kikunoi's love for him, he begins to develop feelings for her. He is named after the real-life Mori Ranmaru, the partner of Oda Nobunaga.
Supporting characters Aunt Nakahara Live-Action: Reiko Takashima Nakahara is Sunako's aunt who expects Kyohei, Takenaga, Yuki, and Ranmaru to make Sunako into a lady. Called the "infamous Marie Antoinette of the East", she is affluent with unconventional ways of traveling, such as in a fleet of helicopters.
Noi is a popular girl who becomes Sunako's closest female friend at school. She loves being called beautiful by others, especially Sunako. Noi admires Sunako's tough attitude and is often over-protective of her when someone insults her.
Kikunoi is Ranmaru's wealthy fiancée who studies at an all-girls school. They become a couple due to an arranged marriage by both of their parents.
Other characters
Yvonne: Laseine: Madeleine: Roxane: , , , and are four girls who are completely obsessed with the main boys of the series. Initially their roles in the storyline were much smaller, but were expanded within the anime to provide comic relief. They usually have a cameo appearance in each episode saying their catch phrase "Goth-Goth, Loli-Loli" while crossing their own fingers. A notable aspect to their characters is that instead of actively pursuing their crushes, they sit in the background and wait for them to notice them. Their appearance is an exaggeration of the Gothic Lolita phenomenon, and they are very unattractive. Their names are Ierie, Machapi, Maririn, and Mintan in the Singaporean English-language translation.
Media Manga
The Wallflower manga is written by . In Japan, the individual chapters have been serialized in Kodansha's Bessatsu Friend since its first issue in 2000, with 36 volumes. It received an English-language release in North America and Singapore, respectively by Del Rey Manga and Chuang Yi, under the name My Fair Lady.
Anime
Live action drama In the 18th issue of Bessatsu Friend, it was announced that a live action drama adaption of the manga has been green-lit for airing in January 2009. On November 30, the cast was announced for the live action drama.
Influence The Wallflower has inspired a fashion line by Julie Haus that appeared in the 2008 New York Fashion Week.
References
External links Official TV Tokyo The Wallflower anime website Official TBS The Wallflower TV drama website