Akane-chan Overdrive

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Akane-chan OVER DRIVE


caption = Cover of Akane-chan Overdrive Volume 1.
ja_name = あかねちゃんOVER DRIVE
ja_name_trans = Akane-chan Ōbādoraibu
genre = ComedyInfobox animanga/Manga
author = Mikan Momokuri (Mizuki Kawashita)
publisher = flagicon|Japan Shueisha
demographic = Shōjo
magazine = Margaret Comics
first = 25 March 1999
last = 25 February 2000
volumes = 2

nihongo|Akane-chan Overdrive|あかねちゃんOVER DRIVE|Akane-chan Ōbādoraibu is a two volume manga by Mizuki Kawashita, under the pen name of Mikan Momokuri.

Story

Nineteen-year-old Takashi Amamiya dies after tripping on a bottle but is transported into a body of a cute girl, Akane Hagiwara. Following this, Amamiya goes through various trials and tribulations dealing with, being a girl, getting his body back, and dealing with old and new friends. Despite its repeated use of slapstick comedy, the story sometimes touches on more mature themes such as sexuality and at one point even rape.

Another thing to mention is that compared to Kawashita's popular Ichigo 100%, the genders have seemingly interchanged. Where as the main plot to Ichigo 100% was several girls aiming for one boy, in Akane-chan Overdrive, several guys (and Akane's female best friend) all seem to be attracted to her (or her body, at least).

Though very ecchi at times, Akane-chan Overdrive contains more shōjo elements than Kawashita's later works.

Side stories

The manga also features three short stories, and although they have nearly no relevance to the main plot at all, some argue that they could make up for the ending of the main story that had been left open.

The first story, "催眠戦士アキラくん" ("Saimin senshi Akira-kun"), is found at the end of the first volume and is about a man who takes in Akira, his friend's son to live with him and his daughter, Chiemi (whom bears a strong resemblance to Tsukasa Nishino from Ichigo 100%). However, Chiemi's father hypnotizes Akira to become an invincible hero whenever Chiemi is in a situation of distress.

The second story, "other side A girl" ["sic"] , is found after the end of the main story in the second volume of the manga and is about a girl named Arisa Fuji, who is killed and then transported into the body of a man in the same way Amamiya was put into Akane. However, in this case Arisa's real body is killed permanently so she cannot return back to her own body. Despite this, Arisa tries to go on with her own life, particularly trying to get back together with Harumi, the boy that she was dating while she was a girl.

The third story, "目覚めのKISSとテディベア" ("Mezame no KISS to tedibea"), is found after the second one and is about an unusual love triangle between two seemingly lesbian schoolgirls, Emi Takayama and Tsubasa Ooishi and their handsome, plushie-carrying teacher Jouyama.

Characters

; nihongo|Akane Hagiwara|萩原あかね|"Hagiwara Akane" : Akane's soul does not appear in the manga, only her body which is first occupied by Takashi and then Murai. Akane is 16 years old and quite popular at school and she comes from a rich family. She is poor at math and swimming and likes fermented soybeans.

; nihongo|Takashi Amamiya|雨宮タカシ|"Amamiya Takashi" : Takashi is a homely-looking unemployed 19-year-old man whose best friend is Satoru Murai. His parents won the lottery and never told him about it until they left on a trip around the world, leaving Takashi behind to live in a small apartment.

; nihongo|Touma Amamiya|雨宮冬馬|"Amamiya Touma" : Touma and Takashi are not related even though they share the same last name. In the manga he is referred to by his last name Amamiya rather than his first name Touma. He is a sensitive person and a very good-looking model who is in love with Akane and tries to pursue her love.

; nihongo|Satoru Murai|村井智|"Murai Satoru" : Satoru, referred to as Murai in the manga, is Takashi's best friend. After Takashi was hospitalized, Murai took care of him and his property.

; nihongo|Shizuka|静香|"Shizuka" : Shizuka is Akane's best friend and a closet lesbian.

; nihongo|Natsumi Amamiya|雨宮夏未|"Amamiya Natsumi" : Natsumi is Touma Amamiya's younger sister. She is a model like her brother.

; nihongo|Messenger of the spiritual world|霊界の使者|"Reikai no shisha" : The messenger of the spiritual world tries to find Akane's spirit from Heaven with ultimately no luck. He also appears in the short story "other side A girl" which happens at the same time as the main story.

Volumes

* あかねちゃんOVER DRIVE 1 (1999-03-25) ISBN 4-08-847048-6
* あかねちゃんOVER DRIVE 2 (2000-02-25) ISBN 4-08-847188-1

External links

*ann manga|id=6297