Kageki Shojo!!

Kageki Shojo!! is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kumiko Saiki. It is set at the Kouka School of Musical and Theatrical Arts, an elite all-female academy that draws inspiration from the real-life Takarazuka Revue. The story centers on Sarasa Watanabe, an energetic and notably tall girl from the countryside whose lifelong ambition is to perform male roles on the Kouka stage, with a particular aspiration to portray Oscar from The Rose of Versailles. She enrolls alongside a diverse group of aspiring actresses, including her initially hesitant roommate, Ai Narata, a former idol with a difficult past who harbors a desire to leave the school. The narrative follows Sarasa, Ai, and their classmates as they endure a rigorous curriculum, develop friendships and rivalries, and confront significant personal challenges.

The series delves into the students' struggles with past traumas, body image issues, and the intense pressures inherent in pursuing a career in musical theater. The original series, titled Kageki Shojo!, was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Jump X from May 10, 2012, to October 10, 2014. It was later collected into two tankōbon volumes. Following the cessation of Jump X, the series was re-released by Hakusensha as Kageki Shojo!! Season Zero in a single omnibus volume on March 5, 2019. A sequel series, also by Kumiko Saiki, has been serialized in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine Melody since February 28, 2015, and has been collected into numerous volumes.

Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed both the re-release, known in English as Kageki Shojo!! The Curtain Rises, and the ongoing sequel series for North America. The manga is categorized as Drama, Slice of Life, Shōjo, and Josei. Key themes explored include ambition, self-discovery, friendship, rivalry, and the demanding nature of an artistic career. The series also offers detailed insights into Japanese traditional arts and the unique culture of all-female musical theater, while sensitively addressing mature themes such as PTSD, fatphobia, and eating disorders. Reviews have highlighted the manga's character-driven narrative, its organic character development, and its sensitive handling of weighty subject matter, lending emotional depth to its behind-the-scenes look at the performing arts. [edit]