This episode discusses all volumes (1-5) of Juline by Narumi Kakinouchi.

When you think "shojo manga," you typically don't think "ninjas." But that's just a stereotype, and we're here to defy stereotypes. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Megan DeYarman, of the sites Manga Test Drive and Renaissance Josei, talk about Juline, a manga series from animator Narumi Kakinouchi (of Vampire Princess Miyu fame). The titular Juline, along with other young female ninjas Bakuya and Seika (and inevitable male love interest Kio), are looking for male relatives and lovers who have disappeared. They encounter a mysterious foe in Black Pearl (also known as Tamayo, also known as Mei). Is Tamayo a woman or a man? Can Juline, Bakuya, and Seika undo the spell that's been put on their loved ones? Ashley and Megan dive into the art style (and unfortunate lack of lettering skills from Tokyopop), the gender representation, and the overall ~vibes~ of this strange little series.

REFERENCES

• Juline is out of print. It was published by Tokyopop.
  • There's a sequel called Shaolin Sisters
• Megan has been on episodes for The Key to the Kingdom and The Full-Time Wife Escapist
• Other anime/manga mentioned:
  • Revolutionary Girl Utena
  • Sailor Moon
  • Space Runaway Ideon
  • Dr. Slump
  • Urusei Yatsura
  • Macross
  • Megazone 23
  • The Pilot's Love Song
  • Aldnoah.Zero
  • Lupin the 3rd Part IV: The Italian Adventure
  • Apocalypse Zero
  • Magic Knight Rayearth
  • Vampire Princess Miyu
  • Ryoko's Case File
  • Naruto
  • Tail of the Moon
  • Maid-Sama!
  • Gundam Wing
• Stu Levy is why everything is bad
• Archive of Our Own
• Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs

CONTACT US

• Follow Megan on BlueSky @brainchild129.bsky.social
• Follow Manga Test Drive on BlueSky @mangatestdrive.bsky.social
• Support Megan on Patreon
• Visit Renaissance Josei
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
• Ashley on Bluesky