ワンダンス

WONDANCE

MANGA

STATUS
RELEASING
VOLUMES
Not Available
RELEASE
Invalid Date
CHAPTERS
Not Available

DESCRIPTION

Kaboku Kotani is starting high school, and he plans to do what he’s always done: go along with his friends, keep quiet, and not draw too much attention to himself. After all, it’s hard enough to get by with a stutter like his— why make things worse by standing out from the crowd? But then he sees another first-year, Hikari Wanda, dancing like no one is watching—or like she doesn’t care who sees her. It makes Kaboku wonder: Could he reach that same freedom? To find his way to Wanda, he does something he never thought he could: He joins the dance club. After all, every routine begins with a single step, right? Join Kaboku and Wanda as they freestyle their way to life and love!

(Source: Kodansha USA)

Note: Nominated for the Tsugimanga 2020 Award in the Manga Category.

CAST

Hikari Wanda
Kaboku Kotani
Iori Itsukushima
On Miyao
Gaku Kabeya

CHAPTERS

RELATED TO WONDANCE

MANGA Slice of LifeNoboru Kotera-san

ONA DramaWonDance

REVIEWS

saulgoodman

80/100

Street Dancing + Jaw Dropping Art

Dancing is my favorite sports genre in manga. I've not a single ounce of interest in the performative art/sport but I've always been drawn to its aesthetic in phenomenal series like Welcome to the Ballroom, Nabillera and Straighten Up! Welcome to Shika High's Competitive Dance Club (Writing a review on this one soon!). Even though dancing is such an anomaly to me, I've yet to see a dancing manga that hasn't incorporated it in such a way that makes it exciting to even those who aren't remotely interested in it. And Wondance isn't an exception. This is a breathtakingly beautiful series, in both its aesthetic, messaging and story; incorporating both simplicity and complexity.



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__Story__

Kotani Kaboku trudges through his life hanging his head low, quietly and matching his surrounding's pacing. One day, he meets Wanda Hikari. Immersed in her own world and unconcerned with how she's perceived, Kaboku is mesmerized by her, his polar opposite. Taking up dancing with Wanda, Kaboku discovers a whole new world. One where he can properly communicate himself like never before. 

- Fairly straight-forward and simple premise. No outlandish plot points or anything. ___Wondance___ is a coming-of-age story, revolving around Kaboku discovering himself through the magnificence of dancing. We witness him better communicating himself with others and going at his own pace by dancing more.

- The story currently focuses on Kaboku gaining more dance experience through battles and tournaments. It's fine pacing wise, not really sure how the story will develop.

- ___Wondance___ is slightly unorthodox from the other dancing manga I've read, in that it focuses on street dancing. Which I'm a huge fan of, in its modern and youthful aesthetic/culture. It's also slightly unorthodox in its technical explanations. Whereas other sports manga generally straight-forwardly explain the sports mechanics through simple diagrams and illustrations, ___Wondance___ moreso __conveys__ the mechanics. While it does give small tidbits of explanations of certain dance styles and jargon, I love that the series "explains" dancing through its art and vague know-hows that conveys "__Dancing isn't about knowing, it's about feeling__".

___

</center>~~~<img width='420' src='https://i.imgur.com/2MFhm0n.png'>

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__Characters__

The series primarily focuses on our two main characters, Kabo and Wanda. 

- Kabo's a rather awkward guy. Contrasting his tall build and large presence, he tends to not speak up and to just get swallowed up by his friends' pacing. Having an initial fear of dancing from a middle school experience, Kabo grows to view it as a communication medium, thanks to Wanda. True to his nature, Kabo tries to keep up and be with Wanda but realizes he can go at his own pace. He becomes enraptured by the sport and steadily grows up, though he's still quite an awkward guy. 

- Wanda's a bit ... quirky. She goes at her own pace, tending to befuddle others. It's a bit hard to tell exactly what she's thinking, she doesn't have concrete emotional expressions and has strange habits. But she's absolutely lovable. Her carefree nature nurtures Kabo's growth, acting as a doorway to the world of dancing. Her intense love for dancing is obvious and infectious, often sucking in everyone into her pacing. In short, Wanda's a mesmerizing, charismatic person, though she herself is unaware. 

- The two have a heart-warming relationship. Though hints of romance are shown, they have a platonic relationship. They strangely appear close and distant. They show each other the strongest of dance support, yet they know very little about each other's lives. Kabo strongly admires Wanda, who reciprocates his gratitude. Wanda, with her straight-forward nature, can tell what's troubling Kabo at first glance and helps him. I can't slap a concrete label on their lovable relationship, other than vaguely calling them friends. 

Other characters related to the dance battles/competitions are introduced and teach Kabo and Wanda more about dancing. They're all likable and help nurture their growth, as characters and dancers.

___

<img width='420' src='https://i.imgur.com/wgcLmu6.png'>

<img width='420' src='https://i.imgur.com/ZshqXDr.jpg'>

___

__Art__

God, finally I can suck off the art. __Wondance__ easily has one of the best, stylish art right now. First, the art style. It's sleek and very nice to look at. The characters designs are great, perfectly fitting the urban, street feel of this series. Extra points for the street-wear fashion aspect. And Wanda's facial expressions are dangerously moe. Second, the actual art. Super dynamic, experimental and striking. The dance battles are elevated to Olympus thanks to the intense, raw illustrations. A perfect demonstration of __Show, Not Tell__. The vectors, use of black-and-white, wonderful paneling, everything is used so wildly, vividly and explodes with emotion.  __Wondance__ stands at the peak of unique art for me. The art quality is just phenomenal and the highlight of the series.

___

<img width='420' src='https://i.imgur.com/5zDl5Ij.png'>

<img width='420' src='https://i.imgur.com/HczXfM4.png'>

<img width='420' src='https://i.imgur.com/3Atbvjx.png'>

___

__Enjoyment__

One of my favorite on-going series and my favorite on-going sports series. The art is seriously too much of a treat on my eyes. Kabo and Wanda's relationship is too cute. And I love seeing the two grow up in their dance endeavors. It's still fairly early on, but I predict this to continue being the phenomenal series it is.

___

<img width='420' src='https://img.mghubcdn.com/file/imghub/wondance/5/3.jpg'>

___

__Final Words__

___Wondance___ demonstrates that a story can be phenomenally interesting and awesome despite a lack of interest in its core subject, dancing in this case. It incorporates dancing in its story, art and characters tremendously well and will ensnare you with its spectacular art. With its simple, yet well-done aspects, ___Wondance___ is surely a gem worth giving a chance.

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Sakuraplant
85/100
What does it mean to have a passion? [ Minor spoilers ]
Note: this review was written as of how many volumes are currently available where I am ( 8 volumes ) What is a passion? It can be a hobby or something that brings you joy. For some, it's drawing, photography, or cooking. This series explores the concept of passion through dancing. # __About__ ワンダンス ( Wondance ) follows the story of Kaboku Kotani. He's your typical male protagonist: shy, quiet, and what some may consider the "nice guy." Due to his stutter, he often struggles to communicate with others. One day, he sees a classmate named Wanda Hikari, one of the most popular girls in school, dancing outside of class and is inspired to join the dance team. # __Story__ The story of ワンダンス (Wondance) is not just about dance; it's about the emotional journey of its characters. For instance, there's a scene where Kabo overcomes his fear of performing in front of others in a dance competition and after a while becomes more confident in himself. You see, dancing isn't just a sport; it allows you to express your emotions or feelings without using words. Kabo enjoys this passion and shares it with Wanda and other characters. This emotional depth is what makes the story so relatable and engaging. I've always enjoyed those stories that teach the reader not to care about what others think and to follow your dreams. When reading, I noticed they've mentioned some of my favorite songs, such as [I Feel It Coming by The Weekend ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v1TOFULOWA) and [Bad Guy by Billie Ellish ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD4utuFiexw). It was cool! # __Artwork__ Another one of my favorite things about Wondance is the art style. While some panels were funny-looking or it was hard to understand what the characters were doing, much effort was put into them. The mangaka has a good understanding of perspective, motion, and [Chiaroscuro ](https://www.britannica.com/art/chiaroscuro). The use of shadows and attention to detail really captivate those dancing scenes. I like how the mangaka uses different boxes to show each move or makes a whole drawing covering two book pages. # __Characters__ Each character has a unique personality, which plays a significant role in the story. For instance, Wanda is a supportive friend and classmate who encourages Kabo to pursue his passion. In the manga, you learn about different people with different dancing styles. I liked watching them teach Kabo how to do those styles, allowing Kabo to explore the dance world and discover what makes them unique. This makes it more intriguing for the audience. I kinda wished the manga would get # __Conclusion__ I'm surprised this hasn't gotten an anime adaptation yet, let alone an announcement about one. This story has great potential and would be nice to see animated. Overall, Wondance is an underrated story that is a must-read for everyone. Even if you aren't much of a sports manga fan, at least give this one a chance.
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