Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll Vol. 1 is a light-hearted read for Sanrio fans. Fuwa Fuwa Shinamon is the Japanese title of this 5-volume series. This manga proves that Cinnamoroll has a colorful universe of his own that’s worth exploring. Light spoilers ahead!
As many of you know, I’ve been turning to classic comics to keep me entertained during the coronavirus outbreak/quarantine/social distancing. With release dates rapidly changing (like it did for the second volume of What’s Michael?), many people of the otaku persuasion are turning to older forms of media for our entertainment. Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll Vol. 1 was initially published on January 3, 2012, making it dated but still more than cute enough to catch my attention. January 3 is also my birthday, so I figured I was destined to read this manga. Plus, Cinnamoroll and Milk look so sweet on the cover.
Cinnamoroll is an adorable pup who’s named after his tail that’s swirled like a cinnamon roll. He has floppy, bunny-esque ears that he uses to fly and dart amongst the clouds. In this manga, he goes on adventures with a lovable cast of puppy friends: Mocha, Chiffon, Cappuccino, Espresso, and of course, little Milk, the baby of the group. They all hang out at a place called Café Cinnamon when the plot isn’t leading them to new and exciting developments. According to an official Sanrio page about Cinnamoroll, he is the café ’s official mascot.
This Sanrio manga is the result of a collaborative effort. You see, Yumi Tsukirino is credited for the story and illustration for the series. Chisato Seki, however, came up with the original concept. With their powers combined, they made a fun and kawaii manga series for the world to enjoy. According to Wikipedia, the manga originally ran in Pucchigumi, a monthly children’s manga magazine, and remained serialized in Japan from 2005 to 2008. Like the Japanese series, there are five English volumes in total, all of which the children’s division of VIZ Media subsequently published during 2012. I figured I would start with the first one to see how I liked it.
I feel like the United States doesn’t realize what it was missing when there was no English translation of this manga series available to us. Chisato Seki, Yumi Tsukirino, and VIZ Media did English-speaking kawaii fans a major solid when they released this manga series to the English-speaking market.
Overall, this manga succeeds in providing an extended glimpse into the world of Cinnamoroll. At the very beginning of the book, you get to meet his adorable friends and witness their cute yet zany interactions as they deal with the exciting situations that pop up for them. The first three comics you read in this manga are in full-color. The colors are vibrant and well-blended into the lines, allowing for a lot of the finer details of Cinnamoroll’s world to shine brighter.
As the story unfolds, you meet *gasp* characters who aren’t puppies. The world-building is imaginative as Cinnamoroll navigates a universe where trees talk and someone could eat up all your snacks at any moment. Flowers grow and glow here. My favorite character is Baumkuchen, an elderly tree whose wisdom is beyond measure. (I have a soft spot for wise trees.) Nonetheless, things remain lighthearted/“fluffy” throughout the entire manga, even when the characters experience conflict or serious situations.
I recommend Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll Vol. 1 to all Sanrio fans, or even just fans of Cinnamoroll. This manga will give you the much-needed dose of kawaii you need in the name of kawaii self-care. The art style is simple but striking, especially when you see it in color. This book has a “baby’s first manga” energy to it because it’s intended audience is 8 to 12 years old. Nonetheless, if I were a parent, I would feel safe showing my child this lighthearted manga and immersing them in the fluffy world of Cinnamoroll and his friends.
Much like Gudetama, Cinnamoroll is one of those Sanrio characters who doesn’t get enough attention. A puppy who uses his bunny-like ears to soar through the clouds deserves to be featured in more media. I’m a bit disappointed that the manga didn’t feature Lloromannic, but I guess demons like Berry and Cherry aren’t fluffy enough for this series. However, I recognize that this was my own expectation and nothing more.
Verdict: Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll Vol. 1 is so sweet, it’ll give you a toothache. It’s great if you’re looking for a super kawaii read to cope with being in quarantine/social distancing. Thanks for reading this review!
