Citrus (manga)
A yuri manga about two stepsisters navigating a complicated romance.
Citrus, written and illustrated by Saburouta, is a yuri manga that ran in Comic Yuri Hime from November 2012 to August 2018. Seven Seas Entertainment holds the English license for North America. Passione produced a 12-episode anime adaptation that aired from January to March 2018. A sequel, Citrus Plus, began in December 2018.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Romance, yuri
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Yuzu Aihara, a fashionable city girl, transfers to a conservative all-girls school after her mother's remarriage. She clashes with student council president Mei Aihara, who turns out to be her new stepsister. Forced to share a bedroom, their animosity gradually lessens as Yuzu develops romantic feelings for Mei.
Characters
Yuzu Aihara is a self-proclaimed gyaru and Mei's older stepsister. She dyes her hair blonde, has green eyes, and is outspoken and shameless. Her father died when she was young, and she has never had a boyfriend. Mei Aihara is the stern, cold student council president and school chairman's granddaughter. She often makes sexual advances toward Yuzu to manipulate her. Harumi Taniguchi, called Harumin, befriends Yuzu on her first day and is a perceptive, easy-going friend who breaks school rules. Himeko Momokino is the student council vice-president, Mei's childhood friend, and is in love with Mei, becoming jealous of Yuzu. She comes from a wealthy family and wears lolita fashion on weekends. Kayo Maruta is also a character.
Media
Saburouta wrote and illustrated Citrus, serialized in Comic Yuri Hime from November 17, 2012 to August 18, 2018. Ichijinsha published ten tankōbon volumes from July 18, 2013 to October 31, 2018. A PV promoting the third volume was uploaded to Ichijinsha's YouTube channel on November 18, 2014. A drama CD accompanied the fourth volume on July 18, 2015. Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the manga in North America, releasing it from December 16, 2014 to July 23, 2019. A sequel, Citrus Plus, began on December 18, 2018. The anime adaptation aired on AT-X from January 6 to March 24, 2018, directed by Takeo Takahashi and animated by Passione. Crunchyroll streamed it with subtitles, and Funimation produced an English dub.
Reception
Citrus appeared on The New York Times best seller list for manga five times in 2015. Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network praised the emotionally interesting characters and the use of reader hindsight, but found the non-consensual elements uncomfortable. Juliana Failde of CBR called the relationship toxic and the romance poorly executed, criticizing the step-sister romance and forced kiss. Erica Friedman of Okazu criticized the series for presenting sexual assault as amusing and being insensitive to the Me Too movement. Vrai Kaiser of Anime Feminist acknowledged its effectiveness as melodrama but found the non-consensual contact uncomfortable, noting that these elements seemed to drive its popularity. Nicole MacLean of THEM Anime Reviews suggested that a character may be pansexual, demisexual, or bisexual, but the series never explored this.
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