2009 · Comedy drama · Slice of life

Skip Beat

PlayStation exclusive

Based on the manga of the same name.

Released: 28 May 2009
Platforms: PlayStation 2
Genres: Comedy drama Slice of life Visual novel
Developers: —
Publishers: Hana to Yume Comics
Perspective: Text
Themes: Comedy Romance
Country: Japan

About

Skip Beat! (Japanese: スキップ・ビート!, Hepburn: Sukippu Bīto!), abbreviated as Sukibi, is a Japanese shōjo manga by Yoshiki Nakamura. It is the story of Kyoko Mogami (最上キョーコ, Mogami Kyōko), a 16-year-old girl who discovers that her childhood friend and romantic goal, Shotaro Fuwa, only keeps her around to act as a maid and to earn his living expenses, while he works his way to become the top pop idol in Japan. Furious and heartbroken, she vows revenge by beating him in show business.

In Japan, the manga was first published in Hakusensha's shōjo manga magazine Hana to Yume in February 2002, while in the United States, it began publishing under Viz Media's Shojo Beat label in 2006. Fifty-three volumes and one fanbook have been released in Japan, and fifty-one of the volumes have been released in the United States. In 2002, a drama CD adaptation was made and released by Marine Entertainment and covers the first volume (chapters one to five) of the manga. An anime adaptation was produced by Hal Film Maker and began airing on October 5, 2008. It ended airing with episode twenty-five on July 12, 2009.

›Story

Kyoko was in love with Shotaro, her old friend. Shotaro left his hometown to be a TV star after graduating junior high school. Kyoko followed him and worked really hard to take care of him. A while later, Shotaro successfully made his debut as a singer.

Kyoko thought she would carry on supporting him, but Shotaro actually thought her as a housemaid.... Kyoko decided to take revenge on Shotaro and had an audition to join the LME Production. She unfortunately failed, but she couldn't give up. After twists and turns, she joined the team Love Me.

As she worked as a member of the team, she gradually got interested in performing. One day, Kyoko received a job offer to play a role in a popular drama called "Dark Moon". When her shooting went well, she also received three more job offers at the same time. However, she could choose only one out of three!?

Keywords

female protagonist
otome
based on - anime
modern day

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Story

Skip Beat! follows the story of Kyoko Mogami, a sixteen-year-old girl (seventeen by volume 20) who loves her childhood friend, Shotaro Fuwa, but is betrayed by him. Having spent a large part of her childhood at Shotaro's parents' inn, she learned a great deal about hostelry and other such jobs. Shotaro, not wishing to take over his parents' business, asks Kyoko to run away with him to Tokyo, leaving high school and her life in Kyoto Prefecture behind to help him pursue a music career.

Upon arrival in Tokyo, Kyoko lives an unreasonably frugal life and works multiple jobs to support Sho, as he is called by his fans, spending nothing on herself and doing whatever she can for Sho, who eventually becomes ranked seventh of the top twenty most popular male celebrities of Japan. One day, she overhears Shotaro complaining about her to his manager, saying that she is a boring and plain girl who he thinks of as a doormat. He proceeds to sweet-talk and flirt with his manager, in stark contrast to the cold and demanding attitude he usually exhibits towards Kyoko.