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Karin
Chibi Vampire
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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Cheeky Vampire, Little Vampire, Vampire Karin

Japanese: かりん

Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 14

Chapters: 63

Status: Finished

Published: Apr 9, 2003 to Feb 9, 2008

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Supernatural

Themes: School, Vampire

Demographic: Shounen

Serialization: Dragon Age

Authors: Kagesaki, Yuna (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 7.73¹ (scored by 18,132 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #1553²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #502

Members: 35,093

Favorites: 1,367

Resources

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Reviews

Filtered Results: 17 / 18

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Filter Preliminary Spoiler

Jan 16, 2008

ichikiba

Recommended

Preliminary (30/63 chp)

I think there's two things that make me love this series. First of all, while vampire stories have been done so many times, as have romantic comedies, Karin is one of the few cases where the author tried to put a new spin on both genres, and actually succeeded in doing so. Second is the characters. Particularly Kenta. Usually the leading female role of these series falls for a whiney, brooding little brat. Karin's love interest goes completely against this archetype, with an upbeat attitude and a great work ethic (sort of like a male Tohru Honda, but tougher). Karin herself does have some of ...

Jan 28, 2009

BlazingDevil

Recommended

**NOTE**First off this is my first time writing a review and the only reason I am doing so now is cause of the lack of reviews for this manga so if this review sucks you now know why. Also this is my favorite manga and one of my favorite animes so this review may be a little biased though it still is a great manga biased or not.

Karin is a romance manga with a vampire theme but what makes it so good is in my opinion how the author always seems to be able to add a little twist to the series ...

Mar 5, 2011

artist-retired

Recommended

The vampire genre on a whole is just down right over used and over served to the point that it now has it's own genre, but that doesn't mean there's no creativity left in it.

STORY: The basic set up is of the school life/romance set ups, girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love, happy ending, the end.
Though, as over used as this set up is, a lot of us still keep coming back to it.

Why?

Cause coming back over and over again may end us up with precious worth while gems.

I consider Karin (Chibi Vampire in the US) one of these gems.
...

Apr 7, 2009

zonnikku

Recommended

Karin isn't your typical romantic comedy nor is it your typical vampire story.
(my first review! Yay!)

~Story~

The "story" of Karin isn't exactly anything special.

In fact, this type of story of forbidden love is common in manga.

What makes it "good", or I should say, "sets it apart from other manga" is the fact that it doesn't take itself seriously.
...

Apr 5, 2009

Morven

Recommended

Preliminary (39/63 chp)

Karin Maaka is constructed of 95% pure embarrassment. If you have a low tolerance for that most defining of traits of the shy high-schooler, you won't like this. If you don't mind it, and you like romantic comedies with a supernatural theme, this is a good series to read.

I also like that neither female lead (Karin) nor male lead (Kenta) is a loser or an idiot (although both are capable of a lot of idiocy nonetheless, being teenagers in love). They're both responsible young people; Karin is made to pay her own way by her parents, while Kenta keeps a ...

Feb 6, 2010

chingstah

Recommended

its a cool manga very cool and better than anime

it has : romance,action,vampire

like i said its story is different than anime so u must read it couse its better.in manga there isnt a vampire hunter (will),instead there is a half breed(half vamp half human)tachibana.so its story is different.our guy kenta usui learns maaka karin is a vamp but she doesnt suck blood she spills it out so its very interesting we always see vamps sucking blood but this one spills it out and blood is life to a vamp so its interesting.so kenta learns karin is a vamp and promise to keep it a ...

May 9, 2020

MyraStivlen

Recommended

Basically I recommend the manga here 1000% The story of Karin is actually quite moving and quirky from beginning to end. I actually dislike the anime because it is so much filler and the characters don't really grow as much.

In the manga you actually learn about Kenta Usui and his mother. You see the struggles and the romance that builds between him and Karin. You actually learn some history of the Maaka Vampires and even meet other families. You learn about Karin's condition of releasing blood and what it means to the vampires as well as to her future among them. It's a much ...

Feb 21, 2013

genkigal

Recommended

I LOVED this manga! however the ending left a sour taste in my mouth. I think the mangaka didnt know how to end the manga and I really hated the ending. it actually ruined the whole manga for me.

((SPOILERS ))

When they just erased Maaka's memories like that? That actually hurt reading her say "I don't have a family.". I think that was a stupid thing to do and so I gave the story a low rating....

Jun 9, 2014

serge512

Recommended

i got into the vampires series this year but i never though i would find one that could actually make me change my way of thinking as this manga did it. It was so fun to read that i couldn't stop until i finished it. If you love drama, comedy and romance this one can be a good choice. For me it is the best manga i have read. The characters are all so fun and engaging. the story it so well made that it gets to a point of full enjoyment. The art well i just wish my wife could have Karin haircut. The ...

Jun 4, 2009

BlackFlamedNyx

Recommended

This is a good funny manga and I was shocked to see it listed as a shonen because it felt very shoujo to me. The storyline starts out really strong and you nearly crack a rib laughing but then I got a little bored. It stepped away from the comedy for some more serious storylines and it felt like it had an aburpt ending. It left me wanting a bit more but if you need a little pick me up I'd grab one of the first 7 volumes. The light comedy will perk you right up, if you really want to die from laughter watch ...

Oct 21, 2012

H1K4G3

Recommended

I'm going to be honest. Vampire stories usually aren't my cup of tea, and taking into account that I found this series in my school's library around the same time Twilight was a hit, I was reluctant to read it at first. However, I set aside my hatred for aforementioned books and decided to sign out the first volume. Easy to say, I loved it and eventually read through all of it in a week or two.

Story: 10/10
A vampire with constant nosebleeds injects blood into her victims instead of drinking it. Immediately I knew this wasn't your average vampire story. At first I was in ...

Mar 30, 2017

Biogundam

Mixed Feelings

Warning this review may contain spoilers.

First Impressions,
So I first found out about this manga by watching it anime adaptation,
Which wasn't bad per say but I wanted to see the source material for the more compeled story and Also I think of the idea of a vampire who doesn't exactly fit in with the normal vampire society in a way and shares a bit more of a connection with humans.
I think is sorta interesting.

...

Dec 27, 2015

RK_Revolt

Recommended

In any story telling medium, what you need to have in order for a fun story to happy is a really good set of characters. This manga definitely excels in having those! There are moments where you really laugh at these people, others where you wanna hug, and comfort them.

The really expressive characters help to always increase the emotional empathy of the situation. It's a roller coaster ride of emotions following the lives of Vampires and one who's in love with a human. If you like romantic comedies you'll probably skip out school for a whole day just to read this (Star bucks with ...

Jan 10, 2016

Chinomi-san

Recommended

To be honest, I thought this would be another supernatural romance, but it surprisingly exceeded my expectations. This manga not only transforms the commonly used vampire genre but also firmly grasps the concept of first love in such a way that is innocent, endearing, and wishful. Vampires aren't the simple bloodsucking creatures that lurk in the night; Kagesaki gives them a curious history and gives them extraordinary powers and characteristics. Of course, blending in within the human world is not an original concept, but the type of vampire that Karin is makes it a unique story yet again.

The young first love sprouting between high school ... students, one vampire and a human, is the central focus of the manga. If you're not a romantic person, it may be a bit much. However, I find it quite sweet rather than sappy, and it's interesting to observe two characters that are so bashful with their feelings yet very in love.

Grudges between vampires and humans aren't special, either, but a lot of anger due to this problem is present in the story. The vampires always have a problem trusting humans, they are reminded of history, trust is nonexistent, etc. It isn't quite boring, but it's been done.

The transgression of the plot worked well for me. It wasn't so great that I absolutely had to read one chapter after another, but I did look forward to doing so. The ending was bittersweet with one particular aspect unexplained, but otherwise it was wholesome enough.

The artwork was not super great. I found the character's faces to be simply drawn at times and they weren't always very detailed. However, everyone was distinguishable and otherwise unique in appearance. The backgrounds and scenery were all right, nothing too fancy.

I do wish the characters were a bit more complex. A few were worth looking into, but didn't have much revealed about them. Others didn't stand out too much and had their quirks.

Karin is the protagonist, the vampire that spouts blood, cooks well, and is bad at math. Though she is a likable character, but she doesn't seem to develop much emotionally. Her romance with Kenta assists in that, but otherwise she cries a lot and depends on others multiple times to save her when she needs it. While her condition renders her a bit helpless, I wished she could find better ways to cope with it.

Kenta is a little more impressive. He's a good kid with a sad past and a curious mind, thus his wondering about Karin. He is thoughtful to take care of the people he loves.

This was a cute read for me and worth my time. I smiled a few moments and felt sad during others. It was entertaining enough for me to finish it and I liked the extras. I loved the spin on the classic vampire story and found it refreshing.

Jan 13, 2019

Kang-Yuna

Recommended

I probably say this in many of my reviews, but I will say it anyway. I honestly loved this series, and it is one of my many top manga's of all time. It's certainly not your typical vampire story, as I have previously read not only manga, but also actual books about vampire stories, and I have to admit this is a one of it's kind. It is one of a kind, with a day walking vampire, which in fact injects blood instead of feeding on others. I have to say that, it's even better than the anime, which I have watched a few years ...

Jun 22, 2012

Xai16

Recommended

I'm so glad I found out what happened in the end and it didn't disappoint. The thrill, the drama, the danger, the suspense, all there and executed flawlessly. The other vampires were just oblivious to the pain they were causing and some hinted at regretting it rather than they just be flatout heartless. And given how bad things got, the ending, though regrettable, was just as it should be. LUV'D IT!!!

Mar 29, 2022

Gravekitten

Recommended

Spoiler free review!!

I didn't really expect much from Karin when I started reading it. The cover seemed generic and I wasn't sold by the art style or the summary of the plot. A few months ago I remembered the series when I saw it on sale, since I had read the first few books as a child in a local library. I had liked Karin, though back then thought every manga I read was good because I hadn't read that many. Since I never finished it as a kid, I thought to give the series another chance. I'm glad I did!

Karin is a very relationship-heavy ... manga. It's definitely not a slice of life though, there is a plot that unravels through the story and there are many twists that genuinely surprised me. What I mean is that it's clearly the characters who are driving the story, not the other way around. The worldbuilding isn't heavy, but I honestly think that it adds to the charm of the show. The author could have done in-depth explanations about the vampires and their history, but I doubt it would have made this manga any better. it's refreshing to read a vampire story like this: not just pure romance with fangs, but not a history lesson either.

The main character is Karin Maaka, a vampire who gives blood instead of sucking it. She can go out in daylight without any problems and lives a somewhat normal life because of that. She is abnormal compared to her family, who are regular vampires. The main relationship in the show is between Karin and her classmate, Uzui Kenta. Karin and Uzui's relationship is interesting from the start. Uzui isn't your typical anime boy, at least in my opinion. He isn't attractive- his eyes are actually said to be creepy on multiple occasions- and he is poor. His money-issues are a central part of his character and often lead to interactions with Karin if they end up taking the same job. Uzui's personality can be described as honest, ambitious and hardworking. I think Uzui and Karin's relationship feels real, because they often act like teenagers do. I found their relationship more symbiotic than many others: they both give and take something to and from each other. Karin makes Uzui lunch every day and Uzui helps Karin with math after school etc.

The Maaka family is also entertaining and they are central to the plot. His mother dominates the household, since his father is a bit of a worm. The parents have their fights every now and then, but are actually deeply in love, despite having been married for ages. Karin's big brother is a complete playboy who charms every woman he meets and always sleeps at a different woman's apartment. Her little sister has't had her vampire blood awaken in her yet, but she is good at controlling bats and keeps an eye out for her big sister with them. I found the family dynamic interesting. Even though the characters have features associated with generic archetypes, they have enough of their own spice to stand out. The manga also balanced comedic and serious moments with the characters well: I cared about the family members but could also laugh at them.

I don't think the art is outstanding in any way, it is very much a product of its time. It clearly looks like its from the early 2000s and I personally do not like the art style of that era. Every now and then the quality drops a lot, but I'm pretty sure it's because the artist was rushed so much. In the extra pages she often complains about how little sleep she gets and how busy she is with this manga. Mangakas are known for not having much rest and I feel sympathy towards her for that, but I'll have to lower the score anyways because the mistakes are quite noticeable in some chapters.

The plot wasn't anything impeccable, but in my opinion it was good. There are some questionable parts and twists, but nothing that actually bothered me or that I feel I need to mention. The only minus I would give is about the ending, which I didn't like at all for various reasons. It's only the ending though and I liked all other parts of the manga, so it doesn't affect my review of the plot heavily.

Overall, I just enjoyed this manga and I recommend reading it if this review piqued your interest! The series isn't long, I'm sure it could be read in one day but I enjoy having a longer timeframe between starting and completing a manga, so I spent about a week reading it.