Review by Frank Plowright

Surely comics have never come closer to the spellbinding wonder of Studio Ghibli animation than Colori Colore Creare, the stunning delicacy of Kozue Amano’s art immediately building a world of wonder around little girl Aka. She lives with her grandfather in Onobori, a town enclosed by a giant curtain hiding it from view, but through which the outside world can be seen. She’s watching the cherry blossoms fall when a giant cat jumps beside her. She decides she’s going to look after it as a doggy policeman.

Amano follows Aka as she plays, at the same time introducing readers to Onobori and its eccentricities, delightfully designed as a city perched on a cliff face. Aka is being observed by the recently arrived Nodoka Daidai, who we learn is charged with being Guardian of the Young Leaves, which by our standards translates as being a nursery school teacher.

By conventional terms there’s very little going on in Colori Colore Creare, but the magic is in the small moments of watching an infant child amusing themselves imaginatively, the detail Amano supplies in their feelings and reactions, and the wonder of the city itself. This is all despite the entire story being carried by three characters and a large cat for most of this opening volume. Toward the end Uren is introduced, a very different child, grumpy, hostile and even less inclined to keep safe.

This is a series aimed at young children, but it’s going to be a hard-hearted adult not captivated by the charm and beauty.