The Fox and the Little Tanuki is actually really good and I'm surprised, since I'm not into animal series. Of course this isn't fully an animal series, since it's about animal gods and spirits, but still. Senzou is a fox spirit who was nasty and thus the Sun Goddess sealed him away for 300 years and only now lets him back. But there's a catch, he has to behave and take care of a tanuki cub and teach it to become a proper servant of gods. The pearls around Senzou's neck make sure he plays it nice. I liked the teacher and pupil side of the story and how Senzou is against it all, but slowly melts into it. The tanuki is kind of dumb and cute, even annoying, but still heartwarming. The pace s great and overall the flow of the manga is perfect making the characters multifaceted.

The art looks stunningly beautiful and detailed. I especially loved the info pages with the details about bakemonos and how they look. The culture historical approach is the best part and how the past intervenes with the modern times. The core of growth, acceptance and extended family is nice and well done, which makes this manga deep and rich. Somehow I would've loved if this was slightly darker though, but you cannot have it all, haha.

Thanks to NetGalley and to Diamond Book Distributors/Tokyopop for sending me an e-galley of this manga in exchange for an honest review!

Senzou was an arrogant and powerful fox spirit, he used his powers for destruction and was imprisoned by the sun goddess for 300 years. Now, awakened after that time and considerably weakened, as penance for his past he must take care of a small tanuki, a bakemono or a creature with the ability to transform named Manpachi. As part of his redemption, Senzou must protect Manpachi and help him on tasks as he learns to be a servant of the goods.

This was the cutest manga I have ever read. The art is beautiful and the lore is pretty great. The characters are really cute and sweet, especially Manpachi who has had a pretty rough life in the mundane world up til now. Senzou is just a big softy. He acts like he doesn't care about Manpachi, but seriously. How could you not?

It really reminds me of those internet comics, Pixel and Brutus where the tiny kitten is protected by this gruff German Shepard. It's a lot like that, but with a mythological element and the German Shepard is a dangerous fox spirit and the kitten is the cutest little tanuki.

I'm so glad I read this, it really improved my night.

<i>arc provided by the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review</i>

I really really enjoyed this manga. Everything about it was just fun to read, the characters were intriguing and adorable and the mythology mixed in with the creatures were so interesting to learn about.

I didn’t know what this was about going in but I’m kinda glad I went into it blind, getting to learn about this seemingly villainous character having to protect and raise and teach this little cinnamon roll baby character was so much fun and it’s one of my favourite tropes. The plot was always interesting, everything flowed nicely, the art style was great, just everything about this I loved!

Overall, I loved this and definitely want more asap!!

4.5/5 ⭐️