“After scandal, cynical Haruna transfers schools, meets sincere Macharu, questions her monkey-mountain worldview and budding feelings.”
Monkey High!
サルヤマっ!
Would You Love or Hate This?
AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
After scandal, cynical Haruna transfers schools, meets sincere Macharu, questions her monkey-mountain worldview and budding feelings.
Haruna Aizawa is forced to transfer out of the renowned K Academy after her politician father is involved in a corruption scandal. She thought that she had strong bonds with her previous friends, but they all too easily cut ties with her once the headline became public. As a result, Haruna holds a skeptical view of her new high school and future classmates. She believes that school life is like being on a monkey mountain, where monkeys in the same gang constantly fight and get back together again, and a hierarchy gets established. As such, she has no expectations of fitting into the pre-existing hierarchy at this school. Masaru "Macharu" Yamashita is one of Haruna's new classmates, and even his appearance is akin to that of a baby monkey. He is remarkably sincere in his interactions with Haruna, and despite herself, she begins to open up to him. One day she makes the mistake of comparing their class to a pack of wild monkeys while in his presence, and he questions her about her standing in that situation. Is she looking on from the top? Or is she on the outside as an observer? Spending time with Macharu forces Haruna to confront her vulnerabilities and ponder why she is willing to let her guard down only for him—could this be love?
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 15 sampled reviews
What 15 readers settled on.
Mostly aligned
σ 1.56 · some divergence
—
Not enough recommend signal yet
↓ 2.20
Running avg · Apr 2010 → Jun 2022
- 10 “This manga is absolutely amazing and totally cool. There are no criticisms to mention regarding this series. I highly recommend it because I really love the experience. The humor is the most...”
- 9 “The characters are incredibly funny, likable, and consistent, with Haruna showing genuine growth throughout the story. While the premise of a new girl transferring to school and falling in love is...”
- 9 “This is a delightful, feel-good story that excels in its lighthearted tone, realistic portrayal of young love, and the meaningful growth of Haruna and Macharu. While the narrative beautifully...”
Read Order & Related
A self-contained story.
No sequels, spin-offs or alternate tellings — Monkey High! begins and ends here.
Cast
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A Manga Publication
- Format 33 × 8 ch × vol
- Total read 4h 24m approx
- Published Aug 2004 – Feb 2008
- Source Manga media type
- Ref. BS-M1266 catalog