Top Puppetry Manga Recommendations

Special A

Also known as S.A: Special A.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance

Her whole life, Hikari Hanazono has been consumed with the desire to win against her school rival, Kei Takishima--at anything. He always comes out on top no matter what he does, and Hikari is determined to do whatever it takes to beat this guy...somehow!

At age 6 Hikari lost to Kei in an impromptu wrestling match. Now, at 15, Hikari joins "Special A," a group of the top seven students at a private academy, for the opportunity to trounce the guy who made her suffer her first defeat.



Included one-shots:
Volume 1: Mikansei Chorus
Volume 11: Shoku no Miyako (Food Paradise)

Included specials:
- Vol.8 Special Short; The Hana to Yume 2006-09
The short is about what Kei was like as a child, and when he and Hikari first met.
- Vol.9 Special Short; The Hana to Yume 2007-01
The short is about when Yuhiro meets Sakura.
- Vol.16 Special Chapter; The Hana to Yume 2008-05
The chapter is about Hikari and Kei's middle school days.

Tags: Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Shoujo , School , Tsundere , Gender Bending , School Club , Twins , Love Triangle , Puppetry , Wrestling , Ensemble Cast

Dawang Raoming

Also known as Spare Me, Great Lord!.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Fantasy

This is the story of an orphan, Lü Shu. He is not any regular orphan, but a metahuman experiencing the changes in himself, his country and the world during the dawn of the magical era. Watch as Lü Shu embarks on a journey to hone his peculiar abilities together with his sister, the adorable and charismatic Lü Xiaoyu. Along the way, they’ll encounter supernatural events, obstacles and even the most powerful people in their country. How will Lü Shu make the best of his abilities and oust his never-ending list of rivals and opponents?



Tags: Swordplay , Cultivation , Full Color , Anti-Hero , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Magic , Animals , Puppetry , Coming of Age , Conspiracy , Dragons , Found Family , Heterosexual , War , Cult , Super Power

Karakuri Circus

Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Mystery

The protagonist, Masaru, has just inherited a big fortune after the death of his father. However, people are trying to get their hands on it by any means necessary, even if it means killing him. Narumi helped Masaru from being kidnapped after fighting some weird guys. He found out that they're not humans but wooden puppets with amazing strength. After a hard fight, Narumi was forced to admit that he's no opponent for them; and just when he started to think that Masaru would be captured, Shirogane, Masaru's watcher arrives from France with a weapon, the puppet Arlequin. Here, begins the story of Karakuri Circus.

Tags: Conspiracy , Circus , Ensemble Cast , Adoption , Urban Fantasy , Puppetry , Shounen , Robots , Memory Manipulation , Amnesia , Martial Arts , Alchemy , Assassins , Trains , Animals , Nudity , Male Protagonist

Replica

Also known as Replica.

Status: Finished
Genres: Action

Manji, the "murderer bodyguard" known as "Red Dog", joins Cards by chance and helps defeat Toys, a kind of playthings that kill. His weapon is a sword and his partner is Karu, a cold boy capable of transferring others' injury to his body. In one mission, Karu is wounded and his secret is exposed.

Tags: Tsundere , Male Protagonist , Fairy Tale , Shoujo , Magic , Puppetry , Assassins , Ensemble Cast , Tragedy , Swordplay

Iron Ghost no Shoujo

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Supernatural

The latest horror series from Rei Mikamoto. Follows Mio Amasato, a high school girl who controls a bizarre mechanical doll.

Tags: Seinen , Female Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Puppetry , Gore , Ghost , Monster Girl , School , Nudity , Magic , Necromancy , Primarily Female Cast , Cult , Demons , Death Game

Gun Dolls

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Mystery

An action story by Kenjiro, set in a world, where a doll and its master have a such a bond that should one die, the other ceases to exist too.

Tags: Shounen , Female Protagonist , Puppetry , Primarily Female Cast , Magic , Demons , Maids , Nudity , Gods

Xiangrikui Nanhai

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy

A living mannequin with a sunflower through its heart. A tomboyish girl who embarks on misadventures. A struggling, but prideful, artist. Set in Arles, a small town in France. Welcome to a gorgeous tale where art comes to life.

Tags: Drawing , Full Color , Puppetry , Male Protagonist , Foreign , Heterosexual

Hyouku

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Horror

Grandma's heirloom doll's hair started growing...!? A puppet battle one-shot!



Tags: Puppetry , Shounen