365 Days of Manga, Day 162: Palette of 12 Secret Colors

PALETTE OF 12 SECRET COLORS (Jûnihisoku no Palette, “Palette of 12 Secret Colors”) (十二秘色のパレット) • Nari Kusakawa • CMX (2007-ongoing) • Hakusensha (LaLa DX) (2003-ongoing) • 6+ volumes (ongoing) • Shôjo Fantasy • All Ages (infrequent mild violence)
Cello, a girl who lives on the tropical island of Opal, is one of Opal’s rare “color magicians,” who have the ability to transfer colors between objects, with the help of the island’s brilliantly plumed birds. As Cello (and her mute but cute bird partner, Yoyo) struggles through her color studies, she tangles with bird thieves and has many whimsical adventures with the school doctor, the handsome but inscrutable Dr. Guell. This short series is light on continuity (most of the chapters are self-contained and reuse the same expository narration, leading to some repetition), but the interaction between the islands’ inhabitants is cute and the central idea is used in all kinds of imaginative and nonviolent ways. A charming and original all-ages manga, if a little dull in large doses.

Today’s winner is Victor S. of Colorado! Congratulations, Victor!