My Deer Friend Nokotan is a manga written and illustrated by Oshioshio. It focuses on former delinquent Torako Koshi, who is determined to keep her past a secret. Hiding that becomes so much harder when she meets Nokotan – a deer girl.
This manga is licensed for English release by Seven Seas Entertainment. This first volume contains chapters one through to seven.
Front cover of the first volume of My Deer Friend Nokotan, featuring Nokotan
Deer to my Heart!
No one knows Torako used to be a delinquent. All of her classmates only know her as the perfect student, But everything changes when Nokotan, a transfer student with antlers, enters her life. Antlers aren’t the only strange thing about Nokotan. Her deer nose can sniff out Torako’s secret past! Whether it’s at school or the zoo, chaos follows this doe-eyed girl’s every step. Torako has so many questions! Is Nokotan a deer, a girl, or something in between?
When I first learned of this manga, I thought that the concept was a fun one – and, it turns out my intuition was right. What I did not expect was for it to lean so heavily into being a gag manga. Not that I’m complaining about that, because this manga is hilarious.
I think part of what sells the humour so well is Torako seemingly being the only sane person around. She has plenty of questions regarding Nokotan, but everyone else around her accepts the deer girl unconditionally. Also, that list of questions Torako has only grows as she spends more time with her.
Whilst there was plenty of stuff in this manga that had me laughing, I’ll pass on the jokes that involve snot or drool. Wasn’t quite expecting so much of that.
Whilst a lot of the stuff in here is played for jokes, the relationship that develops between Torako and Nokotan is another fun part of this manga. Torako wants nothing to do with Nokotan at first, but she finds herself getting closer and closer to the deer girl; whilst maintaining at least a little bit of sanity. Although perhaps she is able to get closer to Nokotan because that sanity is gradually slipping…
Whatever the case may be, it’s certainly hilarious to witness play out.
My Deer Friend Nokotan is a very silly manga, and I love it for that. Definitely worth checking out if you’re into surreal humour.
Rory Muses 