+Anima volumes 1-3: Natsumi Mukai

In a world with humans and people with animal-like qualities known as "+Anima", young Cooro travels alone searching for other +Anima like himself.

As the story begins, Cooro quickly meets up with a fish type +Anima known as Husky, whom was sold into a circus when he was caught by fishermen and forced to play the role of a 'mermaid princess'. When he is rescued by Cooro, he agrees to tag along on his journey. Where exactly he is going, Cooro does not know, but he does know he wants to find and befriend as many people as he can.

As their travels progress, they begin to meet up with many people, both +Anima and humans. Some are very friendly, even when they find out that they are +Animas, while others cannot let their prejudice go. Soon after Cooro meets up with Husky, they come across a very small village plagued by bandits, but protected by a man with a largely clawed hand... A bear +Anima. As they leave, the quiet bear +Anima, Senri, follows them out on their journey.

Later on the group finds themselves in a small town, and are victimized by burglary caused by...two young children. When they discover this in a small cave, they also find a young bat +Anima known as Nana, which has stolen Husky’s pearls. She, too, adds herself to the group against Husky’s wishes, and the group moves along...

Next up, the group comes across a mansion told to have a beast +Anima in its walls, and distracted by a jar of honey, Cooro gets a little to close...

In the third (and most recently released volume), things get hairy as Cooro becomes determined to help a friend fly. The group meets up with a retired famous sword maker, and they come across a monster in a nearby spring.

This is one of the first mangas I bought and knowing very, very little about. Although, I am very happy I did. It is cute, well put together, and the art is absolutely fabulous!

I highly suggest it to anyone looking for a little fantasy, completely loveable characters, and a great storyline to boot! Now if only there weren't such long spans between releases dates!
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Publisher: TokyoPop
Volume one: ISBN-10: 1598163477 ISBN-13: 978-1598163476
Volume two: ISBN-10: 1598163485 ISBN-13: 978-1598163483
Volume three: ISBN-10: 1598163493 ISBN-13: 978-1598163490