Manga University’s Manga Tarot Review

Manga University’s Manga Tarot is a 78 card Tarot deck written by Psychic Jada and illustrated by Saori Takarai. The deck is published by Japanime. The cards measure approximately 3.25 x 5.25 inches.

Quality:
I’m always curious about quality when I order a mass market deck that isn’t from a familiar publisher. Sometimes the packaging is great and the cardstock stinks. Thankfully, this cute little deck was a pleasant surprise in terms of quality. The box is sturdy, the guidebook is attractive, and the cards are larger than most anime or Asian style decks. The stock is glossy, but the lamination doesn’t look like it will be the kind that bubbles or peels. The thickness is satisfying – not flimsy but not a piece of cardboard either. It isn’t the greatest cardstock I’ve ever felt, but it is definitely a decent enough grade for regular use. The size plus the stiffness of this deck will make it a beast to riffle shuffle, at least for a while.

Extra Materials (mini guidebook):
The guidebook provides simple but practical card descriptions that follow the Rider Waite tradition. The entries for the trumps feature keywords, a few descriptive sentences, and an image of the card. The pip descriptions are more concise, but they are very good at capturing the essence of the card’s theme. For example, the Two of Wands description states “You have the energy and the inspiration to start something new – but do you have the will to see it through? The Two of Batons could indicate a choice that you will be forced to make.” It can be difficult to sum up the core theme of a Tarot card in a few parsimonious lines, but this guidebook does a consistently good job of it. It is intended as a quick reference tool, and it works well for this purpose.

The booklet also includes a few spreads, some tips for creating your own, and a link to the Manga University website to discover more spreads. I was also happy with the brief nod to Tarot history in the introduction and the statement “While no random draw of the cards can truly tell you your destiny, the messages behind each card are insightful and valuable, and performing a reading can be a great way to put a situation into perspective.”

All in all, the guidebook exceeded my expectations. The book is attractively laid out, the font is a readable size, there are no typos, and there’s no fluff or excessive “feel good” filler content.

Artwork:
It’s cute! I enjoy anime and manga style artwork for the colors and expression. If you share that sentiment, this deck will delight you. The sweet, simple, and clean illustrations give the deck a fresh and cheerful atmosphere for reading. Boisterous and lively characters add to the deck’s charm and readability. The only nude figure appears on the World card, and she is fully censored. There also is no heavily esoteric symbolism, and I think these traits make this deck a pleasing choice for events with a diverse audience, or for sensitive clients.

The pips, like most Asian style decks, are not fully illustrated. The aces do feature a unique character with the suit symbol, and the court cards all have unique character illustrations.

Content:
As mentioned previously, this deck is simple and its extra materials are concise. The guidebook doesn’t sugarcoat any of the more troubling cards in the deck, and the meanings and associations will be familiar to readers who favor the Rider Waite tradition. While there isn’t anything about this deck that is especially groundbreaking, I think that taking something as complex as Tarot and streamlining it into a simple deck for newcomers or younger users is no small task. This precision provides an intriguing and accessible introduction to Tarot for new or younger enthusiasts.

Conclusion:
If you are looking for a deck with occult symbolism, a highly detailed guidebook, and intensely sophisticated illustrations – this clearly isn’t the deck you are seeking. However, if you are looking for a Tarot that is simple, adorable, and still usable as a reading deck, Manga University’s Manga Tarot is definitely worth a closer look. It would be great for parties or as a starter deck, especially for a younger enthusiast. I was pleased with the quality and the artwork and I would recommend these cards to anyone who enjoys manga style illustration.

More like this… Mystical Manga Tarot, The Happy Tarot, Tarot of the Magical Forest

Quality: ****
Extra Materials: ****
Artwork: ****
Content: ***
Overall Score: 3.75 out of 5

Order Manga University’s Manga Tarot on Amazon here.

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