Lovely★Complex

Lovely Complex, authored by Aya Nakahara, was serialized in the shōjo manga magazine Bessatsu Margaret between 2001 and 2006. It emerged during a period when romantic comedies were shifting toward more grounded, comedic dynamics, centering on the unlikely relationship between Risa Koizumi, a tall girl, and Atsushi Otani, a short boy. The series aimed to subvert traditional shōjo height tropes by highlighting the characters' shared insecurities and their mutual passion for music and humor.

Nakahara's design and artistic direction were noted for their expressive, often exaggerated comedic timing—frequently referred to as the 'manzai' style of banter—which served to make the characters feel relatable despite their physical extremes. The work was widely received for its honest depiction of adolescent awkwardness, eventually leading to a successful anime adaptation and cementing its status as a staple of the mid-2000s romantic comedy genre.