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A manga you’ve likely never heard of: Zodiac PI






 At some point in our lives, we all manage to find an obscure piece of media that we obsess over that no one else has heard of. For me, most obscure media I get into tend to be short-lived mangas with no other adaptation.

Zodiac PI, by Natsuki Ando, is that series for me. 


I have specific memories of checking this volume out from the school library and reading it in my room over the weekend. I love the early 2000s Shoujo art style this manga has, it’s expressive and cute.

I'll admit that its not for everyone: I can understand why folks might not like the sharp chins and dot/checkmark noses paired with shiny eyes.

The story itself is pretty simple; its about a girl named Lili Hoshizawa who can summon horoscopes to help her solve crimes happening in her area.

I find the premise really appealing. It’s like Sailor Moon meets Detective Club. While it has some unsettling moments (murder and suicide in some chapters), it’s never depressing perse. 

It’s a short-lived series because it’s one of those mangas; it’s not meant to overstay it’s welcome once all of the Horoscopes have made their debut. I think it’s possible that the author had no intention on making it last longer than four volumes, which is understandable.

Not every series out there needs to span hundreds to thousands of chapters to tell a story. Sometimes, less is more. Plus, its not like Natsumi Ando’s career ended with Zodiac PI. According to her Wikipedia article, she has several works tied to her name. 

That said, I think it’s pretty underrated and deserves to be noticed. Who knows? Maybe word of it will spread eventually. Luckily, the whole thing can be read in an afternoon. 

Until next time~




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