[There is no such thing as an objective review. Interpretations and opinions of all forms of art and expression are subjective.]

Sometimes people need a change. A small, simple, physical change. One of the quickest and easiest things to do is alter one’s hair—a bold new color or a fresh new cut is a stark visual reminder that something is different now, and that was proof of your resolve. When Yukari, a dedicated and uptight high school student gets roped into a modeling gig for a group of fashion students, the first thing they do is cut her hair.

The oft neglected predecessor of Nana, Paradise Kiss also tells a story of a group of young artists. The title itself is the namesake of the amateur fashion atelier consisting of four eccentric college students. To Yukari, who has only ever known school and parental abuse, these colorful fashionistas are nothing short of alien—creatures from another world that Yukari would never dare to think of associating with. But when she allows them to trim her fringe, a fear for change quickly turns into a thirst.

When Yukari’s classmates notice her new hairstyle, it’s the first time she’s complimented simply for existing, rather than needing to prove herself. Unlike her younger brother, Yukari is not a naturally gifted student. Praise is a foreign tongue, and going years without it can cause insecurities and desperation. Life can be hard and unkind to young people, and often it originates from those closest to us. Parents can be mouthpieces for the expectations and demands of society. We can choose to conform, crumble beneath it, or escape it. Yukari chooses the latter, running away from school, home, and her mother’s ire.

Many question her choices, including the well-meaning members of Paradise Kiss. The only one who does not try to sway her is its leader, George. Confident, stylish, and gifted with an innate understanding of design, George is fully aware of just how young and impressionable Yukari is. He chooses to help her grow by holding his tongue, allowing Yukari to take the lead in her own life for the first time.

Making your own decisions and dealing with their consequences can be scary. But Yukari faces it eagerly—anything is better than feeling trapped. While she takes refuge in her new friends’ homes, she begins to find work as a model. Eagerly shedding her dull school uniform, Yukari finds joy and confidence in vibrant clothes. A new passion is born, and she finally has goals and dreams that are hers. The Paradise Kiss members love and encourage her evolution both as a person, and in her personal style. They all have their own distinct styles, and fashion has a different meaning for each of them. But it’s Isabella whose relationship with clothes is most similar to Yukari’s. A sophisticated and feminine trans woman, Isabella grew up in plain button up shirts and trousers. It wasn’t until George handmade a dress for her that she realized the real power that clothes can have on a person, and it was the spark of change she needed.

Some people don’t truly find their passions, individuality, and sense of self until adulthood. A uniform is the antithesis to self expression, and people are not meant to wear them forever. People are meant to change, and Paradise Kiss reminds us that great metamorphoses can start from something small.