The vet, Iwashiro Tesshou and his Nursing Dog... err... Dog.
Wild Life is a manga created by Fujisaki Masato, which ran in Weekly Shonen Sunday from 2002 to 2008.
It tells the story of Tesshou, a veterinarian. He is an ordinary high school delinquent who has no skills but a perfect pitch. He goes on to become a veterinarian and uses his skill of perfect pitch to cure sick animals. Despite its comedic and light approach, this comic really has a lot to say about the life of vets and their work on wild life. It is both heartwarming and funny, and filled with adorable animals.
This series provides examples of:
- Ambiguously Brown: Shiryou has dark skin and dreadlocks, but his name is Japanese.
- Author Tract: Hoo boy, chapter 49. The main characters take a moment to talk about how the West's ban on whale fishing is misguided, that whale populations are increasing, and how not controlling whale populations may result in environmental chaos. It's honestly a bit jarring to see politics brought up in this manga, especially when one would think that the characters, supporters of conservation themselves, would be against whale fishing.
- Awesome by Analysis: Almost all the main characters, since it's a required skill. But Hosho bring this to a whole new level: she's using her FANTASY, and boy her fantasy is wild and useful!
- Berserk Button: Under no circumstances should you dare to cause harm to trees in Riki's presence.
- Betty and Veronica: Played in the sixth volume's cover. Hosho as Veronica and Seno as Betty, not that Tessho noticed...
- Bilingual Bonus: Ryouto, when written in different kanji, means "bisexual". And considering Ryouto's tendencies... well...
- Brilliant, but Lazy: Ryoto is actually a genius who obtained a double degree in both medicine and veterinary at 20. Despite his incredible skills, he'd rather spend his time reading comics and browsing porn than do actual work.
- But Not Too Foreign: Averted. The veterinarians of R.E.D. go all around the world and therefore meet people from many different ethnicities. Surprisingly, the foreigners, such as Americans and Africans are drawn realistically to look American and African rather than the usual re-coloring of a normally drawn manga character.
- The Cameo: Steve Irwin. Yes, that
◊ Steve Irwin. - Chaste Hero: Tessho, doubles as Book Dumb Idiot Hero, poor Hosho and Seno...
- Chekhov's Gun: R.E.D.'s owner's dentures, used as an idea to design a replacement beak for a penguin.
- Cut His Heart Out with a Spoon:Tesshou: I'll tie you to my motorbike and take you on a death tour around Japan, or use seawater from Tokyo Bay to boil you on national television. Then I'll turn your body into an anatomical model and lock you up into the "Extreme Cold Experience" House in Cosmo World. Only an abnormal corpse will ever be found...
- Determinator: Tessho's biggest strength, where with overtime research and energy he could find a miracle towards a supposedly "impossible" disease for an animal.
- A Dog Named "Dog": Tesshou's dog is named Inu , which means dog in Japanese
- Friend to All Children: Tesshou, for the same reason he is good with animals.
- Friend to All Living Things: Tesshou, who is known for his big heart.
- Humans Are Bastards: Riki.Riki: No matter what kind of person you are; there is a fat chance of being resented and betrayed by others. Humans, like devils; only thinking of themselves.
- Living Legend: By the time when the manga finished, Tesshou has already become one of the most famous vet for his various achievements, which includes saving the world from a plague made by Shiryou.
- Love Triangle: At least from Hosho's point of view, look at how Tessho and Seno act, though Seno began to notice it herself making this trope (somewhat) true... In the end, Tessho chose Hosho.
- Older Than They Look: Ryoto is apparently in his 40s, but looks like someone in his 20s. This trait apparently runs in the family, since his father and grandmother looks the same age as him.
- Out-of-Genre Experience: One of the later volumes, where Tessho & Ryoto discuss about the stock market of all things.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: Awww, look at that Koala. However, the critters, while drawn adorable, are somewhat realistically drawn.
- Shout-Out: Sneakily to Detective Conan, in two instances.
- Shown Their Work: Want to learn how to cook with ostrich eggs? How about how to fix a turtle shell? Are you interested in the fundamentals of penguin walking efficiency? Really, we could go on all day.
- Fun thing: Wild Life is a Manga in this universe and Hosho learned a LOT from it even though she did not fully understand and doubt the credibility.
- Super-Senses: Tesshou has a perfect pitch. He can hear the slightest sounds, such as the beating of the heart of an animal, or the rhythm of its breathing, and uses the skill to tell if the animals are suffering any difficulties. It is of a genetic origin.
