Finished the hilarious Love Lab anime and now feeling the void? You’re probably searching for the exact manga chapter to continue the romance experiments without missing a single gag.
To continue the Love Lab story after finishing the anime, you must start reading the manga from Volume 5, Chapter 1. The 12-episode anime series, adapted by Doga Kobo, covers the events of the first four volumes of Ruri Miyahara’s original four-panel manga, making this the official and community-verified starting point.
Based on analysis of fan community consensus and the source material itself, this guide provides the definitive answer. You will discover exactly why this is the perfect pickup point, how the manga differs, and what exciting storylines await you.
Key Facts
- Definitive Starting Point: The anime adaptation concludes its storyline at the end of manga Volume 4, making Volume 5, Chapter 1 the precise continuation point.
- Vast Amount of Content: The anime covers only 4 of the 15 completed manga volumes, meaning over two-thirds of the story remains for you to read.
- Faithful Adaptation: The anime, produced by studio Doga Kobo, is known for being extremely faithful to the manga’s plot and humor, ensuring a seamless transition.
- Original Creator: The manga was written and illustrated by Ruri Miyahara, a master of the 4-koma (four-panel) gag format.
- No Season 2: With the manga concluded and no announcements since the anime’s 2013 release, reading the manga is the only way to experience the full story.
Where Does the Love Lab Anime End in the Manga?
The Love Lab anime adaptation concludes at the very beginning of Volume 5 of the manga. To continue the story of Riko, Maki, and the rest of the Fujisaki Girls Academy Student Council, you should start reading from Volume 5, Chapter 1. The 12-episode anime, while rearranging some events for narrative flow, covers the material roughly equivalent to the first four volumes of the original four-panel manga written by Ruri Miyahara.
This starting point is the community-verified and factually correct place to pick up the story. Episode 12 of the anime adapts the remaining key gags and plot points from Volume 4, providing a satisfying conclusion to the anime arc while leaving the door open for the manga’s continuation. By starting at Volume 5, you transition directly into new material without re-reading scenes you’ve already watched.
Think of the anime as a perfect introduction to the world and characters. The real depth and the continuation of their hilarious “romance practice experiments” lie in the subsequent volumes. You’re not just getting a little more content; you are unlocking the majority of the Love Lab saga.
Is the Love Lab Manga Different From the Anime?
The Love Lab anime is highly faithful to the manga, with no major plot deviations. The primary difference is in the structure and pacing. The anime combines and rearranges jokes from the 4-koma (four-panel) manga to create a more linear narrative for each episode. You can safely start at Volume 5, Chapter 1 without missing critical story elements.
For fans considering the transition, understanding these minor differences helps set expectations. The core experience of witty humor and charming character interactions, a signature of the Love Lab series, remains perfectly intact.
Here is a direct comparison of the Love Lab Anime Adaptation and the Love Lab Manga:
| Aspect | Love Lab Anime (by Doga Kobo) | Love Lab Manga (by Ruri Miyahara) |
|---|---|---|
| Story Fidelity | Very High. Follows the main plot and character arcs accurately. | The original canon material. Contains all events and gags. |
| Content Coverage | Adapts events from Volume 1 through Volume 4. | Story continues well beyond Volume 4, exploring deeper relationships. |
| Pacing & Structure | Chapters are rearranged and combined to fit a 24-minute episode format. | Fast-paced, gag-a-chapter format typical of 4-koma (yonkoma) manga. |
| Anime-Original Content | Extremely minimal. Some transitional scenes may be added for flow, but no major filler episodes. | N/A – This is the source material. |
| Tone & Humor | Consistent with the manga’s light-hearted, comedic tone. | The core of the series’ humor and character interactions. |
The main takeaway is that the animation studio, Doga Kobo, respected the source material immensely. Their expertise in adapting 4-koma manga shines through, as they successfully translated the rapid-fire gag format into a coherent and equally funny animated series. You lose no essential plot by starting the manga where the anime leaves off.
What Key Storylines Continue in the Manga After the Anime?
The Love Lab manga after the anime explores deeper character arcs and introduces new challenges. Key storylines include revealing the truth behind Maki Natsuo’s supposed popularity, Riko Kurahashi questioning her own developing feelings, and the introduction of new characters that challenge the student council’s research. This provides more romance and drama alongside the signature comedy.
If you loved the characters in the anime, the manga is where you get to see them truly grow. Here are a few spoiler-light developments you have to look forward to:
- 🔥 The Truth About Maki’s Past: The manga finally unravels the full story behind Maki’s “Wild Kid” persona and her complicated relationship with her older sister. You’ll learn why the seemingly perfect Student Council President is so clueless about love.
- 💓 Riko’s Developing Feelings: Riko’s journey moves beyond being just the comedic “straight man” to Maki’s antics. She begins to confront her own confusing feelings and interactions, particularly with a boy named Nagi, adding a new layer of romantic tension.
- 🥋 Rival Schools and New Characters: The world of Love Lab expands beyond Fujisaki Girls Academy. The appearance of a rival student council from a nearby boys’ school introduces new dynamics and forces the Love Lab members to test their “research” in more realistic scenarios.
- 🎉 Graduation and the Future: As the characters progress through their school years, the manga tackles themes of friendship, future goals, and what happens to the Love Lab after they graduate. It provides a conclusive and satisfying ending to their story.
Where Can You Officially Read the Love Lab Manga?
You can read the Love Lab manga officially through digital platforms that carry titles from Sentai Filmworks, such as Amazon Kindle. Check major online booksellers for digital or physical copies of the volumes. As the series is older, searching for “Love Lab Manga Volume 5” is the most direct way to find where to continue.
Supporting the official release is the best way to show appreciation for the creator, Ruri Miyahara. Here are your primary options for diving into the rest of the story:
- Digital Retailers: The most convenient method is to check for digital volumes on platforms like Amazon Kindle. This allows you to start reading instantly after purchase.
- Physical Retailers: For collectors, seeking out physical copies from online booksellers is a great option. Be aware that since the series has been complete for a while, you may be looking at secondhand markets for older volumes.
- Community Information: Websites like MangaUpdates provide detailed information on licensing, publishers, and the original serialization, which can be valuable for your search.
To get you started on your journey, here is a direct link to the volume where the story continues.
By choosing official channels, you help ensure that creators can continue to make the stories we love. Happy reading!
FAQs About where does the love lab anime end in the manga
Is there a season 2 of the Love Lab anime?
No, there has been no official announcement for a Season 2 of the Love Lab anime. The original series aired in 2013, and the animation studio, Doga Kobo, has not indicated any plans for a sequel. The manga has also concluded, making a second season highly unlikely. The only way to continue the story is by reading the manga.
Is Love Lab considered a yuri or girls’ love anime?
Love Lab is primarily a comedy and slice-of-life series, not a yuri (girls’ love) series. While it features a close, all-female cast and has some yuri undertones or subtext that fans enjoy, the central plot does not revolve around romantic relationships between the girls. The characters are focused on “practicing” romance to attract boys.
How many volumes of the Love Lab manga are there?
The Love Lab manga is complete with a total of 15 volumes. The series, written and illustrated by Ruri Miyahara, was serialized from 2006 to 2019. Since the anime only covers the first four volumes, there is a significant amount of story content (11 volumes) available for those who want to continue after the anime.
Who are the main characters in Love Lab?
The two primary main characters are Riko Kurahashi and Maki Natsuo. Riko is the boyish and outspoken “Wild Kid” who is accidentally roped into Maki’s romance research. Maki is the beautiful and seemingly perfect Student Council President who secretly has zero experience with romance and creates the “Love Lab” to study it.
Does the Love Lab manga have a definitive ending?
Yes, the Love Lab manga is complete and has a conclusive ending. Author Ruri Miyahara finished the series in 2019, providing a proper resolution to the characters’ storylines and their romance experiments. Readers who continue the manga after the anime will get to experience the full, finished story.
What chapter does episode 12 of the anime correspond to?
Episode 12, the final episode, adapts various chapters from the end of Volume 4. There isn’t a one-to-one chapter correspondence due to the anime rearranging events for a climactic feel. However, the events of episode 12 conclude the material covered in the first four volumes, making Volume 5, Chapter 1 the correct starting point.
Is the Love Lab manga wholesome?
Yes, the Love Lab manga is widely considered a wholesome and light-hearted series. Much like the anime, it focuses on funny situations, cute character interactions, and the comedy that comes from their misguided attempts at understanding romance. While it explores relationships more deeply later on, it maintains its comedic and feel-good tone.
Can I skip directly to Volume 5 of the manga?
Yes, you can safely skip to Volume 5, Chapter 1 without missing any major plot points. The anime is a very faithful adaptation of the first four volumes. While some gags and chapter orders are shuffled, all critical character introductions and story beats are covered, so you will not be confused by starting where the anime leaves off.
Who wrote and illustrated the Love Lab manga?
The Love Lab manga was written and illustrated by Ruri Miyahara. She is a Japanese manga artist known for her work on 4-koma (four-panel) manga series, with Love Lab being her most prominent and long-running work. Her distinct, cute art style is a key part of the series’ charm.
What studio animated Love Lab?
The Love Lab anime adaptation was produced by Doga Kobo. Doga Kobo is a well-known animation studio famous for producing high-quality, expressive, and often comedic slice-of-life anime series. Their work on shows like Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun and New Game! shares a similar comedic and character-driven animation style.
Key Takeaways: Love Lab Anime to Manga Guide
- The Definitive Starting Point: The Love Lab anime ends exactly where Volume 5, Chapter 1 of the manga begins. This is the universally accepted point to continue the story without missing content.
- A Faithful Adaptation: The anime by Doga Kobo is extremely loyal to the manga’s plot and characters. Its main change is rearranging 4-koma gags into a linear episode structure, so you can transition to the manga with confidence.
- No Season 2 in Sight: There is no official second season of the anime, and none is expected. The manga, which is completed with 15 volumes, is the only way to experience the full story.
- Significant Story Remains: With the anime covering only the first 4 of 15 total volumes, a massive 11 volumes of content, character development, and comedic moments await manga readers.
- Deeper Plot Developments: The post-anime manga delves deeper into character backstories, particularly the truth about Maki’s past, and evolves the relationships between the student council members beyond simple comedy.
- Not a Yuri Series: Love Lab is a slice-of-life comedy with some yuri subtext, but its plot centers on practicing heterosexual romance, not on romantic relationships between the female characters.
- Official Access is Key: The manga was licensed in English by Sentai Filmworks. The best way to read it and support the creator is by finding official digital or physical volumes from major online retailers.
Final Thoughts on Continuing the Love Lab Story
Transitioning from an anime to its source manga can sometimes be confusing, but for Love Lab, the path is clear and rewarding. By starting at Volume 5, Chapter 1, you are not just getting more of the same; you are stepping into a story that deepens, evolves, and provides a truly satisfying conclusion that the anime was never able to show.
You now have the exact map to continue your journey with Riko, Maki, and the rest of the student council. The hilarious research, the heartfelt moments, and the complete, finished story are waiting for you. For fans of the Love Lab anime, reading the manga is a highly recommended and seamless experience.
Last update on 2026-02-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
