Video Girl Ai, Vol. 04: Off-Line

電影少女 [Den'ei Shōjo] #4

by Masakazu Katsura

- A 15-volume manga series originally serialized in Japan's manga anthology Shonen Jump and in VIZ's Animerica Extra in the U.S.
- Also a 6-episode OAV anime series, currently available on DVD from VIZ.
- Figurines also available in Japan.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Romance, Shonen, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fantasy

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 1991

About the author

Masakazu Katsura (桂正和) is a Japanese manga artist.

Reviews

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for volumes 1 - 13



A Note on Katsura Masakazu
Masakazu's works are oddly diverse and formulaic at the same time. He likes to dab in romantic comedies while also producing works about superheroes that are heavily inspired by US comics. I've only ever delved into his romantic comedies and they usually follow a very particular pattern: average guy pines for a pretty long-haired brunette until a short-haired tomboy makes her entrance. It turns into a love triangle that is soon extended to a third girl who is also a long-haired brunette. At least one of the long-haired brunettes is bound to cut their hair in an attempt to mimic the tomboy. Even though Katsura sticks to this formula, the plot outside of the love story is often refreshing and complex. And while the basic premise of his love stories is the same, you can never be sure about the outcome.



Yota is low in confidence and luck with love. He is in love with Moemi who only seems to have eyes for his popular best friend Takashi. Wanting the best for her, Yota takes on the role of being her friend and supporting her with getting closer to Takashi. One day, a mysterious video store appears from which Yota borrows a tape starring Ai Amano. To his surprise, once he plays the videotape, Ai jumps right out of his TV screen and declares that it is her mission to support him with his love endeavours.

Video Girl Ai is not without its faults but it's a very worthy classic with multiple interesting aspects to it. Given that this story plot is based on videotapes, it can feel a little odd reading this late 80's classic in current times. The setting can feel a little dated, it's particularly obvious in the lack of modern devices (the majority of misunderstandings could have been avoided if the characters had mobile phones, oops.) and the characters clothing. This wouldn't usually bother me, and it doesn't do so here either, but the fact that it is based on media devices does make this difference feel more obvious.

Katsura has a very unique art style - it's clearly a manga but then he also tends to lean into realism which is even more evident in his later works. For this manga in particular, there is quite a nice blend of more realistic-looking moments. I especially appreciate this for his female characters. Given that this is by a male author with largely a male audience in mind, yes, there is definitely fanservice. But unlike many others, the girls are drawn beautifully and realistically. There are several nude scenes and while I am not usually one for fan service or smut (I wouldn't say there is any actual smut in this manga, though), these drawings are definitely tastefully done.

Yota as a character and his love life are complicated, to say the least. It's actually rather interesting that he is considered such an unpopular guy at school because, as far as I'm concerned, he's a perfectly nice guy and has by far the modest handsome design of all male characters in this series. Be that as it may, while I do consider him a nice guy, there are moments where I feel frustrated with him. He can be very self-centred, dense and fickle. It seems like an odd mixture - on one hand, he puts other people first and the cost of his own happiness. But then the next moment he is so oblivious and causes hurt left and right.

I've felt very sorry for both Moemi and Ai and Yota's constant swaying emotions. There was, of course, also Nobuko, the third girl that always makes an entrance in Katsura's works. She was cute in a way but I felt less sorry for her because I actually found her a little obnoxious and she constantly got angry with Yota when he didn't even do anything wrong. Ai and Moemi, on the other hand, were both very likeable and I would have been happy for either of them to end up with Yota. I didn't like some of the changes Katsura made to Moemi later in the series. Sure, she got the curve again, but somehow her behavioural changes were beneath her and didn't do her character any justice. Sadly, Takashi was also a character who didn't get his due. While he didn't seem like the nicest guy at first, through Ai we get to see his good sides as well and I wish things would have turned out differently for him.

Even though there are a lot of moments of frustration in regards to misunderstandings, characters behaving selfishly or just not being honest with each other, it is actually part of what makes this a good manga. Take Yota, his actions aren't always great and it makes it harder to sympathise with him. Yet it makes him a more realistic character who is stuck between genuinely caring for others but also getting caught up in his own desires and how to make them both align.

I should also note that this review is only for volumes 1 - 13. Video Girl Ai officially has 15 volumes, but the remaining two are about new characters and feel more like a sequel than an actual part of Ai's story. You can safely only read until volume 13 and have a perfectly complete story.

[Vittorio Rainone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yota incontra Nobuko, ma capisce insieme a lei che qualcosa è irrimediabilmente finito. Sulla via dello sconsolatissimo ritorno verso casa, incontra nella metro un'altra ragazza dal carattere risoluto al limite del ribelle (che con AI e Nobuko inizia a sembrare un po' un doppione) con cui si inizia a formare un barlume di amicizia. AI rischia di morire per mano di un'altra video girl, ma dopo l'intervento della nuova amica di Yota (che non riesce a vincere per colpa di un problema di cuore !!!) e dello stesso Yota (volenteroso ma inefficiente), uccide l'antagonista con un colpo elettromagnetico disperato che attira l'attenzione del suo creatore. Ne risulta un nuovo patto: dato che il colpo è stato sprigionato come conseguenza dell'amore verso Yota, Ai ha l'obiettivo di conquistare un uomo per studiare meglio gli effetti dell'amore. Se riuscirà a conquistare un ragazzo, il suo creatore la farà diventare umana (!! c'è qualcosa di strano nel rtagionamento, ma va bene). AI vuole a tutti i costi conquistare Moteuchi Yota, ma proprio quando inizia la sua strategia di seduzione, torna Moemi, che è a un punto difficile e piuttosto sorprendente della sua relazione con Niimai, il suo migliore amico. E quindi di nuovo sentimenti contrastanti, batticuore e il suo spirito donchisciottesco che impediscono a Yota di accettare le offerte sempre più insistenti di AI. Detta così, sembra una telenovela di quart'ordine in sansa sci fi. Però VGAI è raccontato benissimo, la crescita di Tota è giustamente graduale, i suoi trip mentali sono purtroppo non così sballati, e al netto di alcune esagerazioni la storia fila via che è un piacere.

[T.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, the teen drama is off the charts in volume 4. The love triangles have tripled, and now here comes Video Girl Mai! All of this is less interesting to me than the mystery of Ai's shady creator. What could possibly happen next?

[MargReadsManga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! So much drama!! But at least Ai had a shirt on most of the time! 🤣

[Lili Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

💖🙌🏼

[La Revistería Comics · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cuarto tomo de la Videochica Amor: Dos finales.
Incluye un apéndice de dos ilustraciones, correo de lectores a cargo de Tati Pérez, y una portada bastante bonita.
Índice:
Video Girl Ai, volumen 4: Experimentar
Capítulo 27: Las piezas de la memoria
Capítulo 28: No voy a irme
Capítulo 29: Bajo el mismo techo
Capítulo 30: Noche larga
Capítulo 31: Perdón
Capítulo 32: Cancelar
Capítulo 33: Nuevo pretendiente
Capítulo 34: A tu lado
Capítulo 35: Coraje
Capítulo 36: Generosidad
Appendix (dos ilustraciones mugrosas)

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creo que el nivel promedio de esta serie es mayor al de I"s pero Video Girl me gustó menos. Quizás porque lo leí de más grande, quizás porque el dibujo de I"s al ser posterior es mejor, quizás porque me la habían inflado mucho. Después veo si en algún momento me lo releo y/o escribo reviews individuales. Por ahora copypasteo más o menos lo mismo en todas por los motivos de siempre...

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks like I didn't review this one initially. It's one of the better ones so far, and I really like that all three of the main girls have very different personalities without feeling like archetypes, and they're all just good characters in general. The pacing has been pretty solid, and the art is fantastic. This volume just didn't add any series-defining moments.

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edición argentina de tapa accidentalmente argentinesca. Tomo 4 de 15: Experimentar.

[Variaciones Enrojo]

Edición argentina, cuarto tomo. Incluye correo de lectores.