電影少女 3 再生 [Den'ei Shōjo 3: Saisei]

電影少女 [Den'ei Shōjo] #3

by Masakazu Katsura, 桂正和

かわいそうなヨタ！まず彼は、ビデオガールフレンドのアイをその製作者から救うためにビデオの世界に入ることを余儀なくされ、その後、優しいモエミ、恋に落ちたノブコ、記憶喪失のアイの中から選択を迫られます。

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

193 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 1990

About the author

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

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still wish they'd give AI a shirt but this vol. was much cuter then the previous cause it had less pining after a video girl.

[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 è indeciso: Nobuko gli piace sempre di più, ma per Ai è rimasta un'attrazione che, sottotraccia, non cessa di dargli pensieri, pur pensando che la video ragazza dei suoi sogni è destinata a morire entro un anno (o forse proprio sapendolo). Segue una serie di normalissime masturbazioni mentali da adolescente, rese bene da Katsura e disegnate ancora meglio. Per quanto il target continuino ad essere i ragazzi.

[Suundial · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amici che si incontra sorprendentemente e continuamente per strada in una strapopolata città del Giappone come se fossero in paesino, e poi quando cercano una persona disperatamente non la trovano ...😅ma wdf!
Sono comunque fiduciosa a continuare la serie, i sentimenti e i valori alla base della storia sono sempre forti e reggono il tutto.

[T.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

After an emotional cliffhanger, the status quo changes and is both a breath of fresh air and a complete mystery. Who is this new girl? Spunky Ai is still the best! 3.5 stars.

[Lili Torres]

💖🙌🏼

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first half of the volume gets a 3, the second half gets a 5.

In the first half we get some really hamfisted philosophy on love via a dreamworld thing, the whole things has the feel of being the planned end for the series (and is the end for the anime), and being rushed, which is especially strange considering how much longer the series goes. The pacing is rushed, and you wonder how much of what's going on really matters.

The second half however is a great return to form, we get genuine character growth from most of the main characters and some side characters, a new character is introduced and feels very natural and bounces off other characters well.

edit: On second reading, the first half of the volume has grown on me a bit. The fantasy world set-up he goes to really is a good metaphor for his perception of love, and it basically follows the steps of a typical "hero's journey" but sped up. It does have series climax energy, and I wonder if it was an issue where Masakazu was told VGAI was on the chopping block, and his attempt to wrap it up the way he wanted were just so well-received that he got to continue it. Weirder things have happened in the industry. But for whatever external or internal reason that it happened, it happened. I liked it more this go around. That said, I do still prefer the latter half of the volume, and while I'm never fond of amnesia, it's understandable, and not being used obnoxiously here. It makes sense, Ai is still herself, so she winds up gravitating back towards Yota, and I do really like the introduction of this new character. I also really liked the way Moemi's relationship ends. And there's honestly some pretty nuanced discussion of love near the end of the volume that is much better than I expect from any comic other than maybe (oddly enough) Sex Criminals.

[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...

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's really fun watching this series get better with each volume I've read thus far. Volume 3 introduces a new potential love interest for Yota, but it doesn't feel too forced--she has a reason for liking him. With all three girls having different but likable personalities, and Yota really growing up, this has definitely become a series that I feel like is for me, even if I'm not a teenage boy.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to read the rest!

[La Revistería Comics · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tercer tomo de VGA: Reproducción. Debe ser por mitosis, porque en esta serie habrá mucho piripipí pero poco tacataca. Dibujado como los dioses (del videoclub), eso sí.

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edición argentina, tomo 3 de 15.