Video Girl Ai

A review by John (Phoenix) Brown

Have you even suffered from the heartbreak of unrequited love?

Enter Youta, a young man living alone, in anguish over the pain he has caused to the girl he loves. For even though he knows she can not return his love, he is more concerned for her own welfare and her own unrequited love for his best friend then he is for his own situation.

As our selfless hero is returning home, he discovers a new video rental store, one that he had never seen before. On a whim, he enters the store and immediately his eye is caught by a particular video tape in the adult section.

On the tape cover, a young woman beckons him with a promise that she will comfort him. The proprietor, an old man, steps up and encourages Youta to take the video. The old man tells Youta that he is only the third customer to the store in years. That is because it is only visible to those who are pure of heart, those who put the feelings of others before their own. Youta accepts the tape and returns home to play it.

As the first episode begins, we see the image of a cheerful video girl on the TV screen at Youta's home. The image is full of static and distorted because earlier that day, Youta had dropped the tape deck and damaged it. However, the screen soon clears and we hear the delightful voice of Ai Amano as she introduces herself. Even though this is only a TV image, Ai seems to know all about Youta and the troubles he's had.

As Youta's pain becomes apparent, the TV screen suddenly flashes with warm, comforting light and the girl who was just an image a moment before takes on true human form and springs into Youta's room.

But that's when everything goes wrong. Because Ai was played on a damaged deck, she undergoes a complete physical and psychological change. Instead of a sweet, subservient, buxomly girl prepared to do Youta's every bidding, she has become a loud, boisterous tomboy ready to give Youta a true education on how to win a girl's heart. But that’s not the only thing that changed, for Ai, unlike any other Video Girl from her realm, has unknowingly gained a special capability that may change Youta's life forever.

Now Ai is here to help Youta deal with his heartbreak and win the girl of his dreams. However, her "play time" is very limited. In only one month, 720 hours from now, her tape will end and she will have to return to the video world from whence she came.

...

But much can happen in a month.......

Comments

While there are science fiction elements to VGAi, the primary focus is on the interplay among the four primary characters. The title character is Ai Amano. She was originally created to be a video girl, that is, a character in a video who would portray the role of a sympathetic partner to the lonely viewer. These type videos actually exist in Japan, but only those rented by Gokuraku have the ability to actually come to life during their rental period. Youta Moteuchi, as introduced earlier, is a young man, living alone. Even though he is empathic and cares for the feelings of others, he has always had problems with girls and romance. The girl he loves is Moemi Hayakawa, a meek and beautiful high school girl. However, Moemi's heart belongs to Youta's best friend, Takashi Niimai, an enigmatic young man who does not seem to care for girls at all.

Without question, Video Girl Ai is my most favorite story, both the anime and the manga. It brings together so many of my favorite story elements such as lost love, heroic redemption and.... cooking. The characters are unique and believable, the music is magnificent and the emotional impact just reaches to the very bottom of your soul. Then like gravy to an already scrumptious meal, there is glorious cute girl fanservice from the gifted hands of the manga artist and author, Masakazu Katsura.

This anime has my very highest recommendations.

Episode Guide

The Video Girl Ai anime is composed of six 30-minute episodes. It is adapted from various chapters of the first three volumes of the original manga. Since Ai-chan's "play time" has such an important role to the narrative, I've included the VCR counter readings to show where each episode fits into the overall story. Personally, I think it is quite significant that there is a 10 day gap between episodes 3 and 4, but watch the show and make your own conclusions. I've also included some comments on the music that accompanies each episode.

Episode 1: A Soothing Girl	First evening, Sunday	VCR Counter: 720 - 716	Manga Chapters 1-2
Youta and Ai-chan first meet, he recounts his recent experience with Moemi-chan.
One of the better music moments comes at the end of this episode. With the soulful Message playing in the background, Youta is lying on his bed grieving over his unrequited love. We see an empty soda can blow down the street, then the music picks up as Ai-chan, laying behind him, places her hand on his shoulder and tells him it's OK, Youta...., it's OK. Cheer up. Such a gentle and tender moment.
Omake: The Mysteries of the Jump Cretaceous Era Aizaurus.

Episode 2: Present	Days 1 - 6	VCR Counter: 703 - 572	Manga Chapters 3-4
Ai-chan follows Youta to school; Moemi-chan decides to pursue Takashi; Moemi-chan cooks dinner for Youta and Ai-chan. I must say that this entire dinner scene is close to my all time favorite from any series. I've always loved the idea of a gift of a meal lovingly given and gratefully accepted. This particular scene takes that concept even a step further as you will see.
For the music moment here, without giving away too much, there is a quiet, touching moment with Youta and Ai-chan at the end this episode accompanied by A Happy Tear gently chiming.
Omake: I, Ai: Video Girl of Hicksville, Japan

Episode 3: The commemorative day that Ai-chan had a date wearing the dress that Youta gave her	Day 7, Sunday	VCR Counter: 563 - 553~	Manga Chapter 5
Ai-chan convinces Youta to take her out and spend the day together.
For the music moment, Ai-chan has succumb to a fever due to the overheating VCR. Youta is carrying her on his back as the pensive tones of Your Rainbow play.
Omake: Ai-chan Fashion Show

Episode 4: Confession	Day 17, Wednesday	VCR Counter: 332~ - 311	Manga Chapters 6-7
Youta and Moemi-chan cut class. Moemi-chan confesses her love to Takashi. Youta and Takashi talk on the river bank.
While Youta and Moemi-chan play hooky at the shopping district, we have the wistful Tomorrow will be Tomorrow playing in the background, a reflective theme of both Youta and Ai-chan's own thoughts.
Omake: Interview with the manga artist, Masakazu Katsura.

Episode 5: Vanishing Ai !?	Days 21 - 25	VCR Counter: 216 - 118~	Manga Chapters 8-9
In an attempt to forget about Moemi, Youta plans to write and illustrate a children's book. Ai-chan, counter to her usual tastes, wears a cute, frilly dress just to cheer him up.
Omake: Interview with Noriko Sakai, who sings the opening theme song.

*Episode 6: Ai Ai * Ai (A play on words with the Japanese characters. They all sound the same, but have different meanings: Ai, Love and Sadness)**	Days 26 - 30	VCR Counter: 118~ - 0	Manga Chapter 10, 18, 19, special video ending
Youta follows Ai-chan back to the video world domain and climbs the glass staircase.
And then we have the final episode. During the glass staircase scene, we have the wondrous Frozen Flower, which I've played at least 500 times, playing in the background as Youta struggles against intense pain and hopeless odds. And finally, in the closing moments, we have the tearful, yet somehow joyful Ai Love You. Honestly, I get choked up with tears every time I hear this song.
Omake: None, but be sure to watch the closing credits.

Where can you get Video Girl Ai?

The R1 DVD is a Viz product, originally published and distributed by Pioneer (now called Geneon). Under a new agreement with Viz, it is currently distributed by Ventura Distribution. First released in VHS format in 1999, the DVD was released the end of 2001 and appears to be produced from the VHS master as the song lyrics are hard-subbed. The major translation and video editing mistakes from the VHS have been corrected on the DVD. All six episodes, including the omake and a couple of extras, are on a single disk. As a long time fan of the series, I was hoping for a better presentation, but this is at least acceptable with an adequate video quality.

The R2 DVD is available as a box set from Victor in Japan. This was a stellar release, worthy of this wonderful story. It is a three disk set with episodes 1-3 on one disk, 4-6 on the second and a special CD with songs from the previous CDs along with a new drama cut. However, please note that it is not subtitled.

In addition, a brand new omake was created for the R2 DVD release. It features Moemi and Youta hosting a commercial to rent Ai-chan out much like her original video. Given my usual avatar, I think I'll not comment on the identity of the hapless purchaser. ^_^;

What does the anime ending mean?