After a crushing rejection, the heartbroken Youta Moteuchi trudges home. On his way, a dimly lit video store catches his eye, and he ends up purchasing a "video girl" tape meant to ease the hearts of lonely men. However, when he tries to play it in his broken VCR, a beautiful girl leaps out of his TV and lands on his bed. Calling herself Ai Amano, she looks like a golden opportunity for Youta to finally experience true love—that is, until her personality, now troubling thanks to the broken VCR, shows through. Despite her flaws, however, Ai wholeheartedly promises she will ensure Youta finds happiness and true love in his life.
Video Girl Ai follows the daily life of a teenage boy and his pursuit of a fulfilling romance. With the help of his virtual guardian angel, Youta sets forth to find the girl of his dreams.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
firestarter_
Video Girl Ai is probably one of the best anime OVA's I've seen in my anime watching years. The designs of the characters are some of the most beautiful I've seen and is amazing for 1992. This series is meant to be watched in japanese and the dub is good, but not the best. I think the animation is fluid and well produced, with the soundtrack consisting of mostly pop music, but I was content. So if you haven't seen it, it's definitely worth a watch.
dnt
Video Girl Ai, Story: Another storyline where the impossible becomes possible, giving hopes to a guy who seems to have no luck, this storyline is pretty original and really sucks you into the relationships as it goes along. The seriousness of this anime mixed with the relationship is utterly astounding. A good storyline base and the story just becomes better and better. Art: For the time it was made this anime is amazing, truly a classic. Sound: Soundtrack is great, character voices are outstanding, really do fit the characters.Character:
The characters are amazing, and really makes this anime cream of the crop. The characters all become well loved and you feel for them through the harsh and happy times.
Why did I like this anime?
I would say this anime is one of the best, it's love triangles are one of the reasons this anime is so great. The anime is a classic giving you 'Ah I want this to be me' kind of feeling. The plot is good and the relationship bonds that strengthen over time are just a sight to see. If you have a chance, read the manga for this short lived anime just makes you want more. I am still hoping for the day some production crew will remake this anime expanding onto the other manga plot lines. The manga is outstanding aswell so be sure to check it out. This anime is hands down one of the best romances and is purely a classic.
literaturenerd
Overview: Time for another episode of highly obscure anime reviews! Today I am going to talk about Video Girl Ai, which is one of those instances of a show or movie that had a small cult following for a couple years after it was released but quickly became forgotten. The movie equivalent of Video Girl Ai in terms of small, cult films that became highly obscure with time would be something like "Zorro the Gay Blade" or "Buddy Holly: Six String Samurai". Plot: The plot starts out with the cliche premise of a hapless loser named Yota trying to get a girlfriend and constantly failing. Yota isin love with a pretty girl named Moemi, who overlooks Yota because of his sub-par appearance and only has eyes for the handsome jock, Takashi. Yota realizes that Moemi won't ever love him, so he tries to hook up Takashi and Moemi so that at least they can be happy. This is sort of reminiscent of the famous French play Cyrano de Bergerac, but the anime quickly moves on to rip off other things instead. While walking home depressed, Yota notices a mysterious video store he has never seen before and goes inside to rent a "Video Girl tape". Basically, in 1990s Japan there were VHS tapes (18 up) that would feature a hot girl talking to the screen in order for lonely guys to pretend they had a girlfriend. This particular video store is run by a mysterious old man who lends out magical tapes to youth in desperate need. These magic tapes will change the life of the troubled youth and help them mature and grow. I’m pretty sure this old man must be the brother of the old man that runs the magic bookstore in The Never-Ending Story! Yota goes home and plays the VHS, causing the beautiful girl Ai to come flying out of his TV! Ai attempts to help and comfort Yota, while also trying to get him together with Moemi. However, Ai herself begins to fall for Yota and this angers the mysterious being named Rolex, who created the video girls and is actually the one in charge of the magical video store! The anime has one of the most abrupt tone shifts I have ever seen starting late in the 5th of only 6 episodes! The series goes from being a romantic comedy to being a surprisingly dark and surreal artsy series at the drop of a dime. The anime has a very bittersweet and open ending, while the manga has a conventional happy ending. I actually kind of prefer the anime’s ending because it stays with you longer and leaves more of an impact on the viewer.
Edit: It actually becomes a happy ending if you wait after the credits on the DVD. I watched this series on youtube when I wrote this review. My buddy offline recently pointed this out.
Characters:
Yota starts out as a very generic romantic comedy protagonist, but he actually does grow throughout the series and is willing to put others before his own needs. It is frustrating to watch Yota chase after the wretched character Moemi, but the viewer quickly realizes that he has fallen in love with a highly idealized, fictional version of a bad person and this is sadly something that often happens in real relationships. Moemi is one of the most obnoxious characters in anime history! She is the ONLY person that never realizes that Yota likes her and perpetually uses him as a tool to try land a handsome guy with no interest in her. Yota himself is guilty of being dense in terms of Ai’s feelings for him, but Yota is also very kind to Ai and as previously mentioned is frequently willing to put the happiness of others above his own. Moemi on the other hand, never ONCE thinks about anyone other than herself. Along with being highly selfish and oblivious to the suffering of others, she is also extremely superficial and only values physical appearance. Ai starts out as a tomboyish comedy side kick, but her struggles with identity and whether or not she should have the capacity for love is interesting. Ai develops as a character in only 6 episodes and is a compelling heroine. The only character I would really criticize, since Moemi was intended to be insufferable, is the villain Rolex. In the manga, his motivations and origins are clearly explained. In the anime, he just sort of shows up without explanation and we never learn ANYTHING about the guy other than he created the video girls and doesn’t want them to fall in love. This is entirely due to the short, 6 episode running time of the OVA. However, they could easily have spared us 15 minutes of Moemi being an airhead and given time to flesh out Rolex and give at least his basic origin and motives. I kind of have to fault the anime director for this poor use of time management.
Animation and music:
The animation actually looks pretty damn good even by today’s standards! This anime was made in 1991, so that is saying something about the timeless quality that the artwork has. The music is also excellent with both the opening and ending themes being quite catchy.
Overall:
Although this is a condensed adaptation with a few flaws, it is very much worthy of seeing for yourself. At times this series can be quite slow and it can also be painfully frustrating to see our hero chasing the insufferable airhead, but it also does some things well. This series gets the viewer emotionally invested and provides some truly tear jerking moments. The characters actually develop in a short run time and go from generic to actually interesting. The old-school but high quality art is an absolute joy to see! Basically, there are a LOT of romantic comedy anime, but most are extremely forgettable. Video Girl Ai stands head and shoulders above the average of its genre. I give it a well deserved 6/10.
nanami_cow
I happened to stumble across Video Girl Ai while I was clicking around on TV Tropes one day, and the plot sounded interesting, so I figured, "hey, it's only 6 episodes, so why don't I give it a shot?" And I'm pretty glad I did. This is an under appreciated gem. Even though it's listed as an ecchi, the fanservice is actually pretty tasteful, and it's much more focused on plot rather than fanservice. So, even if ecchi titles generally aren't your thing, you should still give this a chance. The story is a romance with a slight supernatural element to it. At its heart, it'sa love-triangle (well, actually more of a love square) between Youta (the main character), Ai the video girl, Moemi, and Youta's best friend. The whole thing was kind of cheesy, and it had an 80s brat pack movie kind of vibe (technically, the OVA came out in 1992, but lbr the early 90s were basically the 80s). I loved it despite its slight cheesiness, though. It was light-hearted, but with just the right amount of angst. The music was fun, and the art was very impressive. All of the animation was very fluid, and it seemed very ahead of its time (although there is some bad CGI in the opening). Even though the story was a little dated (it's about a girl who comes out of a VCR after all), it manages to hold up, largely thanks to the quality of the art. My only complaint would be that the two side characters, Moemi (Youta's crush) and Takashi were kind of lame. But Ai had enough spunky character for the both of them, really.
All in all, it was a solid show that's easy to pick up because it's so short. Despite it's length, it still manages to be satisfying. I would definitely give it a shot if you're into older shows, romances, or if you like fanservice that comes with a great story.
Ming_HUANG
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEST ANIMES EVER MADE, not to mention EXTREMELY UNDERRATED. It shocks me to see such a masterpiece be given a mere rating of a low 7, really proves you cant trust the mal rating nor some of the reviews. This is amazing, and I'll tell you why Story: I won't go into detail about the plot since you can just read the synopsis. But what it does so fucking well is that the story progresses very naturally and fluently considering the bizarre nature of the story itself. There is SOOOOO much character development in this the entire story basically evolves aroundits characters developing and becoming better, growing and becoming different to what they once were. It's so heartwarming as well as story dives into what it means to be loved, love and the basis of emotional attachment. It's also fucking hilarious and the humour is handled nicely as it knows when to get serious and when to lighten up, really powerful stuff to be honest. The humour is also really smart and not cliched at all, does not great job at making you laugh. Also it has excellent directing and pacing feels really good. When this anime gets serious you really feel the intensity and ssuspense. The melodrama of the love triangle is also handled really well and isn't cringy at all, you feel the real emotions of these characters and their motives. The added spin of Amanos time limit also makes it so much more intense and hectic till the end. In general, this anime does a great job making you laugh, smile, heartwarmed, cry, think and also contemplate all in the tiny span of 6 episodes, which also leads to a satisfactory ending, thus guarantees it the highest 10/10 possible.
Art:
Absolutely stunning animation and overall aesthetic. It's strange how an anime made in 1992 can look better and have more expression and emotion than most anime nowadays. The insane effort put into the hand drawn animation is apparent as you watch the 6 episodes and never does it deteriorate. Characters are fluid, everything flows really well and really lively and exciting. It's got incredible production quality. The color palette is also great. There is also those nostalgic 90s vibes and aesthetics which you just don't find anymore. The shot direction is also amazing as frame by frame everything feels really good and there's a sense of verticality and movement with the animation and characters. It's sometimes very artistic as well which is really nice. Everyone looks really good the girls look cute, the men look rigid and handsome, just overall an amazing experience aesthetically. 10/10
Sound:
Soundtrack is great and very groovy at times. Even at times suspenseful, it helps improve every scene and moment to new heights. Voice acting is also done incredibly well, clear, full of expression and emotion. Also has those 90s music beats you just dont find anymore, another key nostalgic factor. 10/10
Character:
OHH boy here is the REAL GOLD. Never have I seen anime characters with more personality, character, and invigorating expression. Amano Ai for example, is a character that basically was disadvantaged from the beginning as she was born out of a shitty broken vhs player. So her personality is sometimes rude, intimidating and careless. She goes against everything that video girls are supposed to be, like being great at cooking? whilst amano is fucking terrible . DESPITE all these flaws, she is aware of it and she is determined to improve herself for the main protagonist, she even teaches herself how to cook good food. This whole story is a metaphor for a simple person trying to overcome and persevere on with life despite all their initial flaws. It's actually fucking beautiful and really heartwarming. The characters are amazing, and really makes this anime cream of the crop. The characters all become well loved and you feel for them through the harsh and happy times as they act sensibly and aren't idiots. 100/10
CONCLUSION
This is a hidden gem among the sea of trashy rom coms out there. It's one of the best anime ever made and it sure is one of the best romances ever made. Somehow the hated love triangle concept is actually really fun and endearing in this, making it a key propeller of the enjoyment. The plot is great and the relationship bonds that strengthen over time are just really nice and heartwarming to see as they are so realistic as well and believable. IF anything needs more recognition it's this, if anything needs to be rebooted it's this. This is truly a classic and one of the best. The manga is outstanding aswell so be sure to check it out and pay respect to the og creator of the series. It's got a surprisingly deep and serious tone when it wants to get serious and the drawings are all so beautiful and detailed. It's got a type of hyper-realistic art style where characters have life like shading and surprisingly some nudity as well, as it's for mature people, which is better since it doesn't shy away. EASILY ONE OF THE BEST ROMANCES, and definitely a hidden gem that many don't even know exist, we need more anime like this seriously. There are also these animated short skits at the end of each video and they add a lighthearted touch on the story with really funny skits, a really nice cherry on top by the production crew. SPEAKING OF THE PRODUCTION CREW, HUUUUGE PROPS for their amazing effort in making this anime. Not only did they work hard but they also included personal interviews of the director and theme song singer in the end of the last episodes, both are wonderful people and director is so charming and humble, really shows you that production IG reapects these people who worked hard to make this so great. Go and watch it, it'll change the way you view romance animes forever, but remember to support the creators as well for their amazing product, like buying the manga and a few dvds so they are rewarded for their hard work.
Amazing stuff like this just doesn't come around much anymore, this is now my favorite ova of all time and second favorite romance of all time, right after Maison Ikkoku, just because that one is undefeatable. I will be buying the DVD and watching it over and over, what absolute wualitu entertainment
meganium
Video Girl Ai is quite a hidden gem of its time. I found out about it by chance and whilst it was the stunning art that has drawn me in, the plot and characters is what made me stay. To be honest, I had low expectations for this anime, but finished the series pleased and surprised. I tried to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible. Within the six episodes, each lasting only around 30 minutes, the story is explored in a captivating way. The pacing is good, as the plot forces the pacing to feel rushed, since Ai's time is limited; very fitting for ananime this short. One of the most surprising things I have found about the plot is how it felt so much different from other romance plots found in anime, as even the more recent romance series are not able to produce a love triangle as original as this. The main question of "who is Youta going to end up with?" is left ambiguous throughout the series, and the writers have done a fantastic job in exploring the relationship between the protagonist and the two girls. I must point out, however, that I felt that the part of the plot which covers Ai's origins was in my opinion the weakest part of the story, as I felt it lacked the charm and excitement which the remainder of the series has obtained. Overall, the plot is very good and easy to get the grips of, so I would rate the story an 8 out of 10.
As the art is what brought me to this series, I was hopeful to receive a dose of some stunning 90's anime artwork and I was not disappointed. From the character design to the background art and animation itself, this anime is a beautiful sight from start to finish. My favourite element by far is the artwork of the characters, especially Ai. The art captivates her bubbly and charming personality perfectly and she looks absolutely adorable! Though it perhaps may not look like anything spectacular to viewers used to seeing digitally drawn anime, I ask that you keep in mind that for the standards of the early 90's when this series was produced, it definitely is one of the more visually pleasing series to see. Art is a strong 10 out of 10 for me.
The audio, just like the art, has fully captured the charm of the 90's. The cheerful pop songs featured throughout the series fittingly add to the cute and sweet atmosphere which this anime emits. Though the opening and ending themes are quite lengthy, they are worth a listen because they are simply so uplifting. The seiyuu also do a wonderful job in capturing their characters' personalities. Although the cinema scene's English voice acting will most likely raise some eyebrows (it sure raised mine), maybe there is a song or two from the OST which will win you over. Even if you don't enjoy the anime, at least you might appreciate the beautiful soundtrack. Because of the voice acting in that one particular scene, the score for audio is hindered to a 9 out of 10.
Video Girl Ai focuses on a select few characters, and it does it well. The characters are not reduced to pitiful one dimensional archetypes which is an unfortunately common mistake amongst romance anime for the sake of quantity (*cought* harem). Even the girls - and especially Ai, our eponymous character - are expanded upon within the story, which is always a lovely sight to behold in a romantic plot where women are too often reduced to nothing more but a prize for the male characters. Not to mention that Ai is almost literally a prop for Youta, due to her origin as a video girl - for even her to have so much depth gives other anime no excuse to treat their characters with no less complexity as her. Youta makes a very lovable protagonist, and he matures a lot throughout those six episodes, which is by far one of the strongest foundations to what makes this anime so enjoyable. Unfortunately, this doesn't apply to everyone: i thought that the popular boy Takashi, is an oddball. I don't intend to spoil the series, so I will simply say that I found the boy puzzling and didn't like him, though perhaps I just didn't understand him. Despite the well-written and realistic presentation of Ai, Youta and Moemi, Takashi and the simpler supporting characters have lowered the score of the characters to a 7 out of 10.
When I watched this anime, I did so with an open mind, almost unknown to what I was about to see, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. To be honest, I don't quite understand how Video Girl Ai isn't more known, as it ticks so many boxes for a majority of anime fans: it's beautiful to the eyes and ears, it's exciting, it's thought provoking, and it's good entertainment (and it's a heaven for those 90's kids who think the 90's was the best decade in human history). If you like romance, fanservice, and cute girls, this anime is certainly for you. Still not convinced? It will only take around 3 hours to watch the entire OVA, so you might as well give it a shot. Or, at least, listen to 'Message' by Nav Katze which is one of the most entrancing songs I ever had the pleasure to find in an anime.
ggultra2764
At first glance, Video Girl Ai has a number of the familiar elements you would find within many romantic comedies. The character types in the love square consist of the nice guy, love interest, supportive best friend and tsundere. And thanks to Ai, there are moments of fan service and ecchi which she uses to torment Yota in some of the show’s comedic gags. Fortunately, this six-episode OAV series doesn’t dabble too heavily in its perverted content and instead focuses on the problems face by the four central characters in their love square as unrequited love plays a major role in the character drama ofthis series.
Each of the characters have their own thoughts of whom they want those close to them to love and they become affected by their actions. Yota is conflicted over either wanting to love Moemi or support helping her work up the resolve to confess her feelings to Takeshi. Moemi seeks out Yota for advice on winning Takeshi’s affections despite being unaware of the guy having feelings for her. Takeshi wants Yota to confess to Moemi and feels burdened that Moemi’s feelings are being pushed onto him by his best friend. Ai tries to follow her role as a video girl to provide advice and support to Yota in facing his unrequited love with Moemi despite the fact she’s slowly falling for her client which is tragic in the fact she is forbidden from having feelings of love and she can’t stay with him forever because of her video tape’s limited running time. The intricate character relationships in the series help give it a sense of believability in the tensions surrounding the relationship developments of the four central characters. The end of the series even shows off some metaphorical symbolism in a powerful finale showing the delicacy of being in love when an antagonist appears to wreck havoc on the developments of a potential romance.
All isn’t perfect with Video Girl Ai’s plot. The OAV only covers events from the first few volumes of the manga series which, at the time of its original release in Japan, was still ongoing. As a result, the OAV has a rather open ending as the fate of the newly formed couple is left ambiguous and developments surrounding the other two characters in the love square are left unresolved. Plus, the nature of the antagonist that appears in Video Girl Ai’s final two episodes isn’t too greatly explored.
On the visual side, Video Girl Ai hasn’t aged too well. The colors are a bit drab with scenery and character designs and there were occasions where background designs weren’t too greatly scaled out in outside environments and had simplistic details. The character designs looked comparable to what you would find in a late 1980s TV anime title like Kimagure Orange Road or Maison Ikkoku.
On the sound end, Video Girl Ai has a soundtrack with both touching and dramatic musical choices that do quite well at complementing the high and low points in the complicated love square of Moemi, Yota, Takeshi and Ai. Megumi Hayashibara, in one of her early roles, is the star seiyuu of the series being able to pull off the many sides of Ai Amano very well being convincingly playful, supportive, angry and sad in the developments she undergoes.
While not original and lacking a proper ending, Video Girl Ai is still a worthwhile classic romance title to look into exploring the intricate developments faced by the title’s four central characters in their dealings with unrequited love.
misericord
this goes from being a severely dated 90s ancestor of chobits to being a mashup of end of evangelion and cat soup in one episode. really bizarre. stick with it to the end and you'll see one of anime's great thematic reverses.
Simkin13
This is an older anime, but it is a good watch. This could have been better if there was a bit more character development. The bottom line is that I felt good after watching it. So I say 'thumbs up' and give it a shot. Wow, you have to give longer reviews here on MyAnimeList. That sucks! I am guessing that is why I see most reviews giving a short description of what the anime is about, even though (Review Tips and Guidelines) state not to include story summaries. But others do that because of the 'lame' character/word min oncreating a review. ROFL...
syncrogazer
A vaporwave romance. Now more than ever, people are staring through the static (pixels if we have to be modern) hoping to at least catch a glimpse of a female that could fall in love with us. The ideal female, created by someone else, who just so happens to fit so easily into our own conceptions. They only need to be there for a short while, comforting us until we can go on with our lives. Unrequited love is the only result if one falls in love with a fictional entity, a ghost of a medium. After all, "video girls can't fall in love."However ifthe medium is damaged in some way, somehow love might bleed through. This is basically the plot of Video Girl Ai.
Other than this kind of premise, Video Girl Ai provides us with the typical love-triangle romance tropes. Our MC, Yota, is the kind of guy who really needs a video girl. He's pathetic, and he knows it, however he also has a heart which makes him part of an "endangered species." Yota, of course, is a frustrating character. This is exemplified in his selflessness which even irritates his own friend who, without doing much, is Yota's biggest hurdle. Expect typical romantic drama over the course of these episodes. There is nothing wrong with any of it even if the execution could be better. All of the characters operate using their own internal logic. You can't really hate them. Yota and Ai are the standouts though, as it should be.
However, I think this anime shines when it focuses on the fragility of love (seen literally) as well as the frustration and pain it causes. All of that is probably typical for a romance however I think Yota's character is decently developed in that his behavior is understandable. Even better, Yota doesn't instantly fall in love with our, let's say, "2D girl." Ai, as the unreachable ideal serves as a catalyst for him to pursue his own love. Which is how it's supposed to work, or at least how it should work. But if the ideal seems so human?...Well... Even then things don't necessarily work out as you might think.
I think the anime does something very interesting with this concept and is worth watching for that reason alone.
Static, of course, is our main thematic element. The tone of the anime is set with well-placed imagery and a suitable pacing.
With advancement in VR and AI the concepts explored in Video Girl Ai are more realistic than we might imagine. Waifus are supposed to be jokes, right? Well, that's what we tell ourselves. I think a modern audience can easily relate to this anime. Not that there's social commentary to be found here. If there is a message it's the typical pure love thing. Nothing wrong with that though.
As funny as it sounds, the first and last episodes are the standout episodes. However as a complete package (art, sound, animation, theme, story)Video Girl Ai is a short romance anime I'd recommend to anyone interested.
Maybe it'd have more impact if watched on VHS?
cici_
(these comments were made by someone who has NOT read the manga so they are totally and completely just based on the anime) as it is about some OVAs I decided to venture into this work for being fast. I did not regret it, I like anime with those old traits of the 90's, I love the truth. The story is somewhat cliche, girl who will help the boy to conquer the girl he likes but end up falling in love. I was left with some doubts at the end of the type "takashi and moemi he saw in that world were real or was just toconfuse the head of the youta" "this end means they stayed together or the world followed normal without the video girl" and as a video girl who has no relatives or home in the real world would live with the youta? " are some things that I was wondering.
In the matter of the secondary couple, those two did not please me in either the story, the false relationship they had, or the personality, unlike AI and youta, their relationship is cute, the way the two are not ashamed one with the other, they fight but they know how to take care of each other.
((esses comentarios foram feitos por alguem que NÃO leu o mangá por isso são total e completamente apenas baseado no anime)
como se trata de alguns OVAs decidi me aventurar nessa obra por ser rapido. Não me arrependi, gosto de animes com esses traços antigos dos anos 90, amo na verdade.
A história é um tanto quanto cliché, menina que vai ajudar o menino a conquistar a garota que ele gosta mas acabam se apaixonando. Fiquei com certas dúvidas no final do tipo "o takashi e a moemi que ele viu naquele mundo eram reais ou era só pra confundir a cabeça do kouta" "esse final quer dizer que eles ficaram juntos ou mundo seguiu normal sem a video girl" "takashi gostava mesmo da moemi e eles ficaram juntos no final ou o amigo dele só aceitou os sentimentos fa garota por pena?" "e como uma video girl que nao tem parentes nem casa no mundo real iria viver com o youta?" são algumas coisas que fiquei me perguntando.
Na questão do casal secundário, aqueles dois não me agradaram em nada nem na história, nem na relação falsa que eles tiveram, nem na personalidade, diferente da AI e do youta, a relação deles é fofa, o jeito que os dois não tem vergonha um com o outro, brigam mas sabem como cuidar um do outro.)
Neimaj
I'm on a roll when it comes to this specific breed of romance anime. I wrote out an entire intro making comparisons to the last obnoxious anime I reviewed. A young, insecure dude who was faced with rejection and finds solace in a young lady who is meant to be the "perfect girlfriend." That's where most of the comparisons end, because Video Girl Ai is an actual good romance anime. It's not even that compelling of a story. I was just pleasantly surprised by what I saw. And I apologize if I'm starting this review in a bit of a confrontational way. I'm still recoveringfrom the tonal whiplash of my previous review. And no, I will not be naming it. I'm just glad I got to experience something more enjoyable and less complicated.
Youta Moteuchi was rejected by his crush, Moemi. In a very oblivious yet depressing manner, mind you. Moemi was in love his Youta's best friend, Takashi. Takashi popping up in the middle of their conversation made the whole situation awkward. On his way back home, he encounters a mysterious video rental store. A Hollywood Video! Pretty creepy, I know. I'm kidding, it's called Gokuraku Video. An ominous video store for troubled souls. Business is horrible because Youta is the third person to even step foot in that store. He rents a video, makes his way back home to watch the tape, and a beautiful girl pops out of his CRT! That girl's name is Ai Amano, AKA Video Girl Ai. She's tomboyish, full of spunk, and is all-around super positive. I love her cinnamon roll hair, very adorable and delicious. Ai's job is to be the perfect girlfriend for Youta. An unreachable ideal, as one brooding asshole put it.
Video Girl Ai is a story about unrequited love. At least that's my interpretation of it. Admittedly, it's a little more complex than that. The themes of rejection, loneliness, and self-soothing are also present. It's a six episode OVA, so I didn't expect the story to be all that gripping. I also wasn't expecting to get all that attached to these characters. Both of which are true, however I still enjoyed myself. Until I got to episode six, but I'll get to that in a second. Our four main characters: Youta, Ai, Takashi, and Moemi. I love them all so unequally. Between these four characters, Moemi is definitely my least favorite. Being indecisive between Takashi and Youta, in terms of who she loves. I won't spoil any specific plot details, but she clearly doesn't understand her own feelings, and isn't self aware enough to realize how much harm she's bringing to Youta. Youta, despite being the main focus of the show, is my third favorite. He has many of the common tropes and character traits a young male lead would have in a romcom. His own obliviousness is on the same level as Moemi's. Whenever he's around Moemi, he's a mess. Although he does shine more whenever he interacts with Ai. He even has a passion for illustration. I think that's a nice hobby to have. Takashi is acutely aware of what's going on here. The dynamic between these three is pretty unpleasant, and we hardly have anytime to truly explore it. Takashi gets it, and he wants Youta to be with Moemi. Personally speaking, I think that would be a bad idea. From a writing standpoint, Takashi might be the best character. He cares a lot about his friend and gives him multiple opportunities to be with Moemi. He isn't my favorite character, but he's a close second. Despite her faults, and not being the perfect girlfriend like her job description states, Ai is my favorite character. She's fun, energetic, and always finds a way to lighten up the mood. Her entire purpose is to bring comfort to lonely deebs like Youta. One of the most important rules of being a Video Girl is that you can't fall in love with your client, it is strictly professional. GUESS WHAT HAPPENS! Yeah, she broke the most important rule, but I'm fully in support of Youta and Ai being a couple. Ai is a bit of a goofball, and one major downside to being a goofball is that she's a klutz. She makes meals for Youta, but isn't a very good cook. They go on dates, but she doesn't have any money. Although she does improve her cooking skills throughout the episodes, and she finds a way to earn a ton of cash during their date. She's very resourceful and she does all of this for Youta. I acknowledge her hard work, even if she's not perfect. She's a great character.
Now, everything up until this point was good. I'm speaking with more positivity, and I have a little hope in my heart. Episode six is the outlier here. It took some time for me to gather my thoughts and put them into words, but here we go. Ai is now faced with the consequences of falling in love with her client. Her creator gets involved with the plot, and the entire last episode turns into a fever dream. It's unlike any of the previous episodes up until this point and it's baffling. I can't say if it's good or bad, it's just flat-out confusing. So vague and ambiguous. So, yeah, I'm going to go read the manga now. This ending was the most "Fuck off and read the manga" ending I've seen in a while. That's usually common with many anime. Typically the anime serves as an advertisement for the manga. Which is why so many shows never get a second season or a follow-up. With Video Girl Ai, I was getting Akira flashbacks. Ending abruptly and leaves me more confused than anything. Seriously, nothing is truly resolved. One other thing I want to briefly mention is the soundtrack. It doesn't standout in my mind that much, but one particular track caught my attention. "Message" is great! It perfectly sets the lonely, melancholic tone the anime is going for. I don't know if everyone will love it, but I do. Just had to get that out there quickly.
With the exception of episode six, this OVA was good. I'm glad I got the chance to watch Video Girl Ai. As long as you're not bothered by seeing Ai's butt sometimes, you'll probably find some enjoyment here. Or maybe you're into Ai's butt, I don't know. 7 out of 10 for me. A solid recommendation. Now I'm off to read the manga! :P
