May 24, 2020
Anyone who is remotely familiar with this series is most likely aware of its two adapatations which are both TV shows that aired in 1984 and 2005 respectively. However, this little OVA here is easily missable despite it actually being TMS' first adaptation of the series before they made the aforementioned one in 2005. Personally, it genuinely surprised me because I was expecting a very forgettable experience initially but was proved wrong just a few minutes in the first episode. So, let me make this clear right in the beginning; Whether you watched any of the TV shows or are looking for a way to
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try out this series - This will make a perfect watch in any case.
As the synopsis already states the OVA covers the earlier events of the series but I'll assure you it completely excels at it in most aspects. The very first minutes of the first episode greet you with the heartbreaking past of Tsukikage-sensei only to cheer you up again and pull you right into the story with one of the loveliest openings in any anime I've seen. The song itself starts with a shoegaze-esque intro and complements the gorgeous sceneries and shots of Maya Kitajima as she rides her bike or shots of individual objects like some pair of Chucks lying in an empty practice hall. Each shot is beautifully composed that I couldn't help but take screencaps at every opportunity. Storywise there isn't anything to write home about as it only covers the very start of the manga but visually it's very clear Tsuneo Kobayashi, a name which I also only discovered after watching this, went overboard with his creativity.
Now, Glass Mask is a Shoujo series that is relatively rich in drama, which as a sidenote happens to be a common thing among Shoujo series in the 70s. Evoking and creating tension as well as maintaining it throughout in certain scenes is not only crucial but not the easiest thing to do either. Tsuneo Kobayashi however, makes full use of his Cinematography knowledge and achieves crafting said scenes exceptionally well. For instance, when Maya first encounters Tsukikage she first reacts sceptically and finally runs away crying after seeing her scarred face. As suggested before Kobayashi makes heavy use of efficient Cinematography so you'll see particularly well-utilized dutch angles and close-up shots very very often, which are of course present in this scene and thankfully in other scenes like this one. The animation quality typical for an OVA only adds to the visual eye candy. This way the tension never fades away and keeps you engaged with the anime throughout its entire runtime. It also results in this adaptation being perhaps the most dramatic one among the series. And it's rather unfortunate to see this not even going beyond the first few stage plays of Maya. However, the amount of adapted material or the character development "lacking" compared to the TV shows shouldn't be a dealbreaker since all of the characters are unique and fleshed out from the get-go. Ayumi is the polar opposite of Maya yet complements her in a way - both ambitioussly strive to become the flawless actress, Masumi takes a liking to Maya quite early on but has to restrict himself to not act stupidly or out of character, Sakurakouji sides with Maya whenever she is being treated unfairly, etc etc and all of that is very well conveyed in this OVA despite its short length.
The VAs also quite deliver and voice their characters pretty well. However, the most exciting part is probably hearing Megumi Ogata as the little and fragile but fierce Chibi-chan I mean Maya Kitajima. Her woMANLY voice doesn't shine through one bit. On the contrary, it fits Maya surprisingly well - be it scenes of Maya raising her voice out of anger, sobbing like a child or simply leisurely conversing with her classmate.
TL;DR unexpectedly well storyboarding and directing nails almost every scene and reinforces the characters' unique traits and personalities which makes this OVA the most worthwile experience for (the beginning of) the series. VAs fit their roles and don't disappoint either.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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