:Strawberry Shortcakes
{{Short description|Japanese manga volume}}
{{About|the Japanese manga|the dessert|shortcake|the greeting card character|Strawberry Shortcake}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Strawberry Shortcakes
| image = Strawberry Shortcakes (manga) Cover.jpg
| caption = Cover of Strawberry Shortcakes as published by Shodensha
| genre =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = manga
| author = Kiriko Nananan
| publisher = Shodensha
| publisher_en =
| demographic = Josei
| published = 2002
| volumes = 1
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = live film
| title = Strawberry Shortcakes
| director = Hitoshi Yazaki
| producer =
| writer =
| music =
| studio =
| released = 2006
| runtime = 127 minutes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|Strawberry Shortcakes|ストロベリーショートケイクス}} is a one-volume manga written and illustrated by Kiriko Nananan, published by Shodensha in 2002.{{cite web|url=http://www.s-book.net/plsql/slib_detail?isbn=4396762925|title=Strawberry Shortcakes|publisher=Shodensha|language=Japanese|accessdate=July 3, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/VHig|archive-date=September 9, 2012}} It is about the lives of four young women in a large city. It was licensed in French by Casterman manga imprint Sakka{{cite web|url=http://www.sakka.info/Albums_Detail.cfm?id=32464|title=Strawberry shortcakes|publisher=Sakka|language=French|accessdate=July 3, 2010}} and in Italy by Kappa Edizioni.{{cite web|url=http://libri.fnac.it/a383577/NANANAN-KIRIKO-Strawberry-shortcakes?Mn=-1&Ra=-1&To=0&Nu=1&Fr=0|title=Strawberry shortcakes|publisher=Fnac|language=Italian|accessdate=July 3, 2010}} Strawberry Shortcakes was adapted into a film of the same title.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-10-15/death-note-films-to-premiere-in-united-kingdom|title=Death Note Films to Premiere in United Kingdom|date=October 15, 2007|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=July 12, 2010}} It was licensed for English release by Central Park Media as Sweet Cream & Red Strawberries.{{cite web|url=http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/05/14/josei-manga/|title=Josei Manga|last=Draper Carlson|first=Johanna|date=May 14, 2006|publisher=Comics Worth Reading|accessdate=July 3, 2010}}
Plot
The plot revolves around four ladies struggling to find happiness in the capital city of Tokyo: Satoko, who works as a receptionist at an escort service called “Heaven’s Gate" and often prays to God to help her find a boy that will love her; Akiyo, who works at “Heaven’s Gate” as a call girl and is infatuated with Kikuchi, an old school friend, who she gladly changes her appearance for; Chihiro, who works in a low-level office position and often involves herself with men who only use her for sex; and Toko, Chihiro's roommate who works obsessively as an illustrator and suffers from bulimia, which she hides from everyone.
Reception
= Critical response =
Xavier Guilbert, writing for du9, feels it is quite different from other josei manga. M. Natali, writing for BD Gest', notes that the nonlinear presentation of the women's stories reinforces the connection between the characters, a resonance between the four characters lives, their feelings and disappointments.{{cite web|url=http://www.bdgest.com/chronique-1694-BD-Strawberry-shortcakes.html|title=Strawberry shortcakes|last=Natali|first=M.|date=September 18, 2006|publisher=Bd Gest'|language=French|accessdate=July 3, 2010|quote=Certains pourraient regretter ce manque de linéarité, cependant il renforce plutôt l’impression d’une correspondance, une résonance entre les vies de ces quatre femmes, entre leurs sentiments et leurs déceptions. (Some could regret this lack of linearity however its reinforce the impression of connection, a resonance between those four women lives between their feelings and disappointments)}} The reviewer for Manga-News said that the author "managed to get it right".{{cite web|url=http://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/Strawberry-Shortcakes#review|title=Strawberry Shortcakes|publisher=Manga-News.com|language=French|accessdate=July 3, 2010|quote=Dans cet ouvrage, Kiriko Nananan réussit à viser juste (In this book, Kiriko Nananan managed to get it right)}} Art wise both du9 and BD Gest' described it as uncluttered & aerial,{{cite web|url=http://www.bdgest.com/chronique-1694-BD-Strawberry-shortcakes.html|title=Strawberry shortcakes|last=Natali|first=M.|date=September 18, 2006|publisher=Bd Gest'|language=French|accessdate=July 3, 2010|quote=Epuré, aérien, le dessin de Nananan s’attarde sur des visages (Uncluttered, aerial, the Nananan's art linger on the visages)}} and the use of oblong panels taking all the width of the page as reinforcing the impression of intimacy.{{cite web|url=http://du9.org/strawberry-shortcakes,826|title=strawberry shortcakes|last=Guilbert|first=Xavier|date=May 2006|publisher=du9|accessdate=July 3, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bdgest.com/chronique-1694-BD-Strawberry-shortcakes.html|title=Strawberry shortcakes|last=Natali|first=M.|date=September 18, 2006|publisher=Bd Gest'|language=French|accessdate=July 3, 2010|quote=Les planches équilibrées du début cèdent peu à peu la place à des cases presque vide, toute en longueur ou en hauteur. Ce dépouillement, loin de gêner évoque mieux encore que les mots la solitude et renforce le côté intimiste du graphisme (The balanced sheets in the beginning leave slowly room to near empty panels, all in length or width. This bareness far from being an annoyance raises even better than words the solitude and reinforces the art impression of intimacy )}}
= Accolades =
- Best Supporting Actress: Yûko Nakamura, 2006 – Yokohama Film Festival{{cite web |date=December 14, 2006 |script-title=ja:第２８回ヨコハマ映画祭 |url=http://homepage3.nifty.com/yokohama-eigasai/28-2006/28_2006_shou.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928063843/http://homepage3.nifty.com/yokohama-eigasai/28-2006/28_2006_shou.html |archive-date=September 28, 2012 |access-date=July 3, 2010 |publisher=Yokohama Film Festival |language=Japanese}}
- Best Cinematography: Isao Ishii, 2006 – Yokohama Film Festival
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Anime News Network|manga|9518|Strawberry Shortcakes}}
- {{IMDb title|qid=Q10748749|id=tt0872020}}
{{Feel Young}}
Category:Live-action films based on manga
Category:2000s Japanese-language films