Strawberry Shortcakes

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.[1] It is about the lives of four young women in a large city.[2] It was licensed in French by Casterman manga imprint Sakka[3] and in Italy by Kappa Edizioni.[4] Strawberry Shortcakes was adapted into a film of the same title.[5] It was licensed for English release by Central Park Media as Sweet Cream & Red Strawberries.[6]

This article is about the Japanese manga. For the dessert, see shortcake. For the greeting card character, see Strawberry Shortcake.
Strawberry Shortcakes
Cover of Strawberry Shortcakes as published by Shodensha
Manga
Written byKiriko Nananan
Published byShodensha
DemographicJosei
Published2002
Volumes1
Live-action film
Strawberry Shortcakes
Directed byHitoshi Yazaki
Released2006
Runtime127 minutes

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.[2] 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.[7] The reviewer for Manga-News said that the author "managed to get it right".[8] Art wise both du9 and BD Gest' described it as uncluttered & aerial,[2][9] and the use of oblong panels taking all the width of the page as reinforcing the impression of intimacy.[2][10]

Accolades

References
  1. "Strawberry Shortcakes" (in Japanese). Shodensha. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  2. Guilbert, Xavier (May 2006). "strawberry shortcakes". du9. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  3. "Strawberry shortcakes" (in French). Sakka. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  4. "Strawberry shortcakes" (in Italian). Fnac. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  5. "Death Note Films to Premiere in United Kingdom". Anime News Network. October 15, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  6. Draper Carlson, Johanna (May 14, 2006). "Josei Manga". Comics Worth Reading. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  7. Natali, M. (September 18, 2006). "Strawberry shortcakes" (in French). Bd Gest'. Retrieved July 3, 2010. 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)
  8. "Strawberry Shortcakes" (in French). Manga-News.com. Retrieved July 3, 2010. Dans cet ouvrage, Kiriko Nananan réussit à viser juste (In this book, Kiriko Nananan managed to get it right)
  9. Natali, M. (September 18, 2006). "Strawberry shortcakes" (in French). Bd Gest'. Retrieved July 3, 2010. Epuré, aérien, le dessin de Nananan s'attarde sur des visages (Uncluttered, aerial, the Nananan's art linger on the visages)
  10. Natali, M. (September 18, 2006). "Strawberry shortcakes" (in French). Bd Gest'. Retrieved July 3, 2010. 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 )
  11. 第２８回ヨコハマ映画祭 (in Japanese). Yokohama Film Festival. December 14, 2006. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
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