Glass Mask, Collection 1

Adapted from the long-running and much-loved dramatic manga (created by Suzue Miuchi beginning in 1976), Glass Mask revolves around 13-year-old Maya Kitajima, a poor and dreamy-eyed schoolgirl who has an amazing natural instinct for acting. Chigusa Tsukikage is a former superstar idolized for her portrayal of the Scarlet Angel, the titular character of a play now owned exclusively by her and highly sought after by powerful production companies. After Chigusa coaxes Maya to leave home to join her acting troupe, the young girl's skills blossom and she starts down the long path toward becoming the new Scarlet Angel. But challenges lurk behind every corner, including rivalry in the form of Ayumi Himekawa, who hails from a famous theatrical family. Hewing closely in design to an earlier 1984 series—retaining a slightly antiquated style and a very sh­ojo look—the animation is improved overall, while the setting has been modernized. Sure to appeal to fans of romantic drama, Glass Mask's universal themes of pluck, determination, and the pursuit of dreams will also interest a wider audience. Compiling 26 episodes in a four-disc set, rated TV-PG, in Japanese with English subtitles, this is recommended. Aud: P. (L. Martincik)