Strawberry Marshmallow - Cute Is as Cute Does (Vol. 1)
Theshojo(girls') broadcast seriesStrawberry Marshmallowplays like a junior version of the popularAzumanga Daioh. College student Nobue serves as the narrator, but the program focuses on Chika, Nobue's 12-year-old sister and her friends. Miu is their rambunctious, often obnoxious next-door neighbor; timid, slightly younger Matsuri whines a lot, British exchange student Ana sits next to Matsuri in class.Strawberry Marshmallowcontinues the trend toward animeverité: The girls go to school, play together, and have very ordinary adventures. Nobue takes a part-time job to pay for cigarettes. Ana pretends not to understand Japanese. There's no magic, no menace from a parallel world, and no romance. The ultra-cute characters inStrawberry Marshmallowwill appeal to adolescent girls, the show's obvious target audience; older viewers and boys may find them cloying. (Rated 13 and older: alcohol and tobacco use)--Charles Solomon