I'm a type of person who enjoys character development and plot above most things. But Strawberry Shake is a nice departure from heavy Shoujo-Ai content I like to read.
First of all, it's a comedy. And it's strictly one at that. Jokes, puns, references, and otherwise funny scene are all in there. Depending on your sense of humor and and Japaneses knowledge you may have you will get some of them, and some will fall short. But overall it is done really well. While not a new thing, it feels refreshing and clean, even when nosebleeds occur and references to Yuri behaviors are made.
The art is actually good. It's not too realist but looks very nice, and changes appropriately to fit the situation.
The characters are probably the biggest thing to be worried about. They work because of the nature of this manga. But if you are into character development then you will be disappointed. More so, there isn't any back story involved with these characters. SPOILER
Ran is the only real back story given and that doesn't come until the very end of this manga. And history given about anyone else is said on the spot and isn't mentioned again.
But if you are looking for a light hearted story that won't emotional attach you to the characters then you'll have no problem.
Another issue is the progress. It doesn't seem like much is made. Rather, what I should say is that a huge amount is made then it just stops.
Once it's established the two like each other it seems to stop there. No building a even more emotional feeling about each other. Just one kiss and a we love each other moment (The situation surrounding the kiss;however, was enjoyable and I liked it a lot)
Even for a comedy I expected a little drama building up to a big moment. But it just kinda shows up and well there. But for the drama it did have, I like how it was handle, in a funny/cute way that isn't some emotional chain on your heart. The drama was an appropriate "Aww, that's cute." than a "Aww damn. That's heavy." This was lent help by the characters personalty, one being an airhead, another being an idiot.
Lastly, MY biggest complaint is the ending. While I didn't expect a big fuse over it (and it would have felt awkward otherwise), it did not satisfy me. It felt rush without any of comedy or any good type of drama. Not saying those weren't in there, but saying what was there was a bit dull. The ended could have been played out over 2 more chapters and expanded a little more.
Julia and Ran finally get together when in the last scene Ran receives a phone call. The next chapter immediately jumps into Julia looking for her and then finding her. No middle ground where Ran comically keeps a secret for Julia, THEN leaves. There is just the last chapter where Julia comically looks for Ran and finds her in America, having gone through her mother to do so. But even that felt tacted on.
What drama that could have been there seemingly disappears, and touching comedic moments in the end of the story feel weak.
! The reasons for Ran having gone back to America were good, being a a bi-racial girl, whose mother is also in the entertainment biz, a secret her mother kept because it could ruin her (the mother) career. And Julia as a character certainly had the capacity to turn the situation in a really touching scene full of laughs with confronting her mother and again when finding Ran in America.
If anything, the last order does better than the one before it.
I give the manga an 8 because it does everything I think and comedy would, but leaves me disappointed by the ending. Also, while I didn't want heavy character development, the lack a it makes it a little disappointing. At the very least, I wanted to know a few more character's story, which I think would have lent itself to even more funny moments.
If you are looking into a short, light, and funny read this manga is good. But if you want a character development and progress look elsewhere.
(-40)
(+20)
