Yuki Terai is supposedly a fascinatingly real CGI star from the home of her creator, Kenichi Kutsugi, in Japan. Over there she has become immensely popular and despite her lack of being, is treated like a celebrity and, as the blurb describes, has even presented television programmes, released music singles and published a book of personal photographs. However, upon closer inspection, this leading lady is no more realistic than Scooby-Doo's recent incarnation.

Secrets comprises six short films, showing Yuki Terai in various situations. The first is Comet The Thief, where Terai breaks into a top security building and steals a guitar, escaping unscathed. Next is Mirror, where bizarre images of the girl appear out of mirrors and chase her. Then it's Dos/Chin, where Yuki is painting and gets annoyed with her dog. Then its Lazy Guy, a sci-fi story where the computer generated girl has a race against time to escape a space ship that is about to explode. These are followed by Fly Away Home, where she is singing in a bar, and A Life, which sees her reaching for a gun to possibly end it all.

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The problem with these self-contained stories is exactly that. They bear absolutely no relation to each other. Their sole purpose appears to be to showcase this "amazing" technology. There is nothing that ties the stories together apart from the titular character, who is very difficult to like because she comes across as being rude, moody, and arrogant. And a thief, no less!! There is also the fact that the designers have insisted upon dressing her in the skimpiest of clothes, showing off her animated curves, as a sort of Japanese version of Lara Croft.

This mini series - not even worthy of the title film - is definitely for those who prefer their entertainment to involve the use of a computer, or for teenage boys searching for a Lara fix.

Reviewed on: 25 Jul 2002
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Yuki Terai - Secrets packshot
CGI star Yuki Terai’s adventures.
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Starring: Yuki Terai

Year: 2000

Runtime: 79 minutes

BBFC: 18 - Age Restricted

Country: Japan

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