The comic is funny, to be fair, but the movie just feels a bit looser and more playful as it heightens the slapstick elements and the absurdities of everyday life. It would’ve been easy to make this into more of a soap opera, but by keeping the tone light, it lets the movie and these characters be joyful in their lives, regardless of what they face. It’s a pretty direct adaptation of the comic, but one that leans much more on the humor of the book. Given Ouberie’s style, the choice to adapt Aya as an animated film makes sense, and Aya of Yop City (2012, directed by Abouet and Ouberie) is a lot of fun. Ouberie’s lines are loose and expressive and he crafts a world that feels casual and lived-in. Abouet’s attention to detail sometimes makes the book feel slow but it’s also the minutia that creates a vivid reality. This is just everyday life for these people.Ībouet and Ouberie work well together and bring out the other’s strengths. It doesn’t shy away from serious topics, but it never gets bogged down by them. There is some serious drama (unplanned pregnancies! infidelity!) but Abouet’s writing is spirited and kind and Ouberie’s art gives the book levity. While Aya is the title character, most plotlines aren’t really about her, mostly because she’s too smart to get into too much trouble. The comic is pretty episodic - while one storyline leads to the next, it’s definitely more of a slice-of-life than a tale that has a beginning, middle, and end.
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