I thought this was a very good adaptation for watchers who wanted to give Glass Mask a try but didn't want to commit to a full series like the 1984 or 2005 adaptations. I vastly preferred the character designs in this OVA compared to the 80s anime, all except for Rei who I wish they kept her 1970s blonde bishonen charm. But everyone else was beautiful. One of my big gripes with the 1984 adaptation was making most, if not all, important characters blue-eyed and/or blonde in the case of Hayami. It didn't really look that good, but this comes down to more personal preference.This difference between the anime and OVA works in the OVA's favor since it makes it stand out as not just a carbon copy despite adapting the same source material.

The choice of new VAs or putting previous VAs into new roles also does this. While Ogata Megumi's Maya was a bit too child-sounding for me and I couldn't unhear Shinji, I liked how it made use of Ogata's range and was a fresh take on the character. Matsui Naoko as Ayumi Himekawa was a perfect change since it fit her vibe as a seasoned starlet.

The directing was also beautiful and I loved how cinematic it was, with use of lighting and environment to show the emotions of the characters and use of close-ups and far away shots. I also liked how it added some moments of normalcy, showing Maya's daily life with the girls around her and building on her backstory with her mother. It really makes the world feel more real and grounded. Despite this grounding, the anime still keeps the dramatic flair of the manga and its previous adaptation, which is a huge plus if you're a 70s-90s shoujo enjoyer like me.

Plot-wise, it does stop in the middle of an early arc in the manga, but that's what makes it perfect for people who are unsure if Glass Mask will be for them since it gives them a taste of what the story is like without being a huge investment timewise.

Overall, while it isn't necessary to watch since the adaptation before and after it adapt the same part of the story, I feel it is very much worth the time to see a fresh and unique spin on a beloved story such as Glass Mask.