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Shadow Star Narutaru
Anime DVD Review
If you are looking for an anime that concentrates on its characters and draws you in with its overall eerie and disconcerting story; this is it. Based on a popular manga series by Mohiro Kitoh, Shadow Star is a slow-moving but compelling story about Tamai Shiina's adventures with a new friend she had met while visiting her grandparents. Her new friend, Hoshimaru, is an alien called a "Dragon's Child" and seems to attract friends and foes that have dragon's children of their own to Shiina.
 Despite the bright and cheery nature of Shiina, the anime series is dark and twisted on the whole. Shiina and Hoshimaru seem very innocent and upbeat but Shiina comes from a broken home that she must contend with, and despite Hoshimaru's soft, squishy, benign looking exterior, you get a feeling that he has an ulterior motive that he isnít telling anyone about.
Based on the foes that the two meet, we learn that Hoshimaru is the baby version of a "Dragon's Child". When he grows up, will he turn into the mindless killing machines that their foes have? Will he become the innocuous flower-looking dragon child that wields guns? Or will he become like the angel, whose wings can change at will into knives, guns, bazookas, and other weapons, that wanted to kill Shiina's dad?
If you think you can get a clear idea of what the series is like by listening to its title song, the series gives another curve ball. Just like Shiina herself, the happy go-lucky theme song doesnít give you any clue of the darkness and mystery that makes up the story.
Throughout this entire series, you will be challenged to look for the story behind the story. You will be asking more questions than getting answers - and this will be the reason you'll love it. You can't judge this book by its cover; it will definitely throw you a loop. Try it out and you won't be disappointed.
Reviewed by Carolyn Whu, April 2006
Below: Character design sheets and promotional artwork from Shadow Star Narutaru.
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