Shakugan No Shana – 灼眼のシャナ – Burning-Eyed Shana
Shakugan No Shana first began as a series of novels written by Yashichiro Takahashi and was first released in November 2002 and still runs today with 23 volumes under its belt. Three years after its release a manga was followed written by Takahashi once more but with the illustrations changed from Noizi Ito, the original artist on the novels to Ayato Sasakura.
In the same year the Anime series was kicked off, animated by J.C. Staff studios, it ran for six months and twenty four episodes featured. Two years after its original airing a second series ran under the title of Shakugan No Shana Second and an OVA and a third series is soon to follow.
The novels, manga and Anime are directed mainly at young men but over the years has established a strong following of female fans with the Anime being responsible for pulling in the girls.
Writer, Takahashi, is best known for his work on this series but has also worked on another series A/B Extreme which won him an Honourable mention in the 8th Dengeki Novel Prize. Both artists, Noizi Ito and Ayato Sasakura have also accomplished great work in their time as artists and Ito as well as being responsible for the character designs of Shana has also worked on ‘The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’.
Shakugan No Shana or ‘Shana’ for short is the story of Yuji Sakai, a high school student whose life is revealed to be not living his own life and is in fact a replacement for the real Sakai. One day after school, on his walk home Sakai encounters two monsters devouring the helpless people trapped in their magical spell. Just as he too is about to be devoured a young girl appears from nowhere brandishing a powerful blade, tearing the demons or Rinne apart in seconds. The girl introduces herself as a ‘Flame Haze’, a guardian responsible for maintaining the vital balance in our world, together with her partner Alastor, they aim to destroy the Tomogara, powerful demons, replace those who were lost in fights with ‘torches’.
Sakai himself a torch and upon realising that his torch is soon about to go out, he decides to spend his time helping Shana and those around him by protecting them for the demons and monsters. On his last night, Shana and Alasator discover and reveal that Sakai is actually a Mystes Torch embued with the power of being able to regenerate at midnight, meaning unlike all the other Torches, Sakai can live a normal life.
Normal until other Tomogara soon realise that a Mystes with the ability to regenerate resides in the city and they soon begin to arrive in their droves.
Things between Sakai and Shana start out a little rough, with Shana refusing to see the young man as anything more than a torch but then their constant battles brings them closer and soon their feelings for each other become more complicated and difficult than any foe they could ever face.
Shakugan no Shana is not some new story or brand new plot meant to strike a new line in the world of Anime or Manga. It is a similar plot and arc and there is nothing wrong with that, boy meets girl, girl is super powered warrior fighting against great evil, boy is key point in the girls fate and vice versa and throw in some love story and voilá… you’ve got yourself an Manga/Anime.
What is different about Shakugan No Shana is it’s execution of this plot, just when you think things are about to happen or work out a certain way, we are quickly and brutally shaken from our comfort zones and the writing is mixed up to keep us on our toes. Coupling in the beautiful animation, Shana’s transformation into her powerful Flame Haze mode is breathtaking, with the fantastic soundtrack that accompanies the pairs adventures. You will find yourself cooing over the development of both Shana and Sakai as they adjust to each other and their fledgling relationship and holding your breath as they get closer and closer to revealing just how much they really co care for each other.
Shakugan no Shana is like Cardcaptors but all grown up – with more adult themes and a more complex evolution of relationships, it is one for any avid Anime or Manga fan to get their hands on.
Bad Points
A lot of information and lore to digest
Subtitles can be a little askew
Good Points
Beautiful animation
In-depth character development
Fantastic fight scenes
The Verdict: 8.5/10
