[darktruth]

First found out about Shakugan no Shana at Manifest 2006 during the screening of the first two eps. While the story of this anime isn't exactly the best, I really took a liking to this series because of the action and Shana's character. It's a rather fast paced series despite it being only 24 episodes. By the time I got up to episode 12, I had thought I was only up to episode 6 so by that time, I realised I was really into this anime. I guess it was the fight sequences and story that kept me hooked.

The comedy is done like any other stereotypical fanservice anime but doesn't really go over the top with it. The music are also quite catchy and haunting at the same time, it's first opening theme "Hishoku no Sora", sung by Kawada Mami, is definitely a real eye opener in getting people curious about the anime. This was what got me interested in watching the series in the first place. The second opening theme "Being", sung by KOTOKO, lives up to the first one too although it'll probably take a few listens before you can appreciate it. The two ending themes however, "Yowake Umare Kuru Shoujo" & "Aka no Seijaku", can get pretty dull and annoying but listening to the full version of "Aka no Seijaku" made me realise how much better it sounds (especially the electric guitar part during the bridge of the song).

The characters are pretty much like any other stereotypical male and female protagonists in an action anime, e.g. Ichigo & that Death God girl from Bleach, but Shana can get pretty cute when she's angry, upset or happy. Her famous trademark quote "shut up! shut up! shut up!" is rather funny to listen to. Yuji is pretty much like Ichigo from Bleach but less aggressive even though he's unwillingly drawn into realising the truth about his world. The other characters, Ike (Yuji's best friend), Yoshida, Keisaku, Tanaka and Ogata pretty much serve as a comedy support though they do add a bit to the main storyline (especially Yoshida in terms of Yuji's relationship with Shana). I found the addition of Margery Daw served nothing more than to add sex appeal with her gigantic assets but her background story was kind of touching, however other than that, I didn't find her that interesting.

I'm really curious to see the Shana movie which is being released in Japan in April even though it's just a retelling of the first arc of the TV series (Friagne's arc) with some new stuff. The ending to the TV series was kinda rushed and was pretty much open-ended, which begs for a second season though no announcements of it has been made so far.

The Shana-tan specials, which pokes fun at its own anime, are hilarious to watch but you really need to see the TV series to understand the jokes made XD (loved Yoshida's split personality LOL). It just sucks that these specials are unlikely to be brought over to the R1 release since it was exclusively intended for a Japanese audience only and Geneon is having some difficulties to license these.

The special hot springs OVA was also fun to watch, while it didn't really put any focus into Yuji, Shana and Yoshida, it served an interesting insight into Ogata's character and Keisaku and Tanaka's friendship XD. Poor Ike was put into bad situations hahaha.

Overall, great action anime with a sub-par storyline which could've been executed a bit better. I found that the characters, music and action was what saved this anime from being crap.

[PJ-Animation]

Just started watching it two days ago (now I'm at episode three and downloading four) and I think it's pretty cool (as you should be able to tell from my sig and avatar). So far I don't think I've seen much worth changing, but that could change.

[Analog]

I learned about this series from the first Op song too. Love that tune! Haven't gotten around to watching any of Shana yet though. May be a while since it doesn't look like the kind of series that will show up on US TV either. (although they are showing Bleach and Blood+ at the moment, so maybe...)

[Flynt]

I've seen the first seven episodes so far and I have to say this is a winner. I'd recommend it as one to watch.

Darky I have to disagree about the sub par storyline though. It's quite good IMO. There is only so many ways to tell the old good vs evil storyline and I think think this one tells it quite well, with an interesting enough angle to keep you wanting to see what happens next.
Anyway, all I can say is if anyone hasn't seen it, do check it out because its definately worth watching.

[Eva]

Everyone for the first opening theme of the anime. I mean just about everybody. Other than that, Shana isn't that great when you look at it, but similar to 2040, I know it's awfully flawed, but I enjoyed it and that's all that matters at the end of the day. Shana very stereo-typical in every way imaginable from the plot to the cast, you'll run into an anime stereo-type.

I remember watching Shana-tan. I remember they chick looking at Yuji's personal area, if you catch my drift. Classic! Or, when Shana had to move a bunch of boxes on top of each another to stare face to face with Yoshida.

[Flynt]

, but I enjoyed it and that's all that matters at the end of the day. Shana very stereo-typical in every way imaginable from the plot to the cast, you'll run into an anime stereo-type.

I dislike using the words stereotype or cliched, because in reality pretty much EVERYTHING in life in one way or another is cliched. The main point is the enjoyment, yeah thats the important bit. I'm enjoying the show a lot and would still recommend it to watch.

[Lynk Former]

I think the point was that there's a good kind of stereotype/clicheness that works, and another kind that doesn't work.

[Flynt]

This series would have to fall under the good type then. Just finished watching it and it has the right mix of everything. There is also a movie which will air in japanese theatres mid April this year.

[darktruth]

As far as the storyline went...it started off interesting but ended up being quite lackluster to me. There was all this big interest in Yuji containing the "Reiji Maigo" and the villains attempting to take it from him but it got rather boring pretty quickly by the 3rd arc that I even wanted one of them to get it in the end.

As for Friagne in the first arc of the TV series, his obssession with a doll and attempts to gather up all the torches for her existence was very random and very "wtf?". There was no explanation or pasts that revealed why he is so close with this doll, this arc was more funny to watch as a comedy than to take it seriously. The 2nd arc of the brother and sister villains contained the usual incest cliche that wasn't needed to emphasise their relationship.

The 3rd arc improved a bit by having a misunderstood villain, that's rarely used, with some explanations to her motives for wanting the reiji maigo inside Yuji. The ending seemed kinda rushed though and was different from other big action type animes. None of the major villains from this arc were killed which is something not commonly done. Of course it also leaves a big follow-up for a second season but there's been no announcements of one so far.

I just hope the Shana movie does a better job of retelling Friagne's arc since it ran only for 6 episodes of the series but didn't pull it off that well. Like I said in my earlier post, I did enjoy watching this series but it wasn't the storyline that really made me like it. It was the action scenes, music and characters that I enjoyed watching.

Shana's character development was interesting to see as she came out as a rather narrow minded and emotionless flame haze to one that understood human emotions (although the episodes that revealed her past showed her with some emotions). Yoshida was pretty much what a typical shy schoolgirl is like but she was sort of presented as a wedge between Shana and Yuji (which can be seen as either a good or bad thing depending on how you view Shana as lol).

Yuji's character isn't very original either as he's the type that's willing to sacrifice himself for others, but to me, this somewhat had a part in teaching and making Shana broaden her views on human torches and creating a connection between them. He was willing to help her even when he knew the danger he was in by doing that. The only other character I felt that could've been developed more was Keisaku, he somehow ended up being more as Margery Daw's sidekick that added nothing to the main storyline or character relationships, although that's not majorly the case for the special OVA of anime where it focused on Ogata's crush on Tanaka XD.

Flynt, you should go and watch the shana-tan and hecate-tan omakes now that you've finished watching the series. It's hilariously outrageous. Yoshida's split personality is probably the best thing out of those as well as all the sexual joke references to the tv series.

[Flynt]

I've seen the one off episode and the omakes too. The Omakes did crack me up, really funny. I like the way it poked fun at the series. Yoshida and the monocle was hilarious.

Keisaku was an oddball character and I agree something more should have been done with him. To develop his relationship towards Margery would have been nice.

I think Yuji's willingness to sacrifice himself shows he is not 'just a torch', something which Shana does starts to understand and what Yuji believes deep within himself. Whenever Yuji is close and cares about her, her powers increase, the pair realise thier relationship is special. He is just ast human as before, and even Shana starts to see him as such.

Friagne was weird, I struggled to understand what it was with the doll too, the others called him a perverted doll lover, I thought perhaps the doll contained the spirit of someone he loves, but thats just conjecture.

I know the story wasn't perfect, but I still liked it, along with the action, music and characters.

[darktruth]

Apparently a second season of Shakugan no Shana has been announced over at the Official Japanese Site on April 1st. LOL a lot of fans thought it was an April fool's joke since the Japanese people are also aware of it but it turns out to be real as the production blog also confirms it. It's been scheduled to air in Japan this fall.

I'll be interested to see the follow up to the first season since it has quite a few stories that needs to be tied up, especially the relationship between Yoshida, Yuji and Shana.

[Flynt]

Glad it wasn't just a rumour after all like so many others. My guess is they will probably use more material from the mangas and light novels as there still is plenty of material left.

Slightly off topic It looks like a second season of Haruhi Suzumiya is also slated for a fall release this year

[Eva]

Apparently a second season of Shakugan no Shana has been announced over at the Official Japanese Site on April 1st. LOL a lot of fans thought it was an April fool's joke since the Japanese people are also aware of it but it turns out to be real as the production blog also confirms it. It's been scheduled to air in Japan this fall.

I'll be interested to see the follow up to the first season since it has quite a few stories that needs to be tied up, especially the relationship between Yoshida, Yuji and Shana.

All I have to say would be awesome.

After hearing the movie won't give closure to the series, I was disappointed. I'll take a second season over a movie any day of the week.

[darktruth]

Just received the Shakugan no Shana SP (Introduction to the movie) DVD today. There wasn't really anything new shown in the theatrical trailers and promo spots but it had an interview with the Japanese VA's of Shana & Yuji and a short feature of Shana and Yuji defining terms such as a "torch" and other things talked about in the series.

There was also a new shana-tan omake but it ran for just over 2 minutes, actually to be precise...it's titled as "Banjou no Caimelsan". It mainly focused on Wilhelmina talking about something that I didn't really understand (though I think she said she was hungry again like in the other omakes) and Shana made a small appearance near the end. Alastor's journey was stretched too lol. There's a few screencaps I made below.