Thursday, January 29, 2004

NaruTaru--just watch it.
Very rarely is their a work of fantasy created that portrays scenarios so realistic that it is almost a relief to see problems solved with some form of the super-natural.
Shiina Tamai is a twelve year old girl in the sixth grade, who, like most other children her age revolves around her friends more than anything else. She is a happy child, with few worries, never depressed. But, her life will soon change, for what can only be interperated as the worst...

It all starts when Shiina discovers a mysterious creature under water when visiting her grandparents; she nearly drowns, and is later found lying upon the shore, with no trace of a rescuer. It turns out that she has been rescued by the strange creature she discovered, but it does not end with simply saving her life. The creature decides it is going to stay with Shiina, and begins to follow her everywhere. At first, she thinks this a wonderful turn of events. However--upon meeting a strange girl at a kendo lesson, Shiina's outlook on life slowly begins to shift.

This girl, Akira Sakura, is depressed, suicidal. She tells her of a connection she has with a strange creature that looks almost exactly like the one Shiina found earlier. Only Akira's situation is much, much different: her Dragonet--as the beings are called--has invaded her mind, causing her to undergo nausiating mental situations, like falling from the sky, and the pain of hitting the ground. But this is only the beginning of the end of Shiina's life as a happy child.

Throw in a genocidal little boy, a group of bullies, and seven murders committed by a creature that manifests in her best friend's room, and Shiina's life has spiralled into something she has never experienced before...pain.

Do not allow the opening theme or animation-style to fool you--this is not a show for every one. Narutaru holds great moral ideals, deals with nearly every issue of growing up. Not to mention it is, perhaps, one of the most deep-delving psychological dramas ever created. Prepare to be frightened, and in many ways moved. That is, if you think you're prepared to watch all 13 episodes. As I said before: this show is definately not for every one. Yet, I find, it speaks to the small child inside all of us.


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