Episodes: 24

Year: 2005

Status: Complete, Licensed by Ganeon Entertainment

Alternative Title: Shana

Shakugan no Shana Official Site (Japanese)

Shakugan no Shana Official Site (English)

Review: Sakai Yuuji is a high schooler who expected his normal and uneventful life to last forever. However, Yuuji had a rude awakening to reality on his way home from school one day. He suddenly found the world around him frozen in time while monsters began to suck the life-force out of people. Fortunately, Yuuji was saved by a girl in a black cloak with flaming red hair and a sword. The girl, a “Flame Haze”, tells Yuuji that the real Yuuji died a long time ago and what is inside him is only a “torch” that will soon disappear with time. While this new world is opened to him, Yuuji, relatively ok after learning of his own death befriends the girl and names her “Shana”. He decides to help Shana in her mission of maintaining the balance and fighting monsters from the other side. However, what lies ahead for them and how long will Yuuji last before the flame within him dies out?

Shakugan no Shana is a rather interesting anime with a strong female lead, Shana. Shana in many ways is very similar to Ayano of Kaze no Stigma with her fierce fighting spirit and her relatively short temper. The story gets more interesting as Shana finds herself having feelings for Yuuji and soon is torn between her rational side of being a “Flame Haze” and the emotional side of being a girl in love. Amidst all this there’s some decent action and an interesting plot unfolding. All in all a pretty good watch!

As far as rating goes, Shakugan no Shana is on the lower side of a “great” - or on the higher side of an “alright”. Since the anime didn’t strike me as being particularly mediocre, I think I’ll be generous and go with the “great”!

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