DNAngel
Ah, the catch-all explanation: genetics!
Review by: M.H. "Short a chromosome" Torringjan
Length: 26 episodes
Genre: Adventure
Watched: 26 episodes, subbed
This is another one of those series that got left behind when my computer broke a couple of years back, losing me internet access, as well as all of the previous episodes that I'd downloaded. So, in the end, the series was licensed by ADV, and all traces of it on the Internet that I was able to find were deleted. So, when the price of the series dropped to a reasonable price, I decided I'd finally retrieve the remainder and finish what I started (to my chagrin, after purchasing it and opening it, Craig showed me a place where I could download it; I maintain that I'm still supporting the series and its makers with the fifty cents in royalties that they probably get at the end).
Plot summary: Niwa Daisuke is a normal teenager who goes to a normal high school and has a normal crush on a normal cute girl (who, of course, sees him as a "just normal friend"). On the day of his fourteenth birthday, he returns home to his booby-trap-rigged house and his hooded-and-cloaked mother and grandfather, and is told that he is the legendary Phantom Thief Dark, who steals art works made by the Hikari family from right under the police's noses. But why is he doing it? And will Daisuke be able to steal the heart of Harada Risa?
Artwork: This is one of the main things that drew me initially to the series, as the character designs were distinctive and the artwork was fairly sharp for its vintage (2003), as well as the decent inclusion of CG in the artwork. However, as the series went on, I noticed shortcuts and inconsistencies that took away from the luster of the art. On one occasion, beach water flowed underneath peoples' feet instead of around them. On another occasion, someone's hair inexplicably changed colors mid-scene. The frame-rate sometimes slowed down, taking away from the smoothness. While the pictures were still well-drawn, it made the artwork seem somewhat less than it had been before that.
Music: This is an enjoyable soundtrack, with mood-setting instrumental pieces that you could probably stand to listen to for once through the soundtrack, at least. As we've learned in the past, it's easy for an anime director to get somebody to write a soundtrack. It's more difficult to get Yoko Kanno to write a soundtrack these days (and while Kanno's style wouldn't really have lent very strongly to this series, I just want to hear more music by her). We've also learned that it's easiest to get Yuki Kajiura to fling together some Latin-techno beats for the fight scenes (which they didn't do for this series, either). The opening track is an appropriately sweeping J-rock track about light and dark that sounds pretty nice, while the closing tracks I found to be a bit too slow for my liking, although the synthetic electrical sounds could appeal to some.
Characters: I can almost guarantee you, if this isn't the first action/adventure anime series you've ever watched, you'll easily recognize the character cliches that pretty much everyone fits into. Daisuke is a young boy with noble intentions who finds himself the host of the spirit of a legendary thief. He's friendly, optimistic, and a perfect gentleman (although I'm fairly certain he's not a Larry Drew, he certainly does toe the line), and he even knows exactly what to say to impress the ladies (except, of course, the lady that he wants). While he's unwilling at first to come to terms with his situation, he eventually accepts who he is and gets on with the business of stealing every piece of art that isn't nailed down or on display in the Gugenheim (who'd *want* to steal that...?). Dark is the aforementioned Phantom Thief, who has a cool-guy exterior and the an understanding of the magical powers they're facing from hundreds of years of stealing shit. His feelings are tied more closely to Daisuke's than he'd like to admit it, but he's always able to lend a word of advice when Daisuke is confused about his own feelings. Risa is the elder of the two sisters Harada, a quiet and refined girl, but aggressive when it comes to the one that she wants. Not only is this not Daisuke, but even worse, it's Dark. Riku is the younger Harada sister, an athletic tomboy who isn't as forward with her feelings as is Risa. She wants nothing to do with the smooth-talking Dark, but seems to want a lot to do with Daisuke. Emiko is Daisuke's mother, a controlling, but caring mother who is committed to producing the best phantom thief hers and her husband�s genes can produce. This cast of characters isn't really anything new, and there is a minimal amount of character development through the series in most of the characters.
Plot: I've noticed an interesting trend in anime recently, that many out-of-the-ordinary, sometimes even magical, things are passed down through genetics. It kind of makes me wonder where Mendeleev mentioned "turning into an angel-thief" in his writings on the inherited characteristics of pea plants. Or, for that matter, where they found the "heavenly maiden" (Ayashi no Ceres) gene when they cracked the human genome. I personally don't mind having to suspend disbelief when I'm watching anime; I watch series where cyborg implants make people able to jump from building-top to building-top, where school-girls can summon giant robots to fight for them against giant monsters, and where one guy can, without any effort on his own part, catch the attention of fifteen hot chicks, all of whom are perfect physically. Just don't try to explain some fantastic story away with a pseudo-scientific explanation (unless it's why all the women have to be lesbians or lose their superpowers). If it's magical, call it damn magical. Besides that, they used a lot of previously used plot devices (the friend they didn't know was an enemy trying to get close to them, the shifting romance, world-threatening crisis, etc.). They didn't do these too poorly, though, because of the decent writing that didn't get preachy, decent writing, and a good romance story, so it didn't leave too sour of a taste.
CHICKS!! I must sadly admit that most of these girls are far too young to even be thinking about how hot they are. And while the young 'uns aren't much to speak of, there is still Emiko, Daisuke's mother. She may be controlling, her breasts are good enough to distract you from that fact. Plus, her insistence that you have to help her father a son should leave you with plenty of amusing evenings (until she actually has the kid, at which point the evenings may end).
Overall: While this series wasn't the most fantastic and wasn't at all original, I'll give it credit for its decent production qualities and decent writing. It might not be the most interesting series for the seasoned anime fan, but certainly could act as a decent introduction series. It's not the best in the world, but it can serve as a hook for additional exposure. Then, once you've showed them the so-so stuff, hit them with the Bebop or Full Metal Alchemist. So, if you want to watch it, I would download it. The box-set makes the series much more affordable, but it still might not be worth the price paid.
In a nutshell:
+ Good artwork
+ Decent writing
- Cliche plot
- Cliche characters
Final score: 6.5/10
Return to Index