(L) Narutaru (Shadowstar) Manga

[Griffith]

That's an interesting point of view. I still think that

Spoiler:

her father has been molesting her, though. A couple arguments for that: When she returns home after her parents think she had been kidnapped. Her father puts his hand on her shoulder and she pulled away. Also, in episode 11, when he's looking at the photo album and reminiscing about how she was "Daddy's little girl". I don't think they ever said that she was pregnant, though I haven't gotten the chance to buy the manga yet myself. I've read the summaries Tsurumaru and Flash Squirrel posted however and this wasn't mentioned.

I guess we'll find out as the rest of the summaries are posted, though I don't think that she was.

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by Griffith

That's an interesting point of view. I still think that

Spoiler:

her father has been molesting her, though. A couple arguments for that: When she returns home after her parents think she had been kidnapped. Her father puts his hand on her shoulder and she pulled away. Also, in episode 11, when he's looking at the photo album and reminiscing about how she was "Daddy's little girl". I don't think they ever said that she was pregnant, though I haven't gotten the chance to buy the manga yet myself. I've read the summaries Tsurumaru and Flash Squirrel posted however and this wasn't mentioned.

I guess we'll find out as the rest of the summaries are posted, though I don't think that she was.

There is conclusive evidence in volume 6 (which tsurumaru didn't summerize):

Spoiler:

In the manga, volume 6 page 9 (japanese) or english super manga blast volume 38 (not yet anthologized) Akira's father is reminiscing over pictures of Akira as a cute little kid wondering what went wrong: Quote:
"Everything was so much easier in those days. She was such a good little girl..." ... "Was it me? Did I... DO something wrong as a father?" Akira's Mom: "M-Maybe you were... TOO "close" to her." Then she leaves the room.
I think this is pretty convincing evidence of some past molestation as it has an extra line then the anime which makes it pretty clear.

[Griffith]

Yeah, that's pretty convincing. I don't think I was too clear on my opinion though..

Spoiler:

When I said "I don't think she was, though", I meant that I didn't think she was pregnant. I agree with the common theory that she was molested/sexually abused, though.

[Briareos]

Originally Posted by Quarkboy

There is conclusive evidence in volume 6 (which tsurumaru didn't summerize):

Spoiler:

In the manga, volume 6 page 9 (japanese) or english super manga blast volume 38 (not yet anthologized) Akira's father is reminiscing over pictures of Akira as a cute little kid wondering what went wrong: Quote:
"Everything was so much easier in those days. She was such a good little girl..." ... "Was it me? Did I... DO something wrong as a father?" Akira's Mom: "M-Maybe you were... TOO "close" to her." Then she leaves the room.
I think this is pretty convincing evidence of some past molestation as it has an extra line then the anime which makes it pretty clear.

The confusing part for me is that...

Spoiler:

...Akira's father doesn't know what he did wrong as a father. He'd have to be pretty "not there" mentally to be asking those questions honestly if he had molested her (unless he's just perpetuating a ruse). At least in the anime, he seems to honestly not know what went wrong, and that's always thrown me off the path of molestation.

To me it would make more sense if he beats her, as a form of punishment. Mentally he would be able to justify that it's for her own good.

Her family always seems to be complaining about her in the resturant, and she feels little love or acceptance from her family now. Her desire to find love has led her down a path (i.e. sleeping around or wanting to sleep around) that has made her father wonder exactly where he went wrong.

In the dojo conversation that Shiina first has with Akira, Akira seems to have a fixation on hitting. "Aren't you angry with the person who hits you?"

I don't fully know how to interpret the "too close to her" line, but it may still be a line that's up for interpretation. Or, maybe Akira's father is so disfunctional that he can't figure out that molesting his daughter is wrong. I really doubt that his conscience is so broken that he would have no remorse about that act though.

[eiri]

i finished waching narutaru recently...
could someone tell me what was going on in ep 10? i didn't quite understand. think it's vol 5 of the manga; about Ezumi Jun. what's with the dragon things at the end?

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by eiri

i finished waching narutaru recently...
could someone tell me what was going on in ep 10? i didn't quite understand. think it's vol 5 of the manga; about Ezumi Jun. what's with the dragon things at the end?

Actually, I was confused by this ep too when I first watched it. I think actually that Triad didn't translate this one so well, or maybe the anime itself just didn't translate from the manga, so it came out a bit more confusing then it was supposed to be. Well, on second viewing it makes sense...

Spoiler:

I'm not quite sure what your question is, but the basic plot goes like this: Shiina meets up with random girl on Broom (Jun), who happens to be a friend of Boy in Coma (Kyouji). Friend of boy in coma (Shouko), comes to visit Kyouji, but meets up with Jun (who she hasn't seen in a long time, only exchanged letters). Jun tells Shouko off, and basically calls her a bitch and a weakling. Kyouji dies, and Shiina meets up with Jun carrying Kyoji's body away on her broom. Jun then reveals that she is not actually Jun, but a copy created by Kyouji (whose body IS still alive, though dying). He created a copy to leave in the hospital, and that's why everyone thought he died. Jun, it seems, died years ago in a car accident, and Kyouji has been writing letter's in her place to keep the truth from Shouko. Since kyoji didn't want shouko to be hurt by finding out about Jun's death, that's why he pretended to be Jun to get Shouko to accept her feelings and move on.
In the final scene, Shiina takes Shouko to the old school where Jun, Shouko, and Kyouji used to go, and they see Kyouji, now reborn in full adult dragon form. Note that the face of his mermaid dragon looks a lot like Shouko, which represents how much he really cared for her. Shouko decides to move on with her life, and all is good.
As for specifics on why exactly Kyouji was reborn into a dragon, and how the whole dragon life cycle works, it is left unclear at this point in the story.

By the way, in my opinion this is the happiest story in the whole Manga/Anime. I think that putting it right before Hiro's story was just Kitoh's way of lowering your defenses to make the next bit that much more impactful.

[TronDD]

Originally Posted by Quarkboy

By the way, in my opinion this is the happiest story in the whole Manga/Anime. I think that putting it right before Hiro's story was just Kitoh's way of lowering your defenses to make the next bit that much more impactful.

I agree. He does a damn good job at creating contrast. Like, isn't Hoshimaru so cute...as he murders someone in cold blood?

[eiri]

Originally Posted by Quarkboy

Spoiler:

In the final scene, Shiina takes Shouko to the old school where Jun, Shouko, and Kyouji used to go, and they see Kyouji, now reborn in full adult dragon form. Note that the face of his mermaid dragon looks a lot like Shouko, which represents how much he really cared for her. Shouko decides to move on with her life, and all is good.
As for specifics on why exactly Kyouji was reborn into a dragon, and how the whole dragon life cycle works, it is left unclear at this point in the story.

Spoiler:

okie... so the 'dragon' with the long tail that flies around is Kyouji? what about the girl with the lines on her body, is that Jun then? - it kinda looks like her... did she have a dragon too? i've only seen the anime, so this is based on that.

if it's not too much trouble, could i find out the names of Bungo and Hiroko's dragon child? thanks

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by eiri

Spoiler:

ok so the 'dragon' with the long tail that flies around is Kyouji? what about the girl with the lines on her body, is that Jun then? - it kinda looks like her... did she have a dragon too? i've only seen the anime, so this is based on that.

Spoiler:

If you mean the girl you see in episode 1, then no, that is not Jun. Jun is simply dead. The identity of the Virgin Princess, as she is called, is a big mystery until really really late in the manga.

Originally Posted by eiri

[spoiler]
if it's not too much trouble, could i find out the names of Bungo and Hiroko's dragon child? thanks

Bungo's dragon child is named "Hainuwere" (I'm not sure I know what language this one is from at all, help anyone?), according to a chart in manga volume 5 (I don't think it's name is mentioned in the anime). Hiroko's dragon child is called, simply "鬼": "Oni" or demon, according to the japanese web page. Interesting note: It is spelled with one kanji, the same kanji as is used in Kitoh's name, 鬼頭.

[Griffith]

In episode 8 I believe it was, Bungo refers to his Dragonchild by name as "Hainvelle". I'm looking forward to the rest of the manga summaries, hopefully it explains who the Virgin Princess is and some other things that are left hanging at the end of Volume 10.

[tsurumaru]

Whoa 3000 reads, erm guess I'll summarise Volume 11 this weekend if I get the chance , Volume 12 is going to be pretty difficult to summarise in places as it does have some pretty Kanji intensive parts that focus around resolving and explaining things, I think I understand the general gist of things (but I could be completely wrong with some assumptions) perhaps Kotonoha (or someone else with a better understanding of Japanese) would be kind enough to elaborate when I get to that volume.

[eiri]

Originally Posted by Quarkboy

Spoiler:

If you mean the girl you see in episode 1, then no, that is not Jun. Jun is simply dead. The identity of the Virgin Princess, as she is called, is a big mystery until really really late in the manga.

no, there was another girl in episode 10. she appeared towards the end, with the Kyouji dragon.

and the narutaru pg, http://www.narutaru.jp/story10.html

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by eiri

no, there was another girl in episode 10. she appeared towards the end, with the Kyouji dragon.

there's a picture at http://www.geocities.com/intergalact...utaru-10_1.jpg

and the narutaru pg, http://www.narutaru.jp/story10.html

I think you mistaking Kyouji's dragon (which has the face as a human and looks like a green mermaid) for a second dragon. The only full grown dragons that appear in the pictures you posted are the dolphin one in the beginning of the episode, and Kyouji's at the end. Kyouji is riding on the mermaid's back, as seen in the picture on the lower right.

I just had a thought:

Spoiler:

I was wondering why when Kyouji dies he is reborn into a full dragon, but when Norio is killed she AND her dragon-child just die. I think this is because to be reborn into a full fledged dragon you have to be in physical contact with you dragon-child when you die, otherwise it doesn't work. Any thoughts on this? This might also explain something that happens in Volume 12 (which I won't go into any more until Tsurumaru does all the work and summerizes it for us, thanks Tsurumaru!)

[tsurumaru]

Originally Posted by Quarkboy

I think you mistaking Kyouji's dragon (which has the face as a human and looks like a green mermaid) for a second dragon. The only full grown dragons that appear in the pictures you posted are the dolphin one in the beginning of the episode, and Kyouji's at the end. Kyouji is riding on the mermaid's back, as seen in the picture on the lower right.

I just had a thought:

Spoiler:

I was wondering why when Kyouji dies he is reborn into a full dragon, but when Norio is killed she AND her dragon-child just die. I think this is because to be reborn into a full fledged dragon you have to be in physical contact with you dragon-child when you die, otherwise it doesn't work. Any thoughts on this? This might also explain something that happens in Volume 12 (which I won't go into any more until Tsurumaru does all the work and summerizes it for us, thanks Tsurumaru!)

Yep this is right, Kyouji has become an Otohime (painted person) and his adult dragon took the form of a mermaid (with his cousins face).

Also Quarkboy:

Spoiler:

I'm pretty sure that to become a full dragon (and therefore an Otohime yourself) you must give your body and soul to be absorbed by your Dragon, in the story a number of people mention that Dragons seek "souls" or "Spirit" (the exact Japanese is Tamashii) but it is also mentioned by Kyouji that he needs his original body to give to his dragon (I'm assuming for this purpose). Norio (a guy by the way ) was not only a long way from his dragon but also had his perception mucked up by the Drugs he was injected with and didn't seem to know where he was at the end, in his own body or in his Dragons, this increased the link level he had with his dragon so he was able to change his dragon into its adult form, but he was not able to fuse his soul (and body) before he died and there both he and his dragon died )

Thats probably more conjecture than exact facts but it is what I have worked out so far.

Also:

Spoiler:

Norio's Dragon Vagina Dentata appears to be carrying a child, whether this child is a non complete form of Norio's Otohime form or rather an expression of Norio's love for Tsurumaru (which I believe to be more likely) its tragic, I have noticed that most of the Narutaru characters are lying to themselves, Norio says he never wants a child (but secretly wishes for one), Tsurumaru remains emotionless (apart from Shiina) and also tells Shiina quite significantly in Volume 7 that "Hitting a person won't bring back a deceased loved one" (as she is hitting Satomi over Bungo's murder of her Uncle), You'll see the irony of this statement in Vol 11.......

[eiri]

makes sense now!

thanks

[Griffith]

While this isn't exactly manga-related, it does have to do with Narutaru: I was browsing the official Narutaru website last night, and I noticed that they're re-airing the anime for a third time. Maybe interest in it is high enough that they'll do a second season? I'd love for this to happen, but I guess it's probably just wishful thinking, as they would need to edit/change some of the graphic things that happen (volume 10 especially from the sounds of it).

[tsurumaru]

Originally Posted by Griffith

While this isn't exactly manga-related, it does have to do with Narutaru: I was browsing the official Narutaru website last night, and I noticed that they're re-airing the anime for a third time. Maybe interest in it is high enough that they'll do a second season? I'd love for this to happen, but I guess it's probably just wishful thinking, as they would need to edit/change some of the graphic things that happen (volume 10 especially from the sounds of it).

Not only Volume 10....... Things start to go even more downhill in 11......as you'll see.....

[Briareos]

Originally Posted by Griffith

I was browsing the official Narutaru website last night, and I noticed that they're re-airing the anime for a third time. Maybe interest in it is high enough that they'll do a second season? I'd love for this to happen, but I guess it's probably just wishful thinking, as they would need to edit/change some of the graphic things that happen (volume 10 especially from the sounds of it).

They did Volume 6 very tastefully without removing much of the violence. (Much of the graphic violence in the anime was done just off-screen, or on-screen in silhouette.) If they're careful and creative, I'll bet they can get away with a lot (or at least preserve most of the events of the manga).

I guess the question is, does a third airing of the season denote audience interest (i.e. a cult hit) or contractual obligation? Is the station just re-airing the show because they can, or is there something more to it?

Or is it possible that with enough showings, the ad revenues (and DVD sales) will generate enough money to produce a second season?

We can hope.

[Griffith]

This is somewhat offtopic, but has anyone read Wings of Vendemiaire or Bokurano? Wings of Vendemiaire was Mohiro Kitoh's first work before Narutaru, and Bokurano is his latest. Wings of Vendemiaire is a collection of short stories, and I'm almost finished reading it, I'll most likely read the rest later today. Bokurano is on chapter 4 right now and it's pretty interesting in my opinion.

[Briareos]

Originally Posted by Griffith

This is somewhat offtopic, but has anyone read Wings of Vendemiaire or Bokurano? Wings of Vendemiaire was Mohiro Kitoh's first work before Narutaru, and Bokurano is his latest. Wings of Vendemiaire is a collection of short stories, and I'm almost finished reading it, I'll most likely read the rest later today. Bokurano is on chapter 4 right now and it's pretty interesting in my opinion.

Wings of Vendemiaire was mentioned in an earlier version of this thread. It's awesome -- highly recommended.

Thanks for the heads-up on Bokurano.