Anime: Narutaru: Mukuro Naru Hoshi Tama Taru Ko

“Shadow Star” tells the story of a young girl who encounters a strange creature, whereby her world at first seems more fun, but soon complicates and crumbles. The female protagonist, Tamai Shiina, befriends a strange magical creature that she uses to help solve her problems, which include protecting the people she cares for and satisfying her own need for freedom and adventure. Even though she lacks the “normal” connection with her dragon that the typical dragon companion has, she cannot telepathically communicate with it, she has some unknown strength, as Otohime appears before her twice, even though most dragon companions never meet Otohime. With her optimistic personality and generosity towards others she tries to help out those in need, most notably her friends Sakura Akira and Kaizuka Hiroko (Hiro), but she ultimately fails in both cases as Akira kills her parents and Hiro kills her parents, four schoolmates and a sibling, and almost Shiina’s father. While in the beginning of the manga Shiina has a carefree and light character, after first killing Akemi, a fellow dragon companion, then witnessing her friends being picked off one by one, and finally her dragon killing her friend as she watches, her character develops in a morbid direction, surrounded by death. One of the most striking lines in the manga from Hiro to Shiina, taking place directly before Shiina’s dragon kills Hiro reads, “You cannot always solve people’s problems with kindness.” Additionally, Shiina says to that same friend earlier in the manga that she will never marry and bear children because she has decided never to fall in love.

Tamai Shiina – 6th grade- The protagonist of Narutaru, she acts very mature for her age, does not get the best grades, but is talented at cooking and hard-working. She always tries her hardest to become stronger, often facing newer and more difficult challenges. While outwardly cheerful and optimistic about everything, on the inside the protagonist’s hurt stems back as far as her name, as, in her dream in the first episode she says, “Shiina...That is my name, but you see, I do not like that name. Next time you come, be careful. Do not call me by that name.” Using heart-thumping music of the same three piano keys to further the idea of death, Shiina asks, “Am I going to disappear from this world?” She fears losing those closest to her, but must endure.

Hoshimaru (Round Star): Shiina’s companion, it does what Shiina unconsciously wants to do or have happen. This means that in reality she does not wish to casually speak with Hoshimaru, and that everything Hoshimaru does is actually Shiina’s will, whether for good (flying) or for bad (killing).

Sakura Akira – A ninth grade Junior High School student, she always seems out of place. She likes to hide in the shadows where she can feel protected from the outside world. Living above her family’s restaurant, her parents wish her to try harder and not slack off. Instead of trying to free herself of her timidity, she creates further barriers, with the exception of befriending Shiina. She keeps all of her pain inside, and tries at first to free her of the pain by slitting her wrists, but ends up unleashing her rage on her father by killing him with a dagger.

Tamai Shunji: Shiina’s father, he is a pilot for a company. He and his wife separated years ago, and he lives with Shiina. Once a sensational ace pilot for the National Defense Force, his abilities have diminished since an undisclosed incident involving a dragon. He loves his daughter dearly and wants always to protect her, even though often she ends up protecting him. Shiina: “I’m the daughter of an ace pilot,” Shunji: “That’s wrong, Shiina. An ace pilot is someone who can decide what they can and cannot do with courage.”

Otohime: Appearing on a large dragonet, the Virgin princess is equivalent to a goddess of dragons. She rarely makes appearances, thus seeing her once in a lifetime is a rare event.

Akemi Tomonori (Komori-kun) – While to the outside world Akemi was a polite, nice, and popular boy taking care of his weak mother and wanted to become a doctor, in reality he wanted to kill the educated. He tells Akira, “I will make a kingdom lasting a thousand years. I will be the king, and [Sakura] will be my queen. The first thing I would do is kill about five billion people.” He dies at the hands of Hoshimaru after reintroducing immense fear into Akira and Shiina’s hearts.

Ozawa Sudo – A haughty girl who goes to Banryou (Panda) Private Junior High school, Amapora is her dragonet companion. She wishes to kill people, but lacks the strength, until she finally unleashes her power on civilians, creating a city of dead people. Kuri Mamiko

Takano Bungo – A second year high school student and one of the friends of Komori-kun, his dragonet, Hainvelle, resembles an angel attacks Shiina’s father while flying. A member of his High School’s track team, he often skips class to spend time with Ozawa-san.

Sudo Naozumi – One of Komori-kun’s friends, he is rather calm, yet extreme enough to commit grand theft auto. He sees himself as someone who protects Earth, even though he sends Ozawa-san to kidnap Akira to discover whether she has a dragonet. He believes he can change the world, releasing it of its bonds to tradition, custom, and common sense.

Kaizuka Hiroko (Hiro-chan) – A very smart classmate and Shiina’s close friend, bullies torture her for scoring high on exams, while her parents scold her for not receiving perfect marks at home. Only finding solace from Shiina, she cannot approach Shiina about the bullying, but must live with it, until the day she snaps. After experiencing the unfairness in Japanese society, she wishes that everything would disappear. Had someone helped her earlier, she claims she could have stopped.

Ezumi Jun – Her dragonet, Nendo, looks like a broom. She appears briefly and apparently died two years before she meets Shiina. Her dragonet’s ability allowed Kyoji to take her form when his body died. Jun’s body along with Kyoji’s soul merges with the dragonet, causing them to evolve into a full dragon and Otohime.

Tsurumaru Takeo – Shiina confuses him with the writer of a threatening note. His friend Norio has a dragonet who accompanies Takeo often. He helps Shiina and Akira many times, although he does not always understand where his responsibilities should stand. He has five illegitimate children and three girls pregnant during the course of the anime.

Honda Aki – She leads the group that bullies Hiro-chan. Her brother Yasuhito teaches her various ways to torture Hiro.

Shitou Mioko (Mio-chan) – A close friend to Shiina, she remains always nervous when she helps bully Hiro because she fears Shiina’s potential reaction. Her lack of confidence in her own strength undoubtedly led to her involvement in the group that bullies Hiro-chan.

Takamura – One of the girls who bully Hiro-chan, she joined out of jealousy for Hiro-chan’s perfect test grades.

Ozaka Mihaya – A classmate of Shiina’s, she bullies Hiro-chan along with other girls out of jealousy.