D.N.Angel

To me D.N Angel is ok. The series did catch me at first but, during the middle it got quite repetitive with Dark going around stealing artifacts.It wasn't until the 24th episode that the story started to move and we learn more about Dark.

The good thing about this series is the bond Daisuke has with Dark and Riku.

Overall, D.N Angel is worth watching.

(review posted March 2004)

D.N. Angel is a very entertaining series with a total of 26 episodes (I am reviewing the fansub pre(R1)release).

Daisuke Niwa 's 14th birthday is the worst ever. First the girl, Riza Harada, on whom he has a crush, told him that she only considers him to be a very good 'friend', which dashes his hopes of giving her a love letter. Then he finds out that he has been set up by his mother and grandfather to be the host of the spirit of the Dark Mousy! He learns to his horror that if he stares at Risa (or a picture of her) for too long, he will loose control of himself and transform into Dark, an eighteen year old very magical winged phantom thief, who last made an appearance some sixty years ago. Instead of a birthday party, his mother proceeds to set him up by transforming him into Dark, and tells him that if he does not steal a special artifact, then he can never return to normal. And when returning from the theft, Niwa happens to see Risa on an outdoor balcony which prompts a transformation into Dark, who suddenly takes control and swoops down to steal a kiss, not from Risa, but from Riku, her twin sister. Oh, what a dismal birthday!

DN Angel is a story about a young man caught up with his familys curse in which the male son is called upon to be the host to a mysterious thief called Dark Mousy. His family has a special responsibility to collect and seal away a number of strange cursed and dangerous magic artifacts, and how his mother and grandfather call upon the skills of Niwa/Dark to steal/seal them away.

This series succeeds in pushing forward and developing a number of different story lines within each episode; such as Niwa's relationship with the two twins - Riku and Riza, his love interest in Risa (or is it Riku?), the familys goal to protect the city from a number of dangerous situations, the troublesome relationship between Niwa and the phantom thief Dark having to share one body, and a larger mystery as to why the Dark Mousy is bound to Niwa's family bl.ood line.

This is a very un-Japanese series. Niwa and his friends live in what looks to be a medieval European coastal village and all the magical artifacts that Niwa/Dark encounter derive in origin from the western occult or the European mythos. Niwas mother and grandfather are dressed in black as they cast spells in the basement alter in a shower of sparks. Riza consults a tarot deck to learn if her fate is intertwined with Dark, and a unicorn makes an appearance to kidnap young ladies to an uncertain fate.

What charmed me about DNAngel is that it tries to break out of the standard mold of many anime series. While Niwa is awkward and uncertain in his youth, he is not a wimp or victim of his circumstances. Niwa was raised in a fatherless family, but unlike many other anime series, his dad is not dead and actually shows up later on. In fact, it is not even clear if his mother and father are even married. His mother is very extreme person, showing an absolutely maniacal fixation for Dark and she almost evil in how she keeps setting up her son on the different jobs', but she does let her son know how much she loves him. Even Satoshi Hiwatari, the adversary to Niwa/Dark appears as an unclear and uncertain opponent, until the specifics of his circumstances are explained. And there are a number of other interesting plot twists that keep the story fresh and interesting.

But dont be deceived by the title of this series, which appears to suggest something very different than what it really is. (It actually is a cute word play on Daisuke Niwa (DN) and Angel refers to the winged phantom thief.) This is really a very fun series with strong elements of romance, adventure, magic and mystery that will keep most every viewer entertained.