灼眼のシャナS (OVA)
Shakugan no Shana S Review

*SPOILERS*

Ever since Shakugan no Shana came to my attention, causing me to watch the first TV series, I’ve been a fan of the franchise. So, while I wanted to see a third TV series, J.C. Staff decides to whet our appetites by producing a 4-episode OVA series and four Shana-tan episodes along side. As an appetizer, this short OVA series works and will carry me over to a third TV series that J.C. Staff appears sure to bring sometime in the future.

While containing four episodes, the series actually contains three stories. Episode one is a pure comedy fest which has Yuuji and Shana body swap. To me, it was actually funnier than the Shakugan no Shana-tan G episode attached to the release as they had to avoid running into Wilhelmina. Naturally, she immediately spots them from a McDonalds (parody), Hoovers her burger, and rushes out to meet them before they can get away. So while there wasn’t any character development or story advancement, the story was funny and the main cast all got screen time.

The second episode tones down the comedy in favor of a slice-of-life episode centering around Shana shutting Wilhelmina out for a time. The only comedy stuff came from Wilhelmina literally dragging Yuuji around from place to place to spy on Shana and that included when she traveled by power lines. ^_^ The episode provided some additional moments of Shana’s life at the Tendoukyuu and Wilhelmina’s role as Shana’s guardian. It was nice seeing Wilhelmina and Yuuji work together and of course when the purpose of Shana’s suspicious behavior is learned, it is a sweet moment as well. As such, it was nice not having a desperate life-or-death situation and just a slice-of-life story.

The final two episodes are a prequel to the first TV series. While all three stories are reportedly based off of side-stories written by light novel creator TAKAHASHI Yashichiro-sensei, the final 2-part story had a great deal of impact for me. That’s because Shana has no qualms when she literally snuffs out the Torch Junko and takes over her existence. For me, this was a horrifying moment as Torch Junko was desperately afraid, knowing she was about to die (even though technically, she was already dead) and Shana’s coldhearted method of dealing made it more so. It made me remember that in the main story, Shana has actually assumed another Torch’s existence — Hirai-chan. We don’t think about that, do we?

This two-part episode never stops reminding the viewer that Shana is Junko. Making Junko a sweet high school girl who had just started her first romance, experienced her first kiss (or at least that was my impression), and who had a whole life in front of her only to have it consumed by a Tomogara and then the Torch copy of her violently taken over by Shana will make me see her a bit differently should a third TV series come about. So, while the final two episodes contained none of the other characters (save for Alastor, which is understandable), the story worked for me even if the Tomogara was weak and the fight Shana had was very brief.

I would have been happy enough with just this. However, J.C. Staff had a little surprise for us fans after the credits in the forth episode. They linked episodes three and four by having Misaki City be Shana’s next destination and then provided a very brief recap of major things that happened to Shana and Yuuji since she arrived as well as Shana’s becoming more human. When the animation has Shana land on one of the bridge towers leading out of the city and stated that she and Yuuji had parted ways (all the while showing what appeared to be Yuuji on the other tower) and her looking like she’s getting ready for battle, I was thinking, “What the…?!”

Of course, it ends there but all of the non-spoiler information I’ve read states that this would most certainly be part of a third TV series and that in the light novels, something happens that causes Yuuji and Shana to be on opposite sides. The mind reels at the possibilities of what this might entail. I’ve had some time to think about it (after looking back and my Shakugan no Shana 2nd reviews) and while I won’t write anything too much here, it does seem that Yuuji’s Hougu must be at the root of it considering all the mess with the Silver, Pheles, and her lover. Hopefully, we can get a third TV series and learn more.

So, for me, this OVA series was an enjoyable appetizer for an eventual TV series, whenever that may come about.