There’s something strange about D.N Angel, something that seems to defy its simple shoujo narrative the way a cute little puppy defies all logic. You know it’s just a dog, but it gives you that look, and it wags its tail eagerly and bounces excitedly on its oversized front paws and ohmygod that’s it; you’re smitten and let this be a lesson damn it — never underestimate the power of cute.
That’s what D.N Angel, based on uber-popular manga series by Yukiru Sugisaki (9 volumes and counting available in English from Tokyopop) is a bit like. It isn’t that much more than a straight, boy-likes-girl-likes-some-other-boy romantic comedy, but you kind of want to take it home anyway, even if your brain’s kind of not an active participant in the decision and Mum’s probably going to have an absolute fit about the carpet. This series overrides such lofty considerations as “I’ve seen much better romantic comedies elsewhere” and “Oh god could that character be any more annoying?” and it does it with the gormless, trusting appeal of a perky pooch.
This has a lot to do with the likeability factor of the main character — one Daisuke Niwa, who is, up until half way through the first episode, just an ordinary grade-schooler with a crush on the prettiest girl in class. The fact that his mother sets deadly traps for him to avoid at the front door of an afternoon and that he is in fact heir to an ancient family curse is no reflection on his relative normality. He’s the kid everyone likes without even stopping to wonder why, and it’s for him that you’ll keep watching, caught in his innocent, yearning puppy-dog eyes and over-abundance of enthusiastic cute. It’s just impossible not to like him.
It seems somewhat strange to say that any one character is reason enough to watch this series, considering what else it has going on; but it really is about him, no matter what is actually happening. Daisuke’s love crisis is the core issue, but there are also rather more sophisticated variations on the genre themes if you care to look for them. You see, at a predestined age Daisuke’s hormones being triggered by the object of his affection turns him into someone else. If this were darker material you might possibly be correct in thinking I’m speaking figuratively, but this is anime for teenagers and instead I actually mean it literally. When Daisuke feels that jolt of fluttery, unrequited love, he turns into someone much cooler and more popular than he is — Dark, the Phantom Thief — and the object of Daisuke’s young affections promptly falls head over heels in love with his other self. You can see where this is heading already, right?
Well part of the unexpected joy of D.N.Angel is that yes, you can see where it’s heading, but it doesn’t head there in any conventional way. Of course, Dark’s presence in Daisuke’s life makes for some hilarious moments but it also accounts for a lot of the deeper thematic material of the show. Dark is both father figure and friend; foil for Daisuke’s awkward foray into self-awareness as well as crutch for his teenage vulnerability, the inner adult to his outer child. The many adventures they have together are only really significant as vehicles for establishing this journey of maturity Daisuke embarks upon, and tagging along for the ride is possibly one of the most, fun and heart-warming things you’ll ever sit around in front of the TV doing.
But I’m taking all the fun out of it by over-analysing. D.N.Angel doesn’t have to be any of these deep and meaningful things. As a comedy of errors adventure where identities are confused, loves are misdirected, where art is stolen and where police and classmates give chase, it’s a highly enjoyable and entertaining series. It’s beautiful to look at and the characters are all immediately likable. It has drama, twists, turns and fun a-plenty. It’s never going to ask too much of you, but if you care to take it home and love it, it’ll always have a place in your heart.
Awwww…