D.N.Angel

Fantasy / Action / ComedyTV26 EP/3 Apr 2003

Oshimeter

8.6
66 Ratings
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Synopsis

At first glance, Daisuke Niwa seems like a pretty average 14-year-old, clumsy, not exactly cool, the kind of kid who trips over his own shoelaces. So when he finally works up the nerve to confess to his crush Risa Harada and gets turned down flat, you'd expect that to be the worst part of his day. Except the rejection triggers a family curse, and now every time Daisuke thinks about Risa, he physically transforms into Dark Mousy, a suave legendary phantom thief. His mom and grandpa? They've been training him for this his whole life and just never mentioned it. Thanks, family. Now Daisuke has to juggle school, steal and seal dangerous magical artworks as Dark, and deal with the fact that Risa, the girl who rejected him, is falling hard for his alter ego. Meanwhile, Risa's twin sister Riku starts catching feelings for the real Daisuke, and a mysterious classmate named Satoshi Hiwatari is secretly a police commander hunting Dark down while hiding his own dark secret. The love geometry here gets genuinely tangled, and the show leans into it without feeling cheap. It's a 26-episode TV series from Xebec with a tone that shifts between goofy school comedy and moody fantasy heists, held together by one of the catchiest openings of its era in "Byakuya ~True Light~." If you grew up with Cardcaptor Sakura or Kaitou Saint Tail, this hits a similar sweet spot: magical identity crises wrapped in teen romance and just enough action to keep things moving.

Episode Guide

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Characters

Dark Mousy

Dark Mousy, the phantom thief, is half of the Black Wings, deeply connected to Daisuke and secretly harbors feelings for Risa.

Mignogna Vic

Daisuke Niwa

Kind-hearted teen Daisuke transforms into the mischievous phantom thief Dark when experiencing strong emotions, battling his destiny while honing his incredible thieving skills.

Corn Kevin

Satoshi Hiwatari

Calm, intelligent, and secretly caring, Satoshi hunts Dark to protect his family's legacy and Daisuke.

Ayres Greg

Riku Harada

Athletic tomboy Riku, fiercely independent and kind, harbors resentment towards Dark for stealing her first kiss.

Haag Hilary

Risa Harada

Initially Daisuke's love interest, Risa becomes obsessed with Dark, cleverly pursuing him until their relationship ends; later showing hints of romance with Satoshi.

Christian Luci

MANGA BRIDGE

This season covers Chapters 1-49 of the manga. Continue reading from Chapter 50.

Manga cover

Community Feed

Someone and 1 others rated 10.0
EP 16
leviathanishAnime

Episode 16 focuses heavily on the evolving dynamic between Daisuke and Dark, presenting a nuanced exploration of identity and internal conflict. Visually, the episode maintains the series’ signature style while refining key elements during transformation sequences. The animation becomes noticeably more fluid when Dark begins to emerge, with motion lines, lighting shifts, and subtle distortions used to convey the instability of the transformation process. Sound design is particularly effective in differentiating the two characters. Daisuke’s scenes are accompanied by softer, lighter audio cues, while Dark’s presence introduces sharper, more defined sounds. The transition between these auditory profiles is seamless, reinforcing the duality at the core of the narrative. Transformation moments are marked by layered effects—wind-like distortions, echoing tones, and brief silences—that heighten tension and anticipation. The episode’s narrative strength lies in its focus on resistance and control. Rather than presenting the transformation as a fixed mechanic, it becomes a psychological struggle. Daisuke’s partial resistance introduces a new dimension to the story, suggesting that identity is not binary but fluid. This internal conflict is mirrored visually through overlapping imagery and shifting perspectives, emphasizing the instability of the situation. Pacing is carefully managed, allowing emotional beats to develop without disrupting the episode’s momentum. Dialogue is used sparingly but effectively, with pauses and silence often carrying more weight than words. Character expressions are given prominence through close-up shots, enabling subtle emotional shifts to be fully appreciated. What elevates this episode is its integration of technical and narrative elements. Animation, sound, and storytelling work in tandem to create a cohesive experience that feels both dynamic and introspective. The result is an episode that not only advances the plot but deepens the viewer’s understanding of the characters’ internal struggles.

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