Lyrical Nanoha: The Complete Series (DVD)

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Takamachi Nanoha is a cute, cheerful, 3rd grade girl who lives a happy life with her parents and her older brother and sister. Her ordinary life takes quite a turn when she starts having strange dreams involving monsters, magic, and a wounded young boy in desperate need of help. The dreams start invading Nanoha's waking life when she starts to hear voices that her friends can't hear.

Everything falls into place when Nanoha rescues an animal she finds injured in a local park. It appears to be a ferret of some sort, but it is actually much more. His name is Yuuno, and he is a magician from another world. His is the voice Nanoha had been hearing. Unable to refuse someone who needs her assistance, Nanoha agrees to aid Yuuno in recapturing something called "Jewel Seeds." Yuuno was working as an archeologist in his home world when he discovered a cache of these powerful crystals. However, the Jewel Seeds were lost in transit shortly after Yuuno discovered them.

Feeling responsible for the loss of the powerful artifacts, Yuuno has traveled to Earth in order to capture them. Unfortunately, the Jewel Seeds have been scattered all over our world, and they are not easy to find. Furthermore, when they are found or disturbed, their power becomes activated and unstable. They can grant any wish and cause quite a bit of destruction. It was in the process of fighting some monsters affected by an unstable Jewel Seed that Yuuno became weak and trapped in the form of a ferret. He needs someone with strong magical potential to help him, and Nanoha is just the right person. Nanoha accepts Yuuno's mission, and gains magical powers.

Even though she is young, Nanoha has a strong aptitude for magic, and she learns remarkably fast. Using a sentient weapon called "Raging Heart," Nanoha transforms from her regular clothing into a magical protective uniform. Raging Heart, which normally takes the form of a red jewel, changes into a large battle staff. However, the process of helping Yuuno is not easy. Nanoha must struggle to hide her newly awakened magical powers and her secret mission from both her friends and family. The monsters she fights are dangerous, and she often has to learn new magical skills while in the middle of a fight.

As if this wasn't enough, things get more complicated for Nanoha. Another girl with magical powers appears. Her name is Fate Testarossa, and she is also after the Jewel Seeds. What was originally a tough struggle for Nanoha has become a dangerous contest. Fate has great powers and great determination. Why is she after the Jewel Seeds? What will happen if she gets them all? Nanoha doesn't want to fight her, but Fate is not giving her any other choice!

While at the beginning "Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha" does somewhat fall into the "Monster of the Episode" format where Nanoha works on getting one Jewel per episode, there is a greater story that ties everything together and takes center stage later on. I found it all to be fairly predictable, however, there are some refreshing aspects to this show that raise it up above the mediocre. I enjoyed how Nanoha is brave and skilled right from the start. Unlike with other magical girls, there is not much of a bumbling, clumsy time for her. She is serious and smart from the get-go. I also like how there is a connection between magical powers and technology. Raging Heart is a great weapon, and the way that it is a live object that can change shape is really unique for a magical girl show.

This is another series in a recent trend of taking the "Magical Girl" genre, which is traditionally a genre aimed at little girls, and reshaping it to suit a different audience.

Even though this show does follow many of the trademarks of magical girl shows aimed at young girls, "Lyrical Nanoha" is actually a show aimed at older males. It may be hard to imagine, considering the cute young female lead, talking magical pet Yuuno, and the themes of love and friendship, but there are some of hints that make the actual target audience apparent.