In this spin-off from the more adult Triangle Hearts video game and OVA, the youngest member of the Takamachi family stars in her own magical-girl anime. Kind and friendly third-grader Nanoha meets a wounded talking ferret who is an archaeologist from another dimension tracking down crystals that fell through a space-time-warp to Earth. After Nanoha agrees to help the ferret, she is transformed via a powerful gem into a magical girl. So far, so normal: girl in a sailor suit with a big wand, a mission, a magical pet, and (soon enough) a rival also after the crystals. But Nanoha is not only gifted at magic, she's also much more responsible and cheerful than your typical magical girl. Over the course of 13 episodes, Nanoha's quest to recover the lost crystals brings her into contact with several other characters—not to mention alien spaceships—as the series rushes toward a happy sappy ending. Presented in a dual-language three-disc boxed set, rated 13-up, this is recommended. Aud: P. (L. Martincik)
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
(2004) 2 discs. 325 min. DVD: $59.98. Geneon (avail. from most distributors). ISBN: 1-4210-1637-0. Volume 24, Issue 3