Shina Dark
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese fantasy
and comedy
manga
series written by Bunjūrō Nakayama
and drawn by Yukari Higa
. The manga originally started serialized in ASCII Media Works
' seinen manga magazine Dengeki Teioh on January 26, 2006, and ran in that magazine until November 2006 when it went on hiatus until starting up again in ASCII Media Works' shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh
in April 2007. The manga ended serialization in Dengeki Daioh in the March 2009 issue. Four bound volumes
were released by ASCII Media Works. A DVD containing four animated
music video
clips was bundled with the third manga volume, produced by the animation studio Shaft
.
Noel
Vincent
Mapul
Zirus Ziriola
Kingdom of Estgloria
Vansable Empire
series is being drawn by Yukari Higa
and written by Bunjūrō Nakayama
. The series originally began serialization in the magazine Dengeki Teioh, published by ASCII Media Works
, on January 26, 2006, but due to discontinuation of Dengeki Teioh on November 26, 2006, the series was moved to Dengeki Daioh
on April 21, 2007. The manga ended serialization in the March 2009 issue of Dengeki Daioh. Four bound volumes
were published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Comics
imprint
. The series is licensed in France by Taifu Comics.
containing four animated
music video
s directed by Akiyuki Shinbō
and animated by Shaft
, was released with the limited edition of manga volume three on March 21, 2008. A digest
of the videos was released in the February 2008 issue of Dengeki Daioh
that was released on December 21, 2007. This digest was also posted on the Dengeki Comics
official Shina Dark website.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series written by Bunjūrō Nakayama
Bunjuro Nakayama
is a Japanese author best known for his creation of Mahoromatic.- Works :* Ushio and Tora * Dōkyūsei * Yukina no Negai * Mahoromatic...
and drawn by Yukari Higa
Yukari Higa
is a Japanese manga artist from the Miyagi Prefecture. She has also published doujin under the name .-Manga:* Magical Chronicle Lyrical Nanoha Force* Kiddy Girl-and Pure* Shina Dark* Holy Hearts!* Sekai Seifuku Monogatari- External links :...
. The manga originally started serialized in ASCII Media Works
ASCII Media Works
is a Japanese publishing company in the Kadokawa Group which formed on April 1, 2008 as a result of a merger between ASCII and MediaWorks where MediaWorks legally absorbed ASCII. Despite this, the former president of ASCII, Kiyoshi Takano, became the president of ASCII Media Works. The company...
' seinen manga magazine Dengeki Teioh on January 26, 2006, and ran in that magazine until November 2006 when it went on hiatus until starting up again in ASCII Media Works' shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh
Dengeki Daioh
is a Japanese shōnen manga magazine published by ASCII Media Works under the Dengeki brand. Many manga serialized in Dengeki Daioh were later published in tankōbon volumes under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comics imprint. The magazine is sold every month on the 27th...
in April 2007. The manga ended serialization in Dengeki Daioh in the March 2009 issue. Four bound volumes
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
were released by ASCII Media Works. A DVD containing four animated
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
clips was bundled with the third manga volume, produced by the animation studio Shaft
Shaft (company)
is a Japanese animation studio founded on September 1, 1975 by Hiroshi Wakao. They are best known for their unique use of gags and references notably in Pani Poni Dash!, Maria Holic, Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei, Hidamari Sketch, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Bakemonogatari series.- History :Shaft was...
.
Plot
The series revolves around the legendary demon lord Exoda C. Claw who is revived when an eclipse forms the Exoda Ring and the demonic island Shina Dark rises once again. Kingdoms and villages from around the world send over a thousand sacrificial maidens to the island in an attempt to satisfy the demon lord's legendary lust and protect their lands from the unspeakable destruction he will bring. However, the legends are false; Exoda does not possess such lust, and is not interested in destroying the world. He's quite happy to live in peace and to go fishing on the weekends. The girls on the island are now unable to return to their homelands, as others see them as tainted brides of Satan. This presents many practical problems, from simply feeding the abandoned girls to giving their lives purpose. To this end, the demon lord enlists the help of two exiled princesses, Galett from the East Vansable Empire, and Christina from the Kingdom of Estgloria. The two princesses become the Green and Blue Moon Princesses, respectively, symbolic leaders of the new independent nation of Shina Dark, a nation created to give the abandoned girls a new life in a new country.Characters
- Exoda is the Demon Lord of Shina Dark, also called SatanSatanSatan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
. Legend says that he is a cruel and vicious beast that when revived, will take a thousand wives, and he will sleep with ten at a time and continuously attack towns and cities to take their women. These legends have been written while Exoda has been asleep and are completely false as in fact he has a laid back and calm personality, despite being very powerful. After waking up and finding that his island is populated with hundreds of women exiled from their homelands as offerings to him, he decides to declare Shina Dark as an independent nation and declare Galett and Christina as its symbolic leaders, who are thus nicknamed the "Twin Moon Princesses".
- Galett is the fourth princess of the wealthy and advanced Vansable Empire, sent to Shina Dark to become Exoda's concubine in order to protect the peace of her home empire. Exoda grants her the title of Green Moon Princess of Shina Dark, one of the Twin Moon Princesses who are symbolic leaders of the nation of Shina Dark. She is a strong sword fighter and has been instrumental in the creation of a militia to protect the townspeople on the island. She was raised to be a knight and follow the codes of chivalry by an adviser of her father's, who she calls Grandfather. She has somewhat of a hard time governing Shina Dark during the time when Christina is recovering. With recent occurrences on the island, she starts to hold affectionate feelings towards Exoda (Satan). She regards Christina as a friend as well as a rival towards love.
- Christina is the thirteenth princess of the dwindling Estgloria Kingdom. The ruling Queen of Estgloria has sent Christina to Shina Dark out of hate for Christina's mother. Christina receives the title of Blue Moon Princess, the second of the Twin Moon Princesses. While not strong or possessing any real power which makes her feels useless, Christina later learns she is a skilled strategist, boosting her resolve. Christina also suffers health problems after being slowly poisoned over many years under the orders of the Queen. Touched by Exoda's (Satan) kind and caring words, she also develops affection towards him. She regards Galett as a friend as well as a rival towards love.
Noel
- A robot girl who serves as Exoda's maid.
Vincent
- Exoda's butler.
Mapul
- A little girl originally sent to Shina Dark to be a sacrifice, Exoda instead adopts her as a daughter.
Nations
Shina Dark- An island nation formerly ruled by Exoda, the Demon Lord of Shina Dark before giving the leadership to the Twin Moon Princesses, Christina and Galett. The Shina Dark government is a Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional monarchyConstitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
with thr Princesses as the heads of the government and an elected parliament supporting them. Originally populated by the one thousand women sent as sacrifices, it later grew to include refugees who were invited or came to Shina Dark in search for a better life.
Zirus Ziriola
- One of two nations that lies between the Western and Eastern Continent, the other being the Magical Kingdom of Shumarika. Due to its strategic position, it is a nation heavily focused on trade. Zirus is one of the few known nations to openly trade with Shina Dark.
Kingdom of Estgloria
- A mighty kingdom in the Western Continent, Estgloria is now a shadow of its former self after the death of its King. Ruled by the Corrupt Regent, Queen Catherine S. Langton and her son, the Crown Prince Crispin, they ruled the kingdom without care, heavily taxing their citizens in order to fund theirs and the Nobles lavish lifestyle and hedonistic ways.
Vansable Empire
- Formerly a small kingdom, Vansable miraculously defeated a larger army that invaded them which later led to a series of wars that turn the kingdom into a mighty empire that ruled the Eastern Continent. Ruled by Emperor Galeon Fey Sowauge and Prime Minister Ernst D. Volkoren, the Vansable Empire is the richest and has the most technological advanced armies in the world.
Manga
The mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series is being drawn by Yukari Higa
Yukari Higa
is a Japanese manga artist from the Miyagi Prefecture. She has also published doujin under the name .-Manga:* Magical Chronicle Lyrical Nanoha Force* Kiddy Girl-and Pure* Shina Dark* Holy Hearts!* Sekai Seifuku Monogatari- External links :...
and written by Bunjūrō Nakayama
Bunjuro Nakayama
is a Japanese author best known for his creation of Mahoromatic.- Works :* Ushio and Tora * Dōkyūsei * Yukina no Negai * Mahoromatic...
. The series originally began serialization in the magazine Dengeki Teioh, published by ASCII Media Works
ASCII Media Works
is a Japanese publishing company in the Kadokawa Group which formed on April 1, 2008 as a result of a merger between ASCII and MediaWorks where MediaWorks legally absorbed ASCII. Despite this, the former president of ASCII, Kiyoshi Takano, became the president of ASCII Media Works. The company...
, on January 26, 2006, but due to discontinuation of Dengeki Teioh on November 26, 2006, the series was moved to Dengeki Daioh
Dengeki Daioh
is a Japanese shōnen manga magazine published by ASCII Media Works under the Dengeki brand. Many manga serialized in Dengeki Daioh were later published in tankōbon volumes under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comics imprint. The magazine is sold every month on the 27th...
on April 21, 2007. The manga ended serialization in the March 2009 issue of Dengeki Daioh. Four bound volumes
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
were published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Comics
Dengeki Comics
is a manga publishing label affiliated with the Japanese publishing company ASCII Media Works and is aimed at a male audience. Aside from the main Dengeki Comics label, there is the related Dengeki Comics EX label which publishes a lesser number of manga volumes...
imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
. The series is licensed in France by Taifu Comics.
Music videos
A DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
containing four animated
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s directed by Akiyuki Shinbō
Akiyuki Shinbo
, born September 27, 1961 in Fukushima, Japan, is a Japanese animation director. Shinbo started his career as an animator in 1981 at Studio One Pattern. He then made his directorial debut with Metal Fighter Miku in 1994. He is most notable for his involvement in a number of Shaft works since 2004...
and animated by Shaft
Shaft (company)
is a Japanese animation studio founded on September 1, 1975 by Hiroshi Wakao. They are best known for their unique use of gags and references notably in Pani Poni Dash!, Maria Holic, Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei, Hidamari Sketch, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Bakemonogatari series.- History :Shaft was...
, was released with the limited edition of manga volume three on March 21, 2008. A digest
Digest size
Digest size is a magazine size, smaller than a conventional or "journal size" magazine but larger than a standard paperback book, approximately 5½ x 8¼ inches, but can also be 5⅜ x 8⅜ inches and 5½ x 7½ inches. These sizes have evolved from the printing press operation end...
of the videos was released in the February 2008 issue of Dengeki Daioh
Dengeki Daioh
is a Japanese shōnen manga magazine published by ASCII Media Works under the Dengeki brand. Many manga serialized in Dengeki Daioh were later published in tankōbon volumes under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comics imprint. The magazine is sold every month on the 27th...
that was released on December 21, 2007. This digest was also posted on the Dengeki Comics
Dengeki Comics
is a manga publishing label affiliated with the Japanese publishing company ASCII Media Works and is aimed at a male audience. Aside from the main Dengeki Comics label, there is the related Dengeki Comics EX label which publishes a lesser number of manga volumes...
official Shina Dark website.