Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne

English Title: Divine Wind Thief Jeanne
Mangaka: Arina Tanemura
Pub. Date: 1998
# of Vols.: 7

TV Series: 1999 (44 Episodes)

God will disappear if the devil takes over the hearts of humans. Maron, as the reincarnation of Joan of Arc, has to keep this from happening. Her guide and companion is an angel in training named Fin Fish (though it's discovered later Fin has a dark secret). Maron aka Jeanne's mission is to seal the devil within objects that possess their owners and drive them to wickedness. This is where the thief part of her name comes in as she has break in to get to the object, or once she has sealed it, the object might be changed. For example, a painting may not appear the same anymore. Meanwhile, her mission is further complicated by her best friend Miyako whose father is a detective. Miyako is sworn to catch the thief Jeanne and is a bit overzealous about it. She has no clue her best friend is the thief she seeks. Also, a new neighbor moves in next door, a boy named Chiaki, who takes amusement in finding Maron in various stages of undress or simply in embarrassing situations. Maron believes he is working for the other side in secret as Kaitou Sindbad and with a dark angel named Access Time (who happens to have a crush on Fin), but they too are discovered to not be what they seem.

The anime of Kaitou Jeanne takes themes from the earlier series Saint Tail, so fans may get a bit of deja vu with this title. The fellow classmate working as an honorary detective to catch the main heroine who is wanted by the police as a thief, but is really doing good and on a holy mission for God. Points I like about this is the use of Joan of Arc for Maron's alter ego, as Joan was a fascinating woman from history and lends a nice layer to the story. Also, Maron lives alone (it's hinted at the beginning her family did not have a happy homelife) and she checks every day for a letter from them, but none ever comes. To go with this, mature themes are sometimes tackled by the series, and handled well, ie a disrupted household in the first volume after the father is possessed and the verbal abuse the daughter is subjected to from what once was a loving and kind father.

Unlike most magical girls who are given a happy childhood and life, and at heart don't have as strong a struggle with relying on those around them (such as in Sailor Moon) or in the ultimate good of love, Maron comes from a broken home and has spent most of her life alone. She believes strongly in hope and the good of love and those she cares for, but while she does it's still a constant everyday struggle for her to keep that belief. Thus, it becomes a nice twist having a heroine who is very rounded psychologically and who realistically has to earn and fight for her feelings. Jeanne d'Arc becomes not just the audience's heroine, but most importantly Maron's, as she works each day to emulate her and live up to all the things Jeanne represents: "matchless and marvelous, energetic and courageous."

I'd like to quickly say that Maron's second transformation into Jeanne is one of my favorites of all the magical girl transformations. It's simply beautiful to watch. It's also packed with imagery and meaning. Before, Maron asks for Jeanne's power and uses the help of Fin to transform. The first transformation is pretty basic after her short prayer. The second one however is much more involved. She says her prayer for strength, and the heavens open up above her as several female angels fly down to her, merging inside her upgraded rosary (a symbol of entering into her heart and spirit). Maron as Jeanne is then surrounded by ribbons and angel wings, the red ribbons turning to thorn vines around her body before blooming. During this part of the transformation her body is in a crucifixion pose. The pose of course combines the traditional symbol of Jesus's suffering and sacrifice for mankind with the new image of a crucified Jeanne. The angels and patronage of Jeanne are important because they are all female guides for Maron, symbols of the ultimate strength and courage feminine power can strive for. And in a time when Maron is at a low point in confidence, such guides are paramount for her finding a path for herself. She needs a very strong role model. The red ribbons are a personal symbol as they hark back to her gymnastics class, something that is unique to her and something she loves. They are also a sign of girlhood, and red for menustration. That they transform themselves from ribbons into thorns and ultimately into blooming roses is an apt symbol of Maron's transformation into a young woman coming into herself, the ribbons changing into roses of womanhood (Maron menstruating and changing from a child to an adult both mentally and physically). The thorns are also interesting as they're a male symbol to the female roses, and Jeanne incorporates them both. In this instance, it also can't be helped to think of Jesus' crown of thorns, but they are finally covered over by the roses of coming womanhood (and roses for Joan of Arc). Perhaps this is to show that Maron is taking in both masculine and feminine power, integrating both sides of herself more fully at this point. Ultimately, these become her item of choice, the roses becoming at last her gymnast's ribbon. So at last, the power she took into herself for strength is transformed by her into a power that is her own, into a strength that is meaningful to her alone. This aspect will be important to her in the final test of her strength when she will need to use her transformed power to transform the shadows of herself when she confronts Fin at the end and is able to make herself complete at last.

Magical Companion
Fin Fish-angel

Magical Phrase
Jeanne d'Arc, lend me your power. Strong and serious, matchless and marvelous, energetic and courageous.-Maron's transformation phrase

Checkmate!-not so much a magical phrase, but Jeanne says this after sealing a demon

Magical Items
Rosario-Rosary/Rosaire (French)-item Jeanne uses to transform (with Fin's help)

Petit Clair (Little Light)-device that detects demons, communicator, and stores chess pieces (sealed demons)

Rebound Ball

Gymnast's Ribbon-Jeanne's whip in second half is based on this

White chess pieces