Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Supernatural hero's journey has fantasy violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Shaman King
What's the Story?
SHAMAN KING, an anime series based on the Japanese manga of the same name, follows the adventures of a teen shaman-in-training and his gifted sidekick. When an ancient shaman named Asakura Hao is reborn in the present and escapes with the Spirit of Fire, he leaves behind his twin brother. Now the 13-year-old Asakura Yoh is setting out to make the world a better place by becoming the Shaman King, the only shaman who can commune with the Great Spirit. When he moves to Tokyo to participate in the Shaman Fights, which only happen every 200 years, he meets Manta Oyamada, a fellow high school boy with the power to see spirits. Together they set out on a difficult journey that requires Yoh to develop his powers quickly and battle spirits from the dead and powerful rival shamans.
Is It Any Good?
The energetic series, which stands out thanks to the unique shaman-based storyline, follows Asakura Yoh's hero's journey as he seeks to become the most powerful link between the present and spiritual worlds. Viewers get to follow him as he trains and participates in the difficult Shaman Fights, during which time he learns to develop and channel his powers, master one of the five elements, and casts shamanic spells. As he gets older, the laidback Yoh also negotiates friendship and romance. Some of these events take time to unfold, while others are packed too tightly into specific episodes. But overall, Shaman King is full of heart and adventure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the difference between anime and manga. Why do they have such international appeal?
What is shamanism? Where is it practiced the most? How accurate is the representation of shamanism in Shaman King?
TV Details
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