Guru Guru Pon Chan

Review Date: 2007 September 29 16:06

Reviewed by: Azure

Released by: Tanoshimi

Publishing Country: UK

Author: Satomi Ikezawa

Age Rating: 13+

Page Count: 208

ISBN-13: 978009950646

ISBN-10: 9950646

Summary

The Guru Guru bone is an amazing object, it lets Ponta the dog transform into a human girl so that she can enjoy a relationship with Mirai a cute human guy. The trouble is Ponta’s constant transformations are taking a toll on her body, if she continues to transform into a human she could very well die. Both Mirai and Ponta face a hard choice, just what kind of price will they pay to stay together?

Review

At the start of the volume it’s made clear that something is very wrong with Ponta. She’s no longer able to run and play as much as she used to, she’s also starting to act like an old lady. Mirai and Yasuke are sure her illness is caused by the strain of Ponta’s continuous use of the Guru guru bone. They promise each other that they won’t allow Ponta to transform again and hide the bone. They pretend Ponta was never human so they can move on, the trouble is without Mirai Ponta is miserable, so she decides to take things into her own hands ( or paws.)

Most of this final volume of Guru Guru Pon-chan is dedicated to expressing both Mirai and Ponta’s feelings about their relationship, with both having to face the fact that it might soon be time to say goodbye. What’s especially touching is the fact that Ponta still isn’t aware what death really means, in the end Mirai touchingly explains that it’s a place where " every thing you know disappears and goes away." Despite this Ponta is still determined to be with Mirai, regardless of the possible tragic consequences.

In places this volume of Guru Guru Pon-Chan really hits home as Ponta’s life hangs in the balance, and Ikezawa moves the manga into a much darker direction. Being as sweet and as cute as this manga is, it pulls abruptly away from this darker tone and it’s a real shame. Whilst the main series has had a light tone, it would have more impact if the author had really let the implications on Ponta’s change sink in. Guru Guru Pon-chan is a light and frothy manga, worth a look but don’t expect anything hard hitting.

Rating: 7/10