The World of Narue

Plot

Kazuto Izuka is an average 14-year-old boy who one day encounters an abandoned puppy that turns into a space alien creature but is saved by schoolmate named Narue Nanase. When he goes to thank her, he discovers she too is a space alien whose father was part of a galactic exploration team. With the encouragement of his friend, Masaki Maruo, Izuka asks Narue out on a date. Narue is reluctant at first, but after Kazuto confesses his love to her, and assures her that he is not bothered by her alien heritage, Narue agrees and they start dating. They must deal with classmates who do not look favorably upon aliens, including Hajime Yagi, Narue's classmate and ufologist, who does not believe Narue is really an alien and thinks that she is lying to get attention. Narue's half-sister Kanaka moves to Earth along with Kanaka's caretaker Bathyscaphe who is an android spaceship. They also interact with other assorted characters, some of whom are aliens.

Characters

Narue Nanase (七瀬 成恵, Nanase Narue)

Voiced by: Mamiko Noto (Japanese); Veronica Taylor (English)^{Ep. 1}The title character is a 14-year-old middle schooler who is half-alien: her father is from the Planet Nihon in the Galaxy Federation, while her mother is from Earth.^{Ep. 1, 3, 8}. She is given the offer to go into space many times but thinks of Earth as her home and does not want to leave. She has an innocent personality and is delighted when Kazuto accepts her. She wears a headband that allows her to teleport herself and Kazuto.^{Ep. 1, 8}

Kazuto Iizuka (飯塚 和人, Izuka Kazuto)

Voiced by: Daisuke Sakaguchi (Japanese); Jamie McGonnigal (English)^{Ep. 1}Kazuto is an average 14-year-old middle schooler who falls in love with Narue.^{Ep. 1} He has a kind personality and cares about people regardless of whether they are aliens or not.^{Ep. 1-2} He is an otaku (anime geek) whose favorite show is Magical Girl #4.^{Ep. 3, 10} Although he cannot swim, he goes to the pool with Narue and their friends.^{Ep. 7} Narue calls him Kazu, while Nanaka calls him Old Man.^{Ep. 8}

Masaki Maruo (丸尾 正樹, Maruo Masaki)

Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama (Japanese); Jimmy Zoppi (English)^{Ep. 1}Kazuto's best friend with short greyish curly hair that looks like a buzzcut. When he learns Kazuto is going to go on a date with Narue, he gives him a bunch of social tips. He and Yagi have been neighbors since childhood.^{Ep. 2}

Hajime Yagi (八木 はじめ, Yagi Hajime)

Voiced by: Saeko Chiba (Japanese); Michele Knotz (English)^{Ep. 1}Yagi is a Narue's classmate and Maruo's next-door neighbor. She has dark purple hair in braids, green eyes, and glasses. She thinks Narue is only pretending to be an alien in order to be popular, and acts hostile towards her, demanding that Narue prove she is an alien. She is regularly mocked by her classmates for her obsession with Narue as well as with aliens and UFOs in general.^{Ep. 2} She befriends Kanaka, who had trouble adjusting to school, and eventually she and Narue eventually get over their misunderstandings, partly due to Kanaka, and are able to become friends.^{Ep. 4, 5}

Tadashi Nanase (七瀬 正, Nanase Tadashi)

Voiced by: Jun'ichi Sugawara, Shigeru Shibuya (age 30) (Japanese); Dan Green (English)^{Ep. 1, 8}An alien from Planet Nihon of the Galaxy Federation who was sent to Earth to study its culture and people. Some time before his assignment to Earth 15 years ago, he had divorced his wife, with whom they raised their child Kanaka. At Earth, he worked various jobs including farming and police, but when he was recalled to return to Nihon, he refused and tried to escape, but almost drowned. He was rescued by Narumi Mutsuki, a human woman. He worked with her family, and eventually fell in love with her, and they had Narue as their daughter.^{Ep. 8}.

Kyoko Kudo (工藤 杏子, Kudō Kyōko)

Voiced by: Kanako Tateno (Japanese); Lisa Ortiz (English)^{Ep. 2}One of Narue's female classmates with blond hair and purple eyes. She is snobby and likes to bully Nanase and Yugi.^{Ep. 2}

Yuki Kashiwazaki (柏崎 ゆき, Kashiwazaki Yuki)

Voiced by: Yuuko Goto (Japanese); Mandy Bonhomme (English)^{Ep. 2}Kyoko's friend with the short brown hair. She joins Kyoko in bullying Nanase and Yugi.^{Ep. 2}

Aya Kanazawa (金沢 あや, Kanazawa Aya)

Voiced by: Nami Kurokawa (Japanese); Catherine Kim (English)^{Ep. 2}Kyoko's friend with the short green hair. She joins Kyoko in bullying Nanase and Yugi.^{Ep. 2}

Tail Messa (テイルメッサー, Teiru Messā)

Voiced by: Tomomichi Nishumura (Japanese); Tristan Goddard (English)^{Ep. 3}Head Inspector of the Galaxy Federation. He tries many times to persuade Narue to leave Earth and go to space, but seems to have a soft spot for Narue's family and friends. Tail Messa helped Narue's father emigrate from Planet Nihon when it became obvious convincing him otherwise was impossible,^{Ep. 8} and as Head Inspector he helped arrange for the Turugistani refugee ship Ninurta to settle on Planet Nihon, thus solving a sticky diplomatic - and romantic - situation that threatened to break up Narue and Kazuto.

Kanaka Nanase (七瀬 香奈花, Nanase Kanaka)

Voiced by: Junko Minagawa (Japanese); Rachael Lillis (English)^{Ep. 3}Kanaka is the older half-sister of Narue and a full-blooded alien. She has brown hair and purple eyes. She is younger (12 years old) than Narue when she shows up due to complications of the Urashima effect (time dilation).^{Ep. 4} Kanaka is surprised and confused at what has happened while she was away and acts rashly at first, causing trouble. She soon adjusts to her family on Earth, though Kanaka still has a bratty, mischievous personality.^{Ep. 5} Her parents divorced before her father went on the trip to Earth.^{Ep. 8}

Bathyscaphe (バチスカーフ, 罰襟巻, Bachisukāfu)

Voiced by: Mami Kosuge (Japanese); Carol Jacobanis (English)^{Ep. 4}Named like the ship of the same name, Bathyscaphe is Kanaka's caretaker. She has grey hair styled in a bun, yellow eyes, and typically wears a purple dress with high back collar.^{Ep. 4-5} She identifies herself as an android; her true form is a retired Escort Destroyer class starship.^{Ep. 6, 9}

Rin Asakura (朝倉 鈴, Asakura Rin)

Voiced by: Oma Ichimura (Japanese); Zoe Fries (English)^{Ep. 7}Rin is the Intelligence Mecha android who works for the Head Inspector. She appears as Kazuto's little sister with blonde hair and a ponytail. She has the ability to send mind control pulses to manipulate people's feelings. When she first appeared, she tried to seduce Kazuto away from Narue (under orders from Tail Messa), but finds out that their bond is very strong and unbreakable.^{Ep. 6} In episode 9 of the anime, she uses her power to make people forget about the tsunami that was going to hit and that Haruna saved them.^{Ep. 9} Android space fighter used by Tail Messa to help defend Earth. After that she warms up to them and they become friends. Rin appears to draw mainly Earth-based duties.

Rei Otonashi (音無 麗, Otonashi Rei)

Voiced by: Natsuko Kuwatani (Japanese); Catherine Kim (English)^{Ep. 7}Rei is a Strategic Mecha android who works for the Head Inspector. She has grey hair and wears a white dress.^{Ep. 6} Android space fighter used by Tail Mesa to help defend Earth. Rei is more composed than either Rin or Ran but when surprised she can fire missiles in an instant. Rei can transform her long hair and cap into a delta wing and radome for airborne surveillance duty.

Ran Tendo (天堂 蘭, Tendō Ran)

Voiced by: Tomoko Kawakami (Japanese); Vibe Jones (English)}^{Ep. 7}Ran is a Tactical Mecha android who works for the Office of the Head Inspector. She has pink hair styled in twin tails and wears a pink shirt and shorts^{Ep. 6}. Android space fighter used by Tail Messa to help defend Earth. More pragmatic than Rin. Ran and Rei operate from the escort carrier Binten to defend Earth from, e.g., terrorists and berserker androids. Ran can fly by transforming her ponytails into twin propulsion units.

Narumi Mutsuki (睦月成美 (also 鳴海むつき), Mutsuki Narumi)

Voiced by: Maria Kawamura (Japanese); Zoe Fries (English)^{Ep. 8}Narue's human mother first met Tadashi Nanase when he was trying to flee from the Galaxy Federation and almost drowned. When she shares her daily frustrations with work and life, she learns that Tadashi is willing to listen to her. Her family takes him in as a farm worker, and she falls in love with him. She is also an aggressive driver.^{Ep. 8} Episode 8 of the anime is set six years after her death.^{Ep. 8}

Haruna (ハルナ)

Voiced by: Yumi Touma (Japanese); Angora Deb (English)^{Ep. 9}Haruna is a Fast Escort Destroyer class starship that has gone AWOL and is hiding out in human form as a waitress at a beach restaurant. She was frightened to meet Bathyscaphe, but the latter assured her that as a retired ship she is not obligated and will not report Haruna to the alien authorities.^{Ep. 9} In a later episode, Haruna moves in with the proprietor of the beach restaurant and Narue's friends give them a wedding ceremony.^{Ep. 11}

Magical Girl #4 (魔砲少女四号ちゃん, Mahō Shōjō Yongōchan)

Voiced by: Sakura Nogawa (Japanese); Lisa Ortiz (English)^{Ep. 3, Ep. 10}Heroine of the eponymous anime television series show that Kazuto likes. Manaka Oatari (大当 真名花, Daitō Manaka) transforms from a serious archery club member to Magical Girl #4, the Magical Girl of Love and Peace. She wears a blue and white costume with golden shoulder guards and a lance. A later episode involves Magical Girl #4's voice actor Kiriri Kaibashira, a middle schooler who liked making Narue jealous by flirting with Kazuto.^{Ep. 10}

Avalon Assassin (アバロン人, Avalon Hito)

Voiced by: Yasuhiko Kawazu (Japanese); Tristan Goddard (English)^{Ep. 1, 12}A space ninja and terrorist from Avalon, he impersonates a puppy and attacks Kazuto in the first episode but is defeated by Narue. He then goes after Narue's father but is defeated again. He returns in the final episode.^{Ep. 1, 12}

Akira Nitta (新田 昭, Nitta Akira)

One of Narue's male classmates, very short, and very withdrawn. Nitta idolizes Narue because she is one of the few people at school who treats him kindly. His adventures include finding and wearing Narue's teleportation headband - with humorous results - and exorcising a ghost with the help of Yagi and Kudo. Nitta is constantly on library duty because he hasn't the guts to demand his classmates take their turns. (Manga only)

Manga volumes

Note: Only the first 3 volumes were released in US bookstores and are currently out of print. The 4th and 5th volume only saw limited releases through online orders. Since the closure of CPM, the manga has not been picked up by another US publisher.

Works cited

^ "Ch." is shortened form for chapter and refers to a chapter number of The World of Narue manga.

^ "Ep." is shortened form for episode and refers to an episode number in The World of Narue anime.