Sorry for the bad pun, but I miss our flaming-sword-wielding, melon-pan-munching, loli heroine. Well, it won’t be long now because Shakugan no Shana is slated to air its second season this coming October. So, let us all be good little torches and wait for her return and have some fun with Louise and her sisters in the second season of Zero no Tsukaima, which is coming much sooner on July!
I love how Shana is portrayed in the image, looking more mature and equally more fatal. Her smile seems to warn you of the impending danger that awaits you if you cross her.
The image above is a sample of Noiji Itoh’s work, taken from his artbook Guren. Thanks to Aethereality for the image!
[Update May 09, 2007]
I just found out that the character above is NOT Shana. Apparently, the image above features a character from a Gameboy Advance game called Dancing Sword: Senkou. So, I have to apologize to the readers for the confusion. A big thanks to Shana-tan over at Animesuki forum for pointing this out to me.
Though, I would still like to think of her as an alternative persona of Shana.
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I haven’t seen Shakugan no Shana yet, but all these KnS comparisons, at least at the start, made me want to watch it even more to see the differences :p
Shana looks mature in that pic indeed, and she seems to be having fun in that pose (with that grin / smile). That red-hair and samurai outfit can’t help but make me see an image of Kenshin :3
(though, what’s with that ’samurai’? is that a fencing sword? o_O)
It’s just to do with the angle that the sword is being held, although the sword does seem to be drawn more curved than it probably should be.
Judging from the handle, it doesn’t look to be a fencing sword ^^
Now that you mention it, she does seem to remind me of Kenshin, the only thing missing would be that scar on the cheek.
That’s Shana??? They should show her in a school outfit :p
@Kenny Liu lol it is Shana!
Shana in a school outfit wouldn’t fit the bill of Alternative Universe, unless they show her in a Love Hina school uniform or something 
The sword Shana uses is a one of a kind Katana. Dont want to explain it to much since Usagijen hasnt seen the first series and its a fairly important spoiler.
But if memory serves the sword and its mysteries get 2 episodes.
As for the KnS comparisons, there arent any really. Yes shana uses fire, but its in a completely different context to KnS.
Have to admit though if that pic represents the new art style for season 2, its totaly different from the first season. Wonder if they’re going to bring back whatshis name, the Mistess that cant die. Be interesting to see them after they’ve matured since they both confessed to each other
If you havent seen the first season, go watch it I ORDER YOU!!!
Awsome series with some great comic moments.
I don’t know if that’s an adult version of Shana, but the book doesn’t seem to have an indication of such. She might simply be a character made purely out of Noiji’s imagination, or from another series of his drawings.
@Owaranai Destiny Thanks to Shana-tan over at Animesuki forum, I found out that this is a character from a GBA game called Dancing Sword: Senkou. Sorry for the confusion. It just so happened that all the sites I visited with scans of this picture categorized it under Shakugan no Shana, thus I was led to believe that it was so.
Also, the red hair, red eyes and katana spelled nothing but Shana to me ^^
I’m only reiterating what’s already been said, but KnS and Shana have nothing in common except the concept of a red-haired girl using fire and wielding a sword. And I do get Kenshin vibes from that pic
Too bad it turned out not to be adult Shana after all. Let’s pretend that it is. ^_^;
shana looks so cool !!
do you wanna exchange links ??