▪	PUBLISHED BY:		DEL REY
		▪	ART/AUTHOR:		SATOMI IKEZAWA
		▪	FORMAT/COLOR:		JAPANESE FORMAT/ BW
		▪	PAGES:		185
		▪	RATED:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		10/31/2006
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		03/09/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		CHRISTOPHER SEAMAN

If you grew up with or are currently living with a Labrador Retriever in your house, GURU GURU PON CHAN will ring true on one level. The creator of this unique and oddly charming manga knows her dogs. Being human companion to two of these particular animals, she understands their ticks (personality wise) well. In terms of having them like Ponta, in this manga the female protagonist who can switch from dog to human form by kissing the Guru Guru bone attached to the collar around her neck, being able to morph the way she does, frankly, this reviewer never saw that once in the 25 years he spent with the breed…and is not sorry at all.

Winner of the Kondansha Manga of the Year Award when published in Japan, this story has certainly succeeded in raising a few eyebrows for its, er…unique premise. Of course, Ponta flipping back and forth between canine and human forms is in itself is not unique. What is, though, is the relationship she has developed with Mirai, the boy next door, who knows her secret and loves her anyway. Sweet, yes, but a more than a little awkward when Ponta comes into heat and sends every man and beast lusting after her, as described in Volume Five. Maybe it was something about Western sensibilities or something about being a dog owner that this just really seemed, well…wrong.

Happily, most of Volume Six focuses on a different plot, involving the Guru Guru bone losing its powers and trapping Ponta in her dog form. Mirai takes her into the country to get away for a few days where he meets a lovely young woman, and Ponta is wooed by said woman’s Black Lab. Love is in the air, and Mirai actually gets riled up about this four legged Lothario, struggling with his own emotions as a result. It would be spoiling things to tell you how it all ends, and this reviewer will spare you any tired clichés on the subject of dogs and people. To Satomi Ikezawa’s credit, she certainly knows how to keep the reader’s disbelief suspended just enough to follow this strange tale through to its conclusion.

There is no doubt, once you get past some of the more unusual aspects of the story, this is a sweet and endearing tale. The image of Ponta chasing Frisbees in human form is wonderful, and got many laughs when this manga was being described to some friends recently. The story is simple and the dialogue easy to follow, thanks to some fine translation work on the part of Doug Verenas. The artwork is shojo all the way, with Ponta being wide-eyed in either human or dog form. When she is partial transition and is walking about with dog ears sticking out from her heavily permed hair, she presents quite a sight. Of course, when Mirai bathes her as a dog, and she transforms among the bubbles, a quick cover up is in order. You can see moments like this coming a mile off, but it does not detract much from the overall sincerity of the work. This is a love story, pure and simple. One must question whether the 13+ rating is appropriate, but if that is what Del Rey has determined it should be, it should be left up to parents to decide for themselves whether younger teens should read it or not.

IN SUMMARY
GURU GURU PON CHAN is quirky and charming- a tonic for anyone looking for a truly unique spin on the classic boy meets girl love story. Who can resist cute dogs? Who can resist cute manga girls? Who could resist GURU GURU PON CHAN, when it has both in abundance?