TV-Series
Description
Hoshimaru is a Dragon Child from the series Shadow Star Narutaru. The character first appears when the protagonist, a young girl named Shiina Tamai, discovers a small, star-shaped creature in the ocean during a visit to her grandparents' home. Shiina takes the creature home and names it Hoshimaru, a name that combines the words for star and circle. The entity has a distinct physical appearance, resembling a yellow pentagram or a fleshy starfish, often depicted with an orange mask-like feature and two red lines beneath its large, expressive eyes.
In terms of personality and behavior, Hoshimaru appears to have no independent will or self-consciousness of its own. Instead, it acts as a direct reflection of the unconscious desires of the person it is linked to, instinctively doing what that person wishes to happen, whether for good or for ill. This lack of agency means that Hoshimaru does not speak and rarely displays independent emotion, functioning more as a tool or extension of its bearer’s will rather than as a companion with its own motivations. The creature is often seen as a seemingly cute and harmless mascot, but this appearance is deeply deceptive given the dark nature of its true purpose and actions throughout the story.
Hoshimaru possesses several notable abilities that make it a versatile and dangerous entity. It can flatten and expand its body to create a powerful barrier that surrounds and protects its charge. The creature is also capable of molding its gelatinous form at will to change shape; it frequently disguises itself as an ordinary backpack to avoid detection, and in later developments, it transforms into a large, bird-like creature capable of gliding through the air and carrying passengers. In combat, Hoshimaru has demonstrated the ability to replicate weapons, such as a knife or a sharp piece of debris, to use as projectiles against its enemies.
Throughout the story, Hoshimaru’s role is defined by its relationship with other characters, which is built on a fundamental misunderstanding. Shiina initially believes Hoshimaru is her own Dragon Child, but she never experiences the telepathic link that other bearers have with their dragons. This distance is explained by the revelation that Hoshimaru is not linked to Shiina at all, but to a mysterious teenager named Takeo Tsurumaru, who had been secretly controlling the creature from the beginning. As Takeo’s dragon, Hoshimaru is responsible for several brutal acts, including the murder of another Dragon Child named Komori and the strangulation of a girl named Hiroko Kaizuka, all carried out under Takeo’s command. When Shiina refuses to obey Takeo, Hoshimaru follows its true master’s will and uses its abilities to forcibly transport her against her wishes, demonstrating its absolute loyalty to its linker.
The character undergoes a significant development in the manga that is not shown in the anime adaptation. As the story progresses, Hoshimaru begins to transform, growing from its small star-shaped form into a massive, monstrous creature that resembles a fusion of a moth, a fish, and a bird. This process is intended to be an evolution into a higher state, an adult dragon, but the transformation ultimately fails. In a final, desperate act following the death of Takeo Tsurumaru, Hoshimaru attempts to turn its bearer into a "virgin princess," a process that also ends in failure, leaving the creature in a ruined state.
In terms of personality and behavior, Hoshimaru appears to have no independent will or self-consciousness of its own. Instead, it acts as a direct reflection of the unconscious desires of the person it is linked to, instinctively doing what that person wishes to happen, whether for good or for ill. This lack of agency means that Hoshimaru does not speak and rarely displays independent emotion, functioning more as a tool or extension of its bearer’s will rather than as a companion with its own motivations. The creature is often seen as a seemingly cute and harmless mascot, but this appearance is deeply deceptive given the dark nature of its true purpose and actions throughout the story.
Hoshimaru possesses several notable abilities that make it a versatile and dangerous entity. It can flatten and expand its body to create a powerful barrier that surrounds and protects its charge. The creature is also capable of molding its gelatinous form at will to change shape; it frequently disguises itself as an ordinary backpack to avoid detection, and in later developments, it transforms into a large, bird-like creature capable of gliding through the air and carrying passengers. In combat, Hoshimaru has demonstrated the ability to replicate weapons, such as a knife or a sharp piece of debris, to use as projectiles against its enemies.
Throughout the story, Hoshimaru’s role is defined by its relationship with other characters, which is built on a fundamental misunderstanding. Shiina initially believes Hoshimaru is her own Dragon Child, but she never experiences the telepathic link that other bearers have with their dragons. This distance is explained by the revelation that Hoshimaru is not linked to Shiina at all, but to a mysterious teenager named Takeo Tsurumaru, who had been secretly controlling the creature from the beginning. As Takeo’s dragon, Hoshimaru is responsible for several brutal acts, including the murder of another Dragon Child named Komori and the strangulation of a girl named Hiroko Kaizuka, all carried out under Takeo’s command. When Shiina refuses to obey Takeo, Hoshimaru follows its true master’s will and uses its abilities to forcibly transport her against her wishes, demonstrating its absolute loyalty to its linker.
The character undergoes a significant development in the manga that is not shown in the anime adaptation. As the story progresses, Hoshimaru begins to transform, growing from its small star-shaped form into a massive, monstrous creature that resembles a fusion of a moth, a fish, and a bird. This process is intended to be an evolution into a higher state, an adult dragon, but the transformation ultimately fails. In a final, desperate act following the death of Takeo Tsurumaru, Hoshimaru attempts to turn its bearer into a "virgin princess," a process that also ends in failure, leaving the creature in a ruined state.