Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, written and illustrated by Arina Tanemura, was serialized in the shojo manga magazine Ribon between 1998 and 2000. The series follows Maron Kusakabe, a high school student who leads a double life as a reincarnation of Joan of Arc, tasked by God to hunt demons hiding in works of art to prevent them from stealing human hearts. It emerged during a period when the magical girl genre was evolving to incorporate more mature, character-driven romantic drama, drawing clear inspiration from the aesthetic and narrative tropes of 1990s mahou shoujo classics.

Tanemura’s design approach is characterized by highly detailed, ornate line work and an emphasis on romantic, ethereal fashion. Her art style, which often features expansive eyes and delicate floral motifs, helped define the 'Ribon' house style of the late 1990s. The series was met with positive critical reception for its emotional depth and fast-paced action, leading to a successful anime adaptation by Toei Animation that further solidified the manga's position as a staple of the shojo genre at the turn of the millennium.