Ballad of a Shinigami
Ballad of a Shinigami is a Light Novel series that was adapted into a six-episode Anime in 2006.
The story is primarily about Momo, a Shinigami that looks like a white-haired young girl. She is a different sort of shinigami: While she still leads souls to the other side, she tries to ease the suffering of both the living and the dead she encounters. Her companion is Daniel, a small cat that follows her. The other shinigami is An, who looks like a young girl, but she dresses in all black and is cruel, with no sympathy to the souls she takes. Most of the series centers on Momo and Daniel and the people they both heal and take away.
A 12-episode TV drama was also made. It's a sweet and sad story that's fairly short but worth your time.
Tropes featured in the story:
- Cry Cute/Tender Tears: Momo, oh so many times, considering how she's described as an Emotionless Girl. When asked by Daniel why she cries a lot, she explains she does so for the dead, who can no longer do so.
- Don't Fear the Reaper: Wouldn't you like the last person you see before you die to be a sweet White-Haired Pretty Girl who will ease your pain and the sadness of who you're leaving behind?
- That is, of course, if you met her. Don't expect this with other reapers, especially An.
- Emotionless Girl: Momo appears emotionless, but allegedly feels more strongly than normal humans do. An plays this straight though.
- Evil Counterpart: An is this to to Momo
- Foreign Language Theme: The theme song is completely in English.
- Non-Human Sidekick: Daniel to Momo and Nicolas the cat to An
- Sinister Scythe
- White-Haired Pretty Girl: Momo
- Woobie of the Week
- Your Days Are Numbered: Momo tells Mitsuki that he is going to die soon. It's actually a lie and Momo was trying to convince him to start living life again after he was depressed about his sister's death.