I’ve got Shugo Chara! on the brain today, thanks to last night’s discussion for Off the Shelf.
I know Peach-Pit doesn’t get a lot of respect, and I’m not a big fan of their other series, so I can understand that on some level. But I love Shugo Chara! and I honestly don’t understand some of the criticisms of it I’ve read elsewhere. It’s one of those series I often read reviews of on other sites and honestly think to myself, “Could we possibly be reading the same series?” That’s how strongly opinions may differ on this particular title.
Now, arguing with other critics is not only obnoxious, but foolish. An opinion on a subjective topic can’t actually be wrong. But I’ve made what are (in my mind) some pretty compelling arguments in favor of the series over the course of the past year or so, so what I can reasonably do is point readers to those and hope to convince them to give the series a real chance if they haven’t done so already.
So, here’s a chronological listing of my reviews of Shugo Chara!, each of which contains specific, heartfelt praise:
Volume 5
Volume 6
Volume 7
Volume 8
In addition, you can read things like Why I think Shugo Chara! overpowers Kamichama Karin Chu or (from last night) Why I think Shugo Chara! should be rated for ages 10+.
Alternatively, these posts can all be accessed together via my Shugo Chara! tag.
Without a doubt, Shugo Chara! is a favorite for me amongst pink, sparkly manga for girls. I hope one day it may be for you too. This has been my manga evangelism moment for the day. Enjoy! :)
You caught my interest in this series from the talk last night. I’m glad you got the chance to throw us some more info.
I hope you enjoy the series if you decide to give it a look! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Actually, I picked up the first volume of Karin Chu a while back and the article you linked here had me nodding in agreement. After investing in that, I think I owe it to myself to give Shugo Chara a shot. It sounds like it should be able to scratch that magical girl itch without tripping conscientious reader alerts every few pages.