When perils about forgotten childhood memories or nice boats or throat-clawing syndromes plague the animeverse, you can always turn to your magical girls to restore a little bit of optimistic peace in the world.
When a friend of mine got a new computer monitor this month, he used Shugo Chara! to test his color balance. I’ve only watched the first episode of it so far, but I read everywhere else about how pink and plaid it is. But it’s a feel-good anime; DKellis and Jeff Lawson would agree. It’s a series where you can just sit and be happy and not worry too much about danger befalling your favorite characters. Nanatsuiro Drops is another one, where the biggest tragedy is not the end of the world, but a lost boyfriend. ^_^
Mahou shoujo series are moe factories. They usually contain the typical archetypes, so everybody has at least one favorite character. And from there spawn all the merchandise and fanfics and SaiMoe hopefuls. Much like Goshuushou-sama Ninomiya-kun is the guilty pleasure for fanservice and Kimi ga Nozomu Eien is my current substitute for real-life relationship drama, Shugo Chara! will satisfy my need for sugary goodness this season. And interestingly, Amu is all ‘kakkoii’ with the way she dresses and walks rather than just being cute and timid like Sumomo; it’s a mature kawaii, if that makes any sense.
Prism Ark has a bunch of magic users, but Fel is the primary example of the little girl-in-frilly-clothes without which a fantasy game would just be incomplete. She has a huge wand, too.
Who can forget Caro Ru Lushe, whose Barrier Jacket (it’s mostly the hat) was so different from all the other characters’? It’s because of the archetype, and she filled it rather well, being Erio’s support and a daughter-figure to Fate. And she got tough at the end of the series as most mahou shoujo do.
This one’s just funny; Kyou really ought to be a mahou shoujo. It would be her guilty little secret, saving Tomoya’s life or teaching him English by night while being the tsundere tsukkomi at school by day. And Ryou would make her costumes to wear and videotape her adventures — oh wrong series.
Mahou shoujo represent the innocence you wish the world could have again. It should be just fine to cheer on young girls as they achieve their dreams of success, beauty, romance, and world peace. And whenever they struggle a bit, you cling and hope that all will become well, and 99% of the time it does. It just has to. That’s what the power of magic is all about. Save the School Days mess for another day; bring on the hearts and glittering special effects.
~Crisu
Gotta include a little bit of old-school for memories’ sake
…other 12 Days bloggers in the ABC…
Anime Diet — Cruel Angel Theses — Daijoubu
End of the World — Moogy’s Anime Blog — Nigorimasen
Osiris Anime — Otakuism — Scrumptious
a stone and a small ripple — What is eternity doing tonight?
YESSSSS! Thanks for including Rini/Chibi Moon. ^_^ Caro Ru Lushe (doesn’t that sound like ‘Lelouche’?) FTSW because Nanoha StrikerS rules, but mainly because I haven’t gotten around to seeing Shugo Chara~ I’ve only heard good things about it, so like many series, it’s now on my ‘to watch list.’
[/rant] (dang, I’ve been ranting a lot lately…)