Realism is probably my issue with Shugo Chara; Amu’s character struggle is realistic and intriguing enough, but the way the whole school built around her seems kind of awkward. That whole deal about her being immensely popular no matter what she does (that inevitably conflicts with her character) feels a bit overblown – maybe if Amu wasn’t such a standout character to the eyes of the school, it would be better.

But maybe I’m just bitter. :P

Probably my biggest Comparison Complaint is said side cast of Shugo Chara; while in other shows which shall be vaguely nameless the side characters were equally, if not more, able to be connected with , each with their own story, aside from Amu, who wants the world to see her real self, there is the rest of the royalty…who deep down want the world to see their real self. And Ikuto the anti-villian…who relly just wants the world to see who he truly is. And the X-Chara-of-the-week…who is busy repressing their real self.

There’s something to be said for parallelism, but I wish there was more variety.

Granted, there probably is, but maybe it’s not ’subtle’ enough that I can see it yet. (Or is it the pink reflex that I still can’t control?)

I remember that comment!

While CCS comparisons are fully warranted here despite my dislike for them, part of it would really be the extent by which you can empathise with characters their age.

It’s a question of whether or not you perceive the problems that the characters go through as realistic, or otherwise — the whole thing might come off as preachy if you don’t.

That and maybe how Japanese/Western societies might differ in terms of social problems of Amu’s age group. Could this possibly be a culture gap? I found the message consistent with what KareKano preaches, at any rate. “Being yourself” isn’t new ground, but it’s done in SC in such a way that it’s new and refreshing, and that’s why it works for me.