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Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition #1
Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition, Vol. 1
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26Relive the magic of self-discovery with Amu Hinamori and friends in a refreshed edition of this classic magical-girl manga, featuring new covers and updated translation!
Collects the story from Shugo Chara! 1–2 manga and includes a beautiful color art gallery.
Amu Hinamori is known among her fellow elementary students as a “cool girl” with a spicy personality, but behind closed doors she’s actually extremely shy and wishes she could be brave enough to embrace her feminine, cutesy side. Her wish is granted in the form of three character eggs that hatch into Guardian Characters—mysterious entities that not only encourage her to achieve her potential but can even power her up by granting special abilities. Together with the student council, Amu must use her newfound powers to stop the evil forces feeding on the darkness in people’s hearts…
Collects the story from Shugo Chara! 1–2 manga and includes a beautiful color art gallery.
Amu Hinamori is known among her fellow elementary students as a “cool girl” with a spicy personality, but behind closed doors she’s actually extremely shy and wishes she could be brave enough to embrace her feminine, cutesy side. Her wish is granted in the form of three character eggs that hatch into Guardian Characters—mysterious entities that not only encourage her to achieve her potential but can even power her up by granting special abilities. Together with the student council, Amu must use her newfound powers to stop the evil forces feeding on the darkness in people’s hearts…
400 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 3, 2026
4 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Peach-Pit
205 books277 followersPeach-Pit (ピーチ・ピット Pīchi Pitto) is a female manga artist duo in Japan, made up of Banri Sendo (千道 万里 Sendō Banri) and Shibuko Ebara (えばら 渋子 Ebara Shibuko). Their group name derives from the diner hangout Peach-Pit from the TV show Beverly Hills, 90210. Although both have similar styles, with some artwork it is possible to identify which artist drew it. Both are known for their bishōjo styled works. As noted in their books, they are both Geminis and have "Almost flushed our phones down the toilet...twice."
The two of them grew up together and went to the same elementary school and have been best friends ever since. Both started as doujinshi manga artists, but not as Peach-Pit. Then they were scouted by Dengeki Comic Gao!. In 2008, one of their manga, Shugo Chara!, was awarded the Kodansha Manga Award for best children's manga. Shugo Chara was also turned later into an Anime television series.
The two of them grew up together and went to the same elementary school and have been best friends ever since. Both started as doujinshi manga artists, but not as Peach-Pit. Then they were scouted by Dengeki Comic Gao!. In 2008, one of their manga, Shugo Chara!, was awarded the Kodansha Manga Award for best children's manga. Shugo Chara was also turned later into an Anime television series.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 28, 2026
Thank you Kodansha Comics and NetGalley, for providing me with this arc, in exchange for my honest review.
This 400 page long 20th anniversary edition, is book 1 and includes the first and second manga, notes by and fan questions answered by the creators, lots of full color art pages and bonus manga!
This has such a fun and beautiful, girly cover! And the extra content is a great addition.
Amu Hinamori is a 4th year student at Seiyo elementary school. This starts with her stopping 2 bullies from stealing a small kid’s lunch money. I immediately noticed her indifferent and aloof character. But turns out, it’s actually fake and exhausting for her to keep up. She’s actually pretty shy and would love to wear something pink and frilly instead of the goth punk clothing her mom dresses her in.
When she sees a psychic on tv, talk about how everyone has a guardian spirit, she decides to give it a try and asks her guardian spirit, even though she’s sceptic, to give her the courage to be reborn as the persona she wants to be.
When she finds 3 eggs in her bed the next morning, she thinks she layed them, which was hilarious. She takes them with her to school where they make her say and do things she normally wouldn’t. Like admitting to her big crush, that she loves him, in front of a lot of people.
A strange guy with cat ears is after her eggs, she loses them repeatedly, she has some more embarrassing moments and the adventures of her lifetime! When the eggs turn into characters themselves (my favorite characters of these manga! They’re just so cute and fun!) it means change for her too, which is scary at first but she becomes more confident along the way.
Her school has guardians too, a kind of student council but they’re secretly more than that and when she becomes part of them, there are so many mysteries to solve and even people to save!
This ends on a huge cliffhanger which makes you wanna read the next volume.
This was a light, fun read. A bit all over the place but enjoyable nonetheless!
This 400 page long 20th anniversary edition, is book 1 and includes the first and second manga, notes by and fan questions answered by the creators, lots of full color art pages and bonus manga!
This has such a fun and beautiful, girly cover! And the extra content is a great addition.
Amu Hinamori is a 4th year student at Seiyo elementary school. This starts with her stopping 2 bullies from stealing a small kid’s lunch money. I immediately noticed her indifferent and aloof character. But turns out, it’s actually fake and exhausting for her to keep up. She’s actually pretty shy and would love to wear something pink and frilly instead of the goth punk clothing her mom dresses her in.
When she sees a psychic on tv, talk about how everyone has a guardian spirit, she decides to give it a try and asks her guardian spirit, even though she’s sceptic, to give her the courage to be reborn as the persona she wants to be.
When she finds 3 eggs in her bed the next morning, she thinks she layed them, which was hilarious. She takes them with her to school where they make her say and do things she normally wouldn’t. Like admitting to her big crush, that she loves him, in front of a lot of people.
A strange guy with cat ears is after her eggs, she loses them repeatedly, she has some more embarrassing moments and the adventures of her lifetime! When the eggs turn into characters themselves (my favorite characters of these manga! They’re just so cute and fun!) it means change for her too, which is scary at first but she becomes more confident along the way.
Her school has guardians too, a kind of student council but they’re secretly more than that and when she becomes part of them, there are so many mysteries to solve and even people to save!
This ends on a huge cliffhanger which makes you wanna read the next volume.
This was a light, fun read. A bit all over the place but enjoyable nonetheless!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Amu Hinamori is a fourth year elementary school student who has become a bit popular at her new school for all the wrong reasons! Thanks to her mom dressing her as a gothic lolita and her contrary nature everyone is a bit in awe of her, and even a little afraid. One night she makes a wish to become the person she wants to be and the very next morning she wakes up with three eggs on her bed! Within a few hours one of the eggs hatch and she discovers that they are her Guardian Characters, they have the ability to give her special powers that allow her to access all of the parts of her she is afraid too. What's more several of her classmates have one too and they want her to join them in their search for the Embryo! At first Amu is reluctant to join but when she discovers there's a shadowy organization hunting for the Embryo as well and destroying other children's Guardian Eggs Amu knows she must do all she can to stop them!
I have always loved this series so I am so happy to see a 20th Anniversary edition being released! Very much in line with other "magical girls" series of the time Shugo Chara! is ultimately a great story about believing in yourself. The fact that this focuses on younger children makes it that much better for me, especially for this age group. That transition from elementary to middle grades is so difficult and a time when discovering who you are and who you want to be is so important. The use of the Character Eggs to embody this in well literal bodies, is an adorable stroke of genius. It is a physical representation of the person that kids these ages want to be but simply do not have the courage to be.
Now, that all being said the thing that has always stuck out for me with this series is the art. It is simply one of the most gorgeous manga out there to date. Especially when it comes to the fashion designs, and I can guarantee we'll be seeing a lot of the younger generation using Amu for their fashion inspiration!
Of course I recommend this series! It's a wonderful throwback for us older fans that we can share with our own children!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eArc!
I have always loved this series so I am so happy to see a 20th Anniversary edition being released! Very much in line with other "magical girls" series of the time Shugo Chara! is ultimately a great story about believing in yourself. The fact that this focuses on younger children makes it that much better for me, especially for this age group. That transition from elementary to middle grades is so difficult and a time when discovering who you are and who you want to be is so important. The use of the Character Eggs to embody this in well literal bodies, is an adorable stroke of genius. It is a physical representation of the person that kids these ages want to be but simply do not have the courage to be.
Now, that all being said the thing that has always stuck out for me with this series is the art. It is simply one of the most gorgeous manga out there to date. Especially when it comes to the fashion designs, and I can guarantee we'll be seeing a lot of the younger generation using Amu for their fashion inspiration!
Of course I recommend this series! It's a wonderful throwback for us older fans that we can share with our own children!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eArc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Special thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an advanced reader copy.
I give this 5 ⭐️ as a single book, but, I also give the whole Shugo Chara series 5⭐️. As soon as I full art spreads at the start, the memories hit hard. This hit me in the feels with a blast from the past; so much nostalgia.
Shugo Chara‘s main themes revolve around future dreams, the many facets of an individual’s personality and how it can change as they grow. Whilst it is aimed at a younger demographic, I believe that the overarching message of ‘being true to yourself’ is applicable to any age.
Shugo Chara’s main character is Amu Hinamori. Amu’s classmates think she has a ‘cool and spicy’ personality type and gives off very unapproachable vibes. What they don’t know is, deep down inside, Amu is a regular preteen girl; anxious, excitable, lonely, and loves girly things. One day, Amu prays and wishes that she could show her classmates her ‘true self’ and finally be understood by everyone. To her shock, the next morning she woke up to discover three eggs in her bed! The manga follows the adventures and shenanigans that that occur around these mysterious eggs.
There are not many changes between the original or this special 20th Anniversary Edition from what I can see. The extra content we receive is some full art pages at the beginning of the book. We also get a mini special 20th Anniversary Edition Bonus Manga, in what would be the break between volume 1 and volume 2, in Petite Shugo Chara. It’s nice to see that characters reacting to their return to form. There is also a coupe of pages of art from its original serialisation in Nakayoshi and the original volume 1 cover art; included is comments from Banri-sensei and Shibuko-sensei. It’s nice to see their thought and feeling as they reflect on where they started and how far they have come in the past twenty years.
I give this 5 ⭐️ as a single book, but, I also give the whole Shugo Chara series 5⭐️. As soon as I full art spreads at the start, the memories hit hard. This hit me in the feels with a blast from the past; so much nostalgia.
Shugo Chara‘s main themes revolve around future dreams, the many facets of an individual’s personality and how it can change as they grow. Whilst it is aimed at a younger demographic, I believe that the overarching message of ‘being true to yourself’ is applicable to any age.
Shugo Chara’s main character is Amu Hinamori. Amu’s classmates think she has a ‘cool and spicy’ personality type and gives off very unapproachable vibes. What they don’t know is, deep down inside, Amu is a regular preteen girl; anxious, excitable, lonely, and loves girly things. One day, Amu prays and wishes that she could show her classmates her ‘true self’ and finally be understood by everyone. To her shock, the next morning she woke up to discover three eggs in her bed! The manga follows the adventures and shenanigans that that occur around these mysterious eggs.
There are not many changes between the original or this special 20th Anniversary Edition from what I can see. The extra content we receive is some full art pages at the beginning of the book. We also get a mini special 20th Anniversary Edition Bonus Manga, in what would be the break between volume 1 and volume 2, in Petite Shugo Chara. It’s nice to see that characters reacting to their return to form. There is also a coupe of pages of art from its original serialisation in Nakayoshi and the original volume 1 cover art; included is comments from Banri-sensei and Shibuko-sensei. It’s nice to see their thought and feeling as they reflect on where they started and how far they have come in the past twenty years.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
I was obsessed with Shugo Chara as a child. I binge watched as much of the anime as was available at the time and read Amuto fanfiction like crazy. Unfortunately, there were only a few manga series released back then in my country and it was mostly more mainstream stuff like Naruto and Bleach. So, in the end I have never managed to finish Amu's story, even though I knew some spoilers from manga readers on the internet. Now it's been 20 years and I was happy to return to that world when I saw the anniversary edition.
It's... Not as great as I remember. The artstyle in the manga is different than in the anime and it feels a little bit wonky with the characters having legs that are too short and heads that are too big for their bodies. The faces are a little wonky too, looking awkward from different angles and overall everybody looks more childish than in the anime. On itself it wouldn't be an issue, since it is a story for kids but weird proportions make it look kinda bad.
However, the artstyle is not everything, so how does the story and the characters hold up after so much time? I'd say yes. Ikuto, who was my absolute favorite is as fun as ever, Amu has always been an unique protagonist within the genre and reading the story as an adult shows the whole scope of character development she is going through, I love Kukai i Nadeshiko and Yaya and Tadase are okay. I loved the little side plot of the character spirits hanging together too. Shugo Chara is absolutely aimed at a young audience but it's a fun title that does some stuff that truly stands out from other magical girl series, while still having all the charm of the genre.
If you are looking for something that's like Miraculous Ladybug but better, this is your thing.
I was obsessed with Shugo Chara as a child. I binge watched as much of the anime as was available at the time and read Amuto fanfiction like crazy. Unfortunately, there were only a few manga series released back then in my country and it was mostly more mainstream stuff like Naruto and Bleach. So, in the end I have never managed to finish Amu's story, even though I knew some spoilers from manga readers on the internet. Now it's been 20 years and I was happy to return to that world when I saw the anniversary edition.
It's... Not as great as I remember. The artstyle in the manga is different than in the anime and it feels a little bit wonky with the characters having legs that are too short and heads that are too big for their bodies. The faces are a little wonky too, looking awkward from different angles and overall everybody looks more childish than in the anime. On itself it wouldn't be an issue, since it is a story for kids but weird proportions make it look kinda bad.
However, the artstyle is not everything, so how does the story and the characters hold up after so much time? I'd say yes. Ikuto, who was my absolute favorite is as fun as ever, Amu has always been an unique protagonist within the genre and reading the story as an adult shows the whole scope of character development she is going through, I love Kukai i Nadeshiko and Yaya and Tadase are okay. I loved the little side plot of the character spirits hanging together too. Shugo Chara is absolutely aimed at a young audience but it's a fun title that does some stuff that truly stands out from other magical girl series, while still having all the charm of the genre.
If you are looking for something that's like Miraculous Ladybug but better, this is your thing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So I read the original Shugo Chara when it came out way back when. Imagine my shock that a *20th* Anniversary edition was coming out for this series! This version of the story slightly edits how portions of it are translated. I noted that the random classmates keep calling Amu "spicy". They did it enough times that I went and found my original volumes (I only have 1 and 2) to see if it changed. They previously translated it as "aloof" or "hot", but they never used the term "spicy". Bit of an odd change, but whatever. Amu is a girl who has been labeled as this cool and aloof girl, and feels trapped into acting like that. In reality, she's actually a very shy and silly girl. Her eggs, each of which hold a ponterail "character," she can be, make her special. Her three eggs mean she's the one chosen by the original King of the Guardians. This story is VERY MUCH a product of its time. It's a classic early 2000's magical girl story, from the plot points to the art style. It's trope-filled and very silly in its stakes sometimes. Also, I forgot about the whole weird "high schooler has oddly romantically charged interactions with the middle schooler" thing...that's also something that was very weirdly common in early 2000s manga. Still threw me off, though. This is a fun read if you want to read a nostalgic, magical girl-style story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Manga | Magical Girl | Pre-Teen
Thank you to Kodansha Comics for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition, Vol. 1 storytelling, centered on children's identity, self-expression, and the fear of being misunderstood. The story introduces Hinamori Amu, a girl whose tough, unapproachable reputation precedes her, even though it doesn’t reflect how she truly feels inside. Beneath that “cool and rebellious” exterior is a child who wants to be more expressive & cuter, but believes it’s too late to change how others see her.
When Amu’s inner wishes begin to manifest in unexpected ways, the story shifts into magical territory. Chibi versions of herself as guardian spirits are born from magical eggs she finds in her room. Because she has guardian spirits, she's offered to join the school guardians who also possess guardian spirits.
There is several outfits, the MC transforms into that she even becomes reluctant to want to change anymore. Most of the story is spent hunting embryo eggs which is rare and powerful. It's suppose to grant the deepest wish of a heart and represents the perfect ideal complete self of a person.
Part of the dialogues are a little off throughout, but it might be due to translation. The story is about kids probably aimed at children to pre-teens.
Thank you to Kodansha Comics for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition, Vol. 1 storytelling, centered on children's identity, self-expression, and the fear of being misunderstood. The story introduces Hinamori Amu, a girl whose tough, unapproachable reputation precedes her, even though it doesn’t reflect how she truly feels inside. Beneath that “cool and rebellious” exterior is a child who wants to be more expressive & cuter, but believes it’s too late to change how others see her.
When Amu’s inner wishes begin to manifest in unexpected ways, the story shifts into magical territory. Chibi versions of herself as guardian spirits are born from magical eggs she finds in her room. Because she has guardian spirits, she's offered to join the school guardians who also possess guardian spirits.
There is several outfits, the MC transforms into that she even becomes reluctant to want to change anymore. Most of the story is spent hunting embryo eggs which is rare and powerful. It's suppose to grant the deepest wish of a heart and represents the perfect ideal complete self of a person.
Part of the dialogues are a little off throughout, but it might be due to translation. The story is about kids probably aimed at children to pre-teens.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This one hit me right in the nostalgia.
Shugo Chara! was one of my favorite manga (and anime!) when I was a kid, so picking up the 20th Anniversary Edition felt like revisiting an old friend. The new cover is adorable, and I loved the bonus content—full-color art, creator notes, and extras were easily my favorite part of this edition.
Re-reading it as an adult, though, I definitely think I’ve outgrown this one a bit.
Amu is still charming in her own way, and I appreciate the core message about identity, confidence, and becoming who you truly want to be. Her Guardian Characters are just as cute and chaotic as I remembered, and the story has that classic early-2000s magical girl energy—silly stakes, big emotions, and lots of sparkle.
That said, the pacing feels scattered, and some of the tropes (especially the awkward age-gap moments) didn’t age great. The plot jumps around a lot, and while it’s fun, it can feel unfocused. I also noticed how strongly this reads as a product of its time, both in art style and storytelling.
Overall, this was a sweet, nostalgic reread with great bonus material—but it didn’t hit quite the same as it did when I was younger. Still enjoyable, just no longer a favorite. A solid three stars for childhood memories alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Shugo Chara! was one of my favorite manga (and anime!) when I was a kid, so picking up the 20th Anniversary Edition felt like revisiting an old friend. The new cover is adorable, and I loved the bonus content—full-color art, creator notes, and extras were easily my favorite part of this edition.
Re-reading it as an adult, though, I definitely think I’ve outgrown this one a bit.
Amu is still charming in her own way, and I appreciate the core message about identity, confidence, and becoming who you truly want to be. Her Guardian Characters are just as cute and chaotic as I remembered, and the story has that classic early-2000s magical girl energy—silly stakes, big emotions, and lots of sparkle.
That said, the pacing feels scattered, and some of the tropes (especially the awkward age-gap moments) didn’t age great. The plot jumps around a lot, and while it’s fun, it can feel unfocused. I also noticed how strongly this reads as a product of its time, both in art style and storytelling.
Overall, this was a sweet, nostalgic reread with great bonus material—but it didn’t hit quite the same as it did when I was younger. Still enjoyable, just no longer a favorite. A solid three stars for childhood memories alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pictures this: you’re a young tween at an anime convention browsing the manga. You don’t know what you want but you have a vague idea, it has to be cute and something that just speaks to you. Then you find it, this manga, the perfect gateway into magical girl manga and your life was changed.
Fast forward:
Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition so so good and it transported me back to when I was a kid looking for my first manga! Rereading Amu’s story made me feel so nostalgic
and reminded me why I loved this series so much when I was younger. The theme of true identify and self discovery hits a little different as an adult but it still gets you like it did when you were a teen, and the Guardian Characters are just as adorable.
I love this anniversary edition, it feels really special for the fans! We’re talking bigger volumes (1-2 are in this specific manga) that are great for binge-reading and the color pages were a welcome surprise. A perfect glow-up for a great series!
So regardless of if you’re rereading for nostalgia, picking it up for the first time, or wanting it because you like a special edition manga, it’s still a comforting, magical read. ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pictures this: you’re a young tween at an anime convention browsing the manga. You don’t know what you want but you have a vague idea, it has to be cute and something that just speaks to you. Then you find it, this manga, the perfect gateway into magical girl manga and your life was changed.
Fast forward:
Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition so so good and it transported me back to when I was a kid looking for my first manga! Rereading Amu’s story made me feel so nostalgic
and reminded me why I loved this series so much when I was younger. The theme of true identify and self discovery hits a little different as an adult but it still gets you like it did when you were a teen, and the Guardian Characters are just as adorable.
I love this anniversary edition, it feels really special for the fans! We’re talking bigger volumes (1-2 are in this specific manga) that are great for binge-reading and the color pages were a welcome surprise. A perfect glow-up for a great series!
So regardless of if you’re rereading for nostalgia, picking it up for the first time, or wanting it because you like a special edition manga, it’s still a comforting, magical read. ✨
January 27, 2026
I went into Shugo Chara! completely blind, only knowing that I love the magical girl genre and I ended up really enjoying this first volume. I loved the main character, Amu, and how her cool exterior hides her introverted self. Watching her acknowledge that while also wishing to change felt very relatable. The guardian characters are adorable and bring so much charm and humour. I liked how the story slowly introduced the magical elements rather than rushing straight into them. The transformations were a real highlight for me.
I really appreciated the emotional layer underneath. The story touches on identity, growth, and the fear of change. This gave more depth than I expected. There is plenty of cuteness, comedy, and heart. The volume ends on a cliffhanger that left me excited for the next instalment.
I also really liked the inclusion of translation notes at the back explaining some of the original Japanese context and language choices. It was an interesting extra that, along with the full colour artwork featured throughout, made this anniversary edition feel special. Overall, this was a magical and comforting read and I am really looking forward to continuing the series.
I really appreciated the emotional layer underneath. The story touches on identity, growth, and the fear of change. This gave more depth than I expected. There is plenty of cuteness, comedy, and heart. The volume ends on a cliffhanger that left me excited for the next instalment.
I also really liked the inclusion of translation notes at the back explaining some of the original Japanese context and language choices. It was an interesting extra that, along with the full colour artwork featured throughout, made this anniversary edition feel special. Overall, this was a magical and comforting read and I am really looking forward to continuing the series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an arc. All opinions are my own.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Genre: Magical Girl Manga
Are There Gay People in this?*: ❌
I remember enjoying the anime back when I was a little kid so this was a very cute nostalgic read for me. I always enjoy the colored panels in anniversary releases too. I will say, I despise both love interests. I think Amu should ditch them both and spend her time with Nagihiko instead. Also the fact that Amu is in 5th grade and one of the love interest's is FIFTEEN (at least according to the wiki) is crazy to me. Massive ick. But like, at least in this volume the romance takes a backseat to the plot which is very fun.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or supporting characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Genre: Magical Girl Manga
Are There Gay People in this?*: ❌
I remember enjoying the anime back when I was a little kid so this was a very cute nostalgic read for me. I always enjoy the colored panels in anniversary releases too. I will say, I despise both love interests. I think Amu should ditch them both and spend her time with Nagihiko instead. Also the fact that Amu is in 5th grade and one of the love interest's is FIFTEEN (at least according to the wiki) is crazy to me. Massive ick. But like, at least in this volume the romance takes a backseat to the plot which is very fun.
* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or supporting characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Shugo Chara was fun middle school/young adult manga, I really enjoyed these characters and thought this mangas take on the magical girl theme was entertaining and unique. The art style is beautiful and the character designs look so cute, there are so many cute and fun moments in this anniversary manga. Some of my favorite have to be the transformations or just the scenes where we really see the guardian characters. There are quite a few characters to keep track of but I feel like we get plenty of summaries or little reminder moments that make it easy to place who is who. Some of my favorite characters aside from the guardians are Ikuto, Tadase, Amu, and Nadeshiko! I’m very excited to see where next manga volumes go. This one ended on a bit of a cliff hanger, I also think it was hinting at a potential love triangle and I’m absolutely invested to see where things go with it. The anniversary edition has extra character art and a few bonus scenes which were cute. Thank you to the publisher for my complimentary review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Shugo Chara is a magical girl manga aimed at a younger audience (8-14) and bursting with positive messages - from being confident in yourself to not being afraid to try something new.
I like the balance between fun school moments with friends and the darker themes like failed dreams and the consequences of growing older. It also has a good mix of fight scenes and schoolgirl drama (being rejected by your first crush, trying to make new friends...) so the pacing never feels too slow. New information about the overall plot are revealed steadily, and the cliffhanger at the end makes you want to jump straight into the next story.
For an anniversary edition, I also though this had some nice extras scattered throughout. There isn't a ton of new content, but there are nice full colour spreads at the start of each volume. Overall, a good read if you are looking for a younger magical girl story.
I like the balance between fun school moments with friends and the darker themes like failed dreams and the consequences of growing older. It also has a good mix of fight scenes and schoolgirl drama (being rejected by your first crush, trying to make new friends...) so the pacing never feels too slow. New information about the overall plot are revealed steadily, and the cliffhanger at the end makes you want to jump straight into the next story.
For an anniversary edition, I also though this had some nice extras scattered throughout. There isn't a ton of new content, but there are nice full colour spreads at the start of each volume. Overall, a good read if you are looking for a younger magical girl story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha for the ARC.
This was soooo much fun. I hadn’t read these in almost 20 years and it was such a blast going back to these characters and the little tidbits about how they styled the characters were so interesting. I really loved the extra art, which made it so much more immersive in reintroducing the characters and storyline after so long. Although it’s posed as a simple, comedic, kind of coming of age story, there really is some deeper parts to it, like the desire to be more confident or artistic or develop specific skills and overall be who you want to be, which is so relatable for everyone. Even through the sparkles. I think this special edition is going to be great for people like me, who read it when it first came out and want a trip down memory lane, but also great for those who have never read it before. I’m also definitely using the new release as a way to recommend more people read it!
This was soooo much fun. I hadn’t read these in almost 20 years and it was such a blast going back to these characters and the little tidbits about how they styled the characters were so interesting. I really loved the extra art, which made it so much more immersive in reintroducing the characters and storyline after so long. Although it’s posed as a simple, comedic, kind of coming of age story, there really is some deeper parts to it, like the desire to be more confident or artistic or develop specific skills and overall be who you want to be, which is so relatable for everyone. Even through the sparkles. I think this special edition is going to be great for people like me, who read it when it first came out and want a trip down memory lane, but also great for those who have never read it before. I’m also definitely using the new release as a way to recommend more people read it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A blast from my past. I remember reading this story as a middle schooler or high school(?). The lighthearted beginnings of a magical girl adventure. The themes are overdramatic and perfect for a way to visualise and grasp at larger concepts. Middle school is really hard, kids are trying to figure out how to be 'cool' they start to really develop that persona with new people or try new things. So many 'firsts' happen during this age it does feel like a battle. I love japanese manga and anime for the reason that the stories focus on different topics and often internal battles being as strong and difficult as physical ones with other characters. Looking inside yourself to see who do you really want to be and not what other people see you as.
Go into the story with an open mind and enjoy the story.
Go into the story with an open mind and enjoy the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I never read this one when I was younger, but a former co-worker did and mentioned it to me several years ago. So when I saw the 20th anniversary edition I was definitely up to try it.
Definitely a cute magical girl-esque manga of its era. And that's a good thing! It gave me a jolt of nostalgia for the time period, even though I had never read it before.
I did find a coupke of places where the translation/dialogue felt a little choppy (I do not know any Japanese at all, so I can't really pinpoint the cause - just a few places where I lost the thread a little)
Also, ages are so hard to judge. The characters felt a little old for elementary school, but not horribly so...more middle school by my American standards.
All in all, enjoyed and recommended. Though I do need the next one soonest, as this one ended on a cliffhanger.
Definitely a cute magical girl-esque manga of its era. And that's a good thing! It gave me a jolt of nostalgia for the time period, even though I had never read it before.
I did find a coupke of places where the translation/dialogue felt a little choppy (I do not know any Japanese at all, so I can't really pinpoint the cause - just a few places where I lost the thread a little)
Also, ages are so hard to judge. The characters felt a little old for elementary school, but not horribly so...more middle school by my American standards.
All in all, enjoyed and recommended. Though I do need the next one soonest, as this one ended on a cliffhanger.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition is definitely cute and fun, but it’s a bit of a reminder that magical girl manga is a total hit or miss for me. Peach-Pit’s art is solid and I really like Amu as a lead, she’s got a great design and a fun personality. However, compared to something like Cardcaptor Sakura, which I love for its perfect mix of cuteness, comedy, and a great story, this one falls a little flat. It has the look, but it doesn’t quite have the same spark.
My biggest gripes are that it’s just not very funny, and the fights feel pretty lackluster. I can totally see why this is considered a foundation of the genre and why so many people love it, but personally, it doesn’t do enough to keep me hooked. It’s a decent read and the 20th-anniversary quality is nice, but for me, it’s a middle-of-the-road 3 out of 5.
My biggest gripes are that it’s just not very funny, and the fights feel pretty lackluster. I can totally see why this is considered a foundation of the genre and why so many people love it, but personally, it doesn’t do enough to keep me hooked. It’s a decent read and the 20th-anniversary quality is nice, but for me, it’s a middle-of-the-road 3 out of 5.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Shugo Chara is considered a classic magical girl manga & anime now, and it retains a lot of those 90s/early 00s magical girl tropes. Ikuto being touchy-feely on an 11/12 year old girl while being 14-16ish is still icky, just like it was back in the day, haha. Kodansha brings us back to the great feels that the series does bring, with beautiful colored pages and a new cover!
Thank you Kodansha for allowing me early access to the 20th anniversary Edition, it's been a wonderful jog down memory lane. I'll be excited to pick up the physical copy :)
Thank you Kodansha for allowing me early access to the 20th anniversary Edition, it's been a wonderful jog down memory lane. I'll be excited to pick up the physical copy :)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
omg i cannot believe it’s 20 years since shugo chara first came out… my back hurts at the thought…
i loved the anime when i was in grade school and middle school, so i forgot how corny it really was upon reading the manga, but it was also very sweet and uplifting!
my biggest complaint about the whole series is the blatant sexual innuendos — why are little kids making these comments? not to mention ikuto is a whole grown man and making suggestive comments to a child…
omg i cannot believe it’s 20 years since shugo chara first came out… my back hurts at the thought…
i loved the anime when i was in grade school and middle school, so i forgot how corny it really was upon reading the manga, but it was also very sweet and uplifting!
my biggest complaint about the whole series is the blatant sexual innuendos — why are little kids making these comments? not to mention ikuto is a whole grown man and making suggestive comments to a child…
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Reading Shugo Chara 20th Anniversary Edition Vol. 1 felt like revisiting a warm memory from childhood. I read the manga and watched the anime when I was little, so seeing this 20th anniversary edition gave me this strange, lovely feeling of nostalgia and joy. The story is really sweet and full of heart, and I found myself smiling through the whole volume. It’s a fun, gentle start that feels just as charming now as it did back then.
Reading Shugo Chara 20th Anniversary Edition Vol. 1 felt like revisiting a warm memory from childhood. I read the manga and watched the anime when I was little, so seeing this 20th anniversary edition gave me this strange, lovely feeling of nostalgia and joy. The story is really sweet and full of heart, and I found myself smiling through the whole volume. It’s a fun, gentle start that feels just as charming now as it did back then.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for an ARC of Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition volume 1.
Initially I thought the story seemed cute and something pre-teen me would have enjoyed. The plot was sort of all over the place and the filler stories felt unnecessary. Some of the dialogue was very cheesy but I get that the story is meant for kids. My biggest issue is the age gap between the main character and one of the love interests. I think it’s icky and uncomfortable so I won’t be reading further.
Initially I thought the story seemed cute and something pre-teen me would have enjoyed. The plot was sort of all over the place and the filler stories felt unnecessary. Some of the dialogue was very cheesy but I get that the story is meant for kids. My biggest issue is the age gap between the main character and one of the love interests. I think it’s icky and uncomfortable so I won’t be reading further.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a cute collection of the original 2 volumes of the manga series. I liked the extra artwork that was included in the middle of the volume. The manga itself is still really cute and a quintessential magical girl story. I enjoyed the updated translation and the translation notes they included at the end to explain the choices that were made. I'm excited to reread this whole series in these anniversary editions as they come out.
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February 12, 2026Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the arc!
Well this felt so nostalgic😭🫶 I remember loving the anime when I was a kid and I always wanted to read the manga so I’m glad i was finally able to start this new journey.
Even if I’m older I still love Amu (and her style?? like hello??) with all my heart. I can say i’m already excited to see how everything progresses for her and all the characters.
Well this felt so nostalgic😭🫶 I remember loving the anime when I was a kid and I always wanted to read the manga so I’m glad i was finally able to start this new journey.
Even if I’m older I still love Amu (and her style?? like hello??) with all my heart. I can say i’m already excited to see how everything progresses for her and all the characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a cute manga 8-12 year olds. It reminded me a little bit of Sailor Moon, but geared towards elementary girls instead of teenagers. The jokes were a bit cheesy, but it was still a fun read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This manga was such a throwback. It had volume 1 and 2 in it. This will always be one of my top mangas in all time! If you are thinking about it, go ahead and read it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A very fun and inviting story. The idea feels very unique and the characters are easily to be loved.
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