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Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition #1
Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition, Vol. 1
Relive 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
First published March 3, 2026
About the author
Peach-Pit
209 books279 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 - 30 of 76 reviews
March 11, 2026
2.5 stars, rounded up.
Provided by Kodansha Comics, via NetGalley.
Shugo Chara is a series I've been vaguely interested in for a long time, so when better to check it out than the 20th Anniversary print!
This story is about Amu Hinamori, "the spiciest girl at Seiyo Elementary School". Considered cool by everyone, she wishes to be cuter and more open with her feelings. Praying for a do-over, she's given three eggs. These turn out to be her "Guardian Characters", each helping her be who she really wants to be.
She ends up working together with the school Guardians, who all have Guardian Character just like her! They want to find the Embryo, which will grant a wish.
This book covers the first two volumes of her adventures. According to this book, there will be six total released, so look forward to them!
Provided by Kodansha Comics, via NetGalley.
Shugo Chara is a series I've been vaguely interested in for a long time, so when better to check it out than the 20th Anniversary print!
This story is about Amu Hinamori, "the spiciest girl at Seiyo Elementary School". Considered cool by everyone, she wishes to be cuter and more open with her feelings. Praying for a do-over, she's given three eggs. These turn out to be her "Guardian Characters", each helping her be who she really wants to be.
"I...I just want to be normal..."
She ends up working together with the school Guardians, who all have Guardian Character just like her! They want to find the Embryo, which will grant a wish.
This book covers the first two volumes of her adventures. According to this book, there will be six total released, so look forward to them!
April 24, 2026
FIRST IMPRESSION VIDEO: https://youtu.be/_ScHzUcvo7M
FIRST IMPRESSION VIDEO:
"Any child who is lacking something can be the main character of their story."
If someone were to tell me that, as an adult, I would be deeply impacted by a manga geared towards younger girls, I confess I would feel a little bit skeptical about how "deep" the impact could go.
However, that person could clap back at me, saying "told you so!" because Shugo Chara! was nothing as I expected, especially when it came to how the themes of this manga would touch my heart!
I think out of all the magical girl series I've read (which admittedly is not much), I think Amu is by far the most relatable. A young girl who has had an "image" or persona pushed onto her by other people, and rather than push back on what and who people think she is, she chooses to let those ideas dictate how she outwardly acts. All the while, when she is alone, we can see how much she wants and longs to be someone else, the someone else who her heart yearns to be (which is MUCH different than how she acts).
As someone who could relate to that wayyyy too strongly, even as an adult a few years ago, I was caught off guard by how many times I felt a "pang" in my heart when reading because people pleasing was my game up until about six plus years ago where I eventually hated myself so much and who I seemed to be, that I fell into deep depression and self-loathing. I thankfully got help, but it's been a long journey to be the person my heart has wanted to be right now, and I couldn't help but think of how creative it was to have these little guardian characters help Amu with her transformation.
And while in theory, that idea sounds wonderful! Little cute guardians who can help you do things you don't believe you could ever do? YES! But those chapters about Amu wrestling with change and questioning if change is a good thing because she's scared of becoming someone different from who she was felt like it was speaking to my older self. Even now, it makes me tear up because even though Amu is a young girl, here I am finding such relatability in her story and journey as a much older adult!
Just, you know, I can't turn into a magical girl the same way she can! LOL!
Speaking of, the magical girl transformation was SO fun! I loved all the super cute outfits and the guardians themselves! It was fun, interesting, and engaging because I didn't know what to expect after Amu met other people who have guardians, too!
I will say that I think the only reason I can't give this full five stars is Ikuto. I love the idea of his character and don't even mind his character in itself because he's compelling and is fun to see on page.
However, that "romance" was…hard. I don't think it's as bad as I felt was strongly projected in some of the circles I am in, but it did leave me uncomfortable in how he would get super close to her or touch her. There were a few places in the story where I wished Amu's character was aged up or that Ikuto's character was aged down, honestly.
I don't feel overall it was a deal breaker (except I did NOT like that implied innuendo near the end with those 2-3 panels), but I do think it's important to be aware of?
Overall, though, this is a beautiful edition of a series that I now understand is so loved and treasured by fans of the manga and anime! I feel it's a story that can be appreciated regardless of age, and I would definitely love to continue the series to see what happens next!
FIRST IMPRESSION VIDEO:
"Any child who is lacking something can be the main character of their story."
If someone were to tell me that, as an adult, I would be deeply impacted by a manga geared towards younger girls, I confess I would feel a little bit skeptical about how "deep" the impact could go.
However, that person could clap back at me, saying "told you so!" because Shugo Chara! was nothing as I expected, especially when it came to how the themes of this manga would touch my heart!
I think out of all the magical girl series I've read (which admittedly is not much), I think Amu is by far the most relatable. A young girl who has had an "image" or persona pushed onto her by other people, and rather than push back on what and who people think she is, she chooses to let those ideas dictate how she outwardly acts. All the while, when she is alone, we can see how much she wants and longs to be someone else, the someone else who her heart yearns to be (which is MUCH different than how she acts).
As someone who could relate to that wayyyy too strongly, even as an adult a few years ago, I was caught off guard by how many times I felt a "pang" in my heart when reading because people pleasing was my game up until about six plus years ago where I eventually hated myself so much and who I seemed to be, that I fell into deep depression and self-loathing. I thankfully got help, but it's been a long journey to be the person my heart has wanted to be right now, and I couldn't help but think of how creative it was to have these little guardian characters help Amu with her transformation.
And while in theory, that idea sounds wonderful! Little cute guardians who can help you do things you don't believe you could ever do? YES! But those chapters about Amu wrestling with change and questioning if change is a good thing because she's scared of becoming someone different from who she was felt like it was speaking to my older self. Even now, it makes me tear up because even though Amu is a young girl, here I am finding such relatability in her story and journey as a much older adult!
Just, you know, I can't turn into a magical girl the same way she can! LOL!
Speaking of, the magical girl transformation was SO fun! I loved all the super cute outfits and the guardians themselves! It was fun, interesting, and engaging because I didn't know what to expect after Amu met other people who have guardians, too!
I will say that I think the only reason I can't give this full five stars is Ikuto. I love the idea of his character and don't even mind his character in itself because he's compelling and is fun to see on page.
However, that "romance" was…hard. I don't think it's as bad as I felt was strongly projected in some of the circles I am in, but it did leave me uncomfortable in how he would get super close to her or touch her. There were a few places in the story where I wished Amu's character was aged up or that Ikuto's character was aged down, honestly.
I don't feel overall it was a deal breaker (except I did NOT like that implied innuendo near the end with those 2-3 panels), but I do think it's important to be aware of?
Overall, though, this is a beautiful edition of a series that I now understand is so loved and treasured by fans of the manga and anime! I feel it's a story that can be appreciated regardless of age, and I would definitely love to continue the series to see what happens next!
April 16, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
Shugo Chara... how grateful I am that I was presented this cute manga with a fun storyline, even though it's been years since its release!! Magical girls (and boys) are represented in this story as their dream selves and they are trying to find the Embryo which can grant any wish the owner wants! So of course we have the righteous and the villain side both trying to get their hands on it. And our main girl, Amu Hinamori, ends up quite in the middle of all of it!
The characters are all very fun and much more entertaining than I expected, and the guardian characters are also very whimsical. Overall, this story has made me want to go back to being a kid watching magical girls shows and I am pretty sure that's exactly what will be next on my list!
And the most beautiful part about this story is how it talks about not giving up on your dreams, and being a happier and better person to yourself! I am absolutely loving it!!
Thank you so much to Kodansha and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC of this edition in exchange for an honest review!
Shugo Chara... how grateful I am that I was presented this cute manga with a fun storyline, even though it's been years since its release!! Magical girls (and boys) are represented in this story as their dream selves and they are trying to find the Embryo which can grant any wish the owner wants! So of course we have the righteous and the villain side both trying to get their hands on it. And our main girl, Amu Hinamori, ends up quite in the middle of all of it!
The characters are all very fun and much more entertaining than I expected, and the guardian characters are also very whimsical. Overall, this story has made me want to go back to being a kid watching magical girls shows and I am pretty sure that's exactly what will be next on my list!
And the most beautiful part about this story is how it talks about not giving up on your dreams, and being a happier and better person to yourself! I am absolutely loving it!!
Thank you so much to Kodansha and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC of this edition in exchange for an honest review!
March 9, 2026
I suprisingly loved it! Having never read Shugo Chara I didn't know what to expect, or how I would like it reading it as an adult. However, the fact that the story touches upon important topics (self-doubt, following one's dreams and more) made this story meaningful, and all the funny moments sprinkled throughout made it delightful read at the same time. The artwork is cute, and the fashion had me writing down some inspirations for my own closet refresh.
THE ENDING THOUGH. I need to find out what happens NOW.
Thank you to Peach-Pit, Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
THE ENDING THOUGH. I need to find out what happens NOW.
Thank you to Peach-Pit, Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 17, 2026
I was familiar with the property as I watched a bit of the Shugo Chara anime back in the 2000’s (never finished it), so I was familiar with the characters and first bits of the plot.
If you never read the manga, its story structure differs from the anime greatly. While the anime has more of a “monster of the week” approach with X egg battles nearly every episode, the manga switches up between fighting and character drama between chapters. One chapter was entirely about summer vacation activities with no monsters or fighting. It takes a while to get to the first battle. I do like how the characters get time to do normal activities and explore character development that way, as the theme of the story is to figure out who their true selves are and grow into them, as well as the self doubt that comes with it. It feels a lot like early seasons of Winx Club, if the characters were aged down.
Either way, the story starts the same. Amu is seen as the cool and spicy girl at her school due to her goth outfit (chosen by her parents) and doesn’t want to always be this closed off girl to everyone. After a wish, she gets three eggs that change her personality. And it results in all types of hijinks, discovering herself and the aspects she didn't have, life lessons, and puts her in a massive battle against villains who are erasing children's dreams to find a wish making egg. The plot was engaging throughout, though some of the pacing within the chapters could have been better. That cliffhanger at the end of chapter 10 urged me to pick up the next volume and keep reading.
The artwork was excellent, with great character designs and fashion, and they are just as fresh now as they were back in the 2000’s. the emotions were clear and expressive, and it made the story easy to follow.
There’s some new stuff for this volume, like author interviews, etc, which was interesting.
This does have a bit of an uncertain audience and I felt the main cast should have been in middle school, not grade school, so I’ll recommended it to preteens and up.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Kodansha USA. All opinions are my own.*
If you never read the manga, its story structure differs from the anime greatly. While the anime has more of a “monster of the week” approach with X egg battles nearly every episode, the manga switches up between fighting and character drama between chapters. One chapter was entirely about summer vacation activities with no monsters or fighting. It takes a while to get to the first battle. I do like how the characters get time to do normal activities and explore character development that way, as the theme of the story is to figure out who their true selves are and grow into them, as well as the self doubt that comes with it. It feels a lot like early seasons of Winx Club, if the characters were aged down.
Either way, the story starts the same. Amu is seen as the cool and spicy girl at her school due to her goth outfit (chosen by her parents) and doesn’t want to always be this closed off girl to everyone. After a wish, she gets three eggs that change her personality. And it results in all types of hijinks, discovering herself and the aspects she didn't have, life lessons, and puts her in a massive battle against villains who are erasing children's dreams to find a wish making egg. The plot was engaging throughout, though some of the pacing within the chapters could have been better. That cliffhanger at the end of chapter 10 urged me to pick up the next volume and keep reading.
The artwork was excellent, with great character designs and fashion, and they are just as fresh now as they were back in the 2000’s. the emotions were clear and expressive, and it made the story easy to follow.
There’s some new stuff for this volume, like author interviews, etc, which was interesting.
This does have a bit of an uncertain audience and I felt the main cast should have been in middle school, not grade school, so I’ll recommended it to preteens and up.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Kodansha USA. All opinions are my own.*
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!
April 4, 2026
This was such a nostalgic read for me since I first picked up this manga about 15 years ago. I remember absolutely loving Amu’s outfits ( I still do!). It’s incredible how well the art style and the fashion styles have held up over the years.
The story is still strong, too. It explores meaningful themes like self doubt and self discovery in a way that still feels relatable and heartfelt.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The story is still strong, too. It explores meaningful themes like self doubt and self discovery in a way that still feels relatable and heartfelt.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 10, 2026
I saw this at the bookstore the other day and had to pick up a copy. Its hard to believe its been 20 years! I absolutely loved this back in high school so it was fun reading Shugo Chara as an adult.
The message of SC is great, my only gripe is with the very uncomfortable sexual innuendos, like and the
Honestly, they should have removed the romance all together or aged the characters to high school aged.
The message of SC is great, my only gripe is with the very uncomfortable sexual innuendos, like and the
Honestly, they should have removed the romance all together or aged the characters to high school aged.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5/5⭐
'Shugo Chara!' is a manga series that is nostalgic for many, with the original run of the series starting at the end of 2005 in Japan (and in 2007 for the original English translation). I've always been a big fan of magical girl manga and anime, but managed to miss 'Shugo Chara' entirely when it was first coming out. The first volume of the new 20th Anniversary Editions that Kodansha is releasing seems to be a great way to enjoy the series for the first time in 2026.
Thank you to Kodansha and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this volume in exchange for my honest review.
'Shugo Chara!' follows Amu Hinamori, a young girl with a reputation for being cool and unapproachable. In reality, Amu is simply shy and wishes she could have an easier time embracing her cute side and making friends. One night when making this wish, Amu discovers three colourful eggs in her bed which later hatch into Guardian Characters - magical beings capable of granting Amu special abilities to help her embrace who she really wants to be. The story then sees Amu join a group of fellow students who also have Guardian Characters in order to help protect others.
At its core, the story of 'Shugo Chara' is a coming of age one. The Guardian Characters represent the hopes and dreams of the children they belong to, and their powers grant a form of self confidence. In contrast, the "x eggs" represent the self doubt and negative thoughts that come along with growing up. Even in these early chapters, its great to see how much development and growth that Amu experiences as a character. Upon making friends with others within the student council, she really starts to blossom as our lead. I feel like the core themes of belonging and learning your self worth as an individual during these core pre-teen and teen years are ones that young readers will always be able to relate to.
The 20th Anniversary Edition features what is described as an updated translation, so I decided to compare the first two chapters with those from the original 2007 release that are available to read for free on Kodansha USA's website. The translation is not just a simple touch-up or refresh, it appears to be all-new as no pages were exact matches between the two versions. Both versions give the same general feeling, but there are some updates that I did prefer in the new edition. Firstly, the way that Amu's younger sister Ami talks is much easier to understand in the update. Secondly, the original version appeared to erase some minor Japanese cultural references that remain in the updated version, with the updated version also including translation notes at the very end of the volume that explain what certain references mean and why they decided to translate them that way. Two chapters are probably not enough of a comparison to say for sure that they both give the exact same (or similar enough) reading experience, but I felt in general that the updated translation flowed a little better across pages and I personally preferred the all-caps font choices used in the new version as well.
The 'Shugo Chara!' 20th Anniversary Edition is worth picking up for fans both new and old, as it also includes some brand new material such as notes from the authors, and full-colour galleries of various artworks from the series' original run which not everybody will have seen before. The story itself will likely appeal to a younger teen audience the most as the main cast are aged from 11 to 16, but there's still a little something in it for everybody.
'Shugo Chara!' is a manga series that is nostalgic for many, with the original run of the series starting at the end of 2005 in Japan (and in 2007 for the original English translation). I've always been a big fan of magical girl manga and anime, but managed to miss 'Shugo Chara' entirely when it was first coming out. The first volume of the new 20th Anniversary Editions that Kodansha is releasing seems to be a great way to enjoy the series for the first time in 2026.
Thank you to Kodansha and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this volume in exchange for my honest review.
'Shugo Chara!' follows Amu Hinamori, a young girl with a reputation for being cool and unapproachable. In reality, Amu is simply shy and wishes she could have an easier time embracing her cute side and making friends. One night when making this wish, Amu discovers three colourful eggs in her bed which later hatch into Guardian Characters - magical beings capable of granting Amu special abilities to help her embrace who she really wants to be. The story then sees Amu join a group of fellow students who also have Guardian Characters in order to help protect others.
At its core, the story of 'Shugo Chara' is a coming of age one. The Guardian Characters represent the hopes and dreams of the children they belong to, and their powers grant a form of self confidence. In contrast, the "x eggs" represent the self doubt and negative thoughts that come along with growing up. Even in these early chapters, its great to see how much development and growth that Amu experiences as a character. Upon making friends with others within the student council, she really starts to blossom as our lead. I feel like the core themes of belonging and learning your self worth as an individual during these core pre-teen and teen years are ones that young readers will always be able to relate to.
The 20th Anniversary Edition features what is described as an updated translation, so I decided to compare the first two chapters with those from the original 2007 release that are available to read for free on Kodansha USA's website. The translation is not just a simple touch-up or refresh, it appears to be all-new as no pages were exact matches between the two versions. Both versions give the same general feeling, but there are some updates that I did prefer in the new edition. Firstly, the way that Amu's younger sister Ami talks is much easier to understand in the update. Secondly, the original version appeared to erase some minor Japanese cultural references that remain in the updated version, with the updated version also including translation notes at the very end of the volume that explain what certain references mean and why they decided to translate them that way. Two chapters are probably not enough of a comparison to say for sure that they both give the exact same (or similar enough) reading experience, but I felt in general that the updated translation flowed a little better across pages and I personally preferred the all-caps font choices used in the new version as well.
The 'Shugo Chara!' 20th Anniversary Edition is worth picking up for fans both new and old, as it also includes some brand new material such as notes from the authors, and full-colour galleries of various artworks from the series' original run which not everybody will have seen before. The story itself will likely appeal to a younger teen audience the most as the main cast are aged from 11 to 16, but there's still a little something in it for everybody.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Peach-Pit, Netgalley, and Kondansha for a complimentary arc of this manga in exchange for an honest review.
I was actually a big fan of the Shugo Chara! anime about ten years ago when it was in its hey day. It's hard to believe this series first came out twenty years ago now but it definitely does share the traits of other typical shoujo series of the 90s/early 2000s. Shugo Chara! is aimed more at a younger audience and has the same kind of themes and monster of the week narrative as other series like CLAMP's Cardcaptor Sakura and Precure. Where Shugo Chara! differs however is really in the series aesthetics, our main protagonist Amu, and the themes of growing up and changing yourself.
This is a series that despite meant for a younger audience has a bit more of an adult tone to it - our main character is more mature, sassy and dresses in gothic lolita (not by choice), than other typical protagonists in manga of this type. Amu is a really relatable protagonist also because the whole series is about her flaws and growing into herself rather then her starting out being happy and cheerful. She's a girl who is misunderstood by all around her and suffers from people placing unrealistic expectations of her character which manifest quite literally in her character splitting into three separate entities which she can transform into super-hero style. Whilst it's mostly played for jokes, identity and the fear of change is a big theme throughout in both our protagonist and the side characters. There's also a bit of age gap romance with a bad boy 'cat' guy which I remember people loving back in the day though it feels a little problematic now, particularly given the boy's constant invasion of Amu's personal space.
This 20th anniversary edition includes some fun extras like interviews and more artwork, though for a person new to the series it does spoiler a few future things that haven't actually come out yet. This is in an omnibus format collecting the first few volumes of the series in one and clocking in at a hefty 400 pages. It looks like the entire editions will come to six volumes in total, and there is a spin off series also just started called Shugo Chara! Jewel Joker which looks to be revisiting the series. I'd be interested to see if the new series holds up as whilst I did enjoy revisiting Shugo Chara it definitely is more of a nostalgic read for me, and feels a little dated nowadays.
I was actually a big fan of the Shugo Chara! anime about ten years ago when it was in its hey day. It's hard to believe this series first came out twenty years ago now but it definitely does share the traits of other typical shoujo series of the 90s/early 2000s. Shugo Chara! is aimed more at a younger audience and has the same kind of themes and monster of the week narrative as other series like CLAMP's Cardcaptor Sakura and Precure. Where Shugo Chara! differs however is really in the series aesthetics, our main protagonist Amu, and the themes of growing up and changing yourself.
This is a series that despite meant for a younger audience has a bit more of an adult tone to it - our main character is more mature, sassy and dresses in gothic lolita (not by choice), than other typical protagonists in manga of this type. Amu is a really relatable protagonist also because the whole series is about her flaws and growing into herself rather then her starting out being happy and cheerful. She's a girl who is misunderstood by all around her and suffers from people placing unrealistic expectations of her character which manifest quite literally in her character splitting into three separate entities which she can transform into super-hero style. Whilst it's mostly played for jokes, identity and the fear of change is a big theme throughout in both our protagonist and the side characters. There's also a bit of age gap romance with a bad boy 'cat' guy which I remember people loving back in the day though it feels a little problematic now, particularly given the boy's constant invasion of Amu's personal space.
This 20th anniversary edition includes some fun extras like interviews and more artwork, though for a person new to the series it does spoiler a few future things that haven't actually come out yet. This is in an omnibus format collecting the first few volumes of the series in one and clocking in at a hefty 400 pages. It looks like the entire editions will come to six volumes in total, and there is a spin off series also just started called Shugo Chara! Jewel Joker which looks to be revisiting the series. I'd be interested to see if the new series holds up as whilst I did enjoy revisiting Shugo Chara it definitely is more of a nostalgic read for me, and feels a little dated nowadays.
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!
April 22, 2026
Thank you Kodansha Comics for the advanced copy of one of my favorite childhood series!
Ah to see a series you read while you were growing up hit its 20th anniversary really makes a guy feel old, which obviously means yes, I HAVE read this series before! The caveat however, I never read a proper English translation because in 2008 there wasn't a lot of access to officially translated manga! This is a series that's always held a special place in my heart, it encouraged me growing up to do a lot of self-reflection and it helped me learn a lot about myself. Now, I do find some things with this series a little.... not great, but that's not to be discussed in this review because those things don't happen yet as of this volume!!
I do gotta say though, the moment that made me dislike Tadase as a character IS in this volume. It's where he tells Amu that he likes Amulet Heart and asks her to transform so that he can see her again. It's something very small but it always rubbed me the wrong way because in a series about having a dream of your future self and not being forced into someone else's idea of you, he's doing exactly that. That's not to say I endorse Ikuto either though, brother is a high school student flirting with a middle schooler even though I do like his outfits and his overall character. I like virtually every character in this series, there's no one I really hold genuine hate for.
Something I have always loved about this series is the overall concept of the "guardian characters" the way that everyone has their "ideal self" appear as a little guy who can actually help them with reaching their "ideal self," the concept of x-eggs as well where you've sort of abandoned your dream so your little guy corrupts and then if the egg gets smashed it crushes the person it belongs to and makes them sort of hollow. I really loved getting to revisit this, and I actually enjoyed the updated (or at least updated to me) translation! I might pick up the other anniversary edition volumes as well just to see the updated translations for the entire series, I'll also be reviewing Jewel Joker vol 1 very soon!
Ah to see a series you read while you were growing up hit its 20th anniversary really makes a guy feel old, which obviously means yes, I HAVE read this series before! The caveat however, I never read a proper English translation because in 2008 there wasn't a lot of access to officially translated manga! This is a series that's always held a special place in my heart, it encouraged me growing up to do a lot of self-reflection and it helped me learn a lot about myself. Now, I do find some things with this series a little.... not great, but that's not to be discussed in this review because those things don't happen yet as of this volume!!
I do gotta say though, the moment that made me dislike Tadase as a character IS in this volume. It's where he tells Amu that he likes Amulet Heart and asks her to transform so that he can see her again. It's something very small but it always rubbed me the wrong way because in a series about having a dream of your future self and not being forced into someone else's idea of you, he's doing exactly that. That's not to say I endorse Ikuto either though, brother is a high school student flirting with a middle schooler even though I do like his outfits and his overall character. I like virtually every character in this series, there's no one I really hold genuine hate for.
Something I have always loved about this series is the overall concept of the "guardian characters" the way that everyone has their "ideal self" appear as a little guy who can actually help them with reaching their "ideal self," the concept of x-eggs as well where you've sort of abandoned your dream so your little guy corrupts and then if the egg gets smashed it crushes the person it belongs to and makes them sort of hollow. I really loved getting to revisit this, and I actually enjoyed the updated (or at least updated to me) translation! I might pick up the other anniversary edition volumes as well just to see the updated translations for the entire series, I'll also be reviewing Jewel Joker vol 1 very soon!
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.
March 15, 2026
Imagine, being a magical girl means turning into the version you (once) wished you could be.
This is the life of the new schoolgirl, Amu, who outwardly presents herself as someone reserved and cool, but is actually just very shy. Thus, wishing herself a new, more confident and cutesy life, she gains this ability, but by taking on this persona, she also takes on the good as well as bad characteristics associated with that identity, like being more brave, naive, impulsive, and bubbly. Now, tasked with magical powers and accompanied by new friends, she has to battle the materialized darkness hidden inside her fellow students' hearts. And probably fall in love with the local bad boy.
Themes like growing up, falling in love the first time and managing school life with one's personal life are not unfamiliar with any magical-girl story, but I enjoyed how this one's setup deals with questions of identity and personas in different spaces in one's life and directly connected it to its magic system.
The characters, their dynamic and the artstyle seem interesting enough, but have some tropes and writing reminiscent of older YA mangas. Not necessarily falling short, but sometimes it reads like you have experienced this kind of story before. But, it remains a beloved classic for a reason.
This was a very fun read, even if it was quite cheesy at times, but that is likely genre-conditioned.
Definitely recommend it for people familiar with the work wishing to revisit it, as well as new (middleage-grade) readers interested in older manga stories or the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for an ARC for an honest review.
This is the life of the new schoolgirl, Amu, who outwardly presents herself as someone reserved and cool, but is actually just very shy. Thus, wishing herself a new, more confident and cutesy life, she gains this ability, but by taking on this persona, she also takes on the good as well as bad characteristics associated with that identity, like being more brave, naive, impulsive, and bubbly. Now, tasked with magical powers and accompanied by new friends, she has to battle the materialized darkness hidden inside her fellow students' hearts. And probably fall in love with the local bad boy.
Themes like growing up, falling in love the first time and managing school life with one's personal life are not unfamiliar with any magical-girl story, but I enjoyed how this one's setup deals with questions of identity and personas in different spaces in one's life and directly connected it to its magic system.
The characters, their dynamic and the artstyle seem interesting enough, but have some tropes and writing reminiscent of older YA mangas. Not necessarily falling short, but sometimes it reads like you have experienced this kind of story before. But, it remains a beloved classic for a reason.
This was a very fun read, even if it was quite cheesy at times, but that is likely genre-conditioned.
Definitely recommend it for people familiar with the work wishing to revisit it, as well as new (middleage-grade) readers interested in older manga stories or the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for an ARC for an honest review.
April 19, 2026
I wish I knew about this manga when I was younger! This is a perfect coming-of-age manga. It centers around that vulnerable age of childhood when you begin understanding who you are (what you like, what you want to do, etc) while also understanding how others are perceiving you. Your desire for friendship sometimes overrides your actual interests, which can cause issues between these two senses of self. It is here that we have the guardian characters.
The guardian characters help serve as a separate persona that helps fill any gaps between the external and internal view of self. They're technically who you want to be- your dreams. Not everybody's guardian eggs hatch, and when they do it is normal to only have one. Amu, the main gal, has three! I don't know what that means for the larger story, but I found that interesting. Does it mean she struggles more than the others to be confident as her real self? Or does it mean she has no clue who she wants to be?
Most of the other school guardians are fine, but I do worry about the King guardian. He seems like he'll be more tempted into a bad future... Kind of like the real bad guys, who go by Easter. I'm really intrigued by the boy who has a cat persona. I feel like he's morally gray, but is more true to himself. He's a guy that I can see Amu connecting with more and more over the course of the series.
Overall, I love the art, the concept, and how it perfectly reflects the problems of children in that age group. It is so well done! I can understand why it's being celebrated in a 20th Anniversary collection.
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha for the chance to review!
The guardian characters help serve as a separate persona that helps fill any gaps between the external and internal view of self. They're technically who you want to be- your dreams. Not everybody's guardian eggs hatch, and when they do it is normal to only have one. Amu, the main gal, has three! I don't know what that means for the larger story, but I found that interesting. Does it mean she struggles more than the others to be confident as her real self? Or does it mean she has no clue who she wants to be?
Most of the other school guardians are fine, but I do worry about the King guardian. He seems like he'll be more tempted into a bad future... Kind of like the real bad guys, who go by Easter. I'm really intrigued by the boy who has a cat persona. I feel like he's morally gray, but is more true to himself. He's a guy that I can see Amu connecting with more and more over the course of the series.
Overall, I love the art, the concept, and how it perfectly reflects the problems of children in that age group. It is so well done! I can understand why it's being celebrated in a 20th Anniversary collection.
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha for the chance to review!
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
Amu is fourth-grader in an elementary school where she’s recently transferred to. She’s seen as a cool, aloof girl, but in reality she’s just shy. She doesn’t like the image she has and in desperation she wishes to become who she wants to be. In return, three eggs appear, from which guardian spirits hatch that give her powers to briefly become who she needs to be.
She’s very confused and tries to reject them, even more so when at school she’s suddently invited to become the school guardian, a group of students who all have a spirit too. Since no one else has three, Amu is made a Joker and given a job to hunt x eggs, those that hatch wrong and ruin a child’s character.
There’s also a boy Amu doesn’t like but who is the cool character she’ll have a crush on later. He’s the enemy though, who hunts for an embryo egg (what it is isn’t explained) and meddles in Amu’s hunts. And then there are adults who want to destroy the eggs altogether. A lot is going on in the story.
This 20-year anniversary volume collects first two volumes of the series with beautiful full colour character art. I read the follow-up first and was very confused with the world and story. The original work explained some things, but the story is equally confusing. The original was better than the follow up, but it still wasn’t for me. Art was from 20 years ago, but cute.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
She’s very confused and tries to reject them, even more so when at school she’s suddently invited to become the school guardian, a group of students who all have a spirit too. Since no one else has three, Amu is made a Joker and given a job to hunt x eggs, those that hatch wrong and ruin a child’s character.
There’s also a boy Amu doesn’t like but who is the cool character she’ll have a crush on later. He’s the enemy though, who hunts for an embryo egg (what it is isn’t explained) and meddles in Amu’s hunts. And then there are adults who want to destroy the eggs altogether. A lot is going on in the story.
This 20-year anniversary volume collects first two volumes of the series with beautiful full colour character art. I read the follow-up first and was very confused with the world and story. The original work explained some things, but the story is equally confusing. The original was better than the follow up, but it still wasn’t for me. Art was from 20 years ago, but cute.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an 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
Mmmmh, ich war mir anfangs tatsächlich sehr unsicher, ob's mir nicht zu “kindlich” bzw naiv ist.. da es ja wieder ziemlich junge Charaktere sind und eben auch schon ziemlich alt.. aber tatsächlich passt die Kombination hier ganz gut. Klar, an sich ist's schon sehr an eine junge Leserschaft gerichtet, aber dennoch find ich's ganz interessant. Magical Girl themed - in vielen Fällen funktioniert das auch immer ganz gut. Hier find ich's sehr interessant mit den “Charakteren” bzw Charakterzügen und “das Ich, das ich gern wäre” - damit lässt es sich wohl am besten beschreiben. Ich hatte auch das Gefühl, dass da doch mehr dahintersteckt und tiefgründiger ist, als es zunächst wirkt. Denn man sollte seine Träume niemals aufgeben - wenn sie sich nicht in jungen Jahren zeigen, dann können sie sich auch noch später entwickeln und man kann sie wahr werden lassen 🫶 auch dass man keinen Traum als “Müll“ oder ähnliches sehen sollte - das ist eine sehr schöne und wichtige Message finde ich. Und dass es so schon frühzeitig an junge Leser herangetragen wird, ist definitiv auch ein großer Pluspunkt in meinen Augen. Auch das Artwork ist ganz hübsch anzugucken mit vielen tollen Designs. Auch die Charaktere sind sehr individuell gestaltet (auch wenn manche sich ein wenig ähneln). Gefällt mir eigentlich ganz gut - vielleicht les ich hier tatsächlich irgendwann mal weiter 👀
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.
March 30, 2026
thank you Netgalley and Kodansha for this eARC!
This was... not for me.
I requested this because the plot looked really interesting. Magical girls and boys, eggs that hide in people's heart and hatch to make their dreams some true in order to become the person they dream of... I liked it. and honestly the plot is good. the mystery was done well I think, it definitely hooked me. but... unfortunately I ended up feeling extremely uncomfortable during various scenes.
these characters are kids, and yet there are many s3xual innuendos that have no business in a story about children in elementary school.
one of the love interests is older than her, and suddenly he's talking about how milk isn't going to make her chest grow, biting her earlobe, touching her weirdly, saying stuff he shouldn't say... huh?????
sorry, but it did not pass the vibe check. it looked genuinely so promising and I was having fun until these instances. I thought I was just overreacting until a scene towards the end just closed it for me.
the audience of this is kids and teenagers, and I really don't think there is any need for innuendo at that age.
This was... not for me.
I requested this because the plot looked really interesting. Magical girls and boys, eggs that hide in people's heart and hatch to make their dreams some true in order to become the person they dream of... I liked it. and honestly the plot is good. the mystery was done well I think, it definitely hooked me. but... unfortunately I ended up feeling extremely uncomfortable during various scenes.
these characters are kids, and yet there are many s3xual innuendos that have no business in a story about children in elementary school.
one of the love interests is older than her, and suddenly he's talking about how milk isn't going to make her chest grow, biting her earlobe, touching her weirdly, saying stuff he shouldn't say... huh?????
sorry, but it did not pass the vibe check. it looked genuinely so promising and I was having fun until these instances. I thought I was just overreacting until a scene towards the end just closed it for me.
the audience of this is kids and teenagers, and I really don't think there is any need for innuendo at that age.
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.
March 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to get early access to this!
I honestly loved Shugo Chara when I was younger but admittedly only ever watched the anime and didn’t follow the manga.
Shugo Chara follows Amu, an elementary school girl who seems to be this cool, nonchalant and unbothered girl but is really just a shy and misunderstood girl. Set in a world where every child’s inner wishes become Characters, Amu’s inner personalities and wishes becomes her 3 characters. The catch? Ordinarily, each child should only have 1! She’s introduced to the guardians of her school and is eventually inducted as the groups Joker. With this, AMU’s world explodes with classmates who see the real her and a love interest…or 2 🤭
This first volume covers the first 4 chapters and as the 20th anniversary edition, we get a brighter and sharper version of the original manga itself and a few additional tid bits and art. Something you love to see with anniversary editions.
If you loved Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura and Tokyo Mew Mew, then you should definitely pick this up!
I honestly loved Shugo Chara when I was younger but admittedly only ever watched the anime and didn’t follow the manga.
Shugo Chara follows Amu, an elementary school girl who seems to be this cool, nonchalant and unbothered girl but is really just a shy and misunderstood girl. Set in a world where every child’s inner wishes become Characters, Amu’s inner personalities and wishes becomes her 3 characters. The catch? Ordinarily, each child should only have 1! She’s introduced to the guardians of her school and is eventually inducted as the groups Joker. With this, AMU’s world explodes with classmates who see the real her and a love interest…or 2 🤭
This first volume covers the first 4 chapters and as the 20th anniversary edition, we get a brighter and sharper version of the original manga itself and a few additional tid bits and art. Something you love to see with anniversary editions.
If you loved Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura and Tokyo Mew Mew, then you should definitely pick this up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha comics for the ADRC!
Shugo Chara! returns in this newly refined release, which contains many beautiful full colour pages and spreads for new and old fans to enjoy. As a new reader I enjoyed the premise and found the artwork very beautiful, many moments throughout this volume were funny and characters were individualized. Despite having never read it before, the format of Shugo Chara! invoked nostalgia for older manga (in it's tropes and storytelling, for instance) so that was nice.
I knew the series was about magical girls and I saw it categorized as teens+ so I was excited to delve into the series. Unfortunately, I believe it is targeted for a much younger audience then I was anticipating - I would recommend it for any young children or parents with children looking to get their kids into manga / magical girls, though I would have to pass on recommending it to any teens or adults.
Shugo Chara! returns in this newly refined release, which contains many beautiful full colour pages and spreads for new and old fans to enjoy. As a new reader I enjoyed the premise and found the artwork very beautiful, many moments throughout this volume were funny and characters were individualized. Despite having never read it before, the format of Shugo Chara! invoked nostalgia for older manga (in it's tropes and storytelling, for instance) so that was nice.
I knew the series was about magical girls and I saw it categorized as teens+ so I was excited to delve into the series. Unfortunately, I believe it is targeted for a much younger audience then I was anticipating - I would recommend it for any young children or parents with children looking to get their kids into manga / magical girls, though I would have to pass on recommending it to any teens or adults.
April 9, 2026
- 3/3.5 stars - mood read for me
2 in 1 volume
- colorful art in the beginning
- middle grade/YA
- magical girl, self discovery
-Netgalley & Kodansha ARC read
Older art style and feels like it would be a nostalgic read for some. It's an interesting concept and I like the setting for it- as the age is when they are still figuring out who they are. It definitely stands out from some of my other reads since I don't read too many magical girl type ones. Plus it is one that a younger audience can enjoy too.
In this world everyone is born with a egg, but this egg is not always known and if hatched the individual has a Guardian Character who helps them achieve their full potential. For Amu, she has three and now she is helping the student council find eggs marked with an X. In addition, the council and another group called Easter are searching for the Embryo- believed to grant a wish.
2 in 1 volume
- colorful art in the beginning
- middle grade/YA
- magical girl, self discovery
-Netgalley & Kodansha ARC read
Older art style and feels like it would be a nostalgic read for some. It's an interesting concept and I like the setting for it- as the age is when they are still figuring out who they are. It definitely stands out from some of my other reads since I don't read too many magical girl type ones. Plus it is one that a younger audience can enjoy too.
In this world everyone is born with a egg, but this egg is not always known and if hatched the individual has a Guardian Character who helps them achieve their full potential. For Amu, she has three and now she is helping the student council find eggs marked with an X. In addition, the council and another group called Easter are searching for the Embryo- believed to grant a wish.
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