Also, "Humpty Lock" is a stupid name
So, I've been reading/watching Shugo Chara (the manga is definitely superior, but more of the anime is currently available at 15 episodes to two volumes). While I love it already, I can't help but notice some similarities to, well, everything.
Most obviously, the styling and tone are a complete ripoff of Cardcaptor Sakura. If you liked CCS, you are pretty much guaranteed to like Shugo Chara, because it, too, is highly adorable and features collecting/defeating little things running around preying on hapless fifth graders. Oh, and the heroine wears cute clothes and isn't quite sure of herself but with the help of her friends, everything will definitely be alright!
First up, we have a prince and a catboy, both competing for our heroine's love! The prince is kind of awkward at school because he's a little shy, and the catboy is misunderstood, but surely they can work things out? (Spoiler: no.)
Speaking of catboy, he pulls double-duty here. A mean girl from high school with big hair, a metrosexual sort of guy with blue hair, and a weird little anthropomorphic thing... Hmm, now, where have I seen this particular combination of inept bad guys before?
Are these chipmunks? Disney fairies? Ducktale nephews? No! They're a completely original trio comprised of a spunky red one, smart blue one, and food-obsessed green one!
What an angelic-looking layer of clouds she's floating past!
And heck, how about generic gay guy, sports guy, whiny girl, and Tomoyo here?
Incidentally, I bet you all think you're so clever because you've figured out my favorite character already. But if you guessed catboy, you'd be... well, probably correct, depending on how the next few episodes go. (I'm only up to episode three.) I do like how he angstily plays his little violin. But one of the really nice things about Shugo Chara is, like Ouran, I like lots of characters!
Especially this one, Miki:
Why, you ask? Because she's voiced by the same actress who did Ahiru (Princess Tutu), and I find myself won over by imagining everything she says as if a duck were speaking it. (Conversely, I do not like Su, aka the green one, due partly to the fact that she's boring but mostly to the fact that her voice approaches a register only dogs can hear.)
There's a whole plot about wishes and eggs that live in people's hearts and checking to see if they're special, too, but that part is totally original. Seriously. Nothing like Sailor Moon season 3 at all.
I also watched all 13 currently available episodes of Shion no Oh this weekend for no good reason. The writing isn't particularly good, the tension during the matches is forced, and it is still, as mentioned previously, creepy as hell, but I find myself liking Shion, so what the heck.
Plus, one of the characters is a scientist I believe some of you may recognize.
Wait, no, that's not quite right...
There we go.
Most obviously, the styling and tone are a complete ripoff of Cardcaptor Sakura. If you liked CCS, you are pretty much guaranteed to like Shugo Chara, because it, too, is highly adorable and features collecting/defeating little things running around preying on hapless fifth graders. Oh, and the heroine wears cute clothes and isn't quite sure of herself but with the help of her friends, everything will definitely be alright!
First up, we have a prince and a catboy, both competing for our heroine's love! The prince is kind of awkward at school because he's a little shy, and the catboy is misunderstood, but surely they can work things out? (Spoiler: no.)
Speaking of catboy, he pulls double-duty here. A mean girl from high school with big hair, a metrosexual sort of guy with blue hair, and a weird little anthropomorphic thing... Hmm, now, where have I seen this particular combination of inept bad guys before?
Are these chipmunks? Disney fairies? Ducktale nephews? No! They're a completely original trio comprised of a spunky red one, smart blue one, and food-obsessed green one!
What an angelic-looking layer of clouds she's floating past!
And heck, how about generic gay guy, sports guy, whiny girl, and Tomoyo here?
Incidentally, I bet you all think you're so clever because you've figured out my favorite character already. But if you guessed catboy, you'd be... well, probably correct, depending on how the next few episodes go. (I'm only up to episode three.) I do like how he angstily plays his little violin. But one of the really nice things about Shugo Chara is, like Ouran, I like lots of characters!
Especially this one, Miki:
Why, you ask? Because she's voiced by the same actress who did Ahiru (Princess Tutu), and I find myself won over by imagining everything she says as if a duck were speaking it. (Conversely, I do not like Su, aka the green one, due partly to the fact that she's boring but mostly to the fact that her voice approaches a register only dogs can hear.)
There's a whole plot about wishes and eggs that live in people's hearts and checking to see if they're special, too, but that part is totally original. Seriously. Nothing like Sailor Moon season 3 at all.
I also watched all 13 currently available episodes of Shion no Oh this weekend for no good reason. The writing isn't particularly good, the tension during the matches is forced, and it is still, as mentioned previously, creepy as hell, but I find myself liking Shion, so what the heck.
Plus, one of the characters is a scientist I believe some of you may recognize.
Wait, no, that's not quite right...
There we go.