Part 1 Chunk: (Please forgive me for basically writing an essay. I need to find another hobby.)
What show could fit your mood if you're looking for something simple yet fun? This show. It is nothing more than a children's show, but it is far from being boring. Sure, it can get rather repetitive, but the repetitive parts I found hard to outright hate, actually. I do dislike a certain character who is purely there to create filler, but even she ends up better in the end. If anything, this show stole my heart AND if you think stealing hearts is
...
a bad thing, this show will do it anyway with magic potions, love charms, hugs, smiles, and kisses.
Two Witches named Chocolat Meilleure and Vanilla Mieux are Queen Candidates who collect valuable different colored hearts can only receive them by wooing Human boys. ("Gotta catch 'em all! That is their master plan.")
Yes, Humans and Witches are two different species pretending to date, but Witches are not allowed to fall in love with Humans no matter what (i.e., their hearts are not allowed to turn Red). Does it get really hard not to wish they could reciprocate a Humans' feelings fully at times? Sure, but if anything that just makes Witches desire to understand and observe the ways in which love works like scientists more. However, they aim to gather experience in the Human world so that they can learn the best from both worlds and apply that to their futures in Magical World politics or in whatever else they choose to do. It's supposed to be a Win=Win situation, despite Witches not being able to fall in love with Humans, in general.
The show, however, throws its biggest hurdle at the Queen Candidates with the introduction of a group called the Ogres. Since Chocolat and Vanilla are fairly young and naive, they learn the hard way about how they already have enemies out to get them because of their royal status. If the Witches are dedicated to pure love, the Ogres are dedicated to all that is evil and/or taboo, such as forbidden love, etc.; in other words, they are natural born enemies.
One particular character, who attends school with the Queen Candidates, is very interesting because he is supposed to be an Ogre, yet he is very innocent in appearance (I will not say who, but it should become fairly obvious early on). He believes that if Witches and Ogres aren't supposed to love Humans, they are meant to be taken over. So, if the girls represent the essence of pink, BOY, does he embrace the essence of the color black. His presence is said to be full of "Noir."
So, while this show is very simple, the way everything is set up the characters are going to have to grow A LOT (especially Vanilla who is a shy, frail, polite, bundle of nerves; as opposed to Chocolat who is brave, stubborn, and outgoing but has poor manners).
In fact, the ending is a fantastic example of how having the will power to do what is right can transcend most if not all of the conflict, confusion, and uncertainty thrown their way. As predictable as the outcome may be, it is never boring to watch it when it feels like a theater play whose leads try to perform with their heads held high and their hearts gleaming (very pretty, shiny hearts).
Part 2 Chunk:
Sugar Sugar Rune has a very European flavor with lots of eccentricity added to it and some goth touches, so no setting could possibly fit it better like a glove! The Magical World, however, looks like Halloween Town and Candy Land put together!
It's important to mention the food, too, after mentioning Candy Land, right? Well, it's completely Western/European, very appetizing, and, also, consists of tons of desserts and candy!
A fun quirk is that many things are given a French name. Although, the French is really simple and is nothing like the lengthier phrases used in, say Maria-sama ga Miteru, for example. Some of the spells Chocolat uses, for instance, are "La Fleur Spirale," "La Étoile Brilliant," "Agrandizement," etc.
This show, also, loves bubble baths, fragrances, pearls, jewels, charms, stars, the Moon, or any kind of mysticism that Witches might love. Creativity is certainly not something this show lacks, nor foreign, exotic, or paradise scenery!
Aside from everything else, I could draw a good amount of similarities between Sugar Sugar Rune and Harry Potter, such as a flying car, flying broomsticks, Mandrake, dragons, big spiders, unicorns, an invisibility cloaking object, etc.
The art in the show is quite good. Although, I think it could've been done better, especially if you compare some of it to Moyoco Anno's gorgeous art in the manga. The animation varies from average to very neat and exciting, such as the Witches falling from the sky in the 1st episode, and the ending of the 4th episode is wow! Pretty is all I can say. The animation in the 37th episode, and plenty of other episodes is surprisingly top notch, also.
The music in the show is quite memorable, in fact, some of the songs are playing in my head right now. The best song is, of course, the opening! It is a song that pays homage to "Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son" by France Gall and is probably one of the most fun songs I've heard as an anime OP as of yet (except for Azumanga Daioh's OP, maybe?). I think I've watched the opening 100 times already, but the two ending songs are really pleasant, too!
Who has the best seiyuu? Honestly, I cannot choose, since all of them did a fantastic job and sound very cute saying little phrases in French.
Robin - His seiyuu has an incredibly silky smooth voice, and he sings great! (Listen to Robin's seiyuu sing "SUPERSTAR" and "DON'T CRY.")
Chocolat - Her seiyuu gets some of the best lines. Even though everybody in this show seems to have a catchphrase, hers are the best.
Vanilla - Her seiyuu is fitting and sounds like she's going to cry all the time; although, it could get on some peoples' nerves a little bit.
Duke and Blanca - They're opposites, and they fight and argue a lot so that's done very well.
Saule and Houx - They sound like teenagers for sure, but they are very unusual for twins in quite a few ways.
Pierre - His seiyuu has a handsome voice; however, he sure likes to inflect some harshness and increase volume later on.
Rest of cast - no complaints there, except for Waffle, who is just annoying.
If you'd like an easy to get into show with an interesting characters and magical world set up, Sugar Sugar Rune is definitely worth checking out. I don't think it'll ever become more popular than Shugo Chara! But it definitely gives it a run for its money. It's one of the cooler magical girl shows that's for sure!
Oct 17, 2011
Sugar Sugar Rune
(Anime)
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Part 1 Chunk: (Please forgive me for basically writing an essay. I need to find another hobby.)
What show could fit your mood if you're looking for something simple yet fun? This show. It is nothing more than a children's show, but it is far from being boring. Sure, it can get rather repetitive, but the repetitive parts I found hard to outright hate, actually. I do dislike a certain character who is purely there to create filler, but even she ends up better in the end. If anything, this show stole my heart AND if you think stealing hearts is ... |