In shojo manga world, one of the most famous series as of today is shugo chara! Shugo Chara is a story of the life of an elementary student, Hinamori Amu. She is known as a cool and distant girl in their school. The way she dress and act is like a cool girl as well. She is portrayed by many who comes from a good family and has a very prominent life that many see as a reflection of her style. In reality, Amu is actually a very shy girl who doesn’t know how to express her true feelings. She is often discomforted about what the people around her, especially in school, think of her. Until one night,
after reflecting these issues on her real self, she sincerely prayed and wish from the bottom of her heart that she would have the courage to how her real self. Waking up in the morning, she saw three eggs in her room. After some time, the eggs hatched and came out three “Guardian Characters”. These Guardians will help Amu to become her real self as the time passes.
But having three Guardian made a fuss on their world. She was first chase by Ikuto Tsukiyomi believing that her Guardians were the legendary Embryo that is believed to grant any wish for anyone who possesses it. She was then ‘hired’ by the student council on their school who actually have their own Guardians which the students doesn’t know. She was placed as a “Joker” together with the King, Queen, Jack, and Ace of the student council. She as a very special task that only she can do among the other members which is to heal all X Eggs with X Guardians. These are the Guardians of other children that was infected by their negative feelings.

With her Guardians, she can actually transform to these Characters. Ran is her first hatched egg – the one with pink-colored shell and Amu becomes Amulet Heart during the transformation. Ran represents her longing to be honest, confident, and athletic. Ran has a very energetic personality and oftens cheers Amu together with her pom-poms. Her second Guardian to hatch is Miki – the one with blue-colored shell and Amu becomes Amulet Spade during the transformation. Miki symbolizes Amu’s wish to become more level headed, sharp, and artistic. Her third Guardian to hatch is Su – the one with green-colored shell and Amu becomes Amulet Clover during the transformation. Su represents Amu’s desire to be more caring, sensitive, and develop her household skills. Later on in the series it was revealed that she created a 4th Guradian Character called Dia. Dia represents Amu’s yearning to shine and to be noticed by ither people. Together, they become Amulet Diamond during the transformation.

Shugo Chara! for me is like a counter part of Card Captor Sakura. It portrays the struggle of every child in the modern world and is a very good story for children. If you have a child, I suggest you let your child read this manga or watch its anime. It truly is a manga for children. Good characters as well as the bad one are portrayed in the series and is a good eye opener for children. If you are a child, I suggest you read this manga. And if you are an adult, well, it wouldn’t be so bad to go back to our childhood times right?

For me, Shugo Chara! is rated: “thumbs up!”