History Manga / ShugoChara

''Shugo Chara!'' is a [[{{Shojo (demographic)}} shoujo]] manga by PEACH-PIT, serialized in ''Nakayoshi'' from 2006 to 2010. Compiled in 12 volumes, it won the 2008 Kodansha Manga Award during its run. ''Shugo Chara!'' received its own anime adaptation that began in fall of 2007, available on [[http://www.crunchyroll.com/library/Shugo_Chara CrunchyRoll]] under the accurate but somewhat cumbersome title ''My Guardian Characters''. In addition to its success, it was also adapted into a musical in 2009.

A shoujo manga by PEACH-PIT, serialized in Nakayoshi. Also an anime that began airing in fall of 2007, available on [[http://www.crunchyroll.com/library/Shugo_Chara CrunchyRoll]] under the accurate but somewhat cumbersome title ''My Guardian Characters''.

* BeYourself: The very premise upon which the show is laid.

** Amu actually does seem to have a lot of "good luck" symbolism going on actually. As well as the playing card example mentioned above (Within certain varieties of card games where it is used The Joker can be a ''very'' good thing to draw.), there would be the fact that all of her Character Transformations are titled "Amulet (Suit)", [[spoiler: With the sole exception of Amulet Fortune, the latter word of which, again, denotes good luck]] (Whereas, nowadays, an "amulet" is more seen as any piece of neck - based jewellery, earlier it was generally viewed to mean a piece of said jewellery that brings excellent luck.), the Humpty Lock (And the Dumpty Key.) has an intentional resemblance towards a four leaf clover, and, after [[spoiler: the anime's final battle, the last portion of Amu's mental speech afterwards would be "The four leaf clover... In the language of flowers, it means, "Shinjitsu no Ai". True love."

* DistaffCounterpart: Much like with ''RozenMaiden'' and ''GashBell'', Shugo Chara is more or less what would have happened if Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure part 3 was penned by CLAMP.

** [[InvoluntaryTransformation YOU DARE CALL]] [[BerserkButton ME A PRINCE!?"]]

*** No, he doesn't. [[spoiler: I think then he's doing it in a kinda-friendly-teasing kind of way.]]

* TheMole: [[spoiler:Nikaidou and Kairi]].

'''This show provides examples of:'''

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The manga ends with quite a few things unexplained.

* FutureBadass: Of ALL the people, [[spoiler: Tsukasa is Tadase in the future. Which will bring up TONS of WildMassGuessing since Tsukasa(and by extension Tadase) is known as the first Guardian President. How badass is Tsukasa [[YourMileageMayVary can vary from person to person.]]]]

* IdiotHair: Tadase and Tsukasa. YourMileageMayVary about the "Idiot" part.

* DistaffCounterpart: Much like with ''RozenMaiden'' and ''GashBell'', Shugo Chara is more or less what would have happened if JoJosBizarreAdventure part 3 was penned by CLAMP.

When she prays one night to her "Guardian Spirits", wishing that she could change her personality and be more honest to herself, three magical eggs appear next morning in her bed. These hatch into her three Shugo Chara, or Guardian Characters, each one representing a different facet of her hidden personality: her sporty and energetic side, her artistic side, and her domestic side. With the aid of her Guardian Characters, which can bring her buried personalities to the surface (sometimes against her will), Amu slowly learns to embrace and accept her HiddenDepths.

* TheMole: [[spoiler:Nikaidou and Kairi]]. [[IGotBetter They get better.]]

* TransformationSequence: Amu's first transformation happens in midair, leading one to believe in an [[TransformationIsAFreeAction instantaneous transformation]]. Of course, the roughly 15-second conversation ''during'' the fall would put her about half a mile underground, so maybe physics doesn't play a big part in this show.

* TransformationSequence: Amu's first transformation happens in midair, leading one to believe in an instantaneous transformation. Of course, the roughly 15-second conversation ''during'' the fall would put her about half a mile underground, so maybe physics doesn't play a big part in this show.

* FrillsOfJustice: A partial example with [[spoiler: Amulet Fortune]] — while it's not based on a previous outfit, it's still simultaneously the most powerful and the frilliest outfit Amu gets in the series.

Amu Hinamori may seem at first glance to be a typical TallDarkAndBishoujo character. However, beneath her quiet and cynical exterior lies a regular shy, clumsy, lovestruck girl who just wishes that she had the confidence to express [[BeYourself her true character]].

Amu Hinamori may seem at first glance to be a typical TallDarkAndBishoujo character. However, beneath her quiet and cynical exterior lies a regular old shy, clumsy, lovestruck girl who just wishes that she had the confidence to express [[BeYourself her true character]].

Amu Hinamori may seem at first glance to be your typical TallDarkAndBishoujo character. However, beneath her quiet and cynical exterior lies a regular old shy, clumsy, lovestruck girl who just wishes that she had the confidence to express [[BeYourself her true character]].

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ShugoChara.jpg]] ''My own heart, unlock!''

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ShugoChara.jpg ''My own heart, unlock!''

Hinamori Amu puts on a TallDarkAndBishoujo persona that fools classmates, the school bully, and even her own family. However, inside is a regular old shy, clumsy, lovestruck shoujo heroine waiting to come out. Amu's too afraid to act like her TrueSelf, but when three eggs appear in her bed, she can't control her actions and she is approached by an intimidating older guy, she becomes a MagicalGirl. Her eggs hatch into three Shugo Chara, or Guardian Characters, who allow her to switch between three different magical forms, each of which has different powers and unearths a different personality. She's not the only one with Shugo Chara, although most people just have ''one'' instead of three (later on FOUR), and the balance between trying to control them and letting them release her true personality isn't easy to keep. And if ''that'' wasn't enough, here come monsters born from other kids' insecurities to rampage around town...

* FrillsOfJustice: Most evident in [[spoiler:Seraphic Charm, Utau's form with El, and Amulet Diamond, Amu's form with Dia, which turn out to be two of the most powerful Character Transformations available.]]
** [[spoiler:Platinum Royal]] isn't short of a frill or two either...

* AirVentEscape: Kiseki and Yoru pull off one of these in the Easter building in episode 81. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], since the charas are small enough to fit in normal air ducts, and can fly to avoid making noise or being too heavy.

* EveryGirlIsCuterWithHairDecs: Amu has her X-hairclips, Yaya wears pigtails with large bows and Rima has a hairband.

* LivingCrashpad: Amu meets Ikuto when she falls down a hole and lands on him.

* TheLibby: Once again, Yamabuki Saaya, played for laughs, since when compared to Amu, she's nowhere as popular. Also, Lulu from the second series.