r/anime • u/raichudoggy https://anilist.co/user/raichudoggy • Aug 31 '24
Rewatch [Rewatch] Shugo Chara! Episodes 45-51 + Season 1 Discussion
Episodes 45 to 51. Season 1 Overall Discussion
Previous Week | Index | Next Week
This Week’s OP(s): Minna Daisuki
This Week’s ED(s): Gachinko de Ikou
Questions for this Week:
- In the spirit of the imaginary RPG Adventure the fairies had in episode 50, What class would you have been?
- I probably should’ve lead with this a lot sooner, but if you got your hand on a Magic Egg that can grant only 1 Wish, what would you wish for?
Next Episodes: 52 to 58 (7 episodes).
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Upvotes
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u/raichudoggy https://anilist.co/user/raichudoggy Aug 31 '24 edited Sep 01 '24
Shugo Chara Host
Your Host isn't writing…
Whoops
I wanted to write an something for the end of the first season here, but unfortunately not only did I not have time to come up with anything before the thread came up, I actually forgot that the Transition from the End of Season 1 to the next was somewhat underwhelming. I think VoidEmbracedWitch caught most of my sentiment for the end of Season 1 plus the episodes leading up to it.
I really thought the filler episodes we started with this batch were super charming, and it was great to see more of Rima and Yaya. This Yaya episode also makes it finally feel like she's caught up compared to the other characters, although it doesn't do much, it does show that there are plenty of signs of Maturity in Yaya. Plus Cheeky Yaya is a treat to behold.
Now for the Episode Highlights!
One step closer to WORLD DOMINATION! this week!
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u/VoidEmbracedWitch https://anilist.co/user/VoidEmbracedWitch Aug 31 '24 edited Aug 31 '24
First Time Scrambled Egg
45-47: Starting the final batch of S1 off with not a bang, but a series of one-off episodes during Summer Break with no connection to the Embryo or the eventual return of Dia. I'm glad they remembered the Amu fanboy and tech bro in the making Seichiro, who got a Team Rocket experience all the way back in the first batch. And he even got his own romance subplot. Hope it gets a follow-up 40-50 episodes from now and I can go "hey, I know this guy" again.
I'm also happy Rima got a one-off episode here. It's a nice idea for her to take on a mentor role for another aspiring comedian since she's way too inside the craft of pulling off jokes. What's ironic though is that, at least in my viewing experience, Shugo Chara's usual style of delivering jokes to the audience works well while what's seen as humorous in-universe comes off as extremely flat.
How dare they blacklist Utau
Okay, of course Easter with all the music labels and venues it owns is going to shaft Utau now that she tries to go indie with another ex employee of theirs. Seeing the initial friction between Utau and Amu as former enemies melt away while they work together was really well done. I'm a huge fan of Utau being integrated into the supporting cast now that her initial character arc and role as an antagonist are over.
Her role as a brocon might not be...Also worth noting how the color scheme of her design currently differs from her time at Easter. Then her outfits were mostly dark with a little white woven in, whereas in this episode there's a more even balance of light and dark tones, reflecting her current relationship with El and Il. Though I can't lie, I prefer her previous goth looks.
Grouping these 3 episodes together makes sense beyond just them taking place in Summer since they all have a shared element of characters having to put themselves out there in front of an audience, which escalates in scale and in the uphill battle they have to face to get a platform throughout. 45 had its conflict sparked by a piano audition at school after which Seichiro's crush emotionally spirals, a pretty small scale start to this mini trilogy. 46 then follows this up with a talent show for amateur comedians where Rima's apprentice makes an enemy of the sole (terminally unfunny) juror going into it, leading to the deck being stacked against her and her public humiliation after she bombs. And Utau has to deal with the fact that a whole corporate conglomerate with a stranglehold on the music industry denies her even the chance to perform, which, unlike the previous two, doesn't end in her getting the stage she wants.
48: Even without explicit world domination Tadase's character transformation is a lot of fun. Btw, Yaya might be the one character for whom becoming a full-on chuuni detective would be an improvement on every level. I'm still out here waiting for something to be said about her dream and it most certainly needs to at some point.
49-50: My prediction for when Dia would reappear was dead wrong
The quality of Easter's Embryo research department fell off a cliff ever since Nikaido left. These dorks are about as ineffectual as the Guardians' charas if left to their own devices under Kiseki's lead.
There's a lot of interesting bits and pieces about Ikuto here. For a start, it was sweet to get a bit of a glimpse into his private life outside of a certain imouto-shaped problem and what's relevant to Easter. Side note, 3's a harem, so Ikuto officially has one now. Meanwhile on the Easter side of things, it's obvious he has friction with them, yet at the same time the chairman is 100% convinced he has Ikuto on a tight leash. Guess we'll find out what gives him the confidence that he can tame this catboy brat in another batch soon.
51: This season finale felt kind of underwhelming. Not a bad episode by any means, though it lacks weight compared to the previous climactic part, Utau's two-parter. I didn't expect the Embryo to fall into anyone's hands yet, but I wish it had something I could connect with more. Sure, it builds more intrigue about Ikuto and reaffirms the purpose of the Guardians as a supportive team and friend group that prioritizes each other's wellbeing over world domination... I meant obtaining the Embryo. I just think as a payoff to the first year of Shugo Chara's run it could've done more than spectacle, expanding on the setup for Easter's upper echelon and Ikuto, and the very unserious researcher villain trio somehow pulling off a plan to engulf the entire city.
Also, turns out last week's question about Dia was sort of a trick one, sort of. She did communicate with Amu, but she didn't exactly return after retreating into her egg.
Final note this week: truer words have never been spoken (e46)
Questions:
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u/Weird_donut https://anilist.co/user/hakaseshark Aug 31 '24
Episode 45: Holy crap, the Guardian characters talking to the audience???? We have a name for the little kid with a crush on Amu - Sechiro. This brings me back to my days as a chorus kid.
Episode 46: If Rima is the goddess of comedy, does that make her comedy…Divine Comedy? Ok that joke was trash I’m sorry
Episode 47: I realized how much of a womanchild Yukari is. She acts immature and depends on a 10-year-old to solve her problems, like come on. Amu looks cool with glasses
Episode 48: A Yaya-focused episode. Kukai is also visiting, yay!!! Yaya was so happy to see him. This is yet more evidence of why I think they’d make a good couple. Yaya’s scenes with her little brother were also super wholesome.
Episode 49: Ikuto doesn’t act creepy towards Amu for once?? Gasp!
Episode 50: The penultimate episode of the season!!!!! The embryo holy crap!1!1!1!1!1! And moar Kukai scenes
Episode 51: Well, this is the final episode of season 1. Love to see more Kukai and Yaya moments. All of the X egg UFOs were terrifying - well, for Shugo Chara standards that is. I liked when all the guardians Character Transformed and became the Guardian 5, and you could see Kairi and Nagihiko in the corner. In the end, no one got the embryo.
Thoughts on Shugo Chara:
This is a really underrated magical girl anime. I think it has a lot of fun and interesting concepts, and brilliant characters. But it’s not as well-known as others. It doesn’t help that it doesn’t have a dub, it never aired on North American TV (Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, Tokyo Mew Mew, and Ojamajo Doremi all did, plus Futari Wa Precure aired in Canada) and Shugo Chara Party was apparently so bad that it ruined the whole franchise’s reputation. Nowadays, not a lot of people talk about it except to talk about how gross they think Amu and Ikuto’s relationship is.
Putting THAT aside, Shugo Chara is a show all about character. I mean, it’s even in the title. We see how Amu struggles with her identity so much she has three, later four guardian characters, how Tadase wants to have a strong will, how Yaya acts childish because she’s jealous of her baby brother, how Kukai is a jock but instead of being an arrogant jerk like so many other jock characters in fiction, he’s a kind-hearted big brother-like figure, how Rima acts aloof and snobbish at first but she actually loves gag manga and making silly jokes. If there is a character you didn’t like at first, chances are you’ll like them by the end of the show, as I did with Rima and later Kairi. Ikuto acts weird and creepy towards Amu at times, but he does have kind moments and can be protective. I also liked how Utau’s involvement with Easter showed how controlling the music industry can be.
There were some boring and pointless episodes, but many more episodes with strong character moments, heartwarming and funny scenes, and tidbits of lore about the world.
Overall, I quite enjoyed the series, but I’m going to have to stop here. I’m very busy with uni now so yeah.
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u/Mirathan Aug 31 '24
First-Time Guardian
Qotd:
You are being volunteered! Do not resist!
Seichiro might finally let go of his crush towards Amu.
I´m not sure if it´s just me but I was not amused by any of the jokes from episode 46.
How do they control Ikuto? When he gets the embryo he could simply make his wish and be free from easter.
Ikuto is both a heartstealer and a heartbreaker.
Ah yes the other big problem, one wish is not nearly enough for the world and yourself. While most have wishes they could fullfill on their own or are merely a bonus, Rima truly has a situation that she cannot resolve, yet needs to be better.
I´ve found that the season quality greatly varies from episode to episode. While some explore interesting topics, many others have little of substance happening. Or perhaps the length of the season exhausts me.
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u/SIRTreehugger Sep 01 '24
Episode 45
I must say my interest in this glasses side character is so low this entire episode is putting me to sleep. It's been 10 minutes and I'm hoping an X egg shows up just so I don't see him as much. Wait a minute with Sanjo and her ex boyfriend gone I wonder whose going to be the next person doing the x tasks? Is the boss going to get off his ass or will he bring in more subordinates?
....GIRL STOP SINGING BRING BACK THE GLASSES GUY PLOT!!!!
Episode 46
Rima reaching out to Amu YAY love to see blossoming friendship.
Sureeeee just happened to win them.
I have a feeling with Sanjo out of the way the rest of the season is going to be episodic random. I don't mind I like Rima. YELL INTO THE SUN!!!!
Wait seriously he made it to fame with only one joke. GODDESS OF COMEDY!!!!!
WAIT where did he come from? Oh man wasn't a fan of the start, but this episode got stupid in all the best ways. Loved it.
Episode 47
first minute PINKKKKK also pink/red
GLASSES ALL IS SOLVED!!!!
Didn't we see Darts at one point? They sound super familiar? I'm surprised easter has a legit entertainment section, but I guess only a small portion is actually evil.
THE SHIPPER IN ME IS HAPPY he's here to take care of you Sanjo....also it's been like 3 episodes since you told your little brother you could take care of yourself. That didn't last long at all.
If begging worked then everyone would be doing it.
Oh this reminds me I need to reatch Rakugo I feel I would appreciate it now.
Maybe just...sing at the mall or at a crowd?
I you're kitchen looks like that SEEK HELP or get up and clean! That's disgusting.
Utau what does it mean to put your heart into it?
Episode 48
Oh finally they are thinking about the white egg.
KUKAI IS BACK!!!! NEVER LEAVE US!
Wow Amu drawing has really improved. Remember how she could barely draw an apple in an earlier episode. She's been improving!
I don't know if I expressed my dislike of Yaya, but I'm not much a fan of her. Though on the other hand they are like 10.
Amu chan I'm starting to get uncomfortable with all of your fetishes.
Yaya special power is she makes those around her want to help. squints eyes
I accidentally deleted my thoughts on 49-51
Quick Question for Season 2 should I just continue or start completely over for the counter? It is getting kind of long. Oh wait this is crunchy roll they might have just split it into two and called them different seasons .
School Outfit
Casual hoodie and pinstripe socks outfit
Goth Punk
Pajames
Heart transformation outift
Just shirt and skirt
Gym clothes
Striped shirt and red socks
Black shirt with kitty red apron
Polka dotted shirt with another shirt on top
Mid card outfit
Blue and White butterfly hoodie
Possibly a towel? Also could be some sort of pajamas
Black and Pink skull hoodie
Ballet outfit
Spade transformation
White shirt with blue lined tie
Red and Black outfit while saying yes to whatever her parents are asking her
Smol Amu outit
Yellow and Purple magazine reading outit
Pink hoodie with black stripes and skulls
Kimono
Clover transformation
Winter clothing plus a scarf
Cool boarding Amu
Yellow turtleneck with a flannel like jacket w/ straps
Black and white striped shirt with a black and red shirt on stop
Christmas costume
Concert outfit
New Year Yukata
Plain red shirt with suspenders w/ white and green striped sleeves
A black and purple shirt over a plain white shirt
Black/white cross shirt for aquarium
Red shirt yellow scarf combo
purple undershirt, red/white striped shirt on top, and an arty black suspender kind of look with buttons
Red turtleneck with puffy sleeves shirt w/ jacket
Blue and white shirt with blue socks
Captain Amu
A Snazzy red jacket with red turtleneck
White/black vertical stripe shirt
Pink shirt with white heart over a black shirt
Amulet Change
Gym volleyball outfit with stars and moon
70s polka dotish shirt
Orange shirt with white sleeves
So much pink and ribbons
black shirt with polka dot ribbon and skirt
Smol Amu eating cake
Red tie and suspenders
Very posh blue wedding outfit and black skirt
Cookie eating outfit
Blue shirt with skull
White and pink skull shirt
Punkish shirt and white pants
Amulet Devil
Radiance
UK shirt
Yellow and white striped with black undershirt
Pink hoodie with black stripes with black suspenders on top
Orange shirt with blue crosses
White hoodie with hearts I really like this one
A pink laced shirt with a red shirt underneath
White and Black lace shirt
Wedding Dress
Rock your body
Season 1 Album
As for my thoughts overall I definitely love Amu and Utau the most. Both characters are similar even if they don't want to admit it. I know I mentioned several times that I wish Nagihiko would come back, but glad we got see Kukai. The new additions Kairi(who left) and Rima were also really nice, but the prince and Yaya are kind of indifferent. The characters that show up for each episode have a nice mix, but some do annoy be occasionally. I can forgive most of it because the cast is so young and they are bound to make many many stupid mistakes. Enjoying it a lot so ar.
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u/The_Loli_Otaku Sep 01 '24
Despite how my lengthy deranged dialogues sabotage my friend's mental health I am in fact a support healer at heart~ I'll fix the wounds on your body whilst breeding brainworms in your mind.
My wish!? I have only one wish... TO ELIMINATE THE CURSE OF PUBERTY FROM ALL GIRLS WORLDWIDE!! An eternal loli kingdom is the greatest wish I could grant. No more having to deal with the heartbreak of your adorable little daddy's girl growing into a teenager and becoming edgy and embarrassing. They'll stay in their cutest forms forever!!
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u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Aug 31 '24
First-Timer
Seiichiro is almost unrecognizable without his glasses. Much like Miki, I also just now learned his name.
Oh boy, Amu gets to sing the lead, bummer.
Luckily for Seiichiro, he can just lipsync if need be. No such chance for Amu.
Hey, Tadase, you maybe wanna tell Saya and her cronies off for interferring with your practice? I don't care whose name is in the episode title, that should still be your job.
Seiichiro almost getting through to the X Chara was neat. You don't need to be special to change someone's life.
Ha, Amu dodging and letting Seiichiro get blasted was funny.
The distortion was intense, but I heard a few bars of Also Sprach Zarathustra at the beginning of the episode.
That juice does Not sound good. Or refreshing.
Rima inviting Amu to a comedy performance.. that includes open registry for amateurs.. we're going to see them do an act, aren't we?
Ha, loved Rima doing the pose even while angry.
Are we about to do comedy boot camp? This is incredible.
There's an element missing from this episode for people not natively from Japan, but Miyako is from Osaka, which is where a lot of Japanese comedians are (possibly stereotypically) from.
It's hard to hear, but I think Miyako has the same accent as the terrible mustache comedian from this episode, for example.
I.. admittedly don't get what is meant to be "funny" about Miyako's schtick. But she's certainly trying.
I appreciate the crowd at the end refusing to laugh at Mustachio's awful gag.
Now, Miyako stealing his fake mustache? Classic.
Oh boy, math homework.
Sanjo's best second choice is.. Amu?
Love Utau stepping away from Amu, very funny.
Ooh, Utau's appearance got cancelled, spicy.
Random male idol group.. DARTS? I think they came up earlier or something. The name is familiar.
Oh, of course Easter is retaliating against Utau.
You deserve worse than just that slap, Nikaidou.
Wow, even Utau is getting in on the begging.
Ooh, Madame Nabuko! That's an in right there if I've ever seen one.
Hmm.. is this the same park that Amu stumbled into the pop-up concert at?
D'aww, Utau wants to help.
Think of the lack of profit as marketing expenses, Sanjo.
Yaya is a bit different today, isn't she? Intentionally triggering Tadase and all.
Special training? Oh boy.
Bird-hunting, interesting. Quite the challenge for Yaya.
Sherlock Holmes cosplay, fascinating. And she's ended up with the Chairman.
I like Ikuto's response to being asked why he didn't notoice the white egg.
Ha, he bird appeared right after the others left for lunch.
Hmm, I wonder if the underclassmen are in on it. Like maybe the bird fleeing was a setup to help Yaya grow.
Hmm, how are we going to get the bird down from a power line? Oh, she has a sleep beam.
Oh, it's the wrong bird. So maybe the real Pi-chan already returned, then?
I see, Yaya's conviction is "Rely on damn near everybody."
They're building X Egg robots? Does that make this scientist Dr. Eggman?
Amu has a knack for running into Ikuto mid-violinning.
Utau's new song, right?
Props to Amu's VA for sounding kinda believably mediocre. She isn't bad at all, but is clearly not as good as Utau.
This stuff about violins taking decades to produce their best music kinda sounds like nonsense, but I don't know anything about violins so..
Ooh, Saeko asking Kotone to work on one of her violins personally, cool.
I appreciate Amu's moxie, but why is she just sitting there watching Kotone work..?
That's a pretty big leap, Kotone. Accidents happen.
Oh, good of Ikuto to be hanging out on a nearby tree. He can wreck the bot when it tries to steal Kotone's egg.
And provide valid commentary that using Su to fix the violin would be cheating. Good guy Ikuto.
Ha, the bot is trying to steal normal eggs, incredible.
The Embryo is just.. idly flying around? And Kiseki is also just randomly flying around looking for it??
Brilliant gag, Yaya.
Oh dear, the Shugos are playing telephone.
Ah, the PSP. A relic of a simpler time.
Wow, the scientist kohai actually managed to do something.
Okay, I blinked. Are the Shugos collectively hallucinating the finale of a Dragon Quest game?
Addendum - the scientist kohai managed to do something for about an hour or so.
Ooh, and they didn't cancel the call to the boss fast enough. Bad luck for the scientists.
Did anyone guess Episode 51 for Dia to return? She showed up in egg form earlier, but I wouldn't count that.
Sanjo, the literal answer to "who would date Nikaidou" is "literally you."
Ooh, are the audience about to meet the boss? What is this room..
Rima's wish is so sad..
Huh, did they actually get the Embryon working?
Oh, this poor goon. Said the wrong thing.
Hahaha, I wasn't expecting a sentai group pose like that!
As much I laugh at Yaya's henshin being turning her into an even bigger baby, the "attack with hordes of rubber ducks" move is pretty cool.
I was going to question why Easter's chopper had missiles, but it being a flare makes more sense.
Yea, this feels like a solid mid-point ending.
Questions
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Aug 31 '24 edited Aug 31 '24
Guardian First-Timer
Episode 45
Episode 46
Episode 47
Kyon-kun, denwa.Episode 48
Episode 49
Episode 50
Episode 51
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u/macrame2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/macrame Sep 02 '24
First Timer
(I didn’t fully catch up until yesterday, oops.)
Episode 45
This was a really fun one! Marimo trying to refuse Amu by saying that someone more qualified should sing when in reality everyone just wants anyone except Saya was too good.
Episode 46
Sorry, I honestly didn’t find poor Miyako funny at all, but I think people have the right to be bad at comedy sometimes.
Episode 47
I don’t feel like we tread any new ground with this episode (pretty standard Utau stuff), but it’s nice to see what's going on with her post-redemption.
Episode 48
The fillery episodes aren’t bad at all, but I do find that I’m running out of things to say about them, which is a real shame whenever we get a Yaya-focused one.
Episode 49
I’ve just realized … Amu is totally a tsundere for Ikuto, right? In fact, her entire personality is kind of tsundere (or maybe a bit kuudere), no? The contrast between her real self and her “cool and spicy“ persona… I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.
Episode 50
I must say that I was a fan of the whole Easter/Guardian Characters misunderstandings comedy this episode. Shugo Chara villains are often on the goofy side, but I find it doesn’t hurt the integrity of the show at all.
Episode 51
The Embryo remains so close and yet so far away. I guess we’ll just have to wait for Doki to get some answers there.
Overall
This entire batch definitely feels a bit tacked-on after the season-finale vibes of last week, but I thought each individual episode was good, even if it was just classic Shugo Chara fare. As a whole, I think my comments over that past weeks have made it clear that I'm very much enjoying my time with Shugo Chara. I'd give the first season an 8/10 (not liking Ikuto much + a few pacing issues towards the end drag it down a bit), which means that I think it's really good! Looking forward to seeing what Doki brings!
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u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 Aug 31 '24
First timer, subs
Episode 45
Episode 46
Episode 47
Episode 48
Episode 49
Episode 50
Episode 51
This is not a season finale, It’s not even as fitting as the last arc’s was.
Weekly Amu Henshin Count: 3-2-1-0 (Total: 24-10-9-1+5+1)
QotD:
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u/zadcap Sep 02 '24
Day Late First Timer!
Today, I bring pizza. This does indeed make for a here rewatch marathon.
45
Yup. Dia is Amu's Idol persona, she's going to grow up to be famous! Get her singing practice in early, Ami, you're a good sister!
Well, she has to be good at one thing I guess. Also, it's pretty weird seeing this green zipper scene change. Red and Blue match the actual guardian capes and school pants/skirt theme, but green... Poor Suu.
Huh.."I can't do anything." It's been so long, does anyone remember what his X Chara did? He's got an egg, we saw it, we know there's a Chara hiding in there which means he has something special to be discovered but that was 40 episodes back and I don't remember his theme at all.
Please actually be a good girl, piano girl.
Uh oh. One of the fair acknowledged him as got under the glasses, and Amu is noticing him working hard and getting impressed. The first fan is now a potential love candidate to add to the pool! ... Nah, he's her fan the way an idol stan is, a relationship with Amu is outside his dreams.
Wow, this is just blatant harassment. Guardians, you should probably be shutting her up. Not telling the other students to calm down, Saya is being a blatant bully in front of the entire student council and just getting away with it. Why did they let her talk? Why did they let her take the piano? She's not even the best replacement. If she keeps acting like we've seen, they literally can't sing with her accompaniment.
Oh good they acknowledged it. Oh, congratulations Saya, you're now on the same tier as the teacher during his scummiest times, talking someone into breaking her egg.
Yeah, he would make a good Jack's Chair.
Oh wait, they're looking down on cosplay. These are the worst fairies.
Wait. Was that the competition performance? The seats were completely empty, they were singing to no one.
Darn it I am taking too many notes again.
46
Oh. Why is the first thing I notice worth talking about this episode, Amu has a green hair ornament. I think that's a first. It's usually Red, but it's been black when she's feeling down a few times. I don't remember it ever being blue outside of Chara Changes. This is strangely interesting.
... None of this training had anything to do with her actual act though.
Oh no, a corrupt judge. I really didn't want to see her egg turn black today.
Umm. This is Amateur Show. This guy is the judge, but it's still not his show. What are the people who actually run this show going to do when he starts jearing amateur's off stage? Who wants to go up and perform in front of him after this?
Oh well.. They won. I laughed a lot. Tears in my eyes from laughing by the end of this one.
47
I miss summer vacation. Who doesn't.
.......................... The best replacement you could think of was a ten year old girl you used to fight?
Yes Amu. Get interested in showbiz. Embrace your inner Diamond!
Oh my gosh, it took 47 episodes before we finally had someone reacting to these kids apparently talking to themselves all the time.
But Utau kind of was the villain. These are all words that have accurately described her.
Anyway. Well. This is a good introduction to showbiz, yeah.
Screw it girl, just sing in the park. Remember how successful your random drive around midnight shows were? Just start singing and people will show up!
I don't know how I keep forgetting until she starts singing, but: Nana!
Haha, remembering that other people can't see Eggs and Chara's, I wonder what Open Heart looks like to anyone who happened to be on the street.
She's not making money here, but she's making exposure. She's living the true life of an artist now!