As I am sure many of you know, I happen to be eating up Shugo Chara like a delicious steak. A New York strip steak grilled to perfection. It seems that some people, such as ever polarizing fangirl Hinano, disagree for patently ridiculous reasons, mostly related to so-called “filler”.
Since when is filler a negative aspect of anime? Do we want every single series we watch to be six episodes and nothing except balls-to-the-wall pure plot? Some of the more enjoyable episodes (and certainly moments) and character development of Shugo Chara happen to be non-plot-based or centric. Where would we be without expanded Eru cuteness or Ami as god? Besides, if Shugo Chara TV were a carbon-copy of the manga, which happens to have some dirty filler, what fun would there be in that? Shugo Chara isn’t even about the story.
I have a sneaking suspicion these types have never seen past magical girl series, such as Cardcaptor Sakura, Hime-chan’s Ribbon, Fancy Lala, Corrector Yui, and enough other staples. Either this is true or they’re looking back at the past with very bright, rose-tinted glasses that obscure awful filler from eyesight. It has been years since I’ve seen CCS, yet I recall four or more times the number of cards in the anime versus the comic. And you know what? CCS happens to be one of my favorite TV series.
I’ll point to the magical shows of varying quality from the past few years, such as Mermaid Melody, Full Moon, Pretty Cure, Akazukin, Ultra Maniac, Futago Hime, etc, which all feature apparent quality-sapping “filler” more than Shugo Chara does. I enjoyed Full Moon, Ultra Maniac, and Futago Hime enough, thank you very much.
Filler happens to be a stong point of enough past and recent non-magical girl favorites of many, including Nadesico, Kodocha, Aquarion, Kamichu, Kure-nai, and a myriad of others.
As Hinano and others have harping on the evils of filler and how season two of Shugo Chara will be “trash”, I embrace it and look forward to my adorable Amu and her friends in the next year to come. I wish that everyone could look past their fan-driven narrow-mindedness and enjoy a high-quality magical girl series. This is the best pure magical franchise we’ve had since CCS. Fuck fangirls, and no, not in the positive sexual manner.
I’d invoke the Internet Fuckwad Theory to explain this all away, but my blog isn’t a tired clichefest.
11 comments
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August 2, 2008 at 7:50 pm
jpmeyer
Wait, is this a troll post? I thought that everyone thought that filler was a negative and that the preference is for plot…
August 2, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Link
I don’t see how there’s any difference between plot and filler on a basic level. They’re both contribute to entertainment value and play a role in most series. It’s a misnomer to claim that filler is always inferior to plot or vice versa. I don’t understand how it has this rabidly negative stigmata.
How else do you explain how some of the better shows out there have very little to no plot? On the flipside, some of the better anime are plot-driven, but whether a show is or isn’t doesn’t reflect on its quality in the least.
With Shugo Chara’s series makeup, the line between plot and “filler” is tiny. What Hinano should say is “I dislike anything except a carbon copy of the manga”, which is equally ridiculous, yet more honest.
August 2, 2008 at 10:13 pm
FuyuMaiden
First off, there’s a big difference between the fillers in CardCaptor Sakura and Shugo Chara. CCS may have had a “catch the card” every week thing going, but Shugo Chara’s fillers seem to focus on developing a filler character. There’s an already very nice large cast full of likable characters, but Satelight chooses to solve the problems of some little kid and their own anime-original chara. CCS had a lot of random extra episodes, but the focus pretty much always remained on important characters.
I like some of the filler in Shugo Chara too and I feel a little disappointed that a lot of people are dropping out of the SC! fandom because of the fillers, but what bothers me is you act like no one has the right to do so. They’re fillers. Maybe Shugo Chara’s strength doesn’t lie with its story, but it’s not with its fillers either. Even if filler is expected in mahou shoujo, the best episodes are still plot-related with lots of screentime for the main characters. The last two episodes of Shugo Chara prove that with awesome plot.
Fillers can be fine, and Shugo Chara’s fillers certainly aren’t the worst, but they can still be boring and I can still watch a few without even cracking a smile. And all of us can feel free to complain about them without just being grouped together as, “lol, stupid raving fangirls who are too into the manga” thanks.
Besides, any fillers about recurring characters are actually pretty fun to watch. It’s just a waste of time for a character to be introduced, have their problem solved in one (or two) episodes and never show up again. A lot of them come across as annoying and shallow because they only get one episode. So what’s the point? Just…filler. That’s it. That’s why I’m not looking forward to fillers like that. It doesn’t satisfy my need for “Cool and Spicy” and I feel let down after an episode that focuses on some character I’ll never see again. With reason.
At least I agree with the idea that Shugo Chara is the best mahou shoujo since CCS. Everything else, I say you should either calm down and accept criticism about an anime you happen to enjoy, or just go, “Why does it even matter? I enjoy it.” Because it doesn’t matter.
(And a final note: It’s not being narrow-minded if you just don’t have enough time to sit around and be bored by fillers. People shouldn’t watch something they don’t enjoy after all, right?)
August 2, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Link
What bothers me is when I consistently see everyone and their grandmother bickering about how the fillers are ruining their precious Shugo Chara. It’s as if they expect SC to be some incredible, mind-blowing experience. This is magical girl entertainment and it delivers that in spades. This is why I see their criticisms as invalid.
By the way, maybe 3-4 of the filler episodes at most have been boring and they still had some decently enjoyable scenes. The oh so terrible filler comments are crazy overblown. The rest of the so-called filler is the same quality as the rest.
I believe that everyone complaining about this is an irrational SC fangirl. They expect the anime to have nothing except their favorite scenes animated. If it doesn’t advance the plot or character pairings, it’s filler! I happen to be a decent fan of the comic myself, so it can’t be that I’m off-base here.
August 2, 2008 at 11:18 pm
SDShamshel
When I sit down to watch an episode of Shugo Chara, I’m not thinking in advance if an episode is or is not filler. How would I know? I haven’t read the manga, and I don’t intend to so that I can enjoy the anime first.
How do I know if a character will never come back again? How do you know? If there’s indeed a second season coming, and there’s a good chance that a lot of it will be anime-exclusive material, why couldn’t these supposed “filler” characters turn out to be recurring ones?
As for me, I treat Shugo Chara like a sweet, episodic show with an occasional helping of plot, and when the plot hits, it’s certainly nice, but it’s not like I’m going to be all, “AHA! THIS IS NOT PLOT. PASS.”
Because in the end, I’d be satisfied with just cool and spiciness.
August 2, 2008 at 11:42 pm
FuyuMaiden
If by “constantly” and “everyone” you mean just some people commenting on Hinano’s “Oh Hell No” post, then yeah. I got tons of, “WOO! NEW SEASON!” comments when I posted about it on my blog. And the ones who think SC is an “incredible, mind-blowing” anime are the ones that are all in love with the fillers. At least that’s how it seems when they comment on my blog.
The filler isn’t the same quality either, the animation goes down, the jokes are repeated, and even anime-only fans lose interest. I really can’t understand how you say it’s the same quality. Satelight repeats a lot of things from the manga in their fillers so they stop being funny. But hey, thats your opinion. I just tend to think differently.
And you’re wrong if you think everyone complaining is being irrational. Sometimes people just like an anime to be wrapped up so they can have a conclusion and let it go. Some people just don’t have time to watch it. So it bothers them when an anime continues without an end in sight.
You’re not wrong, but you’re not right either. Fillers aren’t as bad as a lot of people say, but it’s easy to understand why a lot of people don’t like them. The problem is everyone is taking it to an extreme in all of this. It’s either, complain about fillers, or complain about people complaining about fillers. It’s a waste of time.
Oh and @ SDShamshel: You can know that a character probably won’t be recurring if their problem is solved by the end of the episode. And if their character design looks plainer and less detailed than the others. They really don’t spend a lot of time on the filler characters (one of my main peeves with them).
And yeah, in the second season there will probably be one or two original characters. I just hope the anime makes them look nice (maybe have Peach-Pit design them) and make them have personalities that aren’t that annoying.
August 3, 2008 at 12:08 am
Link
>If by “constantly” and “everyone” you mean just some people commenting on Hinano’s “Oh Hell No” post, then yeah.
Hinano’s post wasn’t the only reason why I bashed her on this. Her post was merely a breaking point after seeing the complaints for months on end.
>The filler isn’t the same quality either, the animation goes down, the jokes are repeated, and even anime-only fans lose interest. I really can’t understand how you say it’s the same quality.
I don’t see a difference. There’s good episodes, decent episodes, and bad episodes, just like any other TV series.
>Some people just don’t have time to watch it.
I’m not getting you here. This is a weekly series. If you don’t have time for one episode per week, why are you watching anime? And what’s wrong with stockpiling episodes for that rainy day?
>but it’s easy to understand why a lot of people don’t like them.
Not really, unless I’m looking at it from the shortsighted manga fan perspective.
>or complain about people complaining about fillers.
Which I see as perfectly fine because it’s unwarranted.
August 3, 2008 at 12:45 pm
FuyuMaiden
Yeah, that’s not what I was saying about the post (talking about the comments and the post), but I guess this means that you’re really just ranting about Hinano’s opinion alone. Nice. Now you seem even more reasonable.
Alright, you don’t see the difference. That’s fine. I’m not sure how you’re missing it, but if you haven’t noticed it yet, you probably won’t and I don’t have time to make comparison shots anyway.
Schedules change. People get busier. And new anime gets offered up every season. As an example, right now I have tons of free time. In the Fall, I’m off to college. I can’t watch as much anime in the fall. So, if some people have other anime they’re more interested in the fall, they might just have to drop Shugo Chara. Nothing wrong with that.
A lot of people complaining about the fillers don’t even read the manga just so you know. Sure, a lot of people get even more impatient because they know what’s ahead, but…just because someone doesn’t like fillers doesn’t make them a “short-sighted manga fan”. I’m sure it’s not what you mean, but the way you’re talking about the manga it’s like you think it’s no good. It won the 2008 Kodansha award for best children’s manga. I’d say it’s pretty good too. Both the anime and manga are worth a look for the different things they offer.
So…someone else isn’t allowed to complain about an anime, but you’re allowed to complain about them complaining about the anime? Good to know.
Listen, the only reason I replied is because I like reading the other posts on your blog. This one bothered me, because it’s not something I enjoy reading. It reminds me of the fangirl fights I’m sick of seeing, “Tadase!” no “Ikuto!” and it’s two sides trying to force the other to think like them. Why?
And since you basically stopped using “everyone” and admitted that you’re ranting because Hinano has been complaining about fillers for a while, I’m a little bothered. If you have a problem with Hinano complaining about an anime you like, why can’t you just complain to her instead of complaining to everyone else as well?
I’ll never get while you’re complaining, and you’ll never get why I don’t get it either. I just don’t see why you have to bring all of this out onto your own blog? Why not spread the Cool and Spicy love in a productive way? Instead of basically saying, “If you don’t like fillers, you’re a stupid fangirl!”
August 3, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Link
Since when did I stop using “everyone”? As I said “Her post was merely a breaking point after seeing the complaints for months on end.”, which implies that the negativity over filler is displayed by many others beyond Hinano.
This was never about Hinano or any specific individual. Her comments from yesterday was merely a trigger for some much needed commentary. This blog post was regarding the general consensus I’m seeing from manga fans. The non-SC comic readers that have major issues with the original episodes are in the vast minority.
>I’m sure it’s not what you mean, but the way you’re talking about the manga it’s like you think it’s no good.
What? You’re reading far too much into my comments, if you believe this. I keep up to date on the manga (scans) and I own the Del Ray volumes. Shugo Chara is one of my favorite ongoing series these days.
My comments stem from quite a few fans that have issues with Satelight’s “awful” take on the material.
August 3, 2008 at 2:27 pm
FuyuMaiden
Oh yeah, I know. That’s my mistake. I reread it after I’d already posted my comment and decided to just correct myself after you replied again. Sorry, about that. I hadn’t been awake that long when I replied. My bad entirely.
Well, it’s just that you’re “general consensus” seems to stem entirely from what people on Hinano’s blog said. Everyone who commented on my blog was excited about more anime, even with fillers.
And as for the other part I did say, “I’m sure it’s not what you mean.” I specifically didn’t think you thought that way. I was just saying, it can come off like that.
Most of the rage toward Satelight came from the “fiasco” with episode 12 and 13 and how they “ruined” Ikuto’s character, and a lot of fans have just held a grudge since then. Those fans are immature. Those aren’t the only ones complaining about fillers. The ones complaining about fillers are more likely the ones who are going to be busy in the Fall and don’t have time for SC!.
I’m just saying, all of the fans who dislike fillers aren’t bad. It’s fine to dislike fillers or to be more specific, just not like them as much. I don’t see why you can’t accept that some people just don’t like fillers, that’s all. It seems rather closed-minded and no offense, but you really are reminding me of some of the immature Shugo Chara! fangirls you’re specifically speaking against. “FILLERS ARE ABSOLUTELY BAD!” is wrong, but so is, “YOU CAN’T HATE FILLERS!”
Sorry for any confusion from the way I’ve been saying things. I think I finally managed to get my point across coherently without getting off-topic.
November 18, 2008 at 9:07 am
Liz=)
I totally agree with this debate going on here but there is something these people don’t realize this isn’t the season season! This is Shugo Chara Doki! This is just side and fill episodes until more of the manga comes out because at the moment they would have enough for like 3 episodes then they would have to wait for the next volume ( could be a month or more)! It is kinda like Vampire Knights ( hopefully the wait won’t be THAT long though!) If u enjoy the series u should be will to watch! Personally i think most animes are addicting even if they r bad since summer i have watched over 157 animes INCLUDING Hunter X Hunter and bleach sooooo on! I have learned Japanese too but i love the culture too ! Does this make me a fan girl? Mabey! But i love these magical girl series! ITS UR CHOICE TO WATCH IT! So if u don’t like it don’t watch it and don’t complain!