Ask John: Is Shugo Chara Finished?

Question:
Is Shugo Chara Doki Dokki done for good?

Answer:
There are no rumored or confirmed plans in Japan for more Shugo Chara anime, but successful shoujo series practically can’t ever be definitely considered extinct. While there have been successful magical girl anime series that haven’t gotten sequel or revival OVAs, there are just as many, if not more, that have. Magical girl shows including Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san, Tokyo Mew Mew, Nurse Angel Ririka SOS, Corrector Yui, Hime-chan no Ribon, Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch, and Magical Angel Sweet Mint have never gotten sequels or revivals after the end of their initial runs. However, magical girl series including Himitsu no Akko-chan, Ojamajo Doremi, Creamy Mami, Magical Emi, Magical Fairy Persia, Rayearth, Wedding Peach, Lyrical Nanoha, and Akazukin Chacha have gotten new animation following their original broadcast runs. Magical Princess Minky Momo, which hasn’t had any new anime since 1994, has a new anime in development right now.

Having reached 127 TV episodes in three series, Shugo Chara trails behind only Pretty Cure and Onegai My Melody as most successful shoujo anime of the past five years. Considering that the Shugo Chara manga is still ongoing, there’s certainly still material to be adapted and still an audience for the title. The audience for an anime adaptation may not be as big or as devoted as it was three years ago when the anime premiered, but the OVA and OAD format are ideally suited for targeting a smaller, devoted audience. I can’t predict whether or when Shugo Chara may get more anime, but I won’t be surprised if such an announcement does eventually surface.