Thoughts on Shugo Chara JJ Chp 20
The long awaited transformation in all his beauty:
Gorgeous. I need not say more.
But I will:
This transformation absolutely reminds me of Studio Ghibli's own gentleman cat.
And there are two things I find absolutely incredible with this transformation.
There's an interesting motif with the leaf violin and the bug-pattern wings on Ikuto's tailcoat. It could be argued that it's reflective and counterpart to Utau's butterfly in the desire to change.
But I think it's another thing altogether.
Utau's butterfly motif was in line with the overall Shugo Chara-esque theme of Alice in Wonderland. Because there is the questioning Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland that makes Alice question the rationality of things. But Shugo Chara elevates it to the concept and challenges of change with the caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
Which makes Utau the symbol of wanting to change because she knows it's going to be better which versus Amu's graduation anxiety (the overwhelming anxiety of things changing as you move forward into adulthood).
This is Jewel Joker, which I believe is tackling more into themes of self-love and envy (not just Kokage mind you).
In fact, Ikuto's transformation reminds me a lot of Aesop's tale: The Ant and the Grasshopper.
In summary, the ant works long and hard for the upcoming winter, while the cricket just sang and danced. When winter did come, the cricket ended up having to go to the ant for food and shelter. Hence the lesson of responsibility and hard work.
But this is Peach Pit in Japan not Aesop in the West who's teaching so I know it's going to have a reverse message of being present and making room for joy.
I also had a very eye-opening conversation with @poyorii. Ikuto's transformation is the first time we, the audience, see a transformation of a character we know transform with an arcana egg.
And this is huge.
Because we've only seen new characters transform with Arcana eggs:
Or the ones who already have their true heart's egg:
We have never seen someone (we the audience knows) that has originally had a true hearts egg transform with an arcana egg.
Since arcana eggs are truly someone else's egg that leads to so many other questions.
Because it was pointed out that Ikuto's cat ears sort of don't belong in the transformation with Al.
And I agree.
Because there is such a heavy bug motif with the character change and transformation, it leads me to believe that the reason why Ikuto retains his cat ears is because that's who Ikuto is.
Character transformations is an elevation of what is already there. Ikuto is always going to be Ikuto. Cat ears and all.
He is also a gentleman.
But bug motifs are not him.
I think his transformation with Al is very much like Dark Jewel and Amulet Angel/Devil. It is the character adjusting with the host but is not a full elevation of the host.
It's more of a compromise. Like Ikuto keeps who he is, but with Al's features.
Which makes me wonder about Tulip Hearts and Gate Spade. How much of it is the Kiriomi and the twins, and how much of it is the Arcana Character?
Because this little one does not match the transformation much like the twins characters.
I don 't know how little bears because these mushroom like dresses and how a little raincoat Rein became militaristic.
It breaks my heart a little because it could mean that those characteristics are being imposed by the host instead of compromising with these Arcana characters. I feel like its a compromise with Ikuto because Ikuto knows who he himself is but is also very open to Al because Ikuto is the kind of person who just lets people be. Ikuto is just not the kind of person who would impose himself as seen with the last chapter.
Also on another note: This is an Alice in Wonderland: Through Looking glass reference
Literally Dia can enter the Road of Stars through Amu's mirror which such an interesting idea to how Alice goes to Wonderland through a mirror
WHILE also playing with the Evil Queen's use of a mirror of needing something in the mirror to value herself such as trapping Yoru in a mirror.
And my media literacy was screaming at how well the transition played at the end of the chapter with using mirror as a tool.
The scene start then character transition:
Which is going from Kokage and how she hates the person she sees in the mirror then goes into sunrise to Amu smiling at herself with her own very Amu-like mirror.
This really sets up how they will be foils to each other, even on the type of mirror alone. A ornate hand mirror that Kokage carries in front of her huge vanity mirror versus amu who has a very (most likely self-decorated) stationary mirror.
I feel like this contrast highlight so many things between the two characters alone. For Amu, it's a straight plaid (most likely red) mirror with the card suit stickers at every corner. It already highlights how she knows these four parts of her are within the whole of who she is. Amu being the red plaid frame as red is her favorite color. The four parts are inside the whole of who she is and it still has room for her to see herself.
Whereas for Kokage, it's already a beautifully ornate mirror, she's a beautiful person, but she still feels the need to put something inside of it (Yoru) AND cries at the sight of herself. It breaks my heart in different ways because the mirror itself begins to feel like a compensation for what's inside. And when Kokage looks inside the mirror, she hates it.
It makes me wonder if she herself has no sense of identity which is why she doesn't decorate the frame or if she's in a situation where hasn't been able to develop it (which has been hinted at).
Finally:
Rematch?
I wonder how this rivalry will affect Kokage too.
