Although seemingly part of the superhero genre, the latest conflict in the SHY – is now streaming Crunchyroll – is modeled after the traditional Magical Girl anime. It’s both an interesting move and a great way to stand out from its peers.
Teru Momijiyama’s nervous nature may not make for her typical superhero material, but it also fits perfectly with what makes a good Magical Girl. By presenting one story as another – and vice versa – SHY reaches two very different audiences without scaring them. With superhero stories becoming increasingly popular, it’s a welcome breath of fresh air that keeps it from feeling forced to follow formula.
SHY Emphasizes Action & Emotion
Within two episodes, Shy has taken on the basic tasks of heroines in both genres: saving babies from burning buildings and rescuing spoiled classmates from emotional disorders. their contact. In fact, many of SHY’s style choices make sense from a Magical Girl lens; Her self-confidence issues, jewelry-based transformation, and even a talking animal companion are hallmarks of the genre. Even the new villain, who preys on his victims’ emotional trauma to turn them into monsters of the week, is a complete change of pace from the likes of Tiger and Bunny or My Hero Academia, which focuses on physical altercations.
This is not to say that SHY just disguises the superhero genre. The first two episodes also show Teru saving Iko Koshikawa both physically and mentally. The presence of a larger group of heroes and villains, all with their own powers, also promises a straightforward fight. However, Teru’s position as a hybrid heroine only makes her more unique and her sympathies more valuable. With villains armed with tools from both genres, she must fight evil hand-to-hand and save victims with all her heart. The fact that Iko was saved in this way just shows that it worked in SHY.
Heroism exists on a spectrum. Among superheroes and Magical Girls are Tokusatsu shows like Kamen Rider, which also use similar imagery to Magical Girls – transformations and jewelry – to fight monsters hand-to-hand. Therefore, SHY can also exist comfortably in the space while serving a larger audience. As a Magical Girl, Teru would bring an emotional element that would enhance the value, but as the film moves into drudgery, the superhero elements could help create excitement by flashier possibilities. By this way, SHY can get the best of both worlds, while avoiding retreading familiar old ground.
SHY is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.