Sugar Sugar Rune

Sugar Sugar Rune is a manga I discovered by accident when I saw it for sale. I decided to buy it because the art was beautiful and incredibly unique. As soon as I started reading, I became quickly obsessed.

Moyoco Anno has an interesting storytelling style. While some parts are predictable and cliché, it remains an easy and enjoyable read. The characters are funny and likable, with female characters who defy typical shoujo stereotypes. They are strong, independent, and as a woman myself, it's refreshing to see this portrayal. These characters also serve as great role models for young girls.

The main highlight of Sugar Sugar Rune, in my opinion, is the stunning artwork. Every page contains something captivating to look at, and I often paused to admire the panels. After reading Sugar Sugar Rune, Moyoco Anno quickly became one of my favorite writers. I highly recommend checking out her other works.

10/10, one of my favorite mangas!!

STORY:
I enjoyed the concept. The daily heart-collecting tales were incredibly endearing, showcasing puppy love at its purest, which always makes me smile. The hearts collected weren't just about romance; it was fantastic that they included friendship and other forms of love. However, I didn't appreciate the shy character turning evil storyline. It felt unnecessary, and I waited impatiently for it to conclude. Usually, I like that trope, but not in this case.

The plot twists in Sugar Rune kept things engaging. I eagerly flipped pages when Vanilla and Chocolat's backstories and origins were revealed. I still want to know who Vanilla’s dad is. Pierre’s background is only briefly mentioned in the manga, as far as I can tell. I would have loved more insight into his family and life before becoming a prince.

The time skips were a bit excessive. Time in the magic world moves so fast!

CHARACTERS:
Chocolat is my favorite, which is rare for me to say about the main character. Her independent and opinionated personality was refreshing. She was blunt but never intended to hurt anyone. She was smart and could see through an evil prince's schemes from miles away. Despite maturing from her earlier impulsiveness, she retained her childlike charm.

Vanilla was nice too. I’m glad she evolved from being overly whiny to someone who could stand up for herself while keeping compassion for others. At one point, Vanilla explained to Chocolat that she couldn’t be outgoing and aggressive like her; she had to be true to herself.

I liked all the school kids and Chocolat’s uncle as well! My least favorites were the ogres. BOO!

RELATIONSHIP:
There isn't much to say here. Pierre and Chocolat's love story developed nicely over time. I liked Chocolat with all the boys, and any relationship with them would likely turn out happy. I'm glad the story never became truly harem-like.

But... why did they even hint at Chocolat being related to one of her lovers? NOOOOOOOO!

SN: Woo rebounded so quickly! Instant love indeed!

ART:
I really liked Sugar Rune's art style! The school kids have cute and unique designs. I adore how Momoko draws men. My favorite aspect of the art was the hair though. Each strand of Pierre, Vanilla, and Chocolat’s hair looked meticulously crafted. I also like how Pierre’s hair was parted. Another standout feature was Vanilla’s uncommon haircut, something I’ve never seen in a shoujo girl character before.

Usually, I'm indifferent to overly large shoujo eyes, but here they matched the characters perfectly.

OVERALL:
This was an enjoyable read, hence my high rating. I spent three days happily immersed in the sugary-sweet story.

I hope some unanswered questions are addressed in the anime. The few things that prevented me from giving this manga a perfect 10 were the dark arc, the unnecessary character deaths, and the lackluster ending. I really wanted to see magical babies, ha!

As one of the first manga I ever read, Sugar Sugar Rune has always held a special place in my heart due to its nostalgic value. However, it’s not just nostalgia that keeps me coming back to this manga even years after my first read.

The premise of Sugar² Rune appears straightforward: two witches, Vanilla and Chocolat, compete to become the next queen of the Magic World by collecting the hearts of human boys. The witch who gathers the most valuable hearts wins. Initially, the story seems like a typical, lighthearted shoujo manga—cute, sometimes humorous, but nothing extraordinary.

However, as the manga progresses, it takes a surprising turn. Despite maintaining its cute and girly charm (seriously, all the characters are named after sweets!), it becomes much darker than anticipated. Without giving away spoilers, the deeper you dive into the story, the more intriguing it becomes. It still retains some fluffiness and childlike innocence, but it matures significantly.

The storyline is well-crafted, with most elements making sense and being easy to follow. By the end, you won’t be left with unanswered questions about what transpired.

As the narrative matures, so do the characters. A standout example is when Chocolat, typically self-assured and outgoing compared to shy Vanilla, admits she might be more emotionally vulnerable than her friend. While the characters largely develop as expected based on their appearances, there is one character whose evolution particularly surprised me. I ended up liking many of the characters, especially the boys, Chocolat, and an awesome dog.

One aspect that bothered me was how young the characters seemed to be overly focused on their looks, boys, and similar concerns. This felt unrealistic and somewhat annoying, given my own experiences at that age.

The artwork might be a dealbreaker for some readers initially. When I first encountered Sugar Sugar Rune, I wasn't fond of the art style at all. Yet, as you continue reading, you start appreciating its uniqueness. Some scenes are beautifully drawn, although the faces, particularly the lips, often look odd and never quite grow on you, no matter how many times you read it. The art does fit Chocolat’s personality well, though. The clothing designs, especially Chocolat's, are creative, and the backgrounds are pretty and detailed.

While the art style is subjective, the panel layout is objectively poor. There were moments where I got confused about the reading order, which detracted from the experience. I’m unsure if this issue is specific to the German translation, but I doubt it.

Despite its flaws, Sugar Sugar Rune remains a manga I thoroughly enjoy rereading. I appreciate the mood shifts, the characters, and how unique yet accessible it feels compared to other works.

If you enjoy stories with a dark edge but don’t mind romance and fluff, Sugar Sugar Rune should appeal to you. Just be aware of its imperfections and its intended audience of younger readers. Nonetheless, give it a chance; it deserves better than being judged solely on its initial appearance and artwork.

My overall rating is 8 out of 10. I’d give it a 9 purely for nostalgia, but aiming for an unbiased score, I’ll stick with 8.

Sugar Sugar Rune wasn't initially my top pick, although it was among the few manga I could actually hold and read. One day, by some twist of fate, I got the first volume for free and thought, "Why not give it a shot?" To my surprise, it turned out to be better than I had anticipated.

The story, while not groundbreaking, remains intriguing because you're never quite sure what will happen next. Sure, given its setting and genre, some plot points are predictable, but the characters aren't mindless caricatures making illogical choices, which is a significant plus.

The art is peculiar, quirky, and utterly LOVELY, though the panel layout can be somewhat scattered.

Character development is one of the manga's strong suits. Chocolat matures as the story progresses, confronting both others and herself about feelings and circumstances. As for Vanilla, well, you'll have to read on to discover her journey. Unfortunately, the supporting cast is often sidelined, which is disappointing considering their potential roles in the narrative.

At first, the manga didn't grab my attention or heart right away, and it took some time for the real story to unfold. It was a bit monotonous initially, to be honest. However, in the end, it proved worthwhile, and the conclusion was satisfying.

Cuteness abounds throughout the series.

It's like "Tim Burton meets magical anime girls" in terms of style.

The art is genuinely unique, for better or worse.

All in all, it's a nice, comfy read.