Difference in ages
There's a huge age difference between Chocolat and Pierre. She's an elementary school student (only 10 years old, if I remember correctly) while he's in middle school. But if you see them standing right next to each other, the difference in ages can be really glaring. He's way taller than her. She barely reaches up to his shoulders.He also looks older, like way older than a middle school student. It doesn't help that Kato has a tendency to act like a kid sometimes, which makes sense because she is a kid. Sure, kids can have crushes, but could it really be called love? Is she really ready to fall in love? And what about Pierre? Why would he fall for a kid?
Pierre and Chocolat are incompatible
The two also don't come across as compatible. This can be seen in the way they act. Pierre is cool, calm, and collected. He acts in a mature manner, almost like an adult. He even looks like one. On the other hand, Kato comes across as very childish and immature.Why the sudden interest in each other?
The PierrexChocolat pairing can come across as contrived because it doesn't make sense how they're suddenly interested in each other. At times, it seems like the anime is trying to shove the romance between these two down the viewers' throats.Haven't watched the entirety of the series yet (I'm in like episode 20 or so), but, from what we've been shown so far, it seems odd for the two to be so interested in each other. At this point, they barely know anything about each other.
Chocolat's crush on Pierre
When they first met, they hardly said anything to each other. Chocolat assumes Pierre was trying to steal something that belongs to her, so she's furious at him. And yet this fury somehow suddenly turns into what appears to be obsession. It feels like she's suddenly into him.Sure, she says she's not interested and she acts all tough, but then you see her blushing when they talk to each other. Then there are the episodes where they are together like the fencing episode and even the episode where she turns into an older woman.
It's like, where is this interest coming from? Why the sudden crush on him? Because he's hot? It's cliche how Kato is apparently the only girl who isn't affected by Pierre. We're shown how the rest of the girls are all fawning over him, but Chocolat acts like she doesn't care. Except we all know the truth is she does care.
Pierre's interest in Chocolat
Pierre displays a sudden interest too. He acts all disinterested at first, which makes sense because they don't know each other. But then we get scenes like the good morning episode where girls fawn over him, but he only has eyes for Chocolat. He greets her ohayou, but why? At this point, they don't know each other. Their first meeting could hardly be called a meeting since it wasn't like they introduced themselves and got to know each other or anything. So why the sudden greeting?Romance in Sugar Sugar Rune
It seems contrived, like they just have to fall for each other. It's also cliche because of how the guy is going to end up falling for the only girl who is supposedly not fawning all over him. Maybe he finds her intriguing because she's not showing interest. Except Chocolat is interested. And it doesn't seem realistic how she's the only one who is supposedly not interested. As if the cliche romance isn't enough, Pierre is also turned into a Gary Stu with how perfect he is and how everyone loves him.The entire romantic relationship could have been done better. It could have been developed in a more natural and realistic manner so it would make sense and not come across as contrived. Making Chocolat older would also go a long way in making things believable.
Your thoughts and opinions?
What do you think about this? Do you think it makes sense for these two to be a couple? Do you think it makes sense for them to like or be in love with each other? Or do you think this could have been done better?I talk more about this issue in this post here on my Tumblr blog. I'd have moved this one here on Anime Archives (Anime Meta) too, but it's already got some comments and notes there, so I decided to keep it there indefinitely. I'm mentioning it here for reference as the rest of the anime posts on there will eventually be moved here.
*Notes:
- Pic is from Amazon.com; link shown above
