SHY is a superhero manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Champion. It follows the hero, a shy hero who struggles to become a hero. An anime adaptation is scheduled to air in October 2023. The story revolves around the shy protagonist, who struggles to become a hero despite being overwhelmed by his own embarrassment. But there's more to it than that! Today, I'd like to introduce you to what kind of work "SHY" is!
War is over! A world where every country has a hero!
In this work, each country in the world has its own "hero." These heroes are truly superhuman, possessing exceptional physical abilities and unique powers. These heroes dedicated themselves to disaster relief, maintaining public order, and charitable work, eventually eliminating war from the world. Where these heroes came from and how they acquired their powers are unknown to the public. Because they wear outlandish costumes when they're out and about, people began to refer to them as heroes in an old-fashioned way.
Heroes transform using an item called a Tenshinrin!
The leader of these heroes, Unilord, has his base aboard a space station and controls heroes around the world from there. Heroes transform using an item called a Tenshinrin given to them by Unilord. The Tenshinrin's power comes from the heart, and if the hero's mind is weakened or they lose their will to fight, their transformation will be undone. Additionally, each hero transformed with the Tenshinrin possesses a special ability, such as the ability to control fire or turn into smoke.
The main character is the shy hero, Shy!
The main character of this work, Shy, is a very shy girl whose real name is Teru Momijiyama. She is a second-year junior high school student who is usually quiet and socially awkward. Shy is a hero representing Japan, but when she first became a hero, she was shy and even uncomfortable in public, and she even worried about whether she could really be a hero. During a roller coaster crash at an amusement park, Shy was unable to save a girl in need of rescue. Although the girl's life was saved, she sustained serious injuries, leaving her with a leg disability.
Shy is slammed by the media and on social media
Shy's failure as a hero was met with widespread criticism in the media and on social media, leaving him depressed and unable to transform. It's true that if another hero had rescued the girl, she might have been able to survive. But heroes aren't omnipotent. No matter how amazing a hero is, there will always be people they can't save. Even heroes who have eradicated war still have people they cannot save. This is a major theme of the film.
A precious friend and a new enemy!
One day, Koishikawa Yoshiko, a person who Shy, also known as Momijiyama Teru, was unable to save, transfers to Teru's school. Although she appears cheerful, she is haunted by the loss of both her parents in a fire accident in the past, who died trying to save her. Then, a mysterious boy named Stigma appears before her, and Stigma gives her a ring that draws out hatred, turning her into a monster and going on a rampage. Shy succeeds in rescuing Tomoko by accepting her hatred. However, a new enemy appears before the heroes, who are symbols of peace, and they find themselves at odds with each other.
Stigma and Amaralyruk
Stigma, an elusive boy who opposes the heroes, is the leader of an organization called Amaralyruk, whose motives and true identity are shrouded in mystery. Stigma uses a ring that unleashes hatred to drive those close to the heroes into a rampage. But what is Stigma's true identity and purpose? What exactly is Amaralyruk? What exactly are the members of Amara Riku who work under his command? The mystery gradually unfolds.
Is it a little different from the usual hero or heroine stories?
SHY features a multitude of unique heroes with special abilities. The protagonist, Shy, grows through various encounters and engages in exciting action scenes, battling rival organizations, and more. It's definitely a story of friendship and growth! However, it's not exactly a straightforward story like Pretty Cure or My Hero Academia. While those elements are present, the main element is a human drama about confronting the past and trauma, and it's a work that connects with the way each hero lives.
What other works are similar to SHY?
This work shares elements of "PreCure" and "My Hero Academia," making it similar. However, it places a greater emphasis on elements such as "death," "trauma," and "facing the past." It's similar to other works such as "Persona 4," in which characters confront their own trauma and get closer to the truth, and "Valkyrie Profile" and "Death Office," which explore the untimely deaths of the deceased. While this work may not seem like a typical hero story, I think it's similar to other works that deal with death and the past. However, some of the villains in My Hero Academia also have dark pasts, and there are some similarities between their pasts.
Amaraliruk: Those Who Heroes Couldn't Save
In fact, the members of Amaralyruk, who are in conflict with the heroes, are those who heroes were unable to save and died untimely deaths. Each of their pasts is heavy, dark, and painful. Even though wars may be abolished thanks to heroes, there are many who cannot be saved. Some of these people are connected to specific heroes. Furthermore, some of the heroes themselves have painful pasts. Their pasts are so gloomy and dark that it's hard to believe they even existed. But the human drama of these characters as they confront their pasts is incredibly fascinating.
【SHY】Series Summary
Here's a summary of what the anime "SHY," scheduled to air in the fall of 2023, is about! While the story features costumed heroes in action, the underlying story is dark and painful, but it's definitely captivating! Rather than being an exhilarating work, I think it's a sad and cathartic one!
