#chuuniology

[chuunibyou-showdown]

By the way, as much as I go on about chuuni cringe, I don't think it's a bad thing. I like to think of my own interest in chuuni as a celebration of it, in a way.

Being 14 years old is rough. It's a transitional point in life where you become more aware of your own individuality and how it's being restrained. While I believe chuunibyou as a phenomenon is not unique to Japan, I also don't think it's a coincidence that the term was coined in a country with conformist values and the age identified is around when students start being more aware of high school entrance exams. Rebellious values are something considered chuuni in Japan, likely rooted in the pressures of society and also the instinct to discard anything "childish" in an attempt to be seen as an adult (and in turn respected).

Chuuni, in all its forms, is an important step in self-discovery. Discovering your values, finding what you like and don't like -- and inevitably stumbling on the way. 14 years old is often your first real step into individuality, so of course everything isn't going to go right. You may think you know everything when you really don't, or pick a fight with the wrong people, or just try way too hard. That's fine. The naivety is in its own way beautiful, and when the heart is in the right place, should not be discarded simply out of embarrassment.

I think 14-year-olds should be allowed to embrace things that make being 14-years-old suck less. If they want to pretend to have forbidden magic powers, I'm not stopping them. There is no way to stop 14-year-olds from being Very 14 Years Old, and if the way that manifests is "cringe" but ultimately harmless, I see that as a win.

[chuunibyou-showdown]

It is important to know the difference between Chuuni essence and Chuunibyou itself.

Chuuni essence is what I call the things that tend to excite those with chuunibyou. For example, magic circles, curses, and power for Evil Eye types, motorcycles and gang terminology for the DQN type, foreign terminology and alternative fashion for the subculture type, elaborate terminology or naming schemes for chuuni in general.

In effect, chuuni essence is what gives you a feeling of "Ah, the person who made this or like this are probably a bit chuunibyou". Things like Devil May Cry, edgy OCs, overly complicated weapon designs.

The importance of this distinction is that just because a character or person is involved with chuuni essence concepts, they're not necessarily chuunibyou themselves. Take complex terminology: in Japanese, there's words or phrases known as Yojijukugo: They're made of four kanji, many are akin to idioms and originate from Chinese scripture or Buddhist text. Given that, chuunibyou tend to love these, they're intricate, they give an air of knowledge, they look cool written out.

But the origins aren't really chuunibyou. Chuunibyou itself is linked with self-perception and a sense of cheesiness or cringiness. Buddha isn't chuuni. Similarly, a character who has dark powers and an edgy design isn't necessarily chuuni. Determining whether they are is often a topic of debate, which is where I think the distinction between chuuni essence and chuunibyou is important so you can distinguish whether a character just has elements a chuuni would like/design versus the character themselves being a chuuni.

TL;DR Just because a character has design elements that are edgy and a dramatic presentation doesn't mean that they themselves are chuuni.

[chuunibyou-showdown]

A gift from me to you~ A chart of what I consider important facets of a chuuni (Regardless of type). To the left is a filled out example for my OC Opheliaux!

Feel free to use this chart in your character propaganda for an idea of how or even build off of it for your own chuuni-ology chart. My personal explaination for what each stat means (you're free to interpret as you wish) + transparent versions In both black and white under the cut!

DRAMATICS: Do they use flowery language? Do they pose? Do they have self-imposed titles? How elaborate are the lies they tell about their persona? Basically, how "big" is their chuuni persona?

SILLINESS: Self explanatory. Some examples of Silly are a ridiculous alias, failing to make an impression on others, poses that are more dumb than cool... You know what silly is in your heart. Go wild!

CRINGE: Does their act remind you or other characters of their own chuuni phase? Are they pathetic? Do they have a written dark notebook of their own chuuni persona's lore/how they look/a manga they write about their chuuni persona? Are they in their mid-twenties and still a chuuni? You'll know cringe when you see it.

GAP MOE: How different are they when not in chuuni mode? Are they an adoring child to their parents? Do they have a sweet tooth despite insisting they love bitter tastes? It's endearing!

PERCIEVED SUPERIORITY: How high-and-mighty do they act about their persona? Do they call others mortals? Do they think they're mature? Do they act like you "Just won't get it?"

COMMITMENT TO THE ACT: How often do they break character/what makes them do so? Do they refuse to respond to their given name and insist on being referred to by their made-up chuuni name only?

Note that full marks on all stats isn't necessarily best, it's up to personal taste. I like my chuunis to break character once in a while so I can experience the gap moe and the silliness that ensues! Others may want a 24/7 Chuuni who is dead serious about their chuuni persona and the silliness is only through others' perceptions of them. Each chuuni is unique!