The document provides an overview of the history and evolution of the magical girl anime genre. It discusses some of the earliest magical girl shows from the 1960s such as Himitsu no Akko-chan and Mahoutsukai Sally that helped establish common themes and tropes. It then outlines how the genre shifted in the 1970s with darker themes and older protagonists. The document concludes with a brief discussion of how Studio Pierrot became a major producer of magical girl anime in the 1980s.

1. The History of Magical Girl
Anime
or “Sparkles Without Cullens”

2. Panel Outline
Themes and Archetypes
History and Timeline
Parodies and Outside
Examples

3. Themes and Archetypes

4. Themes and Archetypes
Magical girls are a genre of anime
which feature young girls and
teenage women being either
granted magnificent powers or
having them as inborn abilities.
The magical girl genre relied has many
different themes; some shows are
strongly escapist and wish fulfilment
focused but others delve into
themes of responsibility, heroism,
and the importance of family and
friendships.
There are several sub ‘types’ of magical
girl, which can be roughly divided
into the following:
• Cute Witches and Magical
Princesses (or Majokko)
• Shapeshifting Magical Girls with
Skills Simulation
• Magical Warriors

5. Cute Witches
Series about witches were at
first the most iconic type of
Magical Girl anime, often
these series are specifically
called ‘Majokko’ series
meaning ‘Little Witch Girl’
series.
These stories feature young
mages either from another
land visiting Earth, from
Earth taking up the craft, or
set entirely in magical
kingdoms. They use their
abilities to try and become
Some examples:
•Mahotsukai Sally (1966)
better witches and to help
•Hana no Mahotsukai Mary Bell (1992) their friends and family.
•Akazukin Chacha (1991) Sometimes these witches are
•Majokko Tickle (1978) also princesses, which leads
•Ojamajo Doremi (1999) us into our next type of
•Sugar Sugar Rune (2004)
magical girls.

6. Princesses and Queen Quests
Princesses are a common feature of
magical girl series. A widespread
theme is a protagonist from a magical
kingdom who comes to Earth as part
of her training to be Queen, or simply
due to tradition, or to help the people
of Earth.
Another frequent plotline is instead to
have a normal girl asked by a Prince
or Princess of another world to help
them become Queen or King by
offering them magical abilities or to
search for a special item they require.
Some Examples: Though not every princess who comes to
•Majokko Megu-chan (1974) Earth does this in order to become
•Comet-san (1967) / Cosmic Baton Girl Queen this has become the standard
Comet-san (2001) plotline of this sort this magical girl
•Hana no Ko no Lunlun (1979)
•Magical Princess Minky Momo (1982)
sub genre.
•Hime-chan no Ribon (1990)
From Parody:
•Dai Mahou Touge (2002)

7. Skills Simulation and Person
Imitation
A big staple of the genre are heroines
who can shapeshift. Many have the
general ability to become older or
more glamorous and to take on the
abilities and appearance of a
stereotypical job role – Police Woman,
Air Hostess, Doctor or Nurse for
example.
Alternatively some magical girls gain the
ability to mimic specific people and
use this to disguise themselves as
friends, family members. Often
combine it with the above and find
themselves copying the identities,
and thus, the abilities of individuals in
Some Examples: similar professions already
Main Premise: mentioned – with the added mistaken
•Himitsu no Akko-chan (1962) identity potential.
•Hime-chan no Ribon (1990) In some cases this was given as an extra
•Magical Princess Minky Momo power to magical warriors in order to
(1982) help them disguise themselves.
Side Power:
•Cutie Honey (1973)
•Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

8. Magically Aided Idol Singers
In many ways these particular magical
girls are specialised versions of the
shape shifting magical girls.
Initially a pure wish fulfilment concept
first appearing in the 1980s, these
series generally feature young girls
around the 8 to 12 age range.
Through some application of magic,
heavenly power, or alien/futuristic
technology she gains the ability to
disguise herself and become an idol
singer or similar.
Most frequently these characters
become older looking in the
Some Examples: process, whether they are naturally
•Mahou no Tenshi Creamy talented singers or if that is part of
Mami (1983) magic depends on the show.
•Mahou no Suta Magical Emi
(1985)
Later examples would be blended
•Full Moon no Sagashite together with the ‘Magical Warrior’
(2002) genre to make magic using, bad guy
•Mermaid Melody Pitchi Pitch fighting, superheroine musicians.
Pitchi (2002)
Oddly Similar Western

9. Magical Warriors
Probably the most famous magical girl
type in the west. Girls who transform
into superheroines which fight evil
forces with their magic powers to
defend the planet.
This genre has probably proven to be the
one with the most mass market
appeal, to the extent that it is the most
parodied and referenced. Typically
these series make use of stock
footage attack sequences to make up
Some Examples: their attack scenes – though some,
•Cutie Honey (1973)
•Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon (1992) such as the Pretty Cure franchise gets
•Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding Peach more physical with it’s fight
(1994) choreography.
•Tokyo Mew Mew (2000)
• The Pretty Cure Franchise (2004)
This genre first appeared in non shoujo
Western Examples (Direct and (girls series) works in the 1970s, with
Indirect): Cutie Honey, but first appeared in a
•She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985) format actually aimed at girls in the
•Princess Starla and the Jewel 1990s.
Riders (1995)
•W.I.T.C.H. (2001)
•Winx Club (2004)

10. Deeper Meanings
Whilst often dealing in wish fulfilment
and escapist elements, like most
fantasy, superhero and and sci-fi
genres magical girl shows are often
used to examine specific themes. As
shows typically aimed at young
women in their late childhood to
early teens the trials and tribulations
of puberty are often metaphorically,
or even sometimes directly touched
on – a prime example being Osamu
Tezuka’s Marvellous Melmo.
Romance, sexuality, death and other
issues can be either lightly touched
on or sometimes even directly
presented – for example the
relationship of Haruka (Sailor
Uranus) , and Michiru (Sailor
Neptune) in Sailor Moon. The
importance of friendship, and
discovering ones own identity are
frequent topics that are looked at in
shows such as Futari wa Pretty Cure
and Shugo Chara.

11. History and Timeline

12. The 1960s - The Beginnings
Which title was the ‘first’ magical girl
series? This actually depends on
how you look at it.
Himitsu no Akko-chan (Secrets of Akko-
chan)
• created by Fujio Akatsuki
• first debuted as a manga: 1962
(Ribon magazine)
• first animated: 1969
• generally believed to be first
magical girl manga
Mahoutsukai Sally (Sally, the Witch)
• written by Mitsuteru Yokoyama
• first debuted as manga 1966 (Ribon
magazine) as Mahotsukai Sunny
• first animated: 1966
• generally believed to be first
magical girl anime

13. The 1960s - Inspirations
Akatsuki and Yokohama both cited
the same source of inspiration for
giving the initial idea for both
Mahotsukai Sally and Himitsu no
Akko-chan. That source?
Sol Saks’ 1960s ‘fantastic sit-com’
Bewitched which originally ran on
ABC in the USA from 1964-1972.
The series became incredibly
popular in Japan when it aired as
Okusama wa Majo (My Wife is a
Witch) especially with young girls.
It was this that inspired both manga
creators to pen their own versions
but young girls themselves as the
protagonists.

14. Bewitched
Bewitched has a lot of themes that would appear
in magical girl series, particularly those
featuring cute witches. It is the story of
Samantha Stephens newlywed housewife to
Darrin Stephens who was secretly a witch.
Though, in keeping with her husband’s wishes
she tried not to use her magic she always
ended up breaking that promise, especially
when her troublesome mother Endora who
deeply disapproved the marriage turned up.
The themes of having to hide their magic abilities,
trying to use magic to help others but
screwing things up, and meddlesome magical
relatives or associates are common tropes in
witch themed magical girl series.
The show would later go on to have a direct
inspiration on series not aimed a young girls
Okusama wa Maho Shoujo: Bewitched Agnes.
About 26 year old magical girl who was
married to a human but who began to consider
having an affair with someone else.

15. Himitsu no Akko-chan
(Secrets of Akko-chan)
Atsuko "Akko-chan" Kagami is a girl who
owns a mirror which holds special
sentimental value to her. One day, it is
accidentally broken and she decides
to give it a burial rather than just
discard it.
Shortly afterwards, she is approached by
a magical figure who is moved by her
actions and replaces her mirror with a
magical one. This mirror gives her the
power to turn into anyone else and
gain there abilities.
Has been adapted several times as
anime, and in live action:
• Series: 1969 (eps 94), 1988 (eps 61), and
1998 (eps 44)
• Movies based on said anime: Five between
1969 – 1973, and two in 1989
• Also set to receive a live action film in
September 2012

16. Mahoutsukai Sally
(Sally, the Witch)
Originally named Sunny in the manga,
our protagonists name was changed
to prevent legal action from the Sony
corporation under fears of sounding
similar.
Sally was the princess of the magical
kingdom of Astoria who longed to
come to Earth and make some
friends. Whilst there she uses her
magic to solve problems and help
people out as well as to learn to be
more proficient.
Adapted as series twice and has one movie:
• Series in 1966 (109 eps), and a sequel
series in 1989 (88 eps)
• Movie in 1990 associated with 1989 series

17. History and Timeline
Akko-chan , and Sally introduced several of the genre
tropes including the ‘princess of another kingdom’
character type, the trope of a human girl being gifted
with a specific power – disguise, the ‘transformation
trinket’ and the magical phrase to activate a magical
girl’s powers.
Both girls were around the 10-12 mark at both series
were aimed at girls the same age or younger and by
and large were coming of age stories.

18. The 1970s – First Shifts Darker
The next magical girls to appear
were those of the 1970s, still
shows generally aimed at young
girls but now featuring a wider
range of ages.
It was in the 1970s that we saw
some bigger changes including
the introduction of:
• Older protagonists
• Somewhat darker themes
• Rival magical girls
• Trials of suitability for becoming
Queens
• Examples aimed at audiences
other than young girls
• Fanservice!

19. Fushigi na Merumo
(Marvellous Melmo)
Osamu “God of Manga” Tezuka’s magical girl series.
Like Mahotsukai Sally before it the title of the show,
and main character, had to be changed for rights
reasons on development of the anime – Maama
became Melmo, derived from the word
“metamorphose”.
Melmo is the eldest of three children, but at age nine her
mother dies in a car accident. In heaven, God offers
to grant her one wish – this wish leads to the
creation of Melmo’s bottle of age changing candies
which her mother delivers to her as a ghost. Blue
candies turn her into an adult, red ones return her to
childhood or can turn her into a baby. If she eats
both at once she regresses to a fetus and then can
shapeshift into animal form. She can also feed them
to others.
The show was intended as sex education, as well as
entertainment and touched on issues such as
puberty and childcare. As Melmo’s clothing doesn’t
shapeshif it was one of the first shows to make wide
use of panty shots!
Reportedly hated by Japanese parents for raising
uncomfortable questions.
• Manga (1970)
• TV anime (1971, 26 episodes)

20. Cutie Honey
Created by creator-powerhouse Go Nagai, though
this anime series was intended for male
audiences, it had a massive impact on the genre
and needs mentioning in the main time line
because of it. Honey Kisaragi thinks she is a
normal girl until her scientist father is murdered
by the Panther Claw group.
It is then she finds out she is actually a specially
designed self aware gynoid who the villains want
to extract her – till now unknown to her – ability
to create matter from the air.
Honey Kisaragi’s true form has always been
designed to be that of the warrior of love – Cutie
Honey! Who she transforms into with the phrase
Versions: – “Honey Flash!”.
•Cutie Honey (TV anime, 1973, 25 Though aimed at boys and young men Honey’s
eps) assertive mischievous heroine was very popular
• Several Cutie Honey Manga with girls this popularised several tropes which
•Shin Cutie Honey (OVA ,8 eps, would later become magical girl staples.
1994) • Cutie Honey was the first magical girl warrior
• Cutie Honey Flash (TV anime,
1997, 39 eps) • Nekkid! transformation sequences
• Cutie Honey (Live Action Movie, • Introduction of speeches, transformation
2004) phrases, and attacks – popular boys shows
• Re: Cutie Honey (OVA, 2004, 3 staples to the genre
eps)
• Cutie Honey the Live (TV show,

21. Majokko Megu-chan
(Meg the Witch Girl)
15 year old Meg is one of two candidates to be
crowned Queen of a magical land of witches, she
has an rival in the more adept Non. She is sent to
Earth as part of her trials and is adapted by Mami
Kanzaki, a former witch who has taken
residence on Earth. Mammi uses a memory spell
to integrate Meg into her family.
Meg is unfamiliar with the concept of families as her
home realm does not have them, the series
would examine both the good and bad side of
family live and society in general – themes such
as domestic violence, suicide and extramarital
affairs.
Important in many ways as it introduced:
• A ‘dark magical girl’ rival
• The Queen Quest/Contest element
• Sharing staff with Cutey Honey it also had some
racy elements.
Has been adapted several times as anime, and in
live action:
TV anime (1974, 72 episodes)
• Manga created by Tomo Inoue and Akio Narita

22. The 1980s – The Studio Pierrot Era
The up until the 1980s the only animation
studio producing magical girl anime
was TOEI Animation. This was
changed with the introduction of the
wildly popular Magical Princess Minky
Momo animated by Ashi Productions.
However, though that company would
later become Production Reed and
known for it’s magical girl shows the
1980s were dominated by one
production house: Studio Pierrot.
Studio Pierrot shaped the magical girl
scene for the entire decade and
introduced certain tropes that are still
with us today:
• The magical idol singer genre
• Multiple magical girls – abliet not yet
as teams – meeting one another
• Marketing really picked up… hey it’s
the ’80s!

23. Minky Momo
Animated by Ashi Productions, and the first
magical girl not animated by TOEI.
This anime is could be called the epitome of the
‘magical princess’ mahou shoujo show.
Momo is the princess of the Fenarinarsa the
land of fairy tales, which resides in the sky,
she is sent down to Earth on a mission – to
reconnect the Fenarinarsa to human hearts
as her homeworld is in peril, it’s residents are
disappearing.
She has the power to transform into and adult
and gain any skill set for example, police
Fenariarsa Momo:
• Magical Princess Minky Momo
officer, master thief or similar. In many ways
(1982, TV anime, 63 episodes) this followed earlier examples lead, but then
• Long Goodbye: Creamy Mami vs went darker towards the end of the series.
Minky Momo Gekijou no Daikessen It was later reinterpreted in the early nineties
(1985, Short OVA) where another Momo comes from a different
• La Ronde in my Dream (1985, OVA)
• Hitomi no Seiza SONG Special
kingdom in the sea Marinerursa and has more
(1987, OVA) varied transformation powers not just
Marinerursa Momo: becoming an older version of herself. The two
• Magical Princess Minky Momo: Momo’s later meet, and the first Momo even
Hold on to Your Dreams (1991, 65 crossed over with another magical girl from a
episodes) different studio, Creamy Mami which leads us
• The Bridge Over Dreams (1993, to…
OVA)
• The Station of Your Memories
(1994, OVA)

24. The Studio Pierrot Girls
Maho no Tenshi Creamy Mami / Magical Angel Creamy Mami (1983,
52 episodes)
Yu Morisawa has a huge crush on her slightly older childhood
friend Toshio. Unfortunately he sees her more like a little
sister. One day she encounters an alien spacecraft and helps
out its pilot. In return he gives her two alien kittens, and a
limited time only gift – the power to age to sixteen at will and
back again but only for a year.
Yu finds herself scouted by a talent agency and picks the stage
name Creamy, the name of her parent’s creperie.
Mahou no Yosei Persia / Magical Fairy Persia (1984, 48 episodes)
Persia is a young girl who grew up amongst the animals of the
Serengeti running free in the wild. She is found by Japanese
benefactors and sent to Japan to live a normal life, however mid
flight she is transported to the land of “Lovely Dream” which is in
peril. To save it she is given the power to transform into an older
version of herself in any profession to collect love energy.
Mahou no Star Magical Emi (1985, 38 episodes)
Mai Kazuki desperately wants to perform in her grandparents’
stage magician troupe Magic Carat. However she hasn’t quite
mastered her skills yet. One day she is approached by a mirror
sprite named Topo who gives her the ability to not only become
older, but in that form to perform real magic.
She uses this ability to save Magic Carat’s reputation when a show
almost goes wrong. She then becomes a star attraction.

25. The Studio Pierrot Girls
Mahou no Idol Pastel Yumi / Magical Idol Pastel Yumi (1986, 25
episodes)
Yumi Hanazono is a budding artist, it is her best subject in school at
which she’s otherwise not very proficient. During a flower festival
she saves a dandelion from destruction, to her surprise the flower
spirit comes to her with a magical gift.
A magical wand and locket that she can use to draw in the air and
create anything she wishes. Yumi doesn’t have the best situation
at home, her mother is an alcoholic and her parents argue.
Mami, Emi, Persia: Charming Young Girl Magic Trio (1986, OVA)
The three girls get stuck in their older forms and have to undo this.
Witch Girl Club Quartet – Alien X from the A Zone (1987, OVA)
Yuu, Persia, Mai and Yumi fight an alien on the moon that has been
stealing women's youthful beauty. The ones who have alter egos
transform and Yumi draws them some powered armor.
Mahou no Stage Fancy Lala / Magical Stage Fancy Lala (1988, OVA.
1998, TV Anime, 26 episodes)
A sort of marriage of the concepts of Pastel Yumi and Creamy Mami,
Miho Shinohara receives two stuffed dragons as a gift from an
unknown source. They empower her with the ability to bring her art
into existence with a magic pen, and a spell to age herself up. She
then finds herself scouted by a talent agency.
The original OVA is very different, a magical girl Cinderella story. Miho
does not become an idol here, but instead gains the ability to
become older and wins a contest by bringing her clothing designs
into reality to wear.

26. The 1990s – Warrior Girls and the
Anglosphere
The 1990s saw several significant
events for the genre. The focus of
the genre arguably shifted and
the image of the magical girl, as
superheroine style warriors really
came to the forefront.
The 1990s saw:
• Warrior style magical girls
becoming the iconic ‘default’ – at
least to the west
• Magical girls becoming
introduced to the Anglosphere –
mostly in the form of Sailor Moon ,
and Cardcaptor Sakura .
• This had a knock on effect of
popularising shojo manga in
general in the English speaking
world.
• Episode counts sky rocketing – 80
plus episodes was always the

27. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon)
The one everyone knows! Sailor Moon is the story
of lazy, crybaby, 14 year old Usagi Tsukino
(a.k.a “Serena”) who rescues a cat from being
bullied by some neighbourhood rascals. This
cat – Luna – approaches her that night to tell
her she is destined to be Sailor Moon – a
heroine and protector of the long dead moon
kingdom.
She is also told she must gather the other
members of the Sailor Soldiers (“Sailor
Scouts”) – later renamed Sailor Guardians –
and find the missing Moon Princess and
Mysterious Silver Crystal (“Emporium Silver
Crystal”) lest it falls in to the hands of the
nefarious Dark Kingdom (“The Negaverse”).
This series was instrumental in many ways:
• It was the first to really hit big in the Angelosphere,
albeit through a less than stellar dub - and was a
major player in popularising shoujo manga in the
west.
• In it’s homeland Japan, it was the first proper ‘sentai
magical girl team’. There had been team ups before,
but these were one off OVAs and this was the first
show to have a band of similarly uniformed colour
coded magical girls as a focus.
• It re-popularised the ‘warrior style’ magical girl – a
superheroine who uses magic to fight.

28. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon)
Codename wa Sailor V Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
1991-1997 (3 Volumes) 1992-1997 (18 Volumes)
?
Sailor Moon Sailor Moon R Sailor Moon S Sailor Moon Sailor Moon 20th Anniversary
1992-1993 1993-1994 SuperS Sailor StarS Sailor Moon
1994-1995
1995-1996 1997 2013

29. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon)
The Sailor Moon Musicals a.k.a ‘Sera Myu’
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon 1993 - 2005
2003

30. Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding Peach
(The Legendary Love Angel Wedding Peach)
The one everyone seems to hate (but not me).
Wedding Peach was co-created by Sukehiro
Tomita, the a lead writer on Sailor Moon’s
first three seasons and Nao Yazawa the
manga artist who developed his concept for
release in Ciao magzine.
Follows the story of Momoko Hanazaki and her
friends Yuri Tanima, and Hinagiku Tamano as
well at the aloof Scarlett Ohara who
transform into the Love Angels: Wedding
Peach, Angel Lily, Angel Daisy, and Angel
Salvia.
The fight against the Devils who have come to
Earth to attempt to eradicate all love. The are
aided by the handsome angel Sir Limone.
• Manga by story and art by Nao Yazawa original
concept by Sukehiro Tomita (1994-1996, 6
Volumes)
• Anime (1995-1996, 51 episodes and 2 omake) aired
on TV Tokyo, Sukehiro Tomita one for the main
writers
• OVAs Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding Peach DX
(1996, 4 episodes)
• Wedding Peach Young Love manga aimed at a
younger audience (2004, apparently ongoing)

31. CardCaptor Sakura
The other one everyone knows! Cardcaptor
Sakura by CLAMP is the story of Sakura
Kinomoto a young girl who is tasked with
collecting the magical spirts of the tarot
inspired Clow Cards and returning them to
Card form with the magic she is only just
learning how to use.
It bridges the gap between a cute witch and
warrior series by having a wide array of
magic fight scenes but balancing them with
the fact that a lot of Sakura’s magic is not
exclusive to fighting – many of the cards
preset Sakura with puzzles rather than
fights.
CCS is mildy a Magical Girl deconstruction as
there is no transformation sequence for
Sakura herself – her costumes are all hand
made by her best friend (who has a huge
crush on her) Tomoyo Daidouji. Sakura was
also a return to the more tomboyish and
sporty heroine like Akko-chan.
Probably the second most well known magical girl
show in the west, also like Sailor Moon received a
dub that was heavily edited.
• One of CLAMP’s semnial works and did a lot to get
their names well known to western fans and
improved their popularity in Japan.
• Manga ran in Nakayoshi (1996-2000, 12 Volumes)
• Anime (70 episodes, 1998-2000)

32. Ojamajo Doremi
(Bothersome Witch Doremi / Magical DoReMi)
This is the story of Doremi Harukaze. She really
wishes she could be a witch to use magic to fix
all her problems. One day she encounters a
strange shop who’s owner seems very
strange. Doremi quickly identifies the woman,
Majo Rika, as a witch - which curses the old
lady to turn into a frog!
In order to lift the curse Majo Rika offers to train
Doremi as a witch herself, the only problem is
Doremi is a poor student at magic. Over the
course of the series more and more
apprentice witches become part of the group
including her adopted daughter from Witch
World.
The title comes from portmanteau of the words
“ojama” (bothersome) and “majo” (witch)
becoming “ojamajo” which is what Majo Rika
often accuses her charges – especially Doremi
– of being. The is series was massively
successful in Japan, it wasn’t based on a pre-
existing manga manga mean TOEI had control
over the series direction.
• Ojamajo Doremi (1999, 51 episodes)
• Ojamajo Doremi # (2000, 49 episodes)
• Motto Ojamajo Doremi (2001, 50 episodes)
• Ojamajo Doremi Dokaa~n (2002, 51 episodes)
• Ojamajo Doremi Na-i-sho (2004, OVA, 13 episodes)

33. The 2000 & 2010s – Today’s Magical
Girls
The magical girls of the new
millennium have largely
extrapolated on the examples set
by shows like Sailor Moon in the
nineties with a focus on magical
warriors, and the production style
of Ojamajo Doremi in terms of
preference for animation studios
preferring to control the
storylines and other elements
themselves rather than adapt
from a manga authors idea.
What the last decade has provided
more examples of is shows which
have a smattering of magical girl
elements but then a more
convoluted or darker plot, for
example Princess Tutu, though
many series that fall into this
category are technically not

34. Princess Tutu
Long ago a writer, named Drosselmeyer, lived in Gold
Crown Town he wrote a story – the story of a Prince
who fought a demonic Raven, the Raven escaped the
world of fiction and and to seal the Raven away the
Prince was forced to sacrifice his own heart by
shattering it.
Enter Ahiru (meaning duck, she’s named Duck in the
dub) a clumsy student at Gold Grown Town’s ballet
academy. Ahiru has a huge crush on the local ballet
prodigy the aloof and icy Mytho. When Mytho is
threatened the ghost of Drosselmeyer offers to allow
Ahiru to help and gives her the power to transform
into Princess Tutu – an expert ballerina who can
resolve conflict with her dancing.
However, it then transpires that Mytho is the Prince of
the story and the reason for his icy demeanour is his
lack of a heart. If Princess Tutu can find all his heart
shards he will be returned to a fully emotive person,
but the shards have become lodged in other peoples
hearts and Tutu must find and dance with them to
remove them. Not only that but Ahiru is not merely
named after a duck… she is one, not a girl at all, and
has been given human form for this purpose.
Ahiru has been told she will never be able to win Mytho’s
love, but she decides to help him anyway.
The local town is a strange one, full of talking animals,
and is inspired by fairytales and by the architecture
of towns in real life Bavaria.

35. The Pretty Cure Franchise
Starting with 2004’s Futari wa Pretty Cure (“Together We’re Pretty Cure”)
and often called simply PreCure for short show has become the primary
‘Magical Warrior’ type magical girl of this era’s anime scene. Initially
followed up by a sequel series Futari wa Pretty Cure: Max Heart in 2005
the show was later cemented as a franchise with most new series
following a new group of girls with different power sources and reasons
for becoming heroines each time, somewhat like Super Sentai or Power
Rangers. There have also been “All Stars” crossover movies.

36. Pretty Cure
Futari wa PreCure FwPC: Max Heart FwPC: SplashStar Yes! PreCure 5 Y!PC5: GoGo!
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Fresh PreCure Heartcatch PreCure Suite PreCure Smile PreCure
2009 2010 2011 2012

37. Shugo Chara!
(My Guardian Characters)
So one day this girl wakes up and she’s laid
three eggs…
..okay not exactly, Amu Hinamori is considered
the ‘cool and spicy’ badass of her primary
school. She’s reserved, has a rock chick
look, and rumours abound about her fighting
prowess. Unfortunately, no of this true, Amu
actually is a very sweet girl who is bad with
words – something her school mates take as
aloofness. Amu hates this, and one day
wishes she could be the person she really
wants to be.
In come those aforementioned eggs, which
appear in her bed the morning after and
eventually hatch into chibis called ‘shugo
chara’ or ‘guardian characters’.
Amu is then recruited onto the student council
who all are character bearers too. They are
fighting against an evil organisation called
Easter.
• Shugo Chara! (2006) and Shugo
Chara! Encore (2010) manga Amu has managed to activate the powers of the
• Shugo Chara! (2006, 51 eps) Humpty Lock and transform into Amulet
• Shugo Chara!! Doki – (2008, 51 eps) Heart and, and later Amulet Spade and
• Shugo Chara! Party (Comprises: Amulet Clover and fight against Easter who
Shugo Chara!!! Dokki Doki anime, and have been looking for the legendary ‘hearts
Shugo Chara Pucchi Puchi! shorts) egg’ the Embryo by destroying children’s
(2009, 25 eps) dreams.
• Shugo Chara Chan yonkoma (2008)

38. Parodies and
Outside Examples

39. Parodies and Outside Examples
Though ‘core’ magical girl shows are aimed at a
young and typically female audience there have
been examples of magical girl shows aimed at
other audiences.
Many of these are parodies, though some are
serious or semi-serious examples. Also, there
are inevitably examples that are intended for,
shall we say, ‘mature viewing’.

40. Parodies
The magical girl genre is very open to
both affectionate and more critical
parody. Most of these appear in other
anime in some form, usually in ones
aimed at older audiences, but there
are western examples. Western
examples tend to specifically parody
Sailor Moon, it being the most popular
example in the west – an example of
with would be the Megas XLR episode
“Ultra Chicks”.
Some of these parodies are simply one
episode nods, others are the basis for
whole series. Some of these parody
series are semi-serious or at least still
have a honest core plot of there own
which could qualify themselves as full
examples; other shows are just out
and out silly gag shows.
There has also been a show still aimed at
the same core demographic as
magical girls, young girl, but that is
which is a definite parody: Tonde
Buurin.

41. Parodies – Some Examples
Moldiver (1993, OVA, 6 episodes)
Genius inventor Hiroshi Ozora just invented the Mol Unit, a tool
than can generate pocket dimension around the user than can
make them invulnerable and give them any appearance they
desire. He uses it to become a hero as the Superman like
Captain Tokyo. Until his sister finds it, and redesigns the look
to one more magical girl in nature. This screws with the Mol
Unit meaning they never know which look they are going to
get. A comedy action series that sends up superhero tropes
and magical girl elements.
Dai Mahou Touge / Magical Witch Punie-chan (1 manga volume,
2002. OVA, 2006, 8 episodes)
Punie Takanara is the princess of Magical Land, a kingdom in the
sky. She is sent to Earth to train as Queen for a year as per
tradition like many magical princesses before… except, she’s
evil, will break bones with her wrestling moves and her
magical spell is “Lyrical Tokarev, KILL THEM ALL!”
Ai to Yuuki no Pig Girl Tonde Buurin / Super Pig (3 manga volumes,
1994. TV anime, 1994, 51 episodes)
Karin Kokubu is a underperforming clumsy girl. She ‘rescues’
small pig she finds one day. He turns out to be the prince of the
pig planet Ringo. He offers to fulfil her desire to be a heroine
and gives her a transformation device that turns her into his
worlds ideal heroine… a caped pig! If she can collect 108
pearls from doing good deeds she’ll be able to turn into a
prettier heroine. However if anyone finds out she’ll be stuck as
a pig forever!

42. Non-Anime Examples
There have been examples outside
of Japan that aren’t parodies but
that play with the same or similar
tropes as magical girl shows.
Many that have come along in later
years have been directly inspired
by the magical girl genre, some
could argue there is synchronicity
to this. After all, the first Japanese
examples were inspired by
Bewitched so arguably things
have come full circle.
However, there have been odd cases
of shows sharing very similar
magical girl themes and tropes
but that date from a time too early
before the raise of magical girl
shows in the west to in all
likelyhood be direct inspirations.
However, they are very similar and
worthy of looking at in that vein.

43. Some Non Anime Examples
She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985, 93 episodes)
I don’t need to summarise this one, I can just play the helpfully
descriptive intro!
The show, like it’s literal brother show He-Man and the Masters of
the Universe was animated by Filmation and was created to
promote Mattel’s “Princess of Power” toys, themselves a spin
off of the “Masters of the Universe” toyline.
The show, like many ’80s kids shows, was hokey and dumb but was
charming in it’s own way and gave little girls a heroine to look
up too.
Jem / Jem and the Holograms (1985, 65 episodes)
Jerrica Benton inherits a record label and an orphanage from her
late father. Unfortunately her father left half of his record label
to Eric Raymond who wants to oust her and has just signed the
bullying band “The Misfits”. Jerrica then receives Synergy, a
powerful computer which can make lifelike holograms.
Jerrica uses Synergy to transform into Jem and best the Misfits.
Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders / Starla & the Jewel
Riders (1995, 65 episodes)
Gwenevere (or Starla, internationally and therefore over here) is a
princess of Avalon of Arthurian myth. She is on the mission to
rescue her mentor Merlin from banishment. She fights her evil
aunt – Lady Kale - who wanted to take over the kingdom.
Gwen/Starla and her friends must collect the seven crown jewels
of Avalon to restore stability to this magical land and stop Lady
Kale from getting them.

44. More Non Anime Examples
W.I.T.C.H. (2001, Comic, Ongoing. 2004, TV Animated Series, 52
episodes)
Based on an Italian comic book, and animated as an Italy-France-
USA co-production by Disney Europe. This the story of five
girls who discover they are “The Guardians of the Veil” the
barrier between our world and that of Metamoor a magical
place ruled by the tyrannical Prince Phobos.
The girls gain the powers of air, earth, fire, water and
quintessence to fight against Phobos and attempt to restore
the true ruler of Metamoor to the throne.
Winx Club (2004, 104 episodes – but ongoing)
Another Italian series. Winx Club follows the story of Bloom, a girl
who believes herself to be ordinary until she meets and be-
friends Stella Princess of the magical Solaria dimenison. When
she realises Bloom is also magical Stella convinces her to
attend the magical fairy school of Alfea. A sort of marriage
between magical girl show and Harry Potter fantasy.
Penny Crayon (1990, 12 episodes)
A BBC series from the early nineties that though unlikely to be
directly inspired by magical girls has certain traits she shares
with them. With the voice talents of Su Pollard.
Penny Crayon is a girl who has a magical set of crayons and
pencils, like in Pastel Yumi and later Fancy Lala her drawings
are able to come to life though she needs no incantation for
this. Her drawings have a tendency to cause trouble.
She is followed around by her rather adoring friend Dennis/

45. Examples Aimed At Other Audiences
Though core magical girls shows are aimed at a
young female audience, there are examples that
aren’t necessarily parodies that are aimed at older
or male audiences.
These tend to be either darker in nature, more action
based, or are ‘for mature audiences only’.

46. Some Examples
Lingerie Senshi Papillion Rose (2003, OVA. 2006, TV Anime, 6
episodes)
An adult magical girl show in that sense of the word adult. Both the
OVA and the TV series have somewhat different plots –
focusing on Tsubomi / Papillion Rose.
The raunchier OVA features mainly Tsubomi, a gentleman’s club
waitress who transforms into Papillion Rose to fight an evil
dominatrix elf who works for a tyrannical Queen.
The tamer but still fanservicey TV show has a wider cast, and they
all fight a group of STD spreading transvesties.
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha (Several Series: 52 episodes)
Nanoha Takamachi meets the mage-turned-ferret Yuuno Scaria
who tasks her with the collection of 21 ‘Jewel Seeds’. To do
this she must become a magical girl. Eventually she becomes a
very competent magical warrior and one who lover her work.
Actually aimed at adult male fans Nanoha possibly has more nods
to mecha shows – in particular the Gundam franchise. Nanoha
hangs lampshades on some of the genre’s sillier aspects.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011, 12 episodes)
The core concept of the show is very much one that is fairly
standard magical girl fair – Madoka Kaname is a 14 year old
girl who encounters a strange creature called Kyuubei. He
offers to grant her greatest wish if she will agree to fight
witches. The show then turns out be a dark psychological
deconstruction of the genre.

47. …and finally

48. And Finally
References:
• Anime News Network Anime Encyclopaedia:
http://www.animenewsnetwork.co.uk/encyclopedia/
• Wikipedia:
http://www.wikipedia.org/
• Hitoshi Doi’s Anime Page:
http://www.usagi.org/doi/anime2.html
• Black Sun: Monochrome Anime:
http://blacksun1987.blogspot.co.uk/
• Majokko Club:
http://www.majokkoclub.com/

49. And Finally
References:
• Magical Girl Genre List:
http://www.angelfire.com/moon/sailormoon19/MagicalGirlGenre.html
• Wikipedia:
http://www.wikipedia.org/
• Bewitched @ Harpies Bizarre:
http://www.harpiesbizarre.com/
• Momo-Yome (Nao Yazawa the Wedding Peach manga-ka’s site):
http://www.geocities.jp/yazawanet/momo/english.htm
• The Ultimate Cutey Honey Resource:
http://tuchr.tripod.com/home.html

50. And Finally
References:
• BIA, la sfida della magia @ Toonshill (Italian Majokko Megu-chan Site):
http://www.toonshill.it/cartoni_animati/cartoni_70/bia/index.html
• The Mike Toole Show, Wake Me Up Before You Shoujo:
http://www.animenewsnetwork.co.uk/the-mike-toole-show/2012-06-17