Ask John: Is Magical Girl Anime the Current Trend?

Question:
How come newer anime is mostly witch anime or magical girls? I went to Japan recently and all I saw was witch anime and magical girl anime shows. Is that becoming a new anime trend now?

Answer:
Actually, it wasn’t until you’d mentioned it that I realized that there does seem to be an inordinate amount of bishoujo anime in Japan right now. Japan’s anime industry has never been stagnant, regardless of what some foreign fans wish to believe, but the dominant interest among Japanese fans at the moment seems to be squarely on attractive girls. Current anime involving magical or spiritual girls include Kamichu, Amaenaideyo, Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan, Sugar Sugar Rune, Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo, Akahori Gedou Hour Love Game, Fushigi Boshi no Futago Hime, and Pretty Cure Max Heart. And current bishoujo anime, and anime featuring all girl or predominantly female casts include Moeyoken TV, Da Capo Second Season, Okusama wa Joshikousei, Pani Poni Dash, Suzuka, Shuffle, Peto Peto-san, Ichigo Marshmallow, Onegai My Melody, Gokujo Seitokai, and Glass Mask.

Indeed the majority of current anime seems to revolve around magical or “moe” girls, but there are still current anime titles that defy the convention, such as GUNxSWORD, Play Ball, Tideline Blue, and Full Metal Panic Second Raid. And, in fact, the current dominance of bishoujo anime may be a reaction to last April’s new season of anime television series which were overwhelmingly shonen anime, including Mar Heaven, Law of Ueki, Aquarion, Erementar Gerad, Mushiking, Eyeshield 21, Speed Grapher, Basilisk, Trinity Blood, Zoids Genesis, Eureka Seven, Sanada Ten, Zettai Shonen, and Tsubasa Chronicle. Since last season’s new anime television series had shonen titles massively outnumbering anime for girls, perhaps the current July premiers are simply balancing the scales by featuring an overabundance of softer, gentler and more feminine anime series.

Looking toward the future, I see a typical even variety of anime, both bishoujo and shonen/seinen titles. The current temporary trend of “girlish” anime will continue throughout this year with Alice the Adventure (the second Mahou Shoujo Tai Arusu series), Paradise Kiss, Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha Ace, Happy Seven, To Heart 2, Rozen Maiden ~Träumend~, and Karin. But fans of darker, hard boiled, and action oriented anime can look forward to shows including the new Guyver television series, Blood+, Angel Heart, Akagi, Shakugan no Shana, Black Cat, Jigoku Shoujo, Black Lagoon, and probably several more.

The anime industry in Japan does move in trends and periods, but there is always a diverse audience for anime in Japan, so there is always a diversity of anime available. Any time you believe that current anime is all the same, you should probably take another look at titles you’ve overlooked or aren’t familiar with.