Ask John: What Are The Best Recent Magical Girl Anime?

Question:
In your opinion, what have been the best mahou shoujo anime of the past few years (maybe going back to 2002)? I know you think well of Pretty Cure, but what of other recent mahou shoujo shows?

Answer:
Before discussing which recent magical girl anime series are best, we need to clarify which anime titles are within consideration. That brings to light a bit of arbitrary irony. At least among English speaking anime fans, “mahou shoujo” or “magical girl” anime seems to consist of anime about young girls who are empowered by magic, but not anime about girls that use magic. The protagonists of magical girl anime use magic to transform into super powered heroines or transform into alternate versions of themselves. Shows about young women that wield magic but don’t transform are generally not thought of as “magical girl” anime. So, to be specific, the significant “magical girl” anime of the past three years include:

Ojamajo Doremi Dokkaan!
Ojamajo Doremi Naisho
Tokyo Mew Mew
Full Moon wo Sagashite
Earth Defense Force Mao-chan
Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magical te
Princess Tutu
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure
Tenbatsu Angel Rabbie
Pretty Cure
Maho Shojo Lyrical Nanoha
Magical Canan
Moeyoken

Based on the above qualification, I’m going to exclude titles such as Ultra Maniac, Someday’s Dreamers, Fuujin Monogatari, Popotan, Limuiro Senkitan, and Mahou Shoujo Tai Arusu because they may feature girls who use magic, but these shows don’t exemplify the typical characteristics associated with “magical girl” anime.

I have to admit that I’m generally not a big fan of magical girl anime, and among the 14 titles I’ve listed, there’s only one that I haven’t watched any of, but I’ve finished watching less than half of them. So my criticisms will be based on a combination of personal experience and informed speculation.

I’ve previously expressed my appreciation for Pretty Cure, so there’s no need for me to repeat myself. I’m also a big fan of Ojamajo Doremi. Especially in America the show is little known, and frequently dismissed as a crude advertisement for children’s toys. But I think the American perception of Doremi is largely based on misperception and literal ignorance. Logically, there must be something good about the Ojamajo Doremi anime for it to have sustained five television series. Doremi has a diverse and heartwarming cast. Doremi and her friends have memorable, adorable, and distinctive appearances and characterizations. The Doremi anime itself is also very attractive looking, with bright colors and very tactile background and setting design. Furthermore, the Doremi anime is intelligent in the sense that its not condescending, and it’s more culturally aware than most American fans realize. The Doremi anime isn’t afraid of occasionally having an unhappy ending because life itself doesn’t always work out. And the Doremi anime also deals with distinctive elements of traditional Japanese culture, society and folklore more frequently than most American anime fans realize.

Princess Tutu may be one of the most innovative and unusual magical girl anime series ever. Not only does the show have a lush, rich visual style, it uses the morbid and macabre atmosphere of unadulterated German fairy tales to brilliant effect. The show may look like one for children, and overtly it is a children’s show, but it’s a startlingly dark, sinister, foreboding show that may have more relevance to mature viewers than children. The combination of ballet, button cute characters, and romance may deter many English speaking viewers from trying out Princess Tutu, but open minded viewers and fans with a taste for unusual, exceptional anime should be surprised and highly pleased with the show.

I’m really not sure exactly why Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch hasn’t caught on among especially young American female anime fans, considering the lasting popularity of Sailor Moon in America. Based on my limited familiarity with it, Pichi Pichi Pitch seems like a contemporary equivalent to Sailor Moon, with better animation quality. Like Sailor Moon, Pichi Pichi Pitch features romance and battles against evil minions and a large cast of attractive young girls. The show has been highly successful in Japan, but American anime fans don’t seem to have any interest in it at all. Pichi Pichi Pitch feels like a natural stepping stone to move to from Sailor Moon, but it seems to me as though many American Sailor Moon fans prefer to cling to the familiar Usagi Tsukino rather than move along to the next magical girl title.

Finally, Full Moon wo Sagashite seems to have a very small, very loyal following among English speaking fans. There don’t seem to be very many Western fans of Full Moon wo Sagashite, but those fans deeply appreciate the show. Full Moon wo Sagashite is the descendant of anime series like Magical Emi, Legendary Idol Eriko, I’ll Make a Habit of It, and Fancy LaLa. But unlike those shows, Full Moon wo Sagashite marginally evolves the typical magical idol singer story by adding some gravitas. The theme of tragedy that runs throughout the show adds a degree of mature drama to the show that’s original, and gives the show more substance and more emotional weight than its predecessors.

I’m absolutely not trying to suggest that the other magical girl anime titles on my list are bad or unworthy of attention. In fact, any anime series that a viewer enjoys can be considered “good” in at least one sense. But among the aforementioned titles, I think that Pretty Cure, Ojamajo Doremi, Princess Tutu, Pichi Pichi Pitch, and Full Moon wo Sagashite are the ones that exhibit the best mastery of all of the elements of “mahou shoujo anime.”