If you’re a big anime fan (or perhaps are just now delving into anime) then our top five best magical girl genre animes will have you gagging for more!
1) Sally The Witch
While probably unknown to many, Sally The Witch is considered the first magical girl genre anime in Japan. Created in the 1960’s by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, the series was actually inspired by the American sitcom Bewitched. It’s incorporation of magic to fend off villains would later play a major role in the revival of the genre in later years most notably the 90’s.
2) Sailor Moon
Believe it or not Sailor Moon was sort of like what the Spice Girls is to music; they both initiated a girl power trend. Except Sailor Moon did it on a ‘magical girl’ level where they helped revitalize said topic of women fighting evil villains and saving the world. But who doesn’t want to see women kicking the living crap out of unnecessary mean-spirited people?
3) Cardcaptor Sakura (Cardcaptors)
Cardcaptor Sakura came in 1996 four years after the hugely successful Sailor Moon took off. It continued the magical girl theme and was praised for its creative concept of women leading in battle through eastern and western magic; the award for best anime in 1999 cemented its piece. While the English dub did get slammed for completely erasing the original dialogue of the story, the overall different approach to fighting villains (in this case magical spirits) just made the show more interesting and watchable to young viewers at home in the western hemisphere. The animes magic-casting scenes continue to be heavily praised by critics and viewers for being so well-rounded visually especially for a 90’s decade anime.
4) Mew Mew Power (Tokyo Mew Mew)
Tokyo Mew Mew began the 2000’s decade with a supreme start being highly popular with English audiences. Not only did the anime overall receive extensive marketing campaigns in Japan but was consistently compared to Sailor Moon for its five main girl leads. Nonetheless, its 3 year run played well worldwide and continues to be hailed as a necessary anime that’s helped move the magical girl genre forward.
5) Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Running its start in 2011, Madoka’s writing, visual display and soundtrack has been critically acclaimed. Following a group of girls who have chosen to become magical girls to fight off witches (antagonists) its deeply emotional content has captured the hearts of many fans. Andy Hanley of the UK Anime Network has even praised its emotional content as well as the “evocative soundtrack” even calling it the “greatest TV anime series of the 21st century thus far”. So with that said, you definitely DON’T want to miss this magical girl action!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiIOG4g9Ie4
Have any favorites of your own? Let us know on Twitter @CelebMix!