15 Recommendations for Magical Girl Anime, Unusual Female Characters!

Kapanlagi.com - Written by: Lily Ariani

Anime fans certainly understand that Japanese animated series are usually divided into several genres. There are shounen anime whose target audience is male viewers. There are also shoujo anime whose target audience is female. If the shoujo genre is further narrowed down, then there is mahou shoujo or magical girl.

Mahou shoujo or magical girl is a genre of anime that features female characters with superpowers. Usually, the characters in magical girl anime are school teenagers who later gain special abilities.

Magical girl anime itself has existed since 1966. Magical girl anime has continued to evolve over time. Many magical girl anime present interesting concepts such as magical idol, girl warrior, and cute witch. Here are 15 recommendations for magical girl anime.

1. MY-HIME

Studio Sunrise

Fuko Academy is a special school for training magical girls. The girls who live in this academy are called HiME. They have special abilities, namely the ability to materialize their futons. The main character in this anime, Mai Tokiha, is one of the HiME in Fuko Academy.

After realizing that she is a HiME, Mai immediately forms a bond with a spiritual-powered mecha. She and the other HiME have the task of protecting the world from the threat of Orphan, creatures with abilities similar to mecha.

2. HIMITSU NO AKKO-CHAN

Toei Animation

HIMITSU NO AKKO-CHAN is a classic anime that aired in 1989. This anime tells the story of a girl named Atsuko Kagami. Atsuko really likes the mirror she got from her mother.

When the mirror is broken, Atsuko even buries the pieces in the house's yard. This action leads her to meet the Queen of the Mirror Kingdom. The queen then offers a magic mirror to Atsuko. The mirror has the power to transform Atsuko into any desired figure.

3. MAGICAL IDOL PASTEL YUMI

Studio Pierrot

Still a classic anime that aired in the 1980s, MAGICAL IDOL PASTEL YUMI tells the story of a girl named Yumi Hanazono. She loves drawing and aspires to be a comic artist.

One day, at a flower festival, Yumi saves a withered dandelion. Unexpectedly, the dandelion can speak. Upon investigation, the voice comes from two flower fairies named Kakimaru and Keshimaru.

4. SHUGO CHARA!

Studio Satelight

From her friends' perspective, Amu Hinamori is a popular girl. Her appearance stands out with pink hair and rebellious clothing. However, it turns out that her appearance is just a disguise Amu uses as a shy girl.

When Amu prays to have confidence, she instead receives three mysterious eggs. The eggs hatch and transform into three shugo chara: Ran, Miki, and Su. These three shugo chara act as Amu's protectors in various situations.

5. SYMPHOGEAR

Studio Satelight

SYMPHOGEAR offers a unique premise. The magical girls in this anime are idols who must fight aliens. They battle enemies using the power of song. Tsubasa Kazanari and Kanade Amou are two of the idols who fight against aliens.

Kanade sacrifices herself to save a girl named Hibiki Tachibana. As a result, Kanade's Symphogear relic is embedded in Hibiki's chest. Two years later, Hibiki awakens with the powers once possessed by Kanade. Alongside other idols, Hibiki must fight to save the world.

6. SEARCHING FOR THE FULL MOON

Studio Deen

Mitsuki Koyama is a 12-year-old girl with dreams of becoming a singer. However, Mitsuki is faced with a bitter reality when she is diagnosed with sarcoma. The situation becomes even more difficult when the God of Death visits Mitsuki and tells her that she only has one year left to live.

The God of Death then offers a deal. If Mitsuki follows her destined path and dies within a year, she can audition to become an idol. Mitsuki accepts the offer and embarks on her new journey as a singer under the stage name Fullmoon.

7. MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH

Tokyo Movie Shinsha

MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH brings the story of three friends Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu who are dragged into another dimension called the world of Cephiro. There, the three friends are asked for help to save Princess Emeraude from the threat of Zagato. Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu are equipped with magical powers based on specific elements.

This anime combines three genres at once: mahou shoujo, isekai, and mecha. The three main characters in the anime MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH each have their own unique personalities.

8. MAGICAL GIRL LYRICAL NANOHA

Tokyo Movie Shinsha

Initially, Nanoha Takamichi only intended to save an injured ferret. However, she is dragged into the world of magic. As it turns out, the ferret that Nanoha saved is actually a witch named Yuno Scrya. He comes from a parallel world commonly known as Midchilda.

Yuno Scrya then asks for Nanoha Takamichi's help. He must collect 21 gemstones that contain evil power. If someone touches these gemstones, they will turn into wild monsters.

9. PRETTY CURE

Toei Animation

Although its popularity is not as big as SAILOR MOON or PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA, PRETTY CURE still falls into the main pillar of magical girl anime. This anime is known as a children's show. The story presented is light, but still entertaining with exciting action and a series of delightful characters. This anime even became a favorite show of the famous manga artist Eiichiro Oda's children.

PRETTY CURE presents the story of a group of chosen girls to protect the world. These girls are able to transform into soldiers to prevent crimes. The main characters displayed are different in each series. However, these chosen girls always become legends.

10. PRINCESS TUTU

HAL Film Maker

PRINCESS TUTU presents the story of Ahiru. She is a duck who can transform into a ballerina named Princess Tutu. Ahiru has the task of saving a prince who is in danger. Her struggle to save the prince is filled with twists and various challenges.

For those of you who love magical girl anime, PRINCESS TUTU can be a choice. This anime presents a fairy tale with a modern touch. The graphics and visuals displayed carry a surreal concept complete with themes of self-discovery and freedom.

11. SAILOR MOON

Toei Animation

SAILOR MOON is a legendary anime that aired in the 90s. The story of SAILOR MOON begins when Usagi Tsukino receives a brooch from Luna, a talking black cat. The brooch has the power to transform Usagi into a super warrior named Sailor Moon.

As Sailor Moon, Usagi's task is to protect the Earth from evil forces. She then sets out to find other warriors to help locate the princess and the silver crystal. Along the way, Usagi encounters many other sailor warriors, such as Rei Hino (Sailor Mars), Mizuno (Sailor Mercury), Minako Aino (Sailor Venus), and others.

12. CARDCAPTOR SAKURA

Studio Madhouse

While cleaning her father's room, Sakura Kinomoto accidentally discovers a mystical book containing tarot cards. Each card has its own power and can cause harm if left unchecked. Unfortunately, Sakura accidentally releases the cards throughout the city.

The card's guardian, Cerberus, then gives Sakura a magical staff and asks her to seal the released cards. Along with her best friend Tomoyo, Sakura embarks on her adventure. Throughout her journey, Sakura uncovers many secrets about the people around her.

13. PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA

Studio Shaft

PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA tells the story of Madoka Kaname and her friends who are offered magical powers. In return, Madoka and her friends must protect the world by hunting evil witches. However, the task is not as easy as imagined.

PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA offers a different concept of magical girl from previous classic titles. This anime explores the consequences of the magical powers possessed by the female characters. The dark atmosphere and deep character exploration make this anime a great success.

14. MAJOKKO MEG-CHAN

Toei Animation

MAJOKKO MEG-CHAN is part of the early generation of magical girl anime. MAJOKKO MEG-CHAN is also the first anime to introduce a tomboy female character. The story focuses on Meg, the next witch queen candidate.

To become the witch queen, Meg must pass a test on Earth. She lives with Mami Kanzaki and her non-witch family members. On Earth, Meg fights enemies and learns about human relationships.

15. OJAMAJO DOREMI

Toei Animation

Doremi Harukaze's life changed after she met a female witch named Majo Rika. Doremi accidentally exposed the witch's identity. As a result, Majo Rika turned into an ugly frog.

To return to her original form, Majo Rika transformed Doremi into a witch like herself. Unfortunately, Doremi struggles to learn magic. Doremi then meets Hazuki Fujiwara and Aiko Senoo. The three of them embark on an adventure in the world of magic.

(kpl/lly)