The appeal and reviews of "Magical Girl Tai!": An anime experience not to be missed

The charm and evaluation of Wizard Tai!

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

May 25, 1996
May 25, 1996 - October 25, 1997

■Release and sales

・Publisher: Bandai Visual

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 6

■Original Story

・Original concept and general direction: Junichi Sato

■ Director

Junichi Sato

■ Production

Animation Production: Triangle Staff Production: Bandai Visual

■ Story

Suddenly, a mysterious giant object called Tsurigane came flying from space. The military's attacks were completely ineffective and no one could defeat it. Meanwhile, high school student Takeo Takakura, who had been researching magic on his own, declared that he would use magic to repel the monsters, and formed a magic club. Sae decided to spend her days training to become a great magician for her respected senior, Takakura.

■Explanation

A sci-fi fantasy comedy about high school students in a world where magic exists, the series was released as a six-volume OVA. Due to its popularity, it was later adapted into a TV anime and manga.

■Cast

Sae Sawanoguchi/Hiroko Konishi/Takeo Takakura/Masaya Onosaka/Nanae Nakatomi/Masayumi Iizuka/Ayanosuke Aburatsubo/Takehito Koyasu/Akane Aikawa/Junko Iwao

■ Main staff

・Original concept and general director: Junichi Sato・Original story and animation production: Triangle Staff・Character design and general animation director: Ikuko Ito・Mechanical design: Masahiro Maeda・Art director: Hiroshi Kato・Color design: Michiyo Iriomote・Director of photography: Seiichi Morishita・Editing: Takeshi Seyama・Music: Michiru Oshima・Sound director: Kazuhiro Wakabayashi・Produced by: Bandai Visual・OP1
・"Stretch Yourself and Follow You"
Lyrics by Miho Matsuba; Composition and Arrangement by Toshiro Yabuki; Vocals by Mahou Tsukai Tai

・ED1
・"See you tomorrow"
Lyrics: Miho Matsuba; Composition: Masami Okui, Toshiro Yabuki; Arrangement: Itaru Watanabe; Singer: MASAMI

■ Main Characters

・Sae Sawanoguchi The main character. She is a clumsy and insensitive girl, but she is very positive. She likes Takakura.

Takakura Takeo is the head of the Magic Club. He is a self-taught magician and has a deep knowledge of magic.

・Nakatomi Nanashi is Sae's childhood friend and best friend. She has a crush on Aburatsubo.

Vice-president of the Magic Club. He is popular with his good looks, his athletic ability, and his ability to use magic. He likes Takakura.

Akane Aikawa is a freshman in the magic club. She has a free-spirited, laid-back personality. She isn't enthusiastic about club activities, but she has a hidden talent for magic.

■Subtitle

・Volume 1: Tsurigane, Takakura-senpai, and the Flying Magic (1996/05/25)
Volume 2: Giant Beygoma, Mizuha-sama, and Failed Magic (1996/07)
・Volume 3: Taketombo, Akane-chan, and the Forbidden Magic (1996/09)
・Volume 4: The Sea, the Cave, and the Magic Party (1997/02)
Volume 5: Nanaka, Aburatsubo-senpai, and the Confession Magic!? (1997/07)
Volume 6: Sae, Jeff, and the Great Magic (1997/10/25)

■ Related works

・TV anime "Witch Tai!" (1999)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・"Stretch Yourself and Follow You"
Lyrics by Miho Matsuba; Composition and Arrangement by Toshiro Yabuki; Vocals by Mahou Tsukai Tai

・ED1
・"See you tomorrow"
Lyrics: Miho Matsuba; Composition: Masami Okui, Toshiro Yabuki; Arrangement: Itaru Watanabe; Singer: MASAMI

The charm and evaluation of Wizard Tai!

Released as an OVA in 1996, "Magician Tai!" continues to be loved by many fans for its worldview that combines magic and science fiction, and its depiction of the bittersweetness of youth. This work is a work that shines with director Junichi Sato's unique perspective and the careful animation production by Triangle Staff. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and evaluation of the work, as well as related works and recommended points.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Magician Tai!" is about high school students using magic to repel "Tsurigane", a mysterious giant object that suddenly flies to Earth. The main character, Sae Sawanoguchi, admires Takakura Takeo, the president of the magic club, and grows as a magician. This setting is an exquisite blend of teen drama and science fiction fantasy, and has the power to draw viewers in.

Particularly appealing is Sae's story of growth. Although she is clumsy and insensitive, her earnest efforts are relatable. Takakura Takeo's deep knowledge and leadership, Ayanosuke Aburatsubo's versatility, and the unique characters of Nakatomi Nanaka and Aikawa Akane add to the excitement of the story. Each episode features different magic spells and problems, keeping viewers from getting bored.

Character Appeal

Each character in this series has a strong personality and leaves a strong impression on the viewer. In particular, the main character, Sae Sawanoguchi, is charming with her positive attitude despite being clumsy and insensitive. Her growth and love are at the center of the story, evoking sympathy from the viewer. Additionally, Takakura Takeo's knowledge and leadership, Aburatsubo Ayanojo's versatility, and the unique characters of Nakatomi Nanaka and Aikawa Akane add excitement to the story.

Hiroko Konishi, who plays Sae Sawanoguchi, also does a superb job as a voice actress, conveying Sae's clumsiness and positive attitude realistically. Masaya Onosaka, who plays Takeo Takakura, has a calm voice, and Takehito Koyasu, who plays Ayanojo Aburatsubo, has a cool voice that also enhances the charm of the characters.

The charm of animation and music

There are many noteworthy aspects to the visuals of "Wizard Tai!". The designs by Ikuko Ito, who was in charge of character design and general animation director, are cute and unique, making them a visual treat. Additionally, the designs by Maeda Masahiro, who was in charge of mechanic design, emphasize the sci-fi elements, enriching the worldview of the work.

In terms of music, Michiru Oshima's music adds to the atmosphere of the work. In particular, the opening theme "Seiboshite Follow You" and the ending theme "Mata Ashita" are songs that symbolize the theme of the work and remain in the hearts of viewers. The energetic voices of the Magician Corps who sing the opening theme and the gentle voice of MASAMI who sings the ending theme further enhance the charm of the work.

Evaluation and acceptance

After its release as an OVA, "Magician Tai!" gained a lot of support from fans and was adapted into a TV anime and manga. This was due to the high quality of the story, characters, animation, and music.

In particular, the worldview that combined youth drama with science fiction fantasy gave viewers a fresh surprise. Also, the character growth and love affairs were depicted realistically, which was a major factor in resonating with many viewers. Furthermore, the fantasy element of magic stimulated the viewers' imagination and increased the appeal of the work.

Related works and recommended points

A related work to "Magician Tai!" is the TV anime "Magician Tai!", which aired in 1999. This TV anime was produced as a sequel to the OVA, and depicts an even deeper story and character growth. By watching the TV anime after watching the OVA, you can become even more immersed in the world of the work.

Recommended points: This is especially recommended for those who like youth dramas, science fiction fantasy, and stories about magic and other worlds. It will also be enjoyed by those who want to empathize with the character's growth and love patterns, and those who are attracted to unique characters. Furthermore, this is a work that will satisfy those who are particular about the quality of animation and music.

summary

"Magician Tai!" is a fascinating work that combines youth drama and science fiction fantasy. The story of the protagonist Sae Sawanoguchi's growth, the adventures of the unique characters, and the world of magic and science fiction draw viewers in. The animation and music are also of high quality, making it a visual and aural pleasure. After its release as an OVA, it was adapted into a TV anime and manga, and continues to be loved by many fans. This work is especially recommended for those who like youth dramas, science fiction fantasy, and stories about magic and other worlds. Please give it a watch.