Magical Girl Site: A thorough analysis of the charm and darkness of this dark fantasy

A comprehensive review and recommendation of Magical Girl Site

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 7, 2018 - June 23, 2018
2:25～

■Broadcasting station

TBS, BS-TBS

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 12

■Original Story

Kentaro Sato

■ Director

Matsubayashi Yuto

■ Production

・Animation production/production dóA

■Works

©Kentaro Sato (Akita Publishing) / "Magical Girl Site" Production Committee

■Cast

・Aya Asagiri/Yuuko Ohno ・Tsuyuno Yamura/Mika Yahi

■ Main staff

Original work: Kentaro Sato, "Magical Girl Site" (serialized in Akita Shoten's "Weekly Shonen Champion")
・Director: Yuito Matsubayashi ・Series Composition: Takayo Igami ・Character Design: Hide Shibuya ・Website Administrator Design: Yoshiyoshi Iwanaga ・Sub-Character Design: Azuma Kurume ・Prop Design: Madoka Ozawa ・Art Director: Minoru Akiba (Studio Jack)
・Color design: Nobori Haruko (Hiwa)
・Director of photography: Yujiro Yamane (Inaho)
Special effects: Nogo Matsumoto, Yukina Matsuo (Inaho)
・3DCG/Yukie Yamamoto, Shuhei Shiono, Yujiro Yamane (Inaho)
Editing: Yuji Oka Sound Director: Ryosuke Naya Sound Production: Studio Mouse Music: Keiji Iuchi

■ Main Characters

・A second-year student at Asagiri Saitouchi Junior High School. Although she has a kinder heart than most, she has difficulty interacting with others. She has never been recognized by anyone, so she has no self-esteem. At school, she is bullied by Shizukume Sarina's group, and at home, she is abused by her older brother Kaname. She has no place to belong and wishes to die every day. One day, she receives a magical wand from the Magical Girl Site. The wand she possesses is a gun-shaped wand. It has the ability to teleport anyone she shoots.
・A classmate of Tsuyunoaya Yatsumura. His facial expressions are flat, making it hard to tell what he's thinking. He's intelligent and good at judging situations, but he's also dangerously despairing of the world itself and even taking his own life for granted. Behind his lonely appearance lies a terrible misfortune he experienced in the past. He carries a walking stick in the shape of a smartphone. He has the ability to stop time.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1/"Magical Girl Site"
・Episode 2: "Tempest"
・Episode 3: "The Poisonous Apple and the Princess"
・Episode 4: "The Successor and the Transfer Student"
・Episode 5: "Review and Determination"
・Episode 6/"Fake"
・Episode 7: "Joint Strategy"
・Episode 8: "Last Summer"
Episode 9: "God won't abandon me"
Episode 10: "BREAKING"
Episode 11: "Rebellious Girls"
Episode 12: "We are not unhappy"

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Period: 1-12
・Changing point
・Lyrics by Nozomi Maezawa ・Music by Kengo Minamida (onetrap)
・Arrangement: Kengo Minamida (onetrap)
・Song: I☆Ris
・ED1
・Period: 1-12
・Zenzen Tomodachi・Lyrics by Meiko Yamamoto・Music by Yosuke Sato・Arrangement by Yosuke Sato・Singer by Haruka Yamazaki

■ Overview and evaluation of the work

"Magical Girl Site" is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Kentaro Sato, and was broadcast on TBS and BS-TBS from April 7 to June 23, 2018. It consists of 12 episodes, each 30 minutes long. This work has a unique worldview that combines the dark fantasy and magical girl genres, and made a strong impact on viewers.

The story centers around two girls, Asagiri Aya and Yatsumura Tsuyuno. Aya suffers from bullying at school and abuse at home, and is on the verge of losing hope in life. Meanwhile, Tsuyuno is intelligent but plagued by self-doubt due to past trauma. The magical wands sent to these girls by the "Magical Girl Site" will greatly change their destinies.

The greatest appeal of this work is that, while it deals with dark themes, it still portrays the hope and friendship inherent in the magical girl genre. The growth of Aya and Tsuyuno and the deepening of their friendship will move the viewer. Also, the diverse abilities of the magical wand and the action scenes in which they fight using it are also highlights.

Production dóA, the animation studio, focused on character design and background art, pursuing visual beauty. In particular, the special effects and use of 3DCG in the scenes where the magic wand is activated create a strong visual impact. Additionally, the sound production by sound director Ryosuke Naya is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

The theme songs are also an important element in enhancing the worldview of the work. The opening theme "Changing point" was sung by I☆Ris, and the ending theme "Zenzentomodachi" was sung by Haruka Yamazaki. These songs reflect the development of the story and the feelings of the characters, and play a role in enhancing the emotions of the viewer.

■Character Analysis

Aya Asagiri is a kind-hearted character who suffers from low self-esteem. Her growth evokes sympathy from viewers. In particular, the process of changing herself using the magic wand is moving. Yuuko Ohno, who played Aya, carefully expressed her delicate emotions and left a deep impression on viewers.

Although Tsuyuno Yatsumura is a character with a clear mind and calm judgment, she is also plagued by self-denial due to past trauma. Her past episodes and the deepening friendship with Aya evoke strong emotions in the viewer. Yahika, who played Tsuyuno, realistically expressed her complex emotions and evoked deep sympathy from the viewer.

■Story development

The story of Magical Girl Site begins when Aya and Tsuyuno obtain a magical wand. They try to use the power of the wand to solve their problems, but sometimes this causes new problems. The story depicts their growth and deepening friendship, and ultimately arrives at the message that "we are not unhappy."

The subtitles of each episode also symbolize the development of the story. For example, episode 1, "Magical Girl Site," depicts the episode in which Aya gets her wand, and episode 12, "We Are Not Unhappy," shows the conclusion that Aya and Tsuyuno ultimately reach. These subtitles help viewers follow the development of the story.

■ Recommendation points

"Magical Girl Site" is a work with a unique worldview that combines the dark fantasy and magical girl genres. It has many appealing features, including a story and characters that leave a strong impact on viewers, beautiful animation and sound, and a memorable theme song. In particular, the growth of Aya and Tsuyuno and the deepening of their friendship will move viewers. Other highlights include the diverse abilities of the magical wand and the action scenes in which they fight.

This work is recommended not only for those who like dark fantasy and magical girls, but also for those who like human drama and growth stories. It is a work that deeply evokes empathy and moves the viewer, so please give it a watch.

Related information

The original manga of "Magical Girl Site" was serialized in Akita Shoten's "Weekly Shonen Champion". The anime version firmly incorporates the essence of the original, while adding its own interpretation and direction, giving viewers a fresh impression. Fans of the original manga will also be able to experience new charms in the anime version.

For those who want to learn more about the world of Magical Girl Site, we also recommend related products such as the official guidebook and character song CDs. Through these products, you can gain a deeper understanding of the world of the work and the charm of the characters.

Finally, "Magical Girl Site" is a work that evokes deep empathy and moves the viewer. Please watch it at least once and experience its charm for yourself.