Magical Girl: Difference between revisions

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Magical Girls have high crossover popularity in different demographics with some minor but appropriate [[Fan Service|design modifications]], and make up a sizable portion of both [[Shojo]] and [[Moe Moe|bishoujo]] fandom.
Magical Girls have high crossover popularity in different demographics with some minor but appropriate [[Fan Service|design modifications]], and make up a sizable portion of both [[Shojo]] and [[Moe Moe|bishoujo]] fandom.


[[Sub Trope|Sub Tropes]]:
[[Sub-Trope|Sub Tropes]]:
* [[Cute Witch]], where magic is mundane to the character.
* [[Cute Witch]], where magic is mundane to the character.
* [[Magic Idol Singer]], who (initially) uses her powers for her own benefit.
* [[Magic Idol Singer]], who (initially) uses her powers for her own benefit.
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* ''[[Brocken Blood (Manga)|Brocken Blood]]'' is another [[Gender Bender]] magical "[[Wholesome Crossdresser|girl]]" show, but with the added element of [[Magic Idol Singer]]. It's also a parody of the [[Magical Girl]] genre.
* ''[[Brocken Blood (Manga)|Brocken Blood]]'' is another [[Gender Bender]] magical "[[Wholesome Crossdresser|girl]]" show, but with the added element of [[Magic Idol Singer]]. It's also a parody of the [[Magical Girl]] genre.
* Yet another [[Gender Bender]] example with ''[[Kämpfer (Light Novel)|Kämpfer]]'' - Natsuru turns into a girl whenever he transforms.
* Yet another [[Gender Bender]] example with ''[[Kämpfer (Light Novel)|Kämpfer]]'' - Natsuru turns into a girl whenever he transforms.
* For the more mature audience, there is ''[[Lingerie Fighter Papillon Rose]],'' ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papillon_Rose OtherWiki]) which is part Magical Girl and part [[Hentai|adult entertainment]].
* For the more mature audience, there is ''[[Lingerie Fighter Papillon Rose]],'' ([[wikipedia:Papillon Rose|OtherWiki]]) which is part Magical Girl and part [[Hentai|adult entertainment]].
* Similar to the above: ''[[Mahou Shoujo Ai]]'', ''[[Angelium]]'', ''[[Megachu]]'', ''[[Family Restaurant Warrior Pudding]]'', ''[[Marine A Go Go]]'', ''[[Angel Blade (Anime)|Angel Blade]]'', ''[[Venus 5]]'', ''[[Beat Angel Escalayer]]'', ''[[Jiburiru The Devil Angel]]'', ''[[Magic Woman M]]'', ''[[Magical Twilight]]'', ''[[Enspelled]]'', ''[[Sex Demon Queen]]'', ''[[Mahou Shoujo Sae]]'', ''[[Mahou Shoujo Isuka]]'' and ''[[Sexy Sailor Soldiers]]''.
* Similar to the above: ''[[Mahou Shoujo Ai]]'', ''[[Angelium]]'', ''[[Megachu]]'', ''[[Family Restaurant Warrior Pudding]]'', ''[[Marine A Go Go]]'', ''[[Angel Blade (Anime)|Angel Blade]]'', ''[[Venus 5]]'', ''[[Beat Angel Escalayer]]'', ''[[Jiburiru The Devil Angel]]'', ''[[Magic Woman M]]'', ''[[Magical Twilight]]'', ''[[Enspelled]]'', ''[[Sex Demon Queen]]'', ''[[Mahou Shoujo Sae]]'', ''[[Mahou Shoujo Isuka]]'' and ''[[Sexy Sailor Soldiers]]''.
* ''[[Fate Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya (Manga)|Fate Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya]]''. The original ''[[Fate Stay Night (Visual Novel)|Fate Stay Night]]'' sequel ''[[Fate Hollow Ataraxia (Visual Novel)|Fate Hollow Ataraxia]]'' had one side story where Rin has an interdimensional teacher who trains her by giving her a Magical Girl Rod that "followed rules from a different dimension." This [[Manga]] takes that notion and runs with it, but with [[Heroic Albino|Illya]] as the heroine.
* ''[[Fate Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya (Manga)|Fate Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya]]''. The original ''[[Fate Stay Night (Visual Novel)|Fate Stay Night]]'' sequel ''[[Fate Hollow Ataraxia (Visual Novel)|Fate Hollow Ataraxia]]'' had one side story where Rin has an interdimensional teacher who trains her by giving her a Magical Girl Rod that "followed rules from a different dimension." This [[Manga]] takes that notion and runs with it, but with [[Heroic Albino|Illya]] as the heroine.
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* Angol Moa's true form in ''[[Keroro Gunsou]]'' seems to be a parody of the Magical Girl; she has the [[Stock Footage]] transformation and special-attack scenes, the costume, and a cute personality, but she's the Lord of Terror from the prophecies of Nostradamus who came to destroy the world with the "Lucifer Spear".
* Angol Moa's true form in ''[[Keroro Gunsou]]'' seems to be a parody of the Magical Girl; she has the [[Stock Footage]] transformation and special-attack scenes, the costume, and a cute personality, but she's the Lord of Terror from the prophecies of Nostradamus who came to destroy the world with the "Lucifer Spear".
* Dark Magician Girl in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh]]!'' is largely based on this idea, with several of her summoning scenes looking similar to magical girl transformation sequences. Despite the name, she is ''not'' a [[Dark Magical Girl]].
* Dark Magician Girl in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh]]!'' is largely based on this idea, with several of her summoning scenes looking similar to magical girl transformation sequences. Despite the name, she is ''not'' a [[Dark Magical Girl]].
** Yugi himself uses a lot of tropes that usually indicate a magical girl -- a [[Transformation Trinket]], at least one confirmed [[Calling Your Attacks|named attack]] (Mind Crush), and a [[Transformation Sequence]] -- that if it weren't for the [[Super Powered Alter Ego]], one could almost classify him as a "magical boy".
** Yugi himself uses a lot of tropes that usually indicate a magical girl -- a [[Transformation Trinket]], at least one confirmed [[Calling Your Attacks|named attack]] (Mind Crush), and a [[Transformation Sequence]] -- that if it weren't for the [[Super-Powered Alter Ego]], one could almost classify him as a "magical boy".
* Behoimi in ''[[Pani Poni Dash]]''. She's not really a Magical Girl, but that doesn't stop her from playing the role. She even gets her own [[Image Song]] about her Magical Girl-ness.
* Behoimi in ''[[Pani Poni Dash]]''. She's not really a Magical Girl, but that doesn't stop her from playing the role. She even gets her own [[Image Song]] about her Magical Girl-ness.
** She now has a spin-off manga, ''[[The Alternative Cure Magical Girl Behoimi Chan]]'', where she is an actual magical girl.
** She now has a spin-off manga, ''[[The Alternative Cure Magical Girl Behoimi Chan]]'', where she is an actual magical girl.
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** This was likely inspired by a situation in the manga when [[Rich Bitch|Sayoko]] witnessed Belldandy's powers and accused her of being a witch. Sayoko specifically referred to Magical Girl tropes, including the [[Idol Singer]].
** This was likely inspired by a situation in the manga when [[Rich Bitch|Sayoko]] witnessed Belldandy's powers and accused her of being a witch. Sayoko specifically referred to Magical Girl tropes, including the [[Idol Singer]].
* Parodied in ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]''; the main characters create a movie in which the protagonist is a bunny girl-waitress from the future whose attacks include shooting laser beams, rifle bullets, and micro black holes (the last two novel-only) from her eyes.
* Parodied in ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]''; the main characters create a movie in which the protagonist is a bunny girl-waitress from the future whose attacks include shooting laser beams, rifle bullets, and micro black holes (the last two novel-only) from her eyes.
* Episode 7 of ''[[Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei|[Zoku] Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei]]'' focused on [[Art Shift|Art Shifts]], with the title sequence and parts of the episode devoted to Kafuka, Chiri, and Meru as the magical girl team Model Warrior Lily Cure, and Nozomu Itoshiki as the [[Big Bad]], The Teacher Of Despair. It even closes with an [[On the Next]] continuing the plot. This is a drastic change from the usual format of the show.
* Episode 7 of ''[[Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei|[Zoku] Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei]]'' focused on [[Art Shift|Art Shifts]], with the title sequence and parts of the episode devoted to Kafuka, Chiri, and Meru as the magical girl team Model Warrior Lily Cure, and Nozomu Itoshiki as the [[Big Bad]], The Teacher Of Despair. It even closes with an [["On the Next..."]] continuing the plot. This is a drastic change from the usual format of the show.
* ''[[To Love Ru (Manga)|To Love Ru]]'' combines this with an [[Expy]]. Kyoko Kirisaki from ''[[Black Cat (Manga)|Black Cat]]'' is turned into ''[[Show Within a Show|Magical Flame Kyoko]]'', a pyromaniac magical girl.
* ''[[To Love Ru (Manga)|To Love Ru]]'' combines this with an [[Expy]]. Kyoko Kirisaki from ''[[Black Cat (Manga)|Black Cat]]'' is turned into ''[[Show Within a Show|Magical Flame Kyoko]]'', a pyromaniac magical girl.
** Also, two of Mikan's school friends presumably now believe ''she's'' a [[Magical Girl Warrior]] after [http://www.mangafox.com/manga/to_love_ru/v14/c121/9.html they see her chasing down a criminal while wearing Peke].
** Also, two of Mikan's school friends presumably now believe ''she's'' a [[Magical Girl Warrior]] after [http://www.mangafox.com/manga/to_love_ru/v14/c121/9.html they see her chasing down a criminal while wearing Peke].
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* Parodied in ''[[Bleach]]'' with Charlotte Cuuhlhourne who tries very, very hard to be one of these and fails spectacularly.
* Parodied in ''[[Bleach]]'' with Charlotte Cuuhlhourne who tries very, very hard to be one of these and fails spectacularly.
* Key of ''[[Key the Metal Idol]]'' becomes more of a Magical Girl as the series progresses, though this used primarily to deconstruct the trope as Key's transformations into her more human form show just how harrowing the powers of a magical girl can be in unwitting (read Naive) hands.
* Key of ''[[Key the Metal Idol]]'' becomes more of a Magical Girl as the series progresses, though this used primarily to deconstruct the trope as Key's transformations into her more human form show just how harrowing the powers of a magical girl can be in unwitting (read Naive) hands.
* In ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni]]'' Kira's second episode, [[Miko|Rika Furude]] and [[Bratty Half Pint|Satoko Houjou]] become magical girls in order to battle the evil magic-using generals of the secret magic society, [[Five-Bad Band|Tokyo Magika]] ([[Nightmare Fetishist|Takano]], [[Evil Uncle|Teppei]], [[The Men in Black|Okonogi]] & [[Complete Monster|Nomura]]) and their Ritual Tool Devils with the help of the Rika Cheering Brigade ([[Chivalrous Pervert|Keiichi]], [[Cute Bruiser|Rena]], [[Red Oni, Blue Oni|Mion, Shion]], & [[Deadly Doctor|Irie]]) as well as [[Absurdly Youthful Mother|Hanyuu]].
* In ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni]]'' Kira's second episode, [[Miko|Rika Furude]] and [[Bratty Half-Pint|Satoko Houjou]] become magical girls in order to battle the evil magic-using generals of the secret magic society, [[Five-Bad Band|Tokyo Magika]] ([[Nightmare Fetishist|Takano]], [[Evil Uncle|Teppei]], [[The Men in Black|Okonogi]] & [[Complete Monster|Nomura]]) and their Ritual Tool Devils with the help of the Rika Cheering Brigade ([[Chivalrous Pervert|Keiichi]], [[Cute Bruiser|Rena]], [[Red Oni, Blue Oni|Mion, Shion]], & [[Deadly Doctor|Irie]]) as well as [[Absurdly Youthful Mother|Hanyuu]].
* [[Show Within a Show]] ''Majokko Mirakurun'' in ''[[Yuru Yuri]]''.
* [[Show Within a Show]] ''Majokko Mirakurun'' in ''[[Yuru Yuri]]''.


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=== [[Fan Fiction]] ===
=== [[Fan Fiction]] ===
* In ''[[Kyon Big Damn Hero (Fanfic)|Kyon Big Damn Hero]]'', Nonoko<ref>[[No Name Given|Kyon's little sister]] from the original</ref> [[Daydream Believer|believes]] she will become a [[Magical Girl]] after her school trip. It actually happens even earlier, with Kyon's [[Badass Longcoat]] and [[Morph Weapon]] substituting for a dress and [[Magic Wand]], and [[Fun Size|Achakura]] for [[Mentor Mascot]].
* In ''[[Kyon: Big Damn Hero (Fanfic)|Kyon Big Damn Hero]]'', Nonoko<ref>[[No Name Given|Kyon's little sister]] from the original</ref> [[Daydream Believer|believes]] she will become a [[Magical Girl]] after her school trip. It actually happens even earlier, with Kyon's [[Badass Longcoat]] and [[Morph Weapon]] substituting for a dress and [[Magic Wand]], and [[Fun Size|Achakura]] for [[Mentor Mascot]].
* Every single [[Fuku Fic]] in existance.
* Every single [[Fuku Fic]] in existance.
** For that matter, all the [[Pretty Cure Fanfics (Fanfic)|Pretty Cure Fanfics]] ever written (especially the ones composed entirely of [[Sailor Earth|Sailor Earths]].), and all the [[Pretty Cure All Stars (Fanfic)|Pretty Cure All Stars]] fics.
** For that matter, all the [[Pretty Cure Fanfics (Fanfic)|Pretty Cure Fanfics]] ever written (especially the ones composed entirely of [[Sailor Earth|Sailor Earths]].), and all the [[Pretty Cure All Stars (Fanfic)|Pretty Cure All Stars]] fics.
* In ''[[A Hero (Fanfic)|A Hero]]'', [[Doctor Who (TV)|Dalek Sec]] implies that [[Puella Magi Madoka Magica|Kyubey]] and the Incubators have been manipulating humanity behind the scenes, and are responsible for the rise of the [[Magical Girl]] genre, in order to make it seem like a good idea to become a magical girl. If you know ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]],'' you'll know why this is very much the ''opposite'' of true. {{spoiler|It turns you into a soulless Lich, and worse, you will eventually turn into a monster. All while your emotions are harvested by aliens to prevent the heat death of the universe.}}
* In ''[[A Hero (Fanfic)|A Hero]]'', [[Doctor Who|Dalek Sec]] implies that [[Puella Magi Madoka Magica|Kyubey]] and the Incubators have been manipulating humanity behind the scenes, and are responsible for the rise of the [[Magical Girl]] genre, in order to make it seem like a good idea to become a magical girl. If you know ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]],'' you'll know why this is very much the ''opposite'' of true. {{spoiler|It turns you into a soulless Lich, and worse, you will eventually turn into a monster. All while your emotions are harvested by aliens to prevent the heat death of the universe.}}
* [[Family Guy|Meg]] {{spoiler|as well as her daughter Rosie}} in ''[[The Spellbook (Fanfic)|The Spellbook]]''.
* [[Family Guy|Meg]] {{spoiler|as well as her daughter Rosie}} in ''[[The Spellbook (Fanfic)|The Spellbook]]''.
* In [[Keepers of the Elements (Fanfic)|Keepers of the Elements]], [[Total Drama Island (Animation)|Gwen, Bridgette, Izzy, Heather and Lindsay]].
* In [[Keepers of the Elements (Fanfic)|Keepers of the Elements]], [[Total Drama Island (Animation)|Gwen, Bridgette, Izzy, Heather and Lindsay]].
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[[Category:Turn-On Tropes]]
[[Category:Turn-On Tropes]]
[[Category:Magical Girl]]
[[Category:Magical Girl]]
[[Category:Trope]]

Revision as of 20:47, 25 January 2014
"Magic Girls, no matter how frilly their dresses, high their screams, or incompetent their sidekicks, will be treated as the credible and dire threats they are, and I will direct as many, if not more resources to their destruction as I would for a more classical Hero."
—Evil Empress Guide

Known as mahou shoujo (魔法少女, "magical girl") in Japanese, or simply majokko (魔女子, "witch girl"), Magical Girls are empowered by various means with fantastic powers that both assist and complicate their lives, but manage to persevere despite this.

Magical Girls have high crossover popularity in different demographics with some minor but appropriate design modifications, and make up a sizable portion of both Shojo and bishoujo fandom.

Sub Tropes:

Magical Girl Warriors arguably have the widest demographic appeal, and in the West are often synonymous with the idea of a Magical Girl.

History of the Genre

It may come as a surprise to learn that the entire Magical Girl genre is descended, effectively, from the American live-action series Bewitched. While two series claim the role of first magical girl anime -- Mitsuteru Yokoyama's Mahotsukai Sally (Sally the Witch, 1966-1968) and Akatsuka Fujio's Himitsu no Akko-chan (broadcast 1969, but its manga predates Mahotsukai Sally) -- the creators of both credit Bewitched as a primary inspiration for their work. Yokoyama explicitly adapted its concept for a younger audience, while Akatsuka merely says he was "inspired" by it.

Another important early Magical Girl show was Majokko Meg Chan in 1974. This was the first show to be marketed to boys as well as girls, and featured a number of developments -- it was the first Magical Girl show to...

Originally, all Magical Girl shows were produced by Toei Animation, so "Magical Girl" wasn't so much a genre as a Series Franchise. This lasted until Ashi Production's Magical Princess Minky Momo hit the airwaves in 1982 (also notable for being the first such show to feature talking animal sidekicks), followed by Studio Pierrot's Creamy Mami in 1983 (the first Magic Idol Singer show). A one-shot OVA produced in 1987 featured a Bat Family Crossover between Studio Pierrot's four 80s Magical Girl shows (Creamy Mami; Persia the Magic Fairy; Magical Star Magical Emi and Magical Idol Pastel Yumi) - this was the first instance of a magical girl team.

The Magical Girl Warrior subgenre, despite being the most well-known style of Magical Girl show in the west, didn't hit until Sailor Moon in 1992 (unless you count Cutey Honey, which wasn't aimed at girls but had a lot of influence on it, or Devil Hunter Yohko, which wasn't aimed at girls either). This was a essentially a combination of the earlier style shows with the Superhero genre, particularly the Super Sentai formula. Sailor Moon was a huge hit, and naturally other shows were made in the same style, and some were even more divergent from the old-style shows. Many fans felt that shows such as Magic Knight Rayearth were still Magical Girl shows, despite all the dissimilarities from the previous generation (others disagree, and feel that Rayearth is Shoujo RPG World Fantasy instead).

The wave of shows made in Sailor Moon's wake eventually subsided, but the genre is far from dead. Contemporary examples include Ojamajo Doremi, Pretty Cure (aimed at both young girls and adult males), and Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (more of an action series with magical girls). In 2011 Puella Magi Madoka Magica was released, considered by many to be the genre's Neon Genesis Evangelion.

IMPORTANT NOTE: A girl who can use magic is not necessarily a Magical Girl in the sense of the trope or genre. A Magical Girlfriend, for example, usually does not fit into the same structure that defines a Magical Girl series.

Also see the Index of Magical Girl Tropes.

Magical Girl Works

Anime and Manga


Asian Animation


Video Games


Web Original


Web Comics

  • Angel Moxie is both a parody and an homage of the genre. It is about Junior High student Alex (a fairly standard magical girl) and her two friends (each of whom have super powers but otherwise don't have many magical girl characteristics) as they fight off Lord Yzin and his servants. It can be found here.
  • The Adventures Of Sailor Ranko, a Fuku Fic webcomic. Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo are sent away from their home by their parents in another attempt to get the pair to confess their feelings for each other and pressure them to marry. Ranma's female alter ego (known as Ranko) meets up with the Sailor Senshi and they discover she (Ranko) is the reincarnation of Sailor Sun, a long lost Sailor Senshi. Ranma now has a triple life, one, as male Ranma trying to avoid the troubles he left behind in Nerima, two, as female Ranko who was accidentally enrolled at the same high school by her well meaning and totally oblivious-to-the-truth mother, and three, her role as Sailor Sun working with the Sailor Senshi fighting for love and justice. A Dead Fic, unfortunately.
  • Evil Diva, a webcomic about a devil girl who can't help doing good deeds for others.
  • Cardcaptor Torika, a sequel to the Cardcaptor Sakura series featuring Sakura's daughter.
  • Mechagical Girl Lisa ANT parodies the genre with a Fan Girl who becomes a (sorta) magical girl... and proceeds to apply large amounts of Wrong Genre Savvy.
  • To Prevent World Peace features a world where magical girls have been active since WWI. Cue Alternate History. The story follows a magical girl who believes she must become a Necessarily Evil in order to stop other girls from going too far.
  • Hi To Tsuki No Hoshi No Tama has Magical Girl with a hint of Mon.
  • Gorgeous Princess Creamy Beamy, a somewhat violent parody of the genre's conventions - the heroine is somewhat chubby, has an alien disguised as a star-nosed mole for a Mentor Mascot, and is often severely injured in battle (luckily, she is a Human Alien with the ability to regenerate her body parts).
  • Magical Boys!, another parody of the genre - the main character is a boy who is given magical girl powers (although he retains his gender) to battle against Dark Magical Girls who want to kill retired magical girls. As the story progresses, more magical boys are revealed.
  • Also parodied in Mahou Shounen Fight.


Western Animation

Magical Girl trope referred to in other works

Anime and Manga

  • Cutey Honey is a forerunner of Magical Girl Warrior version, which blended Fan Service and fun battles in one tongue-in-cheek package. Fans are divided whether she counts as a true magical girl or a superhero.
    • New Cutey Honey is the sequel, set 100 years after the original.
    • Cutey Honey Flash is a straight magical girl variant.
      • Cutey Honey Tennyo Densetsu is set in 2005, and features a version of Cutey Honey who has time travelled from the 70s to battle Panther Claw in the new millenium.
      • Cutey Honey Seed is set in an Alternate Universe, where a Cutey Honey Otaku finds a beautiful alien girl who, like all members of her species, develops any power necessary to protect herself and others. After watching several episodes of Cutey Honey, she develops "super powers" just like the "real" Honey's, even going so far as to shout "Honey Flash!"
  • Yurara No Tsuki has elements of this, as the main character is able to transform and battle evil spirits with powerful magic.
  • The plot of one episode of They Are My Noble Masters is started when Ren discovers that Yume has written a story starring herself as a magical girl.
  • The main character in Otaku no Video is able to break into the anime industry with his magical girl series, Misty May.
  • Pokomi from Bobobo Bobobobo
  • In an episode of Best Student Council, one character is suspected of being a magical girl; both the Magical Girl Warrior and the Cute Witch (complete with Older Alter Ego) versions are brought up.
  • The same situation pops up in Love Hina, where Kaolla Su is compared to a Magical Girl because she eats a lot, talks to animals, and can change into an adult. Kentaro Sakata and one of Keitaro's highschool friends vainly struggle to convince the main characters that Kaolla was one.
  • The main character in Penguin Musume Heart is obsessed with Takenoko-chan, a magical catgirl who protects the "holy place" from the evil Bamboo King. There's apparently a sequel as well, Takenoko-chan R.
  • Angol Moa's true form in Keroro Gunsou seems to be a parody of the Magical Girl; she has the Stock Footage transformation and special-attack scenes, the costume, and a cute personality, but she's the Lord of Terror from the prophecies of Nostradamus who came to destroy the world with the "Lucifer Spear".
  • Dark Magician Girl in Yu-Gi-Oh! is largely based on this idea, with several of her summoning scenes looking similar to magical girl transformation sequences. Despite the name, she is not a Dark Magical Girl.
  • Behoimi in Pani Poni Dash. She's not really a Magical Girl, but that doesn't stop her from playing the role. She even gets her own Image Song about her Magical Girl-ness.
  • Barajou no Kiss has Anise, who summons the magical members of her Unwanted Harem via magical cards.
  • In several episodes of Popotan, Mii decides to cosplay as Magical Girl Lilo and spread happiness to those who believe that she is a real magical girl.
  • Lampshaded: the DVD extras of Ah My Goddess have a gag dub in which a student accuses Belldandy of being a Magical Girl. Belldandy insists that she is a Goddess, not a Magical Girl, and they then debate the crucial differences.
    • This was likely inspired by a situation in the manga when Sayoko witnessed Belldandy's powers and accused her of being a witch. Sayoko specifically referred to Magical Girl tropes, including the Idol Singer.
  • Parodied in Suzumiya Haruhi; the main characters create a movie in which the protagonist is a bunny girl-waitress from the future whose attacks include shooting laser beams, rifle bullets, and micro black holes (the last two novel-only) from her eyes.
  • Episode 7 of [Zoku] Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei focused on Art Shifts, with the title sequence and parts of the episode devoted to Kafuka, Chiri, and Meru as the magical girl team Model Warrior Lily Cure, and Nozomu Itoshiki as the Big Bad, The Teacher Of Despair. It even closes with an "On the Next..." continuing the plot. This is a drastic change from the usual format of the show.
  • To Love Ru combines this with an Expy. Kyoko Kirisaki from Black Cat is turned into Magical Flame Kyoko, a pyromaniac magical girl.
  • Raichou from Kyouran Kazoku Nikki claims to be a magical girl.
  • The Show Within a Show Puru Puru Pururin of the anime version of Welcome to The NHK. Only a few snippets are shown, in which we see that Pururin is accompained by a number of animated household objects, including a vacuum cleaner upon which she flies, and that her trademark is to randomly append the word "Purin" to the end of sentences.
  • Parodied in episode 9 of Gag Manga Biyori.
  • Ninin ga Shinobuden has a parody in the final episode with "Magical Nin-Nin Shinobu".
  • In Kannagi, after viewing a magical girl on TV, Nagi immediately buys a toy wand and modifies it into an impurity-vanquishing spiritual weapon to compensate for her lack of power. Then she gets really into it and starts doing poses. It looks goofy on an ancient goddess, but Nagi's clearly enjoying herself.
  • Mahou Sensei Negima has the Show Within a Show, "Mahou Shoujo Biblion". The show's resident Cosplay Otaku Girl/Playful Hacker/Meta Guy cosplays as a character from the show. Said girl eventually gets a Magical Girl staff as her artifact. It gives her super hacking powers.
    • Asakara, on witnessing Negi's powers for the first time, theorizes that he is a magical girl (boy version).
  • Galaxy Angel has an episode where they are told NOT to use a Lost Technology wand, as it has been known to start wars.
  • From the same TV season, episode eight of H2O Footprints in The Sand had an extended sequence revolving around Otoha as a magical girl. That was probably the least odd thing in that episode.
  • Ayumi Kinoshita, a bespectacled Ill Girl from Hell Teacher Nube, learns from her teacher how to project her astral body as a physical presence, just so she can attend school with her friends. In the process, she learns to transform it into any shape she wishes... including an indestructible Magical Girl when said friends are kidnapped.
  • The OVA of School Days features a parody on the Magical Girl genre, with several female cast members as magical girls.
  • Shuichi of Midori Days is a doll otaku, who always carries around a doll of the fictional magical girl Ultra-Marin.
  • The Show Within a Show "Ai no Senshi Sweetie Millie" from Fight Ippatsu Juuden Chan
  • One of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann's Parallel Works, Kiyal's Magical Time, mixes this with Humongous Mecha.
  • One of the Omake of Black Lagoon makes Revy a Magical Girl, giving her a cheerful, Moe Moe facade and even More Dakka.
  • Takuto from Star Driver could be considered a magical boy, due to his Galactic Pretty Boy form.
  • Amuri in Star Ocean features elements of the Magical Girl Warrior subtrope.
  • Kaze no Stigma had a one-shot antagonist which is somewhere blurred between the lines of a Magical Girl played straight or deconstructed, but she doesn't have enough screen time for it to matter.
  • Parodied in the 21st episode of the second season of School Rumble, where Mai Otsuka becomes a magical girl.
  • Nanaka Six Seventeen has Magical Domiko, a Show Within a Show that 6-year-old Nanaka likes.
  • Kilala of Kilala Princess
  • Parodied in Bleach with Charlotte Cuuhlhourne who tries very, very hard to be one of these and fails spectacularly.
  • Key of Key the Metal Idol becomes more of a Magical Girl as the series progresses, though this used primarily to deconstruct the trope as Key's transformations into her more human form show just how harrowing the powers of a magical girl can be in unwitting (read Naive) hands.
  • In Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Kira's second episode, Rika Furude and Satoko Houjou become magical girls in order to battle the evil magic-using generals of the secret magic society, Tokyo Magika (Takano, Teppei, Okonogi & Nomura) and their Ritual Tool Devils with the help of the Rika Cheering Brigade (Keiichi, Rena, Mion, Shion, & Irie) as well as Hanyuu.
  • Show Within a Show Majokko Mirakurun in Yuru Yuri.


Comic Books


Fan Fiction


Live Action TV


Video Games

  Platinum: Magical Girl Pretty Luna... transform!


Webcomics


Web Original


Western Animation


Other

  • The German audio drama series Bibi Blocksberg is about a 13 year old witch living in a small German town and going to school with other regular kids. The series started in 1980, long before anime shows or manga became popular in Germany.
  • The German book series Lilly The Witch is about a girl named Lilly who finds a magical book which turns her into a witch, as well as a Mentor Mascot in the form of a little green dragon named Hector, and who has many adventures all over the world. The books have been made into an animated series on CBBC, as well as an animated movie.
  • Milky Way and The Galaxy Girls.
  1. ↑ Kyon's little sister from the original
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