Magical Girl: Difference between revisions

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* have a [[Tomboy|Tomboyish]] heroine -- all magical girls prior to this had been [[Nice Girl|sweet feminine girls]]
* have a [[Tomboy|Tomboyish]] heroine -- all magical girls prior to this had been [[Nice Girl|sweet feminine girls]]
* feature a [[The Rival|rival]] to the main character (Non, Meg's rival and the local [[Dark Magical Girl]]).
* feature a [[The Rival|rival]] to the main character (Non, Meg's rival and the local [[Dark Magical Girl]]).
* include a [[Big Bad|really ''evil'' character]]. Prior to this, there was a perception that young girls couldn't handle such things.
* include a [[Big Bad|really ''evil'' character]]. Prior to this, there was a perception that young girls couldn't handle such things.
* feature [[Fan Service]] (in the form of [[Panty Shot|Panty Shots]], slight nudity, and Megu being a borderline [[Fille Fatale]]), as well as [[Lovable Sex Maniac]] characters (Megu's stepbrother Rabi and [[Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain]] Chou)
* feature [[Fan Service]] (in the form of [[Panty Shot|Panty Shots]], slight nudity, and Megu being a borderline [[Fille Fatale]]), as well as [[Lovable Sex Maniac]] characters (Megu's stepbrother Rabi and [[Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain]] Chou)
* touch on more serious social issues like [[Domestic Abuse]], extramarital relationships, drug abuse.
* touch on more serious social issues like [[Domestic Abuse]], extramarital relationships, drug abuse.
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* ''[[Shadow Lady]]'', ''[[Kaitou Saint Tail]]'' [[Dueling Shows|and]] ''[[Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne]]'' combine this genre with the [[Kaitou]].
* ''[[Shadow Lady]]'', ''[[Kaitou Saint Tail]]'' [[Dueling Shows|and]] ''[[Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne]]'' combine this genre with the [[Kaitou]].
* Deconstructions, subversions, and parodies of the genre include:
* Deconstructions, subversions, and parodies of the genre include:
** ''[[Revolutionary Girl Utena]]'' is a famous subversion.
** ''[[Revolutionary Girl Utena]]'' is a famous subversion.
** ''[[Princess Tutu]]'' took the Utena crowd back deeper into Magical Girl territory, though still very unique.
** ''[[Princess Tutu]]'' took the Utena crowd back deeper into Magical Girl territory, though still very unique.
** ''[[Ai to Yuuki no Pig Girl Tonde Buurin]]'' is a parody and an example at the same time, one of the few (perhaps the only) parodies actually aimed at the same demographic as straight examples. It's protagonist is a [[Magical Girl Warrior]] who transforms not into a glamorous [[Frills of Justice]] clad heroine, but instead into a [[Animal Superheroes|superpowered pig]] in a cape.
** ''[[Ai to Yuuki no Pig Girl Tonde Buurin]]'' is a parody and an example at the same time, one of the few (perhaps the only) parodies actually aimed at the same demographic as straight examples. It's protagonist is a [[Magical Girl Warrior]] who transforms not into a glamorous [[Frills of Justice]] clad heroine, but instead into a [[Animal Superheroes|superpowered pig]] in a cape.
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** The ''[[Pretty Cure]]'' multiverse (''[[Futari wa Pretty Cure]]'', ''[[Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star]]'', ''[[Yes! Pretty Cure 5]]'', ''[[Fresh Pretty Cure]]'', ''[[Heartcatch Pretty Cure]]'', ''[[Suite Precure]]'' and ''[[Smile Pretty Cure]]''.).
** The ''[[Pretty Cure]]'' multiverse (''[[Futari wa Pretty Cure]]'', ''[[Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star]]'', ''[[Yes! Pretty Cure 5]]'', ''[[Fresh Pretty Cure]]'', ''[[Heartcatch Pretty Cure]]'', ''[[Suite Precure]]'' and ''[[Smile Pretty Cure]]''.).
* [[Lyrical Nanoha|Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]] is an oddity in that rather than young girls, older teenagers and young men are the target audience, plus that it is much more character-driven compared to most other series.
* [[Lyrical Nanoha|Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]] is an oddity in that rather than young girls, older teenagers and young men are the target audience, plus that it is much more character-driven compared to most other series.
** The latest manga has actually dropped "Magical Girl" from the title, since Nanoha is now 25 and either still a Captain of an Interdimensional Air Force or higher. She's still Magical, but is a woman, not a girl.
** The latest manga has actually dropped "Magical Girl" from the title, since Nanoha is now 25 and either still a Captain of an Interdimensional Air Force or higher. She's still Magical, but is a woman, not a girl.
** At the same time, a [[Spin-Off]] manga starring Vivio was released that kept the "Magical Girl" part of the title. Yup, Nanoha's daughter has now officially inherited her mother's role as Magical Girl, complete with [[Older Alter Ego]].
** At the same time, a [[Spin-Off]] manga starring Vivio was released that kept the "Magical Girl" part of the title. Yup, Nanoha's daughter has now officially inherited her mother's role as Magical Girl, complete with [[Older Alter Ego]].
* ''[[Akahori Gedou Hour Rabuge]]''
* ''[[Akahori Gedou Hour Rabuge]]''
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* ''[[Mahou Shounen Majorian]]'' adds a [[Gender Bender]] twist: two boys, one of whom bullies the other, are transformed into girls in order to battle alien invaders.
* ''[[Mahou Shounen Majorian]]'' adds a [[Gender Bender]] twist: two boys, one of whom bullies the other, are transformed into girls in order to battle alien invaders.
* ''[[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]]'' 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]]'' - Natsuru turns into a girl whenever he transforms.
* Yet another [[Gender Bender]] example with ''[[Kämpfer]]'' - Natsuru turns into a girl whenever he transforms.
* 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]].
* 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]]'', ''[[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]]'', ''[[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]]''.
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* ''[[Magical Girl Rune]]'',a [[Vaporware]] show.
* ''[[Magical Girl Rune]]'',a [[Vaporware]] show.
* ''[[Saga of Soul]]''.
* ''[[Saga of Soul]]''.
* ''[[The Magical And Mysterious World Of Lady Star]]''.
* ''[[The Magical And Mysterious World Of Lady Star]]''.
* ''[[For the Spirit of Creation]]''
* ''[[For the Spirit of Creation]]''
* ''[[Lambda]]''
* ''[[Lambda]]''
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* ''[http://worldpeace.emilymarthasorensen.com 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 [[Knight Templar|going too far]].
* ''[http://worldpeace.emilymarthasorensen.com 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 [[Knight Templar|going too far]].
* ''[[Hi To Tsuki No Hoshi No Tama]]'' has [[Magical Girl]] with a hint of [[Mon]].
* ''[[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 [[Good Thing You Can Heal|regenerate]] her body parts).
* ''[[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 [[Good Thing You Can Heal|regenerate]] her body parts).
* ''[http://shinsengumi-fan-girl.deviantart.com/gallery/24141978 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 Girl|Dark Magical Girls]] who want to kill retired magical girls. As the story progresses, more magical boys are revealed.
* ''[http://shinsengumi-fan-girl.deviantart.com/gallery/24141978 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 Girl|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]]''.
* Also parodied in ''[[Mahou Shounen Fight]]''.
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* Parodied in the 21st episode of the second season of ''[[School Rumble]]'', where Mai Otsuka becomes a magical girl.
* Parodied in the 21st episode of the second season of ''[[School Rumble]]'', where Mai Otsuka becomes a magical girl.
* ''[[Nanaka 6/17]]'' has ''Magical Domiko'', a [[Show Within a Show]] that 6-year-old Nanaka likes.
* ''[[Nanaka 6/17]]'' has ''Magical Domiko'', a [[Show Within a Show]] that 6-year-old Nanaka likes.
* Kilala of ''[[Kilala Princess]]''
* Kilala of ''[[Kilala Princess]]''
* 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.
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* The character MOMO from the ''[[Xenosaga]]'' series gains two different Magical Girl forms, each with their own extended (and fortunately skippable) [[Transformation Sequence]].
* The character MOMO from the ''[[Xenosaga]]'' series gains two different Magical Girl forms, each with their own extended (and fortunately skippable) [[Transformation Sequence]].
* ''[[Battle Moon Wars]]'' features several characters from various Type-Moon shows dressed as magical girls.
* ''[[Battle Moon Wars]]'' features several characters from various Type-Moon shows dressed as magical girls.
* In ''[[Command and Conquer|Red Alert 3]]'', the Empire of the Rising Sun's hero unit, Yuriko Omega, is a powerful psychic who can flip tanks with her mind. She wears a schoolgirl uniform, and seems to be no older than 18.
* In ''[[Command & Conquer|Red Alert 3]]'', the Empire of the Rising Sun's hero unit, Yuriko Omega, is a powerful psychic who can flip tanks with her mind. She wears a schoolgirl uniform, and seems to be no older than 18.
* [http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/topics/read/mumor/index.html Fantastic Fraulein Mumor.] ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'', being a Japanese MMORPG, was bound to have this eventually.
* [http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/topics/read/mumor/index.html Fantastic Fraulein Mumor.] ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'', being a Japanese MMORPG, was bound to have this eventually.
* Midori from ''[[Devil Survivor]]'' seems to see herself as one of these, [[Wrong Genre Savvy|sadly]] she is in a ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' game.
* Midori from ''[[Devil Survivor]]'' seems to see herself as one of these, [[Wrong Genre Savvy|sadly]] she is in a ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' game.
* The trope is parodied in ''Killer7'' with the boss Ayame Blackburn, with her over-the-top introduction speech and ludicrous soubriquet.
* The trope is parodied in ''Killer7'' with the boss Ayame Blackburn, with her over-the-top introduction speech and ludicrous soubriquet.
* In the doujin fighting game ''[[Eternal Fighter Zero]]'', Sayuri Kurata's fighting style is a reference to the Magical Girl genre, complete with a [[Morph Weapon|transforming]] [[Magic Wand]].
* In the doujin fighting game ''[[Eternal Fighter Zero]]'', Sayuri Kurata's fighting style is a reference to the Magical Girl genre, complete with a [[Morph Weapon|transforming]] [[Magic Wand]].
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* In ''[[Mega Man ZX]] Advent'', [[Previous Player Character Cameo|Aile]] seems to have styled herself as a [[Magical Girl Warrior]], if her [[Transformation Sequence]] is any indication.
* In ''[[Mega Man ZX]] Advent'', [[Previous Player Character Cameo|Aile]] seems to have styled herself as a [[Magical Girl Warrior]], if her [[Transformation Sequence]] is any indication.
* Arin from ''[[Pangya]]''.
* Arin from ''[[Pangya]]''.
* ''[[Blaz Blue Continuum Shift]]'' features Platinum the Trinity, who is absolutely a Magical Girl, complete with [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshading]] battle quotes.
* ''[[Blaz Blue: Continuum Shift]]'' features Platinum the Trinity, who is absolutely a Magical Girl, complete with [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshading]] battle quotes.
{{quote|'''Platinum:''' Magical Girl Pretty Luna... transform!}}
{{quote|'''Platinum:''' Magical Girl Pretty Luna... transform!}}
** Platinum's gag reel takes this into overkill territory, adding the other [[Pettanko|pettankoes]] for a campaign against [[Gag Boobs|Boing Queen Litchi]]. [[Crowning Moment of Funny|You will die laughing so fast Hazama would be jealous.]]
** Platinum's gag reel takes this into overkill territory, adding the other [[Pettanko|pettankoes]] for a campaign against [[Gag Boobs|Boing Queen Litchi]]. [[Crowning Moment of Funny|You will die laughing so fast Hazama would be jealous.]]
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* Miss Tickle from ''[[Mission Magic]]''.
* Miss Tickle from ''[[Mission Magic]]''.
* Manny Rivera, the hero of ''[[El Tigre]]'', is essentially a Magical Boy.
* Manny Rivera, the hero of ''[[El Tigre]]'', is essentially a Magical Boy.
* [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]], the most recent reboot of the franchise, starts with a two-part episode in which the six main characters become friends. They use a powerful ancient artifact to become magical girls, to permanently defeat [[Sealed Evil in a Can]]. However, despite gaining fashionable magical jewelry and the gratitude of the god-princess of the realm, the trope is almost completely absent from the rest of the show. [[Word of God]] from the show's creator (Lauren Faust, worked on her husband [[Craig McCracken]]'s [[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]] and [[The Powerpuff Girls]]) is that ''good'' action-adventure episodes are harder to produce on a deadline and budget, and [[Myth Arcs]] have to be watched in a specific order, thus the series is more [[Slice of Life]].
* [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]], the most recent reboot of the franchise, starts with a two-part episode in which the six main characters become friends. They use a powerful ancient artifact to become magical girls, to permanently defeat [[Sealed Evil in a Can]]. However, despite gaining fashionable magical jewelry and the gratitude of the god-princess of the realm, the trope is almost completely absent from the rest of the show. [[Word of God]] from the show's creator (Lauren Faust, worked on her husband [[Craig McCracken]]'s [[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]] and [[The Powerpuff Girls]]) is that ''good'' action-adventure episodes are harder to produce on a deadline and budget, and [[Myth Arcs]] have to be watched in a specific order, thus the series is more [[Slice of Life]].
* Morgana from ''[[Darkwing Duck]]''.
* Morgana from ''[[Darkwing Duck]]''.
* [[The Powerpuff Girls]] was created as a parody of the genre.
* [[The Powerpuff Girls]] was created as a parody of the genre.

Revision as of 02:39, 4 October 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.

Examples of Magical Girl include:

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 A.N.T. 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 Bobobobo Bobobo
  • 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 6/17 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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