Magical girls remain one of the most popular anime tropes out there, where girls are often given special abilities that allow them to transform into colorful versions of themselves as they save the world from various threats. Given that most of these shows cater to kids and teens, magical girls not only have to use their abilities to save mankind but also have to deal with everyday issues such as homework, friendship, and even the occasional love life. In turn, a lot of magical girl anime is often looked down upon as childish or even average.
However, anime fans who want alternatives to the magical girl genre can look at some series and then be surprised at how they try to dissect and deconstruct the magical girl concept to take it to the extreme. Some surprising examples include the unforeseen consequences of making contracts with alien life forms, the harsh reality of handling saving the world as a child, and other implications of receiving such incredible powers.
8 Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)
Considered as one of the first anime to deconstruct the magical girl genre, Revolutionary Girl Utena follows teenager Utena and her desire to be a “prince” due to her strong personality. She ends up being a duelist after being enamored with swordsmanship and has pledged her loyalty to protect the mysterious Anthy Himemiya.
A more intense take on the magical girl concept, Utena tackles the personal struggles and internal psychologies of each protagonist. Not only that, but Utena is probably one of the first anime to properly represent and explore LGBTQ+ dynamics - particularly between Utena and Anthy - as well as dissect the “fairytale prince” genre. This is especially the case with duelists such as Utena, who are often revealed to have more selfish reasons for fighting instead of the usual selfless tropes associated with heroic princes.
7 Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011)
Given how the magical girl genre often appeals to children to inspire them to become good teenagers, it makes sense for an anime like Puella Magi Madoka Magica to star middle-school kids. Protagonist Madoka Kaname enters into a contract with a creature named Kyubey to fight witches in exchange for a “wish.”
And while Madoka accompanies fellow magical girls such as Mami Tomoe and Sayaka Miki, their adventures take a turn for the worst as their contract with Kyubey isn’t what it seems. Not only that, but the anime takes a more mature turn as these middle-schoolers are confronted with responsibilities that even adults can’t comprehend: saving the world. The entire Madoka series is a more crushing tale of desperation, especially when viewers realize that Madoka and her pals are barely teenagers who can’t easily comprehend what’s happening to them.
6 Magical Girl Raising Project (2016)
Magical schoolgirl enthusiasts who want a more modernized take on the concept might want to give Magical Girl Raising Project a shot. The anime tells the story of a group of girls who, after joining the “Magical Girl Raising Project” social network game, transform into magical girls. They have to perform good deeds to collect Magical Candies. However, when the game’s administration decides that 16 Magical Girls are too much in one city, they decided to cut the participants in half based on their performance.
The thing is, the rules of the social network got a bit twisted to such an extent that being a part of the eight (8) remaining Magical Girls has become a battle of survival. This not only transforms the magical girl concept of Magical Girl Raising Project straight into a grisly adult-themed story, but this is one of the first times the genre has crossed over to the battle royale genre.
5 Yuki Yuna Is A Hero (2014)
Fans of magical girls who want an alternative take on how dark the genre could be may want to give Yuki Yuna is a Hero for an interesting dissection. Taking place in the fictional city of Sanshu, middle schoolers Yuna, Mimori, Fu, and Itsuki are part of the Sanshu Middle School Hero Club. When an explosion brings them to a forest housing the Shinju that blesses humanity, the girls become members of a government agency known as the Taisha to protect the tree against mysterious creatures known as Vertex.
Unlike Madoka, Yuki has a more optimistic take on its darker themes, offering a more nuanced and balanced approach to the “adult magical girl” concept. While not as brutal as Madoka at the onset, Yuki offers an equally-grounded take on a story about saving the world. This time around, being under government supervision isn’t as “safe” as it seems - something that will put Yuki and her friends at risk.
4 My-HiME (2004)
The typical magical girl anime usually follows a formula: a group of girls receive magical abilities that help them transform into super-powered gals that save the world. The case is the same in My-HiME, with the series revolving around Fuuka Academy transfer Mai Tokiha as she discovers her true nature as a HiME, a magical girl bound to a biomechanical creature known as a Child and tasked to fight monstrous Orphans.
While half of the series is spent on usual monster-of-the-week adventures, Mai and her classmates are eventually thrust into a conspiracy that reveals their nature as HiME are more than meets the eye. This rather transition to a more serious, adult-oriented story makes My-HiME an intense take on the otherwise-friendly magical girl genre - especially when it deals with matters of life and death and the “nothing is a coincidence” trope that isn’t usually explored in magical girl anime where protagonists just get powers out of nowhere.
3 Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-Chan (2005)
When a girl gets powers, they’re often pertained to as a magical girl. However, Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan twists this on the get-go, as the powered girls featured in the series are less magical girls and more actual angels. The story reveals that 13-year-old Sakura Kusakabe eventually develops technology that hinders the growth of women past 12 years old, something that God Himself doesn’t want to happen. In turn, he sends an assassin angel called Dokuro to kill Sakura in his early teens.
However, seeing Sakura as redeemable, Dokuro decides to protect him instead. This is where things get crazy, as God sends another assassin, Sabato, to finish the job. In turn, the typical magical schoolgirl dynamic becomes a rather brutal-comedic take on the genre. Sakura often gets killed in his antics while being protected by Dokuro, and the kindly angel keeps on reviving him. Aside from the humorous undertone, the developing plot eventually transforms the usual angelic slice-of-life dynamic into a more serious story.
2 Shamanic Princess (1996)
While Shamanic Princess involving magical school girls gives it the same impression as genre highlights at the time, such as Sailor Moon, the former is probably one of the more serious takes on the concept. The anime explores the adventures of Tiara and her ferret Japolo getting teleported into Guardian World to attain the Throne of Yord, a mystical energy source. Opposing her are rival sorcerer Lena and her partner Leon, as well as the thief Kagetsu. What’s more surprising is that Tiara and Lena are actually college students and belong to the same class!
What’s interesting about Shamanic Princess compared to other magical girl series at the time is the level of complexity the anime offers to its characters. On top of starting in media and elaborating on the series’ premise near its ending, the anime itself tackles a more grounded approach to the genre. Tiara isn’t the conventionally-perfect protagonist, as her brash and arrogant nature is often her undoing. Likewise, Lena isn’t necessarily an evil antagonist but more of a rival who couldn’t deal with her insecurities properly.
1 Cute High Earth Defense Club Love! (2015)
When one thinks of a magical child, one immediately associates them with the magical girl trope. This is exactly what Cute High Earth Defense Club Love! tries to deviate from, as its element of magical galore happens to choose… a group of teenage boys. This all happens when a strange wombat-like creature gives them Loveracelets and involuntarily assigns them to protect the world. These five (5) school boys become the Earth Defense Club, who, in their journey, encounters the Earth Conquest Club.
While this anime has the immediate backdrop of hilarity and comedy with its characters, Cute High Earth Defense Club Love! subverts both magical schoolgirl and Super Sentai tropes with its unique brand of transformation, rivalries, and color-based personalities. Seeing these two (2) elements get intertwined in a rather convoluted journey to save the world gives Earth Defense Club Love! a unique meta-appeal to genre fans.