History Anime / RentalMagica

[[redirect:LightNovel/RentalMagica]]

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rentalmagica-tvtropes.jpg]]

->''This is an order from the President!''

Itsuki Iba is the son of the founder of Astral, a company hiring out magicians to those who need their help, and took over as president after his father disappeared. The problem is that he's weak-willed and weak in magic... except for the Glam Sight in his right eye, which turns Itsuki into a capable commander, but [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity at its own price]].

Based on a light novel by Makoto Sanda, adapted into an {{anime}} by Zexcs. [[IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] ''PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''.

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!!This anime contains examples of:

* TheAce - {{Deconstruction}}. Older mages rarely interact with the cast, and almost never appear for long. The exclusion is Association's investigator Kagezaki, who is apparently powerful and knows a lot, but just stands nearby with a confident smile and interferes as little as he can, even in dire cases. He's also a ''royal'' pain in Astral's collective butt as their curator and while he never pushes them too far, seems to enjoy using JerkAssFacade and constantly keeping them on their guard.
* AnachronicOrder
* AuraVision - seeing [[EnemyScan the full structure of the target's magic]] and [[AttackItsWeakPoint where it will hurt the most]], plus all the concerns and little fears.
* BaitAndSwitchLesbians - Addie and Honami have a wedding. For magical purposes.
** ... leading to an exaggerated case of [[spoiler: SpeakNowOrForeverHoldYourPeace: Itsuki drags off ''two'' brides from the interrupted ceremony.]]
* BattleAura - Each character has displayed one, comedically or otherwise.
* BeachEpisode
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor - Fin Cruda tried to be helpful, but only proved he's less safe to be around than most demons.
* BigDamnHeroes - Adilicia is fond of pulling these off, most notably in [[spoiler: episode 20]].
* BilingualBonus - In the WholeEpisodeFlashback of Adilicia's and Honami's past, there's a gravestone with clearly legible text written on it in English. Problem is, the text is written with Norse runes. If you can read them, you'll find a few rows of [[Literature/TheBible Bible]] verses, Psalms 22:15-16 and 81:1-4, more specifically.
* BladeRun - Sekiren lands on Daphne's foot and tells her to calm down when she tries to kick him.
* BlessedWithSuck: Itsuki's MagicalEye is very useful, to the point of winning almost any battle he uses it in. It also gives him a lot of pain when there's a lot of magical energy nearby, and it can make him insane.
* CallASmeerpARabbit: On account of a HellHound running loose.
-->'''Itsuki''': (panicking) You said [[http://blog.seiha.org/images/rental1/rental1%20%284%29.jpg it was a dog]]!
-->'''Nekoyashiki''': (very calmly) [[http://blog.seiha.org/images/rental1/rental1%20%2815%29.jpg A mammal on four legs with sharp teeth that barks]]. If I don't call it a dog, what else should I call it?
* CaptainErsatz - Honami highly resembles Hayate Yagami of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', up to sharing the same [[Creator/KanaUeda voice actor]] and [[KansaiRegionalAccent accent]].
* CatchPhrase [=/=] ThemeMusicPowerUp: When Itsuki takes off his eye patch and says, "This is an order from the President!" it's accompanied by music. Asskicking usually follows.
** In the last episode, [[spoiler: this practice is subverted with suitably fading music, where he didn't take off his eye patch and just wanted them to listen to him]].
* CensorSteam
* TheChainsOfCommanding: Itsuki knows he's way over his head and is pretty much constantly in panic on the early stage of his "career". In manga, he repeatedly tried to refuse becoming "the president", but the rest of Astral team do their best to trick, plead and guilt him into accepting it, and then into staying.
* ChickMagnet - Itsuki quickly charms anything that moves without even trying. When it was extended to [[spoiler:a ''homunculus'']], Nekoyashiki began to [[LampshadeHanging muse aloud why this happens]].
* ChristmasEpisode - Christmas Eve, technically, but close enough.
* CuteGhostGirl - Kuroha.
* CuteMonsterGirl - The homunculus Lapis.
* DeathDealer - The 'cards' Nekoyashiki spreads are inscribed {{Paper Talisman}}s, but he uses them with the same flair and [[PaperCutting paper blade]] style.
* EyepatchOfPower
* EyesAlwaysShut: Nekoyashiki rarely open his eyes, adding to his somewhat mysterious persona.
* TheFairFolk - Off-screen, but apparently quite powerful: [[spoiler: Fin Cruda]] was a human swapped for changeling. There were consequences.
* FamilyBusiness - The main plot driver.
* {{Fanservice}} - Mainly in the BeachEpisode, but also some heavy teasing between Adilicia and Honami.
* {{Flashback}} - There are two scenes that are shown [[ViewersAreGoldfish repeatedly]]. One is when Itsuki and Honami were kids, and the other is where Sekiren told Itsuki to "work with the eye."
* TheFourGods - Nekoyashiki names his four spirit cat companions after them.
* GoneHorriblyRight - Some mages have a desperate effort GoneHorriblyWrong, but others break the taboo with complete success. Because some people ''want'' to turn into things like Soul Eater. ([[SoulEater no relation]])
* GoneHorriblyWrong - Attempts to apply magical power for either taking a more direct control over magic, or resurrection, or achieving immortality turns mages into bubbling NightmareFuel. There was ''no'' doubt left why exactly such things are taboo.
* GradeSchoolCEO - Itsuki and Adilisia aren't babies but still are too young when they were put in charge. {{Justified|Trope}}, as in anime, the Association had to either gamble with 'heirs by blood' or with more experienced possible heirs being too irresponsible or unavailable. They had a reason to suspect a taboo violation in Goetia, but no idea which survivors were involved, then Daphne declined the office, further limiting the possibilities. Astral could be led by Judaicus Tholoide, who can just [[spoiler:leave Astral on their own for years, then hire them, then suddenly attack -- not personally, but through a little girl -- ''then'' claim it's his heirloom]]. With such alternatives, even a magically inept youngster suddenly becomes the ''more'' sane choice.
** In manga, when Itsuki tries to squirm out of the position, Nekoyashiki quotes a rule: "Priority for the founder's leadership must be given to blood relatives", and then avoids getting into details.
* HeroicBastard - Daphne, and how.
* HotSpringsEpisode
* HyperspaceArsenal - Sekiren, for no adequately-explained reason.
* ImHavingSoulPains - Itsuki has a good reason to abhor any magical pollution and sort out such cases as quickly as possible.
* InstantRunes
* InvisibleToNormals - Kuroha, as a ghost. Also the effects of magical pollution--at least if they're not too strong.
* KansaiRegionalAccent - Honami
* KidWithTheLeash - Addie with her demons.
* KindheartedCatLover - Nekoyashiki, though this does not prevent him from bargaining like a devil -- with the same kind smile -- and his kittens are powerful guardian spirits.
* LargeHam - Sekiren
* LeyLine - Not only pathways for the power, but some magical beings can pipe in too. The strongest rituals tend to be performed in nodes.
* LimitedWardrobe
* LoveTriangle - Honami, Addie, and occasionally Kuroha, all gunning for Itsuki.
** LoverTugOfWar: With a WorthyOpponent at that. Note that while Honami and Addie [[http://blog.seiha.org/images/rental1/rental1%20%2876%29.jpg extend their rivalry]] to Itsuki, they instantly [[http://blog.seiha.org/images/rental1/rental1%20%2880%29.jpg cooperate]] if he appears to look at someone other than them two.
* LowerDeckEpisode - Ep 18, Lady Grey and Sekiren.
* MagicKnight - Sekiren is a WarriorMonk capable of pretty devastating magical attacks in addition to ass-kicking.
* MarshmallowHell - Itsuki's face literally goes ''in'' Kuroha's incorporeal boobs at one point.
* {{Meido}} - Kuroha wears a maid outfit in the more recent episodes. Nobody knows why. But then, she's a ghost who likes to [[SpotOfTea make tea]]...
** She mentions that she do dress up because it's easy (being a ghost and all) and she enjoys it. Basically, she likes to cosplay.
* {{Miko}} - Mikan
* NoblewomansLaugh
* {{Nosebleed}}
* {{Ojou}} - Adilisia
* OjouRinglets - Adelicia, fitting her {{ojou}} persona.
* OlderThanTheyLook - [[spoiler:Moroha.]]
* OrphansOrdeal - Itsuki has to deal with the whole business because his father disappeared. Adilisia is more capable in her role, but she also must hide the circumstances of her father's demise as shameful for her family and Goetia.
* OurDragonsAreDifferent - A ''living magical pattern'' superimposed on elements.
* OurGhostsAreDifferent - Kuroha quietly walks all the way from a lost soul haunting the hospital to [[TookALevelInBadass rather powerful]] guardian spirit. A bunch of ghost children just can't accept their accidental death [[spoiler:and are released once they got the celebration they wanted]].
* OurHomunculiAreDifferent - Evidently, some are ''cute''. Looks like humans, but magic-wise very different and [[AlienBlood their blood isn't red]].
* OurMermaidsAreDifferent - Flesh-eating.
** Mermaids in traditional Japanese folk lore were apparently feared flesh eating monsters.
* PaperTalisman - Nekoyashiki being a practicioner of {{Onmyodo}}, it's not surprising. [[DeathDealer Tossing them around]], though...
* PhenotypeStereotype - Adilisia Lenn Mathers, blond and green-eyed. Honami Takase Ambler, [[ButNotTooForeign part-Japanese]], brown-haired and blue-eyed.
* PostEpisodeTrailer - Various characters, mostly Honami, give Itsuki a lesson in some jargon featured in the next episode.
* PowersThatBe - [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness The Association]] for mages -- even for more independent Addie -- is a pain in the backside, and bureaucratic one at that.
* RedEyesTakeWarning - Itsuki's right eye is entirely red.
* RedSkyTakeWarning - Itsuki's Glam Sight, magical pollution, and Magi Nights--events ([[CaptainObvious usually at night]]) where a various magical phenomena occur--turn the sky red.
* RobeAndWizardHat - Honami's business outfit.
* ScaryShinyGlasses - Honami does this now and again.
* ShownTheirWork - The light novel/anime really goes the extra mile with their knowledge of the occult, for example [[spoiler:Kuroha's Tree of Sephirot [[FridgeBrilliance not having the branches for Memory or Past]]]]. When the anime first aired one {{Fansub}} would add notes at the end of each episode detailing the occult usages throughout, from the histories of Addie's Demon Summons right down to ''translating and explaining'' the sutras that Mikan and Nekoyashiki chanted.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS - Adilisia, Adelicia, or Adilicia? Eudaiches, Judaix, or Judaicus?
* SpoilerOpening - The opening shows Sekiren and Fin, who don't appear until ''episodes 16 and 22'', respectively. Furthermore, they show Fin in a clearly antagonistic way, even though he's introduced in the show as a seemingly good guy.
* TokenMiniMoe - Mikan
* TookALevelInBadass: Itsuki, when he learns martial arts and becomes able to fight directly without relying on his Glam Slight.
** Kuroha later took a level in ''[[MindOverMatter poltergeist]]''. [[spoiler: [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Bonus points]] for a ''ghost'' assaulting a ''{{necromancer}}'' with ''tombstones''.]]
* TrueCompanions - Astral, plus Adilisia
* {{Tsundere}} - Honami and Addie
* UndyingLoyalty - Daphne. [[spoiler: She's older [[HeroicBastard half-sister]] of Adelicia and had the same blonde hair and green eyes; since the similarity was too obvious, she had to ''sacrifice her colouring'' so not everyone asks obvious questions.]] She protect Addie as much as she can and refused to take over Goetia as a more experienced mage. No wonder the guy who is romantically interested in her is [[spoiler:the rugged bushi-style warrior Sekiren]].
* UnEqualRites: A dazzling array. It seems that magical traditions used by more than two people who get on screen at all are a minority -- and the series has lots of magic users. Though the existence of a WizardingSchool illustrates that there are must-have basics.
** {{Alchemy}} - Senior Iba and Judaicus Tholoide.
** HermeticMagic - Celtic version (Honami) and Solomon's tradition (Addie and the rest of Goetia).
** {{Necromancer}} - One guy was quite willing to kill a whole village just to quickly get a little zombie army.
** {{Onmyodo}} - Nekoyashiki's magic style.
** ReligionIsMagic - Namely applies to Mikan's Shinto magic, which is based on actual Shinto rites and chants. Honami also applies somewhat through her chants calling on Celtic deities.
** RitualMagic - Names and forces are invoked all the time, but usually most powerful and complex magical operations are done the long way. Though such procedures don't make personal power of the caster(s) and external boost by artefacts and {{ley line}}s any less important.
** SummonMagic - There's some evidence that Solomon's school of magic is more than this, but commanding demons is a signature and status thing, so Addie is a dedicated summoner to the exclusion of everything else and tries [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer the same solution for every problem]]: "summon demon, summon demon, summon demon... summon angel... summon demon".
** SupernaturalMartialArts - Whatever it is that Sekiren does.
* VitriolicBestBuds - Addie and Honami has a thick mix of respect and rivalry which constantly drifts between this and TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou. Addie even explicitly said once that Honami is [[WorthyOpponent the only one whom she views as an equal]].
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman - Itsuki has a demonstratively ''very'' lax idea of what is 'human' -- even for mages -- and consistently applies it, be it CuteGhostGirl or MonsterOfTheWeek... and doesn't see even a ''dragon'' as something too different. He's charming enough to make it work more often than not, though it isn't terribly helpful when the creature is remotely controlled or inherently inimical.
* WidowWitch - Technically, Diana is not a widow, but she wears a widow's outfit (after [[spoiler:giving one too powerful artifact to one too wrong guy]]) and is a head of magical supplying company Trismegistus. Neither precludes her from having a sense of humor.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity - Every time Itsuki uses his Glam Sight, he is consumed a bit more by it.
* WizardingSchool - Honami and Addie used to attend one.
* ZigzagPaperTassel - Mikan is holding an ''ōnusa'' in the above picture.

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* CaptainErsatz - Honami highly resembles Hayate Yagami of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', up to sharing the same [[KanaUeda voice actor]] and [[KansaiRegionalAccent accent]].

Based on a light novel by Makoto Sanda, adapted into an {{anime}} by Zexcs. Has nothing to do with ''PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''.

Based on a light novel by Makoto Sanda, adapted into an {{anime}} by Zexcs.

* BlessedWithSuck: Itsuki's EvilEye is very useful, to the point of winning almost any battle he uses it in. It also gives him a lot of pain when there's a lot of magical energy nearby, and it can make him insane.

* EvilEye - Itsuki's Glam Sight

* GlowingEyesOfDoom - Well, one eye: Itsuki's EvilEye.

* MismatchedEyes - Before the incident that made Itsuki's right eye look demonic, it was still red.

* LoverTugOfWar
** Note that while Honami and Addie [[http://blog.seiha.org/images/rental1/rental1%20%2876%29.jpg extend their rivalry]] to Itsuki, they instantly [[http://blog.seiha.org/images/rental1/rental1%20%2880%29.jpg cooperate]] if he appears to look at someone other than them two.

** SummonMagic - There's some evidence that Solomon's school of magic is more than this, but commanding demons is a signature and status thing, so Addie is a dedicated summoner to the exclusion of everything else and tries [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer the same solution for every problem]]: "summon demon, summon demon, summon demon, summon angel, summon demon".

* VitriolicBestBuds - Addie and Honami has a thick mix of respect and rivalry which constantly drifts between this and TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou.

* GradeSchoolCEO - Itsuki and Adilisia aren't babies but still are too young when they were put in charge. {{Justified}}, as in anime, the Association had to either gamble with 'heirs by blood' or with more experienced possible heirs being too irresponsible or unavailable. They had a reason to suspect a taboo violation in Goetia, but no idea which survivors were involved, then Daphne declined the office, further limiting the possibilities. Astral could be led by Judaicus Tholoide, who can just [[spoiler:leave Astral on their own for years, then hire them, then suddenly attack -- not personally, but through a little girl -- ''then'' claim it's his heirloom]]. With such alternatives, even a magically inept youngster suddenly becomes the ''more'' sane choice.

* BeachEpisode

* BilingualBonus - In the WholeEpisodeFlashback of Adilicia's and Honami's past, there's a gravestone with clearly legible text written on it in English. Problem is, the text is written with Norse runes. If you can read them, you'll find a few rows of [[TheBible Bible]] verses, Psalms 22:15-16 and 81:1-4, more specifically.

* PrincessCurls - Adelicia, fitting her {{ojou}} persona.

* GoneHorriblyWrong - Attempts to apply magical power for either taking a more direct control over magic, or resurrection, or achieving immortality turns mages into bubbling HighOctaneNightmareFuel. There was ''no'' doubt left why exactly such things are taboo.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rentalmagica-tvtropes.jpg

* [=~I'm Having Soul Pains~=] - Itsuki has a good reason to abhor any magical pollution and sort out such cases as quickly as possible.

* [=~Orphan's Ordeal~=] - Itsuki has to deal with the whole business because his father disappeared. Adilisia is more capable in her role, but she also must hide the circumstances of her father's demise as shameful for her family and Goetia.

* GradeSchoolCEO - Itsuki and Adilisia aren't babies but still are too young when they were put in charge. {{Justified}}, as in both cases the Association chose to gamble with 'heirs by blood' apparently because more experienced possible heirs were deemed too irresponsible or unavailable. They had a reason to suspect a taboo violation in Goetia, but no idea which survivors were involved, then Daphne declined the office, further limiting the possibilities. Astral could be led by Judaicus Tholoide, who can just [[spoiler:leave Astral on their own for years, then hire them, then suddenly attack -- not personally, but through a little girl -- ''then'' claim it's his heirloom]]. With such alternatives, even a magically inept youngster suddenly becomes a sane choice as the head of a magical enterprise.

* BigDamnHeroes - Adelicia in episode 20

* {{Fanservice}}

* GoneHorriblyWrong - Attempts to apply magical power for either taking a more direct control over magic, or resurrection, or achieving immortality turns mages into bubbling NightmareFuel. There was ''no'' doubt left why exactly such things are taboo.

* NightmareFuel - Yeah, just at the first episode an old man who supposed to be dead resurrected... wait, that's not an undead, it's like something from.... oh my! EldritchAbomination!
** And don't get us started with [[spoiler: Oswald Lenn Mathers]] in the fifth and sixth episode, who is a formless monster that can use any demonic form he desires...
** Fin Cruda in the last three episode, along with TheDragon, is what could be described by this troper "If Giygas has human form"...
** Then there's the [[BigCreepyCrawlies giant, floating larva]] in Sekiren's debut episode. (shudder) Coincidentally, it actually does have the power to cause nightmares in the show itself.

* HeyItsThatVoice
** Itsuki is JunFukuyama.
** Honami is KanaUeda.
** Mikan is RieKugimiya. (And so is her sister Kaori.) Her mother, meanwhile, is RieTanaka.
** Nekoyashiki is JunichiSuwabe.
** Kuroha is ShizukaIto.
** Sekiren is KatsuyukiKonishi.
** Adilicia is MikakoTakahashi.
** Kagezaki is DaisukeOno.
** Lapis is KaoriNazuka.
** Judaix is HirokiYasumoto.
** Shinogi Minagi is AkemiOkamura. Her brother Moroha is YumikoKobayashi.
** Tatsumi is KentaMiyake.
** Kei Isurugi is TakahiroSakurai. His sister Sakuya is SanaeKobayashi.
** Gara is KeijiFujiwara.
** Fin is MamoruMiyano.