Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Main / MagicalGirl

Go To

1%%
2%% Image has been commented out, pending permission to use it from the artist, per Image Pickin' thread:
3%% https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16781422010.12371500
4%% Another thread has voted to leave 'no pic for now': https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16865295250.47548400
5%% Previous thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1391285897061339800
6%%
7%% DO NOT un-comment the image until word is given one way or the other on permission.
8%% Do NOT start a thread without a replacement suggestion.
9%%
10%%[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/magical_girl_ensemble_by_colonel_aki.jpg]]
11%%[[caption-width-right:350:[[http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=19619705 Behold]] ThePowerOfLove [[MoeAnthropomorphism personified]]! [[note]]Clockwise from top-left: Anime/PrettySammy, [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Madoka Kaname]], [[Literature/IsThisAZombie Ayumu Aikawa]] ([[EmbarrassingButEmpoweringOutfit Yes]], [[WholesomeCrossdresser he's male]]), [[Manga/TokyoMewMew Ichigo Momomiya]], [[Manga/CardCaptorSakura Sakura Kinomoto]], [[Anime/OjamajoDoremi Doremi Harukaze]], [[Anime/OkusamaWaMahouShoujo Ureshiko Asaba]], [[Franchise/LyricalNanoha Nanoha Takamachi]], and {{Mentor Mascot}}s [[Manga/CardCaptorSakura Keroberos]], [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Kyubey]], and [[Anime/PrettySammy Ryo-Ohki]].[[/note]]]]
12%%
13->''"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."''
14-->-- Rule #52, '''[[http://nift.firedrake.org/EEmpress.htm Evil Empress Guide]]'''
15%%
16%% One quote please. Extras go on the quotes tab.
17%%
18
19Known as ''mahou shoujo'' ("magical girl") or just ''majokko'' ("witch-girl") in Japanese, Magical Girls are empowered by various means with fantastic powers that both assist and complicate their lives, but manage to persevere despite this.
20
21[[GirlShowGhetto No matter how hard this may be for the Western world to believe]], Magical Girls [[MultipleDemographicAppeal have high crossover popularity in different demographics]] with some minor but appropriate [[{{Fanservice}} design modifications]] and make up a sizable portion of both {{shojo}} and [[{{Moe}} bishoujo]] fandom.
22
23A SuperTrope to:
24* CuteWitch--where magic is mundane to the character.
25* MagicIdolSinger--who (initially) uses her powers for her own benefit.
26* MagicalGirlGenreDeconstruction--a SubGenre themed around deconstructive and subversive Magical Girl works.
27* MagicalGirlWarrior--mostly in a {{superhero}}ine role fighting evil.
28
29{{Magical Girl Warrior}}s arguably have the widest demographic appeal, and in the West are often synonymous with the entire {{Shoujo|Demographic}} genre, let alone the idea of a Magical Girl.
30
31'''History of the Genre'''
32
33It may come as a surprise to learn that the entire Magical Girl genre is [[TropeMaker descended]], effectively, from the American live-action MagicalGirlfriend sitcom ''Series/{{Bewitched}}''. While two series claim the role of "first magical girl anime"--Mitsuteru Yokoyama's ''Mahotsukai Sally'' (''Manga/SallyTheWitch'', 1966-1968) and Fujio Akatsuka's ''Manga/HimitsuNoAkkoChan'' (broadcast 1969, but its manga predates ''Mahotsukai Sally'')--the creators of both credit ''Series/{{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.
34
35''Sally the Witch'''s American counterpart, Creator/{{Archie|Comics}}'s ''ComicBook/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' (then known as the ''Sabrina'' portion of ''WesternAnimation/SabrinaAndTheGroovieGoolies'' during its early years), was an early American example of a Magical Girl show, and the first animated magical girl series to be produced and aired in the United States, and it ran as a SaturdayMorningCartoon. This early Magical Girl show was very unusual that it included a {{laugh track}}--which is not present in ''Sally the Witch'' (which didn't come to America), but more common in American-produced cartoons.
36
37Another important early Magical Girl show was ''Anime/MajokkoMegChan'' in 1974. [[MultipleDemographicAppeal 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...
38
39* have a {{Tomboy}}ish heroine--all magical girls prior to this had been [[NiceGirl sweet]] [[GirlyGirl feminine girls]];
40* feature a [[TheRival rival]] to the main character (Non, Meg's rival and the local DarkMagicalGirl);
41* include a [[BigBad really]] ''[[BigBad evil]]'' [[BigBad character]]. Prior to this, there was a perception that [[WomenAreDelicate young girls couldn't handle such things]];
42* feature {{Fanservice}} (in the form of {{Panty Shot}}s, slight nudity, and Megu being a borderline FilleFatale), as well as LovableSexManiac characters (Megu's stepbrother Rabi and IneffectualSympatheticVillain Chou);
43* touch on more serious social issues, like domestic abuse, extramarital relationships, drug abuse, and have the heroine not only lose fights, but having to face serious consequences (deaths, injuries, humiliations, etc.).
44
45Originally, all Magical Girl shows were produced by Creator/ToeiAnimation in Japan or Creator/{{Filmation}} in the US, so "Magical Girl" wasn't so much a genre as a SeriesFranchise. This lasted until Ashi Production's ''Anime/MagicalPrincessMinkyMomo'' hit the airwaves in 1982 in Japan and Creator/{{DiC}}'s ''WesternAnimation/RainbowBrite'' in 1983, followed by Creator/StudioPierrot's ''Anime/CreamyMamiTheMagicAngel'' in 1983 (the first MagicIdolSinger show). A one-shot OVA produced in 1987 featured a BatFamilyCrossover between Studio Pierrot's four '80s Magical Girl shows (''Anime/CreamyMamiTheMagicAngel'', ''Anime/PersiaTheMagicFairy'', ''Anime/MagicalEmiTheMagicStar'', and ''Anime/MagicalIdolPastelYumi''). This was the first instance of a magical girl team. (''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' was not considered a magical girl series, but some series were indeed part of the genre.)
46
47The MagicalGirlWarrior subgenre didn't hit worldwide until ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'' in 1985 for Western animation and ''Manga/SailorMoon'' in 1992 for anime, but 1973 ''Anime/CuteyHoney'', despite not being aimed at girls but having a lot of influence on the genre, was the first magical girl warrior. This was essentially a combination of the earlier style shows with the SuperHero genre, particularly the Franchise/SuperSentai formula. ''Anime/SailorMoon'' was a huge hit, and, naturally, [[FollowTheLeader other shows were made in the same style]]. A small further subgenre of the MagicalGirlWarrior is the MagicalGirl PhantomThief, seen in ''Manga/PhantomThiefJeanne'', ''Manga/KaitouSaintTail'' and ''Hatena Illusion''.
48
49The wave of shows inspired by ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' (anime) or ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'' (Western cartoons) eventually subsided, but new sub-genres spawned soon in its wake. As of present, most magical girl shows can be loosely organized into three broad categories.
50
51# Neo-classical, codified by ''Manga/CardCaptorSakura''. Essentially, old school magical girl {{coming of age stor|y}}ies updated with the sensibilities of the modern age and the roles of girls and women in it. Mainly aimed towards young girls but often with a significant PeripheralDemographic of adult males. Contemporary examples include ''Anime/OjamajoDoremi'', ''Manga/ShugoChara'' and the ''Anime/PrettyCure'' franchise (though that also fits in the second set).
52# ActionHero, created by ''Anime/PrettyCure'', but codified by ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha''. MagicalGirlWarrior territory, with emphasis on "Warrior" and often enough HotBlood to put a {{Shounen}} fighting series to shame. Largely aimed at the teenage and adult male demographic, and as such placing heavy emphasis on {{Fanservice}}: from a lot of fighting scenes with CallingYourAttacks, to {{Magitek}} TechnologyPorn. The ImprobablyFemaleCast is frequently used as an excuse for LesYay. Examples include: ''Anime/MyHime'', ''Anime/VividredOperation'', ''Anime/{{Symphogear}}'', and ''Anime/KillLaKill''.
53# [[MagicalGirlGenreDeconstruction Deconstructive]], codified by ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. Debunking the very concept of a world where young girls are forced to confront evil as a CrapsaccharineWorld with plenty of dark secrets and delving deep into the psychology of its cast, often with religious or philosophical references. Tends to skew towards teens and adult males like the Action Hero variation, but there are a few works that aim towards young and teenage girls as well. Often borders on SurrealHorror territory; ''Madoka'' itself was considered the equivalent of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' and ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' [[GenreDeconstruction for the genre]]. Other notable examples include ''Anime/MyHime'' (again), ''Anime/PrincessTutu'', ''Anime/DayBreakIllusion'', and ''Anime/YukiYunaIsAHero''.
54
55Of course, there are other examples that feature similar themes but diverge even further from the old-style shows. Many fans felt that shows such as ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'' were still Magical Girl shows, despite all the dissimilarities from the previous generation (others disagree, and feel that ''Rayearth'' is Shoujo [[RPGMechanicsVerse RPG World]] {{Fantasy}} instead).
56
57'''IMPORTANT NOTE: A girl who can use magic ''is not'' necessarily a Magical Girl in the sense of the trope or genre. A MagicalGirlfriend, for example, usually does not fit into the same structure that defines a Magical Girl series.'''
58
59'''For an index of magical girl works, see the MagicalGirlGenreIndex. Also see the Index of MagicalGirlTropes and our own guide on how to SoYouWantTo/WriteAMagicalGirlSeries.'''
60
61Not to be confused with Creator/JohnPopadiuk's ''Pinball/MagicGirl'' [[PhysicalPinballTables pinball machine]].
62----
63!!Example Subpages:
64[[index]]
65* MagicalGirl/AnimeAndManga
66* MagicalGirl/VideoGames
67* MagicalGirl/{{Webcomics}}
68* MagicalGirl/WesternAnimation
69[[/index]]
70
71!!Other Examples:
72[[foldercontrol]]
73!!!Examples of Magical Girl works:
74
75[[folder:Asian Animation]]
76* ''Animation/BalalaTheFairies'' was the very first major magical girl series in China, focusing on oridinary girls who are granted powers that turn them into a group of warriors known as the Fairies of Balala so they can fight evil.
77* ''Animation/CatchTeenieping'' is a Korean example. It focuses on the princess of the Emotions Kingdom, Princess Romi, who accidentally releases "mind fairies" known as Teeniepings and sends them to Earth, prompting her to go to Earth and attempt to catch every Teenieping as they wreak havoc in one town in particular known as Harmony Town. She has the ability to transform into different forms depending on which Royal Teenieping she transforms with, which she then uses to catch the runaway Teeniepings.
78* ''Animation/FlowerAngel'' is China's answer to ''Manga/CardCaptorSakura'', featuring a young girl named Xia An'an capturing and using the powers of fairies with her companion, Prince Kukuru of the fairy continent Labelle, to fight evil.
79%%* ''Animation/FloweringHeart'', another Korean example.
80* ''Animation/KungFuWa'', an 8-year old girl named Tee Yang meets a Kung-Fu Master [[ForcedTransformation turned into a sock]] by a [[FishOutOfTemporalWater time vortex]], she agrees to help him find and seal evil spirits called [[MonsterOfTheWeek Kwei]], she borrows his mystical powers by putting him on her foot and turns into a super heroine called Kung-Fu Girl.
81* ''Animation/NanaMoon'', a Chinese series, has Keke being given a special badge that lets her transform into specific occupations (such as a makeup artist, for example) to help people.
82* ''Animation/RainbowRuby'' is a girl who uses a magical suitcase to transform herself into different job outfits.
83* ''Animation/SweetsFairy'', China's second Magical Girl series after ''Animation/BalalaTheFairies''.
84* ''Animation/TeaTeaCherry'', another South Korean example and a fairly modern take on the genre. It is about three (later five) teenage girls (all named after fruits) saving creatures in another dimension by solving puzzles and looking for clues that were left behind.
85[[/folder]]
86
87[[folder:Eastern European Animation]]
88* ''Animation/FantasyPatrol''; probably Russia's first example.
89* ''Animation/ShushuMagic'' is another example.
90[[/folder]]
91
92[[folder:Comic Books]]
93* ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'' is an Italian {{animesque}} comic about a team of American girls with magical powers. In Icelandic, the comic was renamed to ''Magical Girls'', since ''W.I.T.C.H.'' obviously doesn't work in all languages. Also has an [[WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}} animated adaptation]].
94* ''ComicBook/WonderWomanAndTheStarRiders'' may have been a truncated property but what was made features Wonder Woman in a skirt and tights leading a group of gals with magical powers wearing sparkly outfits while protecting and using magic gems.
95* ''Goddess'' is a miniseries by Creator/GarthEnnis, of all people, that more or less reads as a Western take on the genre, albeit a far less kid-friendly one.
96* ''ComicBook/ZodiacStarforce'' is an American take on a Magical Girl team. Artist Paulina Gauncheau is a huge fan of the genre (and especially ''Franchise/SailorMoon''), and it shows.
97* ''Magical Beatdown'' is a hyper violent [[FeministFantasy street harassment revenge fantasy]] about an average video-game loving schoolgirl who transforms into a foul-mouthed and rage-fuelled Magical girl when provoked.
98* ''ComicBook/StrangeAcademy'' features Emily Bright, a young girl who has had magical abilities of unknown origins ever since she was a baby, and has enrolled in ComicBook/DoctorStrange's eponymous WizardingSchool as a member of its first class.
99* ''ComicBook/GoodbyeBattlePrincessPeony'' is about the titular Peony, a Battle Princess who fights to protect her world from dark villainesses known as the Divine Ladies, but accidentally gets transported to their world one day.
100[[/folder]]
101
102[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
103* ''Film/TeenWitch'' is rather like the typical ComingOfAgeStory where a Magical Girl uses her powers in every day life.
104* ''Film/SuckerPunch'' is very {{Animesque}} (to the degree that a lot of people mistook it for a live action ''Anime/SailorMoon'' at first). There's a FiveManBand of girls who can do literally anything in the fantasy sequences, and they seem to fit the MagicalGirlWarrior archetypes.
105[[/folder]]
106
107[[folder:Literature]]
108* In ''Literature/AvalonWebOfMagic'', three girls, Emily, Adriane, and Kara, find stones/crystals - that come from a fantastical alternate dimension in need of help - that grant them magical abilities.
109* ''Literature/DaughtersOfTheMoon'' is a series of novels about five girls who are granted powers by the moon goddess, Selene, in order to fight off an ancient evil called the Atrox, who aims to end all hope and spread darkness across the world.
110* ''Literature/HexHall''
111* ''Literature/MagicalGirlRaisingProject'' is a dark {{Deconstruction}} of the trope, where AnyoneCanDie is firmly in effect.
112* ''Literature/TheMagicalRevolutionOfTheReincarnatedPrincess''
113* ''Literature/MahouShoujoAlleysInferno'' tells the story of a middle school barista who wishes for her life to resemble a Mahou Shoujo itself, only for her otherwise mundane world to be flipped upside down when her wish is granted [[spoiler: and for her problems to become the monsters that she has to battle against as a magical girl.]]
114* ''Literature/NowhereStars'' is a dark take on this, featuring [[EldritchAbomination strange monsters called Harbingers]] and a terminally ill girl who becomes a Keeper in order to go on living.
115* ''Literature/OtoXMaho'' has a twist of featuring [[WholesomeCrossdresser a boy in the magical girl role]], much to his chagrin, though while comedic and lighthearted, the series plays many of the typical genre tropes straight.
116* ''Literature/PrincessHolyAura''
117* ''Literature/{{Twitches}}'': Twin girls, Cam and Alex, who were separated at birth find each other, and learn that their odd behaviours are in fact the sign of mystical powers that reach their full potential when they're together. They fight off an evil force known as 'The Darkness'.
118* ''Literature/TheWitchesOfBailiwick''
119* Magical Girl Pretty Dynamo from ''Literature/JakeAndTheDynamo''.
120* Ximena[=/=]Selena of ''Literature/WalkingOnDreams''.
121[[/folder]]
122
123[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
124* ''Series/CutieHoneyTheLive'' is a {{tokusatsu}} LiveActionAdaptation of the ''Manga/CutieHoney'' series. Since it's aimed towards men, expect a lot of MaleGaze and FanService.
125* The ''Franchise/GirlsXHeroine Series'', created by Creator/TakashiMiike, is a {{tokusatsu}} series centered on middle school {{Magical Girl Warrior}}s. Shows in the series are:
126** ''Series/IdolXWarriorMiracleTunes''
127** ''Series/MagicXWarriorMagiMajoPures''
128** ''Series/SecretXWarriorPhantomirage''
129** ''Series/PoliceXHeroineLovepatrina''
130** ''Series/BittomoXHeroineKiramekiPowers''
131* ''Series/PrettyGuardianSailorMoon'' is yet another {{tokusatsu}} show, this time of the massively popular ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' Franchise.
132* In ''Series/TheSchoolNurseFiles'', Eun-young's friend Kang-sun draws a flipbook animation where Eun-young is a magical girl.
133[[/folder]]
134
135[[folder:Manhwa]]
136* ''Manhwa/ArkAngels'' features Magical Girls traveling through time to save endangered animals in order to stop God from wiping Earth clean of all life for its own good. As you can probably guess, the GreenAesop is strong with this one.
137[[/folder]]
138
139[[folder:Music]]
140* "Magical Girl" by Cate Rox comes across as a MagicalGirlWarrior song.
141-->''"I'm a magical girl\
142In this ordinary world\
143Where darkness has consumed all life\
144And you need magic to survive\
145Everyday is a fight\
146I'm a magical girl."''
147[[/folder]]
148
149[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
150* Lavinia, the CuteWitch heroine of South African childrens' show ''Series/DieLieweHeksie'', is a Magical Girl: her youth and cuteness contrast to the WickedWitch qualities of the opposing [=GeelHeks=].
151[[/folder]]
152
153[[folder:Roleplay]]
154* ''Roleplay/MagicalGoddessGirlsFromOuterSpace'' is meant to be both a Parody and Straight example of this. It features Magical Girls who fight monsters and also have no idea what they're doing and will continue to have no idea what they are doing for a while because that's what happens when you spontaneously gain powers.
155* ''Roleplay/ForTheSpiritOfCreation''
156* ''Roleplay/HachimitsuNoKissu''
157* ''Roleplay/MahouShoujoChaosPrincesses''
158* Areatha from ''Roleplay/EmbersInTheDusk''. A twenty-thousand-years old superpowered genetic experiment who literally claimed that archetype to become stronger. The omakes where she behaves accordingly are... quite the reading.
159[[/folder]]
160
161[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
162* Girl By Moonlight is a game built on the ''UsefulNotes/ForgedInTheDark'' system, that includes multiple playbooks corresponding to different themes and tones within the Magical Girl genre, including a sci-fi Mecha playbook.
163* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' has the gender-neutral Magical Child archetype for the Vigilante class. The Magical Child can cast spells (like the Summoner) and comes with a familiar, that changes forms as the Child grows in levels, and eventually gets the ability to switch between them. And yes, it has a TransformationSequence. One that starts at thirty seconds, and can get shorter with new talents.
164* ''TabletopGame/PrincessTheHopeful'' is a DeconReconSwitch of Magical Girls that's compatible with the ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness''. Princesses are charged with improving the world, but doing so is going to take a lot of hard work, struggle, sacrifice, and more varied strategies than ThePowerOfLove.
165[[/folder]]
166
167[[folder:Web Animation]]
168* Bee from ''WebAnimation/BeeAndPuppycat'' unintentionally finds herself working as one as a part time job. Her response was... less than pleased. The series as a whole can be thought of as an AffectionateParody of the genre.
169* ''WebAnimation/KawaiiBattleStars''
170%% * ''WebAnimation/MagicalFunTimeNow''
171* ''WebAnimation/MagicalGirlsOfAmazingRainbow''
172[[/folder]]
173
174[[folder:Web Original]]
175* The entire ''Literature/ArcanaMagiUniverse'' feature Magical Girls.
176** So far in ''Literature/ArcanaMagi'', Alysia Morales is a magical girl under unfortunate circumstances.
177** Meanwhile in ''Literature/ArcanaMagiZero'', Alysia Perez and Megumi Miyazaki are magical girls complete with TransformationSequence, [[ImpossiblyCoolClothes magical outfits]], and [[CallingYourAttacks random attack names]].
178* Played with in various ''Improfanfic'' series:
179** ''Literature/MagicalGirlHunters'' -- So many girls are empowered as magical girls that they're starting to run out of sensible themes and names, and many magical girl groups are starting to target lesser evils like corporate greed. The protagonists are the eponymous hunters, hired assassins who eliminate magical girls who have become pests. Some featured deconstructions include [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Sailor H]], [[EldritchAbomination the Sailor Shoggoths]], and the 64 (later 128) [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience Crayola Knights]].
180* ''Literature/{{Lambda}}''
181* ''Literature/MagicHeartAndTheMagicalWarriors''
182* ''Literature/TheMagicalAndMysteriousWorldOfLadyStar''.
183* ''Literature/{{Raya}}''
184* ''Literature/SagaOfSoul'' - A magical girl tries to apply [[SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic the scientific method]] to her newfound powers, while defending her world from [[TheLegionsOfHell demons]], [[TheEmpire the Elysium]], [[TheMagocracy the Circle of Wisdom]], and [[CorruptCorporateExecutive more]].
185* {{Deconstructed|Trope}} ''hard'' in ''Literature/SailorNothing''.
186[[/folder]]
187
188[[folder:Web Videos]]
189* ''WebVideo/MahouProfileAHistoryOfMagicalGirls'' is a [=YouTube=] series dedicated to the history of magical girl anime.
190[[/folder]]
191
192!!!Examples of the Magical Girl trope referred to in other works:
193
194[[folder:Advertising]]
195* [[https://www.facebook.com/internetexplorertan Apparently,]] the {{mascot}} for Microsoft Internet Explorer was a MoeAnthropomorphism personification of a magical girl, TransformationSequence and all. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHTUlF7NA2o She fights robots well enough]], but she didn't succeed in attracting any audience to the "browser everyone loves to hate" - Internet Explorer ended up being replaced by Microsoft Edge.
196* [[http://www.zerochan.net/Osame-tai Osame-tai]], an advertising campaign parodying Pretty Cure on behalf of the Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan, to encourage people to pay their vehicle taxes.
197* The "[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLli3M8RkN4lkuDM-3ruyE2lfZCtt7wHOo Metro Manners]]" {{Public Service Announcement}}s star Creator/AnnaAkana as Super Kind, who uses the power of music... and NewPowersAsThePlotDemands to punish monstrous "Metro Menaces" who act inconsiderate on the subway.
198[[/folder]]
199
200[[folder:Audio Play]]
201* Spoofed in the ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'' drama CD story "Chain Sentai Puyorangers", where Raffina refuses to wear a ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' outfit as Amitie expected and instead dons a red frilly magical girl outfit while naming herself "Miracle Raffina".
202[[/folder]]
203
204[[folder:Comic Books]]
205* ''ComicBook/AmethystPrincessOfGemworld'' combines Magical Girl with ChangelingFantasy and HighFantasy.
206* [[ComicBook/SuicideSquad The Enchantress]] created by Creator/DCComics in 1966, comes very close to being a proto-MagicalGirlWarrior. Young woman June Moone goes with her slightly older boyfried to an alledgedly haunted castle for a party. Turns out that there are actual spooks. June stumbles into a secret chamber, where a mysterious being tells her she is TheChosenOne and gives her a transformation word. June says it and gets magical powers, an appearance makeover (blonde to dark red), a miniskirted costume, and a kickin' witch hat. The Enchantress then battles a MonsterOfTheWeek and evacuates the civilians before the castle collapses. June reappears with a weak excuse and her boyfriend expresses an interest in her alter ego. There were two more stories where Enchantress fought random menaces, but the writers didn't have a good story arc beyond that, so she went into obscurity for years, including a phase as a DarkMagicalGirl.
207* The ''ComicBook/Gen13'' miniseries ''Magical Drama Queen Roxy'', which reinvents Freefall as a Magical girl, is a parody of the genre. Turned out to be AllJustADream.
208* Comic book {{Superhero}}ine [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Mary Marvel]], who first appeared in 1942, possessed several similar characteristics to the MagicalGirlWarrior sub-type: skimpy costume, magical TransformationSequence into a super-powered form, a Destiny, and (if you stretch it to include Tawky Tawny) a TalkingAnimal friend.
209* ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'' is an Italian comic following the formula of an Action Hero magical girl series. The main 5 girls all have magical powers, transformation sequences, and fight to defend the earth from evil forces. The animated TV show is based on the comic books.
210* ''ComicBook/QueenBee''
211[[/folder]]
212
213[[folder:Fan Works]]
214* In ''Fanfic/AHero'', [[Series/DoctorWho Dalek Sec]] implies that [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica 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 ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', 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.]]
215* The ''Fanfic/CardinalKing'' series is a ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' fanfic series in which the roles of Mamoru and Usagi are inverted - Mamoru is the HenshinHero Cardinal King, the Shitennou are his fellow magical warriors and Usagi is the MysteriousProtector Jewel Tiara.
216* Rosalina Folium, or Mirabilis as she calls herself, in the ''Fanfic/ForestOfDespair'' believes that she is a magical girl. She has a wand, outfit, spell names, flowers and everything needed except for actual magic.
217* ''Webcomic/FriendshipIsMagic'', a Website/DeviantArt comic based on the eponymous ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' takes on this genre in full force ([[AffectionateParody almost to the point of parody]]), including a HighSchool in an [[GhibliHills urban Japanese setting]], CallingYourAttacks, [[PowerCrystal magical forehead crystals]], and even a little {{Chibi}} [[Creator/LaurenFaust Fausticorn]] sidekick.
218* Rin of ''Manga/BlueExorcist'' becomes a magical ''boy'' in '' Fanfic/InheritanceOfCardsAndDemons'', due to finding the chest containing the [[Manga/CardCaptorSakura Clow Cards]] (as well as a few new ones Sakura created) and becoming the new Cardcaptor.
219* In ''Fanfic/KeepersOfTheElements'', the canonically non-magical ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' girls Gwen, Bridgette, Izzy, Heather and Lindsay each gain ElementalPowers of a different type, with the embittered Courtney later becoming an EvilCounterpart.
220* In ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero'', Nonoko[[note]][[NoNameGiven Kyon's little sister]] from the original[[/note]] [[DaydreamBeliever believes]] she will become a Magical girl after her school trip. It actually happens even earlier, with Kyon's BadassLongcoat and MorphWeapon substituting for a dress and MagicWand, and [[FunSize Achakura]] for MentorMascot.
221* ''Fanfic/LuxUmbraMagnaAuguratricis'' deals with the [[WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse the Loud Sisters]] turning into magical girls by the force of a BondCreature known as Gemini in order to combat the Shadows. Heck, the summary of the story even calls them Magical Girls!
222* Several fanfic attempts (or at least attempted) a Magical girl crossover style in the form of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars''.
223** ''Fanfic/BattleFantasiaProject''
224** ''Fanfic/MagicalGirlConvergence''
225** ''Fanfic/SuperMagicaWars''
226* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5689769/1/Magical-Whip-Girl-Pretty-LottenChan Magical Whip Girl Pretty Lotten-Chan]]'' [[Anime/YuGiOh5Ds Lotten]] (or more accurately Lotten-''[[GenderFlip Chan]]'') is a whip-wielding magical girl who has to defend Crashtown from the forces of evil.
227* [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Meg]] [[spoiler: as well as her daughter Rosie]] in ''Fanfic/TheSpellbook''.
228* ''Fanfic/ShatteredSkiesTheMorningLights'' is a [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover Massive]] CrisisCrossover that brings together the casts of the five premiere series of magical girl-dom: ''Franchise/SailorMoon'', ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'', the first ten ''Anime/PrettyCure'' continuities, ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', and ''Franchise/MadokaMagica'', uniting magical girls from across the spectrum to fight a war for the sake of all existence.
229* In ''Fanfic/SlayersTrilogy'', Amelia gains the ability to transform into a magical girl.
230* ''Fanfic/TentomuChuDesu'' has the members of the ''Music/AKB48'' Group as magical girls, specifically the members of the titular unit "Tentoumu chu".
231[[/folder]]
232
233[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
234* Even the horror genre has nods to this trope. ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet4TheDreamMaster'' can be seen as a darker take on the Magical girl story, since Alice's dream powers at first only serve to make everyone around her bigger targets for Freddy Krueger and they are PersonalityPowers received from their deaths. Nonetheless, it has the typical tropes: shy and insecure teenage girl receives magical powers one day (from Kristen, the previous FinalGirl) and, over the course of the movie, overcomes her insecurities and matures into her role as the titular Dream Master, freeing the children's souls from Freddy while getting the hot guy and reconciling with her [[AbusiveParents abusive father]].
235[[/folder]]
236
237[[folder:Literature]]
238* The German fantasy book series (also adapted as an audio drama) ''Literature/BibiBlocksberg'' 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.[[note]]Though there had been numerous anime broadcast earlier in Germany -- among others ''Heidi'', ''Pinocchio'', ''Captain Future'', ''Maya the Bee'' and ''The Little Viking Wickie'', they had been promoted as "animated" or "cartoon series", and the fact that they were ''Japanese'' animated series had been neglected to mention. Therefore many Germans believed that the series were Austrian, Belgian, French or American productions -- as Germany dubbed these series, there was no tell-tale sound track.[[/note]]
239* The German book series ''Literature/LillyTheWitch'' is about a girl named Lilly who finds a magical book which turns her into a witch, as well as a MentorMascot 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.
240[[/folder]]
241
242[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
243* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', oddly enough, can be seen as a MagicalGirlWarrior show. The first season in particular looks quite a bit like a classic Magical Girl series viewed through a funhouse mirror. This is probably not a coincidence, since Creator/JossWhedon is known to be a fan of ''Anime/SailorMoon''.
244* ''Series/H2OJustAddWater'' is an Australian TV show about teenage girls that turn into mermaids. Some episodes are just SliceOfLife about the girls trying to hide their magic from their peers, while others will touch on parts of mermaid mythology.
245* ''Series/TheSecretWorldOfAlexMack''
246[[/folder]]
247
248[[folder:Music]]
249* South Korean girl group Music/{{AOA}} has a sub-group called [=AOA=] Cream, who released a song titled "I'm Jelly [=BABY=]." In its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhKFSXN2Fr4 music video]], the girls transform into {{Magical Girl Warrior}}s to get [[WomanScorned revenge]] on a cheating boyfriend.
250* Music/{{Vocaloid}} features a parody of this trope... with poor Len not as a magical boy, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5BhK8JUCi8 but as a magical kitty.]]
251[[/folder]]
252
253[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
254* The "Magical Child" archetype for the Vigilante class in ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' can be of any age or gender, but draws heavily from the Magical girl trope. They get spellcasting ability, a TransformationSequence to activate their SecretIdentity, and an animal {{familiar}}.[[/folder]]
255
256[[folder:Tokusatsu]]
257* ''Series/BalalaTheFairies'', which is basically a live action ''Anime/PrettyCure''.
258* In the 1980s and early 1990s, Creator/ShotaroIshinomori had a hand in making the Franchise/ToeiFushigiComedySeries. While earlier series were kiddie SciFi robot shows and friendly monsters, the later entries in the franchise were all live action magical girls, such as ''Mahou Shoujo Chuuka na Paipai'', ''Fushigi Shojo Nile na Thutmose'', ''Series/BishoujoKamenPoitrine'', and ''Series/YuugenJikkouSistersShushutorian''.
259* ''Series/CuteyHoneyTheLive'' is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin - a live action version of Cutey Honey.
260* ''Series/PrettyGuardianSailorMoon'', a live action version of ''Franchise/SailorMoon''.
261* The toku series ''Series/SeishoujoSenshiSaintValkyrie'', which appears to have been inspired by ''Webcomic/SparklingGenerationValkyrieYuuki''.
262* Even ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' has an example. ''Series/GekisouSentaiCarranger'', the parody series, had the kid sister of the series' main villainess transforming into White Racer, a racing-themed magical girl, to occasionally help out the heroes. Also, she had a cat/car-based mecha. ''Carranger'' was an odd year.
263* ''Series/KamenRiderExAid''[='=]s Poppy Pipopapo (Asuna Karino) transforms into her disguised civilian form or her true Bugster form when she says, "Costume Change" that bares some Magical Girl elements and and has a true bubbly and energetic personality like one of the protagonists from those magical girl series such as Usagi "Serena" Tsukino (Sailor Moon) from ''Franchise/SailorMoon'', & Miyuki Hoshizora (Emily) (Cure Happy) (Glitter Lucky) from ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure'' (''Anime/GlitterForce''). Also, as Asuna, she has a mature and no-nonsense persona, although her normal personality will momentarily surface if she is addressed by her real name. But as Kamen Rider Poppy, she uses with the Gashacon Bugvisor II (Buggle Driver II) & the Tokimeki Crisis Gashat, given from Amagasaki Ren (Lovelica Bugster) & her transformation sequence has some Magical Girl elements, like ''Franchise/SailorMoon'', & ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure'' (''Anime/GlitterForce'').
264* Once in ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'', in order to hide his identity from his Grandmother, Kamen Rider Beast refers himself as Magical Girl Beast.
265* The ''Girl x Warrior'' franchise in Japan is a magical girl tokusatsu franchise meant to rival the ''Anime/PrettyCure'' franchise. The first installment, ''Idol x Warriors Miracle Tunes'', which is about idols given the power to transform and fight evil, premiered in 2017 in Japan, and has recently gotten a European adaptation.
266[[/folder]]
267
268[[folder:Toys]]
269* ''Toys/MilkyWayAndTheGalaxyGirls'' was an attempt by Creator/LaurenFaust to launch a toy line in this genre.
270[[/folder]]
271
272[[folder:Web Original]]
273* In ''Literature/TheImpossibleMan'' Yuki Shimizu is a Magical girl, sent by her mother who leads a mysterious village of Magical Girls and Magical Women, to work as Michael Garcia's bodyguard at his store.
274* In ''Monster Girl Encyclopedia'', magical girl appear to be a class of heroine, with ''Fallen Maidens'' book features a magical girl named Mimiru Miltie. As hinted by name of the book, [[FallenHero she got corrupted and become a witch of Subbath cult]].
275[[/folder]]
276
277[[folder:Web Videos]]
278* The Mother's Basement's [[FauxDocumentary PSA]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2gEkdPZOM8 Is YOUR Daughter a Magical Girl?!]] serves as a "what to look for" guide to parents of magical girls.
279[[/folder]]

Top