Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru markets itself as a cute series about the daily lives of magical girls, much like a certain popular mahou shoujo series, and in some ways that's exactly what it is. Although it is a Magical Girl Warrior series, Yuuki Yuuna devotes much of its time to developing its characters and their relationships with each other while the battle scenes tend to take a back seat. The characters are a bit cliched (you have the Genki Girl main heroine, her Blue Oni best friend, the Cool Big Sis and her shy little sister, and finally the Tsundere who eventually warms up to the group), but the Slice of Life aspects of the show make you really care about the members of the Sanshu Middle School Hero Club.
This becomes important in the second half of the series, which begins to explore what it truly means to be a Hero as well as whether the sacrifices that the girls make are worth it. Although the revelations are a bit predictable, the emotional impact this has on the characters becomes much stronger due to how much you come to care for the characters. Episode 9 in particular is incredibly emotional and executed flawlessly.
It's almost a shame that there aren't more battle scenes, because the visual presentation is stunning. The flower motif present throughout the series is well thought-out and consistent without becoming obnoxious. This is combined with an ethereal OST to create a beautiful yet alien feel to the series' conflicts (as expected of the studio behind Nier's soundtrack!).
If Yuuki Yuuna has one flaw, it's that it sometimes falls victim to its breakneck pace. The actual conflict of the series (the battle against the Angel-like beings called "Vertex") moves very fast. This becomes painfully apparent in the final episode, which wraps things up without taking much time to explain the specifics of the plot's resolution and leaves quite a few questions behind. Therefore, it may feel like a copout to some, while even those who enjoy it may wish that they had another thirty minutes develop the ending.
Regardless of a slightly weak conclusion, the show manages to stand up on its own feet out of Madoka's shadow and be very enjoyable in its own right. Ultimately, it's a show about the preciousness of daily life and the bonds it brings us.
Do you feel like a hero yet?
Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru markets itself as a cute series about the daily lives of magical girls, much like a certain popular mahou shoujo series, and in some ways that's exactly what it is. Although it is a Magical Girl Warrior series, Yuuki Yuuna devotes much of its time to developing its characters and their relationships with each other while the battle scenes tend to take a back seat. The characters are a bit cliched (you have the Genki Girl main heroine, her Blue Oni best friend, the Cool Big Sis and her shy little sister, and finally the Tsundere who eventually warms up to the group), but the Slice of Life aspects of the show make you really care about the members of the Sanshu Middle School Hero Club.
This becomes important in the second half of the series, which begins to explore what it truly means to be a Hero as well as whether the sacrifices that the girls make are worth it. Although the revelations are a bit predictable, the emotional impact this has on the characters becomes much stronger due to how much you come to care for the characters. Episode 9 in particular is incredibly emotional and executed flawlessly.
It's almost a shame that there aren't more battle scenes, because the visual presentation is stunning. The flower motif present throughout the series is well thought-out and consistent without becoming obnoxious. This is combined with an ethereal OST to create a beautiful yet alien feel to the series' conflicts (as expected of the studio behind Nier's soundtrack!).
If Yuuki Yuuna has one flaw, it's that it sometimes falls victim to its breakneck pace. The actual conflict of the series (the battle against the Angel-like beings called "Vertex") moves very fast. This becomes painfully apparent in the final episode, which wraps things up without taking much time to explain the specifics of the plot's resolution and leaves quite a few questions behind. Therefore, it may feel like a copout to some, while even those who enjoy it may wish that they had another thirty minutes develop the ending.
Regardless of a slightly weak conclusion, the show manages to stand up on its own feet out of Madoka's shadow and be very enjoyable in its own right. Ultimately, it's a show about the preciousness of daily life and the bonds it brings us.
Final score: A-