One of the areas of Japanese visual art is magna and anime. Today, all over the world, these genres are quite famous. Manga is a Japanese comic with specific animation. Moreover, the plot of such works can be very different. Anime is a full-fledged animated film.
Our viewers are better known for such genres as fiction or fantasy. However, Japanese animation is considered one of the most developed and richest in the world. Even horrors and dramas can be drawn in this style. A feature of the anime is considered to be the approach to drawing characters. They can be very realistic. But sometimes authors draw very big eyes for their heroes. The facial expressions of the characters are also quite peculiar.
Anime and manga are only the basis for creating a variety of works. They can be comic or very deep and touching. It will be about such a style as the Maho-shojo. What kind of genre this should be considered in more detail.
general characteristics
Maho-shoujo is one of the areas of anime. Translated, this name literally means "girl-sorceress." The main character of this cartoon is an ordinary schoolgirl. She may be a child or even an adult girl. During the series, she can grow up and improve. But the peculiarity of such a girl is always possession of magical power.
This direction is a subspecies of shojo. There are comics and cartoons with the main character of the youth. This direction is called Maho-senen. But this genre is less common.
Over time, plots and graphics improved. It happens that several girls with supernatural abilities participate in the history of this anime direction. However, initially the main character was one.
Anime story
To understand the full depth of Japanese animation, you need to look into the history of the formation of anime, the genre of Maho-shojo. They originate from very ancient times. The stories in the pictures met back in the days of the ancient rulers of Japan. The first officially recognized comic strip is “Funny pictures from the life of animals” (12th century), created by a Buddhist priest, Which.
In the 19th century, European and American animation had a huge impact on manga. In the 20th century, the militaristic government influenced the formation of this art direction. They banned political manga and actively promoted such subjects as adventure, science fiction.
In the post-war period, Tezuk Osama brought manga to a new level. He created the technique and style of modern anime. Today, manga has so deeply entered the life of Japan that without it, people can no longer imagine their art.
Genre animation
Maho-shoujo is an anime and manga genre. It can be presented to audiences in different ways. If it’s a manga, then the cover is usually colored, and all the comic book pictures remain black and white. Such publications are printed in daily newspapers and magazines (the approximate volume is 15-20 pages). There are also special editions in which only manga is represented.
Full-length cartoons in the anime genre are rarely released. This is more a serial direction. Tezuka Osamu is considered one of the most important creators of anime. He proposed not to chase the western famous cartoons, but to win the audience with series. They do not differ in deep rendering, but much more attention is paid to creating images of heroes .
The target audience of the Maho-shojo are girls of school or adolescence. In this direction, gender separation is great. There are family series, but their plot is designed for a middle-aged audience and children.
Heroes of the genre
There are some generally recognized features of the Maho-shojo. The canons of the genre define the main character as a girl or girl, who can be an ordinary schoolgirl, but has magical powers. Moreover, she can acquire this ability under certain circumstances. Sometimes a girl develops her abilities in the process of growing up. There are also stories of this style with the main character living in a magical kingdom.
Initially, the girl’s family relations with her parents and friends at school were revealed in this genre. Later, a romantic trend appeared in the Macho Shojo. The fact is that until the 60s of the last century men painted such manga and anime. After 1964, the era of stories drawn by women began. They looked at the world differently.
Attributes
The presented manga has certain attributes. The genre of Maho-shojo is quite extensive. It has a number of distinctive features. The first attribute of a sorceress girl is an assistant. This animal, which also has some abilities. He can knock out his mistress for different actions. Most often it is a cat or a dog, but it can be a fictional animal.
The next important attribute is a magical item. With it, the girl casts spells, using her strength as necessary.
This
is usually
a wand, but there may be another item. He will recognize his mistress. Only she can control a magical item.
The opposite optimistic sorceress girl is a sorceress who looks older than her, brings evil to this world. The main character has to fight with her. The antagonistic image is usually insidious. The evil sorceress has an unnatural, malicious snicker, she seeks either to destroy this world, or to bring as much evil into it as possible.
Magic power
The behavior and use of their power is different for each hero who contains the genre of Maho-shojo. Shoujo comedy, romance or drama make the plot more diverse. The assistant animal often makes fun of its mistress. This shows the comedic orientation of the genre. Romance is often found in the relationship of the main character with her boyfriend. It happens that there are elements of drama.
But the main place in the series is still given to magic. The girl uses her magic item at the moment of danger. Before that, she speaks special words, can even perform certain movements (gymnastic, fighting).
In the process, she often changes shape. Her clothes become a special outfit. It may even change age. The process of transformation is called Henshin. It is the same from series to series. In a reincarnated form, others may not recognize the sorceress. But to maintain the connection of the audience with the character, the girl’s appearance does not change much.
Henshin
The transformation of an ordinary girl into a sorceress in the anime is given special attention. Studying the Maho-shoujo (what kind of genre this is), this process needs to be considered more carefully. Usually Henshin draw once and repeat it in each series. However, some anime creators after a few episodes miss this point, so that the viewer does not review the same scene again and again.
Henshin may contain a process of changing clothes when a girl loses her old clothes, but doesn’t get a new one for a few more seconds. The transformation is always drawn schematically. The girl’s body can only be outlined. Usually it is in the glow or other special effects.
This stage symbolizes the process of growing up girls. Sometimes it is even shown how, after the transformation, a girl becomes an adult girl. This allows young spectators to project the image of the heroine on themselves. The girl seems to be growing up with her.
Famous TV shows
Maho-shoujo anime genre - romance, drama or comedy, but always with elements of a fairy tale. Maybe in some ways they are primitive, but they give young spectators the promise of a kind, sensual model of behavior, they teach to believe in miracles. Maybe that's why this is precisely the genre of anime that has been enjoying great popularity for many years. There are many classic series in the style of Maho-shojo.
The first work of this genre was the work of Mahou Tsukai Sally (1966). Next, it is worth noting the appeared anime Majokko Megu-chan. It was aimed at boys and girls. The first series of this genre shown in our country was the anime Hana no ko Lunlun. The main character was a Frenchwoman.
But the most famous Macho Shojo series on our planet is Sailormoon.
Here, the authors, in addition to the main character, introduced her friends, also sorceresses, into the plot. The series received a lot of good and bad reviews. But one thing remains the same. This is an anime series that was watched by almost everyone, even people far from this genre.
Summary
Studying the Maho-shojo (what kind of genre is it, its features, etc.), it should be noted that although it was attended by a lot of experiments, additions to other areas of the anime, its meaning remained quite deep. Each girl in the process of growing up learns some truths, knows herself. Together with such series, something good and bright is laid in children's minds.
Maybe such series are not the peak of animation art, but their educational role cannot be taken away. Bright, beautiful characters fascinate the viewer. They are taught to overcome difficulties, whatever they may be. In this case, the process of growing up occurs. Vulgar, harsh and evil images contrast the main characters. This educates girls their tenderness, femininity and kindness. After all, each person has his own special magical power.
Having considered the features of the Maho-shojo (what kind of genre this is now known), you can add your opinion about this direction of the anime. This is one of the most popular types of series. The right to exist cannot be denied.