Mahou Shoujo Tai Arusu

The first thing that struck me about Mahou Shoujo-tai Alice was the musical start (DVD-release in Japan). The music was beautiful and combined with medieval European-styled artwork that was also beautiful to look at. Certainly a neat way to catch ones attention in this otherwise young shoujo-fare title.

The character designs and art designs are an odd combination. We have the beauty of a Miyazaki-sensei movie combined with Dr. Seuss and something Tim Burton ("Nightmare Before Christmas") might come up with. The result works, but won't make this feel like a traditional anime. Further, having most of the characters have western names, keeping the use of Japanese honorifics down, having non-traditional anime art and character designs, and the more "dumbed down" story makes me really wonder if the Japanese were trying to entice an R1 company (4Kids for example) to pick this up.

Because this is a title that has been geared for younger audiences (possibly American TV audiences), things are forced throughout the series, but not horribly so -- no square pegs into the round hole. For example, Alice just drops into this new world of magic and witches and events are a bit forced so that she ends up with Sheila-chan and Eva-chan. Events are a bit forced to get Alice learning magic. Events are a bit forced to allow Alice's dream ideals to work. The ending has some forcing to get things completed properly. This happens throughout the title, but again I have to remind myself that this was geared to a young audience.

The story is interesting, but ultra predictable. No surprises anywhere to be found. Again, I have to remind myself that the story was geared to a younger female audience. Because this shoujo crowd is the target, the writers make feeling trump everything else. Thus Alice can spout idealistic stuff until the cows come home and the writers will do things to try to make those ideals work, even if they smack as unrealistic.

Speaking of Alice, despite her annoying spoutings at times, I couldn't help but like her. Still, when the logical Sheila smacks her in episode 29, I was pretty happy about that. Frankly Alice could have used a few more slaps but oh well. In addition to Alice and Shelia, there's Eva-chan who makes up the group's weakest member but the one who wants to do right and has a good heart. The seiyuu playing these three characters do a fantastic job in bringing them to life.

Bottom line: a bit too preachy and too kiddy for my tastes. Still, the beauty of the art and music and mostly fun story and characters are enough to make this worth a "Rent."

Last updated Friday, December 05 2008. Created Saturday, April 08 2006.