Mahou Tsukai Tai!

Title:Mahou Tsukai Tai!
Magic User's Club
Magic User's Club OAV
Magic User's Club!
Magic Users Club
Overall:Buy
Keywords: , , , , , , ,
Notables: IIZUKA Mayumi
IWAO Junko
KONISHI Hiroko
KOYASU Takehito
ONOSAKA Masaya
SAKUMA Rei
The school magic club tries to attack mostly benign alien invaders. The back story (as told in the introductory monologue): "A mysterious object from space suddenly came to town. Its mission is to destory all the nations in the world. Soldiers tried to fight back, but they couldn't even scratch it. But if we don't bother it, it won't do anything to us, right? So, in less then a year, people got used to seeing the object in town. Well, the object stops at every stop light it passes... Everyone thought it would destroy their city, but evidently, it didn't harm any of it. However, Takakura-senpai said it wasn't good and that he's going to attack it. ``That's a mission for those of us who have magical powers...'' he said."

[6 OAV episodes. See also the sequel Mahou Tsukai Tai! TV]

Read the translated manga online at MangaFox

Episode Details 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
OverallArtAnimationCharacter Design MusicSeries StoryEpisode StoryReviewer
Rent 8 7 8 6 6 6 Ggultra2764 [series:3#1552]
(Rent-/ Watch+)

Magic User’s Club proved to be a fairly subpar series in its comedic exploration of magic combating against an alien menace. The humor to the series tends to be hit-or-miss having its moments of humor coming off some notable character quirks such as Takeo’s thoughts literally being conveyed on his face while in denial over it and Akane abusing her magic selfishly. On the other hand, the show tends to rely too much on perverted humor at points as it frequently milks Takeo’s perversion and Ayano’s homosexuality for cheap laughs. Also, don’t expect much in the way of exploration on characters and the nature surrounding the aliens as this series is more focused on getting its laughs off the Magic Club’s dealings with the aliens and the quirks of the characters. The show does have its touching moments coming off character interactions between club members and has a clean visual presentation where the lining doesn’t look rough, the color tone is bright enough at reflecting the show’s cheerful mood and has a decent amount of visual detail to boot. But the hit-or-miss comedy isn’t enough to get me to want to recommend this series at anything above a Rent rating.

Last updated Wednesday, July 27 2011. Created Wednesday, July 27 2011.
Watch 7 8 7 7 7 7 Dreamer [series:3#2279]
Based on the reviews below, I decided pick this one up to see how it fairs. It's not bad but only worth watching when there's nothing else.

Art, Animation & Character Designs
Considering its age, the artwork and animation was pretty good.... rich colors and well done backgrounds. Character designs however showed their age. But still, it wasn't too bad.

Music
The OP was an okay piece from the 90's. It wasn't too bad. The rest of the soundtrack had trumpet pieces and light orchestra during melodramatic moments and scenes. The ED was an interesting lullaby that sounded pretty good. After a while, it grew on me.

Series and Episode Story
There wasn't too much to this series. There was some light humor and even milder excitement. There really wasn't a plot. Just some episodic stories that were pretty light hearted. As for the odd aliens, we don't get to understand what they're on earth for until the last episode.

Overall, this was a really mild series. Not a whole lot goes on and not a whole lot of humor. It's just something to watch if there's nothing else.

Last updated Monday, January 11 2010. Created Monday, January 11 2010.
Buy Stretch [series:3#628]
When I first saw Magic Users Club, on a rented DVD, it was love at first sight. I cancelled my requests to rent the remainder of the series, and instead mail ordered a box set of the combined OVA and TV episodes (I also immediately recorded the theme song on my tape of favorite anime music). The way the episodes open with a grim, initially silent battle between the "Bell" and Earth's armed forces reminded me of the way the first episode of Mahoromatic began (and I read a review which described the two series as resembling each other). Afterwards a completely different mood of silliness is projected. The idea of magic being employed by not exactly competent teenagers is novel, and is handled in a hilarious way. The series can also be surprisingly touching at times--such as when Nanaka dares to tell Aburatsubo how she feels about him. Everything just snaps together near flawlessly--like magic! I can see why this series still commands a premium price (even for a 1995 release). But only two episodes per DVD?

My favorite line: "Not once have you shown or felt guilt or shame for your abhorrent behavior!" --Takeo

Last updated Saturday, March 01 2008. Created Thursday, March 18 2004.
Rent 9 9 9 10 9 8 AstroNerdBoy [series:3#436]
This six episode OAV has only one problem -- the homosexual character of Aburatsubo. His being homosexual wasn't the problem. It was his constant attempts to have sex with his male friend, the very heterosexual Takakura. Those jokes got old REAL quick as did the jokes over Takakura's fantasies over various attractive girl's being in a state of undress for him causing Aburatsubo to go into extreme jealousy.

Storywise, Magic User's Club is about five high school student, two male and three female, who all are able to use magic and cast spells to varying degrees. It seems that the cylinder from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (or something very much like it) has come to Earth. It manages to subdue all of the world's military might, then parks itself over Japan where it sits in the sky for many years, sending probes from time to time. Takakura, as leader of the MU's Club, decides that only magic will be able to defeat the alien vessel, known as Bell.

The series can be very funny at times. The characters are designed well and have enough development to be very memorable. Even Aburatsubo, at times when he's not trying to jackhammer Takakura's rear-end, can be very likable. Episode 5 comes to mind. However, they decide to keep things shallow with a lot of perverted humor of both the gay and straight kind. The story is very serial in nature meaning each episode picks up where the previous one left off. For me, this was a big plus.

Bottom line: Well worth a rent despite the annoying parts I've already described. See the sequel TV series Mahou Tsukai Tai! TV.

Last updated Monday, March 29 2004. Created Monday, April 21 2003.
Buy 9 9 9 10 9 9 kakyuu_prince [series:3#404]
Mahou Tsukai Tai! is one the most hilarious things I've ever seen! All the characters (except for Akane) are very entertaining and memorable. Takakura-sempai is one of my favorite characters ever, he is was absoulutely hysterical! Aburatsubo was really great too, like when he's fawning over Takakura. Plus he's a bishounen. Nanaka was pretty cool too, I definitely liked her a lot more after episode 5. The story is entertaining as well making Mahou Tsukai Tai! a series that you really shouldn't miss out on.

Last updated Sunday, October 13 2002. Created Sunday, October 13 2002.
Buy 7 7 7 7 Kaitou Juliet [series:3#137]

Fans of this series tend to fall into two categories: those who prefer the OAVs (first six episodes, with the "bell" plot arc) and those who prefer the TV series (last thirteen episodes, with the "Jinno" plot arc). I am one of the latter, so that may cause some people to take my review with a grain of salt.

The blend of science fiction and magic in the OAVs didn't quite work for me; I was never very interested in the Bell. I was much more interested in the personal interactions and the use of magic in everyday life, and that's what I got in the TV series.

The characters were all interesting and lovable. I wish the magic had been a little more thoroughly explained, but I liked what information they did give--it was different from the usual system you see. (Harry Potter fans should enjoy this series.)



Last updated Friday, October 18 2002. Created Friday, October 19 2001.
Buy Robbie [series:3#192]
This is one of the BEST OVA series around! Not only is the animation excellent, but it also has a great story line filled with comedy and fantasy. The characters are also some of the best that I have seen in anime. After watching the first episode, I was immediatly hooked! Mahou Tsukia Tai! (or Magic User's Club! as known in America), is a great fun-filled ride for anyone that could use a good laugh. Be sure to watch this gold mine of an anime, it's definately not one to be missed. The TV series is also to be soon released by Anime Works, so be sure to catch that too!

Last updated Monday, December 10 2001. Created Friday, July 13 2001.
Buy 9 9 8 9 9 Anonymous #130 [series:3#130]
A simply great OAV, I can't wait to watch the TV when it comes out. This series has such a refreshing feel, I duno how to explain it. But the music and everything just encompasses this great anime in a nice package. Really really get this anime when it comes out here commercially by Media Blasters.

Last updated Thursday, January 25 2001. Created Thursday, January 25 2001.
Buy 8 9 9 9 10 9 Anonymous #51 [series:3#51]
Although I normally never give a perfect score for nearly any series at all, I feel Mahou Tsukai Tai! has more than exceeded the expectations that I had for it. Respectful both to Witches, in real life and in stories, and also with realistic character development and characterization (especially Aburatsubo, as a homosexual character), it also injects a great deal of hilarious comedy and brilliant dialogue into a strange melange of magick and science fiction.
The costumes of the club are beautiful and stylish, aesthetic to the extreme, and the club's members reflect a realistic cross-section of high-school gathering: I know that in most of the clubs I was involved in at that time of my life, there was at least one person fitting into each of the archetypes outlined in Mahou Tsukai Tai!.
The comical nods to the Cthulhu mythos and various other amusing incantations made this OAV series all the more enjoyable, and that coupled with the obvious shoujo influence (Sawanoguchi and her wavering self-confidence, along with various other features) created a perfect environment for the great comedy situations in the series.
Even despite the silliness at times, this series does convey a beautiful, intimate feel at times, and its serious and almost brutally honest portrayal of real situations...Aburatsubo's unrequited love for Takeo, and then in turn one of the girls for Aburatsubo, Akane's unwillingness to use her power, Takeo's self-doubt and conniving, wishing with all his might to impress Sawanoguchi...and then her own mysteries, such as the true identity of 'Jeff-kun' and her own inner magick.
This is a series that you should see, undoubtedly. It is one of the best OAVs that has ever been produced, wonderful and beautiful all the way through. The music is imaginative and enjoyable, the jokes are truly funny, and the story is engaging. You will want to watch this again and again...definitely a keeper.

Last updated Monday, June 26 2000. Created Monday, June 26 2000.
Buy Jenn-chan [series:3#31]
In all, this series is the perfect filler for when you don't know what to check out next. While the series isn't that long, the characters are all endearing and you start to care alot about them. I think Takeo's character went overboard on the "awkward geek" meter, making him not a very believeable love interest for Sae. However, I liked every character and would love to see them in the TV series. The story itself was ok. Sae gets help from her magical teddy bear to take down the Bell (the alien invaders) and save her friends. Not exactly intense, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. There were several funny parts, some with a touch of ecchi. Takeo should get some sort of award for the most nosebleeds in an OVA series. Altogether, very cute and enjoyable.

Last updated Tuesday, April 25 2000. Created Tuesday, April 25 2000.

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