Mahoutsukai no Yome Review – Step into the world of magic and fantasy

Step into the world of magic and fantasy

• Episodes : 24
• Genre : Slice of Life, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen
• Airing Date : Oct, 2017- Mar, 2018
• Producers : Wit Studios

Mahoutsukai no Yome Introduction and Story (Spoilers)

The Ancient Magus Bride follows 16 year old Chise Hattori as she is about to be sold at auction due to her supreme magical elements. Known as a Sleigh Beggy, Chise cannot only use magic – initially she is unable to though – she can also be a conduit for beings in the magical world. Chise’s life changes when during the auction she is bought by a Magus known as Elias Ainsworth who just so happens to be neither human nor beast. Elias buys Chise to be his apprentice and bride, to be taught magical spells and abilities but later in the series also asks Chise to teach him how to be more human in nature. From here on out Mahoutsukai no Yome’s story begins by following the lives of Elias and Chise very closely.

The first several episodes of Mahoutsukai no Yome don’t do much for it’s plot. Really what these episodes do is to show the viewers what to expect in terms of the world Chise is now living in and begin to show her companionship to various characters that she meets. Chise meets a slew of strangers like Lindell – Who takes care of the dragons in the Land of Dragons – and Ruth who is drawn to Chise because of his love for his sister.

These are but a few of the components in Mahoutsukai no Yome that ultimately lead Chise along a journey of knowledge and self-understanding. Chise begins her journey nearly shattered thanks to the family that abandoned her and the various beasts that she has had to deal with as a child. However, Chise begins to grow stronger and by the midway point of Mahoutsukai no Yome, we see an almost entirely different person to what Chise was at the beginning of the series.

As I mentioned above, the earlier episodes of Mahoutsukai no Yome aren’t meant to really create a simple love story or to show an antagonist rise up for Chise to face. Instead the earlier episodes focuses on building up Chise and Elias together as they endure various challenges such as saving a girls brother and finding a succubus who has fallen in love with an ailing old man. Once episode 20 hits, we see Chise gather her strength that she gained over the course of the series and begin with her biggest threat yet, Cartaphilus. Here is where Chise musters up her courage and utilizes her powers in true form.

Mahoutsukai no Yome really aims to show a girl – in this case Chise – go from being homeless and alone to finding what it means to have a family and how far you are willing to go to protect those that you love. Chise and Elias both grow closer as the narrative of the series continues to lead to a climax that shows them realizing just how much they need each other despite their still somewhat broken selves. Chise by episode 24 is alot stronger but she still has a long way to go to fully become someone self-sufficient and who is more vocal about what she needs. Likewise Elias – who underwent several dark moments like nearly killing a girl to save Chise – knows that he is a jealous being that loves Chise but has a long way to go before even considering himself as partially human.

The moral of the story that Mahoutsukai no Yome brings is that to grow up as a man or woman, you must face life’s trials and tribulations. If you can somehow learn from your mistakes and deal with what mysteries that life has for you then you can become like Chise who is strong and only will continue to grow stronger.

What I Liked About Mahoutsukai no Yome.

I liked experiencing Chise’s journey, as whimsical and strange as it is, it compelled me in ways very few anime have ever done before. While the world of Mahoutsukai no Yome might have magical spells and beings that have been around for thousands of years, Chise’s and Elias’ tale has a reality about it that can be relatable to the viewer. I witness Chise go from a broken girl to such a strong individual in a course of 24 episodes and experience her going through so many emotions, such as sorrow, self-loathing, depression and doubt but then see her allowing her friends that she meets repair and mend her shattered existence. Sure Chise and Elias’ romance came across as strange and complicated at times but this was more of a backdrop for a plot and setting then meant to be the main focal point of the series. Chise’s love for Elias was that of two people needing each other and dealing with the world as they dealt with themselves. It’s why with Mahoutsukai no Yome I find more good things to say about it then bad.

The narrative:

The narrative is so relatable. There are so many characters in Mahoutsukai no Yome and all of them are truly unique with engaging backstories and impressionable dialogue.

Stunning Visuals:

Wit Studio – the studio behind Shingeki no Kyojin, and a dozen other anime – are known to make their anime truly beautiful. Mahoutsukai no Yome is no exception with this. The visuals are so stunning and the animation is beautiful. Every character was incredibly animated and the magical spells/effects are mesmerizing to watch.

Romantic even though it’s not classed as a romance:

Strangely Mahoutsukai no Yome isn’t considered a romance story, even though it has just enough romance in there to be classed as one. The relationship between Chise and Elias might begin very peculiarly with an almost master-servant theme, but that is quickly dissolved and their relationship feels akin to a newly wed couple. Not only do they have several fights—which are more prominent near the end of Mahoutsukai no Yome—but they show moments of genuine love. Elias even gets jealous at one point seeing Chise befriend a human girl named Stella. That’s why, if you want a romance fantasy story, you can obtain that feeling watching Mahoutsukai no Yome. Even the very ending explains that Chise and Elias are a pairing that will continue long after the credits roll.

Final Thoughts: 

Mahoutsukai no Yome is just one of those magical gems that just don’t come around often enough. From Chise’s dark beginnings where she is trying to find herself to the ending where she finds the strength she needs thanks to her own powers and her friends, the world of Mahoutsukai no Yome continued to pull me in and have me at the edge of my seat at times. I absolutely loved Mahoutsukai no Yome and while it wasn’t perfect, it still holds a perfect spot on my list of recommended anime.

There is but one thing that comes to mind that may make you want to skip Mahoutsukai no Yome and that is the Dark Themes it tends to have. I mentioned that the narrative can be relatable and some may love that about Mahoutsukai no Yome but others may struggle with it as it is indeed very real to life in nature. Mahoutsukai no Yome deals with themes of suicide, sacrifice, servitude and even some self-mutilation. Mahoutsukai no Yome might be hard for viewers who have endured some of these themes in their own lives and that makes the plot/narrative for Mahoutsukai no Yome a bit too realistic.

Have you completed Mahoutsukai no Yome and have some of your own thoughts you’d wish to share? Don’t be afraid to do so in the comments.

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