The magical girl genre was once one of the top dogs in the anime world. For decades, fans were treated to one great magical girl series after the next, especially during its peak in the ‘90s and early 2000s. Unfortunately, as the modern era of anime began, interest in magical girls diminished until there were few to none left. Thankfully though, this iconic genre is finally seeing a slow yet steady comeback in the 2020s.
Magical girl anime are still few and far between compared to the many other available genres out there. Still, the 2020s have produced many great new titles that new and old fans alike can enjoy. From brand-new adaptations to the return of beloved favorites, magical girls are back and better than ever. For anyone looking to get into the genre, these modern titles are a great way to get started.
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10 Acro Trip Stars an Otaku Girl Who’s a Big Fan of Her Local Magical Girl
Chizuko Date Wants To Help Her Idol Berry Blossom Shine
Releasing as part of the Fall 2024 lineup, Acro Trip is one of the newest magical girl anime to hit the scene. A refreshing and new take on the genre, this unique series doesn’t actually star the magical girl herself, but rather one of her adoring fans. Chizuko Date is a young otaku girl with a passion for magical girls. She especially idolizes her local heroine, Berry Blossom. However, she appears to be one of her only fans, as most regular citizens have no interest in the surprisingly dull fights between Berry Blossom and Chroma, the leader of the town’s local evil organization.
Acro Trip follows Chizuko as she sets out to make Berry Blossom shine in the eyes of the townsfolk, even if that means conspiring with Chroma and the other villains to make it happen. The series is a breath of fresh air within the magical girl genre, mixing up the usual format without outright subverting classic tropes. With its old-school feel and upbeat tone, Acro Trip is a welcome change from the many dark magical girl titles that have released in recent years.
9 Gushing Over Magical Girls Sees a Magical Girl Fan Accidentally Become a Villain
Utena Hiiragi Is Tricked Into Joining an Evil Organization
Gushing Over Magical Girls is probably one of the most out there magical girl series to come out in a long time. The series stars Utena Hiiragi, a magical girl fanatic who utterly adores the heroine group Tres Magia and longs to fight by their side. Her wish is finally granted when a mysterious creature gives her the power to become a magical girl herself. But as it turns out, Utena isn’t a hero. Instead, she now works for an evil organization as her idols’ archenemy. Surprisingly enough, Utena comes to realize she actually enjoys her new villainous role and the pain she inflicts on the three heroines.
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Far from the usual magical girl series, Gushing Over Magical Girls is an unconventional twist on the genre that subverts just about every trope in the book. The series totes a much more mature storyline than most magical girl titles, featuring shocking themes of sadism coupled with extreme fanservice that’s unlike anything else within the genre. Given this, it goes without saying that Gushing Over Magical Girls is definitely not a series for the younger crowd.
8 Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story Is a Spin-Off
Iroha Tamaki Fights To Protect Humanity From Witches
The original Madoka Magica series is one of the most iconic modern magical girl series of all time. This groundbreaking title shook up the genre in ways no other series has in a very long time, paving the way for more dark magical girl titles and the concept of “magical girl deconstruction”. So when the series returned with a spin-off title, fans couldn’t contain their excitement. Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story is a brand-new story featuring an entirely different cast of characters. The series stars Iroha Tamaki, a kindhearted yet strong magical girl determined to protect humanity from the threat of witches.
Since its release, Magia Record has been met with mixed reviews from critics and fans alike. Though many feel it pales in comparison to its predecessor, many enjoy what it brings to the table for the Madoka Magica universe. Overall, it’s a solid continuation of an iconic magical girl franchise and is well worth a watch for those who enjoy a darker element in their magical girl stories.
Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story
- Release Date
- January 5, 2020
- Creator(s)
- Ume Aoki , Atsuhiro Iwakami , Akiyuki Shinbo
- Cast
- Momo Asakura , Sora Amamiya , Emiri Kato , Michelle Marie , Shiina Natsukawa , Ayane Sakura , Kira Buckland , Rie Kugimiya
- Seasons
- 2
7 Looking For Magical Doremi Stars Three Women Inspired By Magical Girls
Mire, Sora, and Reika Bond Over The Magical Doremi Series
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic Magical Doremi series, Toei released the wholesome anime film Looking For Magical Doremi. While at first glance it appears to be an anime movie adaptation of the series, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, Looking For Magical Doremi is a slice-of-life series centered around three young women, who all just happen to be big fans of the Doremi series. In the film, 27-year-old Mire Yoshizuki, 22-year-old Sora Nagase, and 20-year-old Reika Kawatani all come from very different walks of life. However, they come together in an unexpected way after they discover they share a love for the classic magical girl series Magical Doremi.
The film chronicles their daily adventures as they bond of their shared love of magical girls and grow closer. Inspired by the Doremi series, the trio of women lead by Doremi’s example and aim to become everday heroes in their own right. Though Looking For Magical Doremi is far from what most magical girl fans expected, it’s a sweet and wholesome story that realistically depicts the passion found within the magical girl fandom and how these beloved series have inspired fans even after so many years.
6 The Demon Girl Next Door 2 Continues A Comedy-Based Magical Girl Series
Yuuko Yoshida’s World Is Turned Upside Down by Her Family’s Demonic Curse
The first season of The Demon Girl Next Door aired back in 2019, offering up another interesting twist on the classic magical girl concept. In the series, high schooler Yuuko Yoshida discovers her family is plagued by an ancient curse and the only way to lift it is to slay a magical girl. Yuuko sets her sights on a local magical girl, until it’s revealed that the heroine is one of her classmates. Her plan is only further complicated as the magical girl takes pity on her and offers to train her.
A unique take on magical girls, The Demon Girl Next Door centers around the unlikely friendship between a heroine and her archenemy. With a strong emphasis on comedy and a wholesome slice-of-life format, the series feels very different than most magical girl titles. Though some have written the series off as just another “cute girls doing cute things” story, The Demon Girl Next Door has been widely well received by fans of the genre. The series was even popular enough to make a return with a second season in 2022, only further emphasizing its appeal among magical girl fans and non-fans alike.
The Demon Girl Next Door
In order to end a curse, a weakling Demon girl must defeat an overpoweringly strong Magic girl who always treats her kindly.
- Release Date
- July 12, 2019
- Cast
- Konomi Kohara , Minami Takahashi[ , Akari Kitō , Monica Rial
- Seasons
- 2
- Studio
- J.C. Staff
- Creator
- Izumo Itō
- Number of Episodes
- 24
5 Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. Stars a Rare Adult Heroine
Kana Sakuragi Is a Struggling College Student Who Gets The Chance of a Lifetime as a Magical Girl
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2024 has seen many new magical girl series popping up, from reboots to brand-new series. Among them is Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., a magical girl shonen that premiered at the start of the Fall 2024 season. This colorful new series parodies classic magical girls, blending well-known tropes with the action of battle shonen. This alone makes the new title a stand-out within the genre, as most magical girls focus less on combat and more on the magical side of battle. However, what really makes Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. unique from other magical girl series is its protagonist.
The series stars Kana Sakuragi, a college student struggling to find a job. Though things looks bleak for her at first, she suddenly piques the interest of a magical girl start-up company, who offer her a job with them. Thus, Kana begins an unexpected career as a magical girl, fighting alongside the ranks of Japan’s greatest heroes as they use their powers to exterminate dangerous creatures known as Kaii. With its fun premise, action-based comedy, and rare adult heroine protagonist, Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. looks to be one of the best new magical girl series of the decade.
- Release Date
- October 4, 2024
- Cast
- Fairouz Ai , Yumiri Hanamori , Rikiya Koyama , Ryōta Ōsaka , Daiki Yamashita , Chika Anzai , Akira Ishida , Kaori Ishihara , Kikuko Inoue
- Seasons
- 1
- Character(s)
- Kana Sakuragi , Hitomi Koshigaya , Kōji Shigemoto , Kaede Midorikawa , Kazuo Nikoyama , Mei Tsuchiba , Kei Koga , Lily Aoi , Miyako Asō
4 Wonderful Precure! Is The Latest Addition to The Pretty Cure Franchise
Iroha Inukai and Mayu Nekoyashiki Transform Into Cures
The Pretty Cure franchise is one of the biggest magical girl franchises of all time. It began in 2004 with the very first series and has been going strong ever since, with over 20 individual series under its belt. Wonderful Precure! is the latest addition to the franchise and introduces a very unique premise to the magical girl genre. The series centers around Iroha Inukai and her beloved pet dog Komugi, who both gain the power to transform into magical heroes called Pretty Cures. The two are then joined by a shy girl named Mayu and her cat Yuki, and the four heroines team up to save their town from fearsome monsters.
While this is undeniably a rather strange concept, it’s honestly fun seeing these heroines team up with their pets to save the day. Wonderful Precure! is easily one of the most unique magical girl series of all time, and it even stands out among the Pretty Cure franchise itself. Still, bizarre as it may be, the series is fun and lighthearted, embracing everything that makes classic magical girls so lovable.
3 The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies Turns “Enemies To Lovers”
Lieutenant Miller Has a Ruthless Reputation, Yet He Falls For the Innocent Byakuya Mimori
Releasing during the Summer 2024 season, The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies is one of the most adorable new magical girl series of the 2020s. A classic “enemies to lovers” tale, this sweet series stars Shun Miller, a ruthless member of an evil organization who has developed quite a fearful reputation. However, his villainous ways begin to crack after he finds himself falling head-over-heels for Byakuya Mimori, a powerful magical girl who fights to protect the city.
Shun and Byakuya are sworn enemies fighting on opposite sides, but that doesn’t stop Shun from becoming hopelessly in love. Though he tries his best to put aside his feeling and wreak havoc on the town, he’s utterly powerless against her charm and innocence. This wholesome love story follows the two unlikely lovers as they spend time together and grow closer. The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant is easily one of the sweetest new magical girl series of the decade, not to mention one of the best romances of 2024.
An evil lieutenant, tasked with destroying a magical girl, unexpectedly falls in love with his sworn enemy. As the lines between duty and desire blur, their newfound feelings create a complex and humorous dynamic, challenging the very nature of their rivalry while they navigate a world where love and war are intricately entwined.
- Release Date
- July 9, 2024
- Creator(s)
- Cocoa Fujiwara
- Cast
- Yuki Ono , Fukushi Ochiai , Hina Kino , Hiro Shimono , Shin’ichirô Miki , Nao Tôyama , Ken’ichi Suzumura , Ayako Kawasumi
- Seasons
- 1
- Character(s)
- Mira , Fighter , Slime , Alcyone , The Cat Familiar , Spica , Formalhaut , Bellatrix
2 Soaring Sky! Precure Broke New Ground in The Magical Girl Genre
Soaring Sky! Precure Makes History With Cure Butterfly, The First Adult Cure, and Cure Wing, The First Male Cure
The Pretty Cure franchise is easily the longest-running series of magical girl titles in the genre, featuring a new Precure title just about every year. Though they’re all great in their own right, 2023’s Soaring Sky! Precure definitely left its mark in ways no other Precure series has. The series is a magical girl story with a reverse isekai twist, a young girl named Sora and Elle, the princess of Skyland, as they’re transported to the human world. Here, they team up with a group a human heroes as they fight to protect the two worlds from danger.
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An isekai story is certainly a refreshing change from the usual magical girl stories, but it’s certainly nothing new. What’s truly groundbreaking about this series is its cast of characters. Soaring Sky! Precure is the first series of the franchise to feature not only an adult among the ranks of the heroines, but a magical boy ally as well. Cure Butterfly and Cure Wing made history as the first adult Cure and male Cure of the series. This is major for the Pretty Cure franchise and the magical girl genre as a whole, and hopefully their inclusion will pave the way for more diverse heroes going forward.
1 Sailor Moon Cosmos Is The Final Arc in The Sailor Moon Crystal Franchise
Usagi Tsukino’s Iconic Journey Comes To an End in This Faithful Adaptation of Sailor Moon’s Final Arc
Without a doubt, Sailor Moon is the most iconic magical girl series of all time, and even decades after it’s concluded, its influence can still be felt within the genre. Though Moonies still adore the ’90s anime adaptation, few can deny that it’s far from faithful to the manga’s original story. So when Sailor Moon Crystal came out, fans were ecstatic to learn that it would follow the source material completely. For all its faults, Sailor Moon Crystal is a solid adaptation that finally brings the full story to life for the first time ever.
With the release of Sailor Moon Cosmos in 2023, the Sailor Moon Crystal franchise has finally reached its epic conclusion. The two-part film acts as the grand finale of the series, chronicling the events of the Stars Arc in full. While the original adaptation of the series’ final arc was controversial for its many changes, Sailor Moon Cosmos tells the story exactly as it happened in the manga. This iconic adaptation took the anime world by storm upon its release, showing that even in the 2020s, Sailor Moon‘s influence and hold over the anime world is alive and well.
The Sailor Senshi team up with the Sailor Starlights to stop Sailor Galaxia from conquering the galaxy.
- Director
- Tomoya Takahashi
- Release Date
- June 9, 2023
- Cast
- Kotono Mitsuishi , Ryō Hirohashi , Kenji Nojima , Megumi Hayashibara , Hisako Kanemoto , Rina Satō
- Runtime
- 2 hours 40 minutes
