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Kelly Ann D. Campbell

LIS 693 Lowry

Reader’s Advisory

Manga to Non-Manga Readers:

An Introduction to the Magical Girl (Mahō Shōjo) Genre

I decided to explore and create a reader's advisory as an introduction to the

magical heroine genre. Shōjo is a term used to describe a genre of manga or anime

intended for girls and young women. The term magical girl or Mahō Shōjo specifically

designates a heroine in middle to high school age but never beyond (it's in rare

instances). Popular trends within Magical Girl series include reincarnation, sacrifice for

loved ones, and crime fighting. Recently, the reboot of popular anime Sailor Moon and

the dark themes of Puella Magi Madoka Magica has brought a resurgence of the

magical girl. I first looked at my personal collection of manga, factoring in the genre and

heroine. Next I looked at the University of Hawaii Voyager Catalog, Amazon, and asking

friends what their favorite series were in helping me find series for this list.

Having gathered information on the various series, I narrowed stories that had a

heroine with magical powers or a non-magical heroine within a magical setting who may

or may not find magical abilities within herself. I also considered series that have two

heroines, one with magical powers and one not necessarily having any.

I decided the age range should be from 12/13-16/18 years of age; the heroines--

should they still be in a school setting--deal with middle and high school and thus

readers will empathize with the social issues the characters go through. Adults will find

these books captivating of their own nostalgia as many of these series were published

as well as adapted into anime and distributed in English between the 1990s and early-

to-mid 2000s.

The list is comprised of the following:

Three books on an introduction to manga as well as the Shōjo genre

Twenty-two series with a magical or non-magical heroine as described above

Five series with additional notes and a reader’s discretion advisory in case

themes or actions have graphic content.

*Pressing Ctrl and clicking on the picture within each entry leads you to a site where you

may purchase the series or find more information on it.

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An Introduction to Manga

1. Understanding Manga and Anime a. Summary: Understanding Manga and Anime offers a unique

introduction to the world of manga, anime, and the influences it has put on readers. From format of manga, genre and tropes to building a collection and garnering outreach from fans and newcomers alike, Understanding offers a thorough guide to any reader interested.

b. Genre: Popular Culture c. Author: Robin E. Brenner d. Publication Date: Published in English in 2007 e. Publisher: Libraries Unlimited

2. Straight from the Heart: Gender, Intimacy, and the Cultural Production of Shōjo

Manga a. Summary: Explains how manga is the foundation of Japanese

popular culture and how Shōjo manga influenced Japanese girls' culture during and throughout the post-war era. This is to be used as an understanding tool in tandem with reading and understanding Shōjo manga.

b. Genre: Gender Studies c. Author: Jennifer Sally Prough d. Publication Date: Published in English in 2010 e. Publisher: University of Hawaiʻi Press

3. Passionate Friendship: The Aesthetics of Girls' Culture in Japan

a. Summary: Analyzes the history and popular culture of prewar magazines in Japan and how the trend influenced post-war Shōjo manga. While not focusing primarily on the magical girl genre, Passionate Friendship provides an introduction to understanding long-rooted aesthetics seen in the Shōjo genre today.

b. Genre: Art and Visual Culture c. Author: Deborah Michelle Shamoon d. Publication Date: Published in English in 2012 e. Publisher: University of Hawaiʻi Press

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Magical Girls in Manga

4. Princess Knight a. Summary: Sapphire, a young girl born to royalty, must

masquerade as a prince to prevent the evil Duke Duralumon from becoming King after her father. Joined with her angel sidekick Tink who must earn his wings, she fights crime as the masked Phantom Knight. Set in a medieval fairy-tale setting, Sapphire is adept at swordsmanship and believes in justice. A cast of evil minions are ruled by Duke Duralumon who constantly attempts to prove Sapphire is not the next in line for the throne.

b. Genre: Adventure, fantasy c. Author: Osamu Tezuka d. Publication Date: Originally published in 1953. Printed in English 2001, reprinted

in 2011 e. Publisher: Kodansha (JP)/Kodansha International (EN)

5. Someday's Dreamers

a. Summary: Yume is a high school student training to become a magic user. In this world, the Bureau of Magic in Tokyo employs mages for special requests from everyday people. Magic users cannot use magic without a license, doing so results in strict penalties. Yume moves to Tokyo to apprentice under a mage, with the story centering on her studies to achieve her mage license.

b. Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama c. Author: Norie Yamada, illustrated by Kumichi Yoshizuki d. Publication Date: Originally published in 2002. Printed in

English 2006. e. Publisher: Kadokawa Shoten (JP)/Tokyopop (EN)

6. Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play

a. Summary: Miaka and Yui, two middle school students, find a book, The Universe of the Four Gods, in the library. By reading the book, the girls are transported into the novel's setting of ancient China. While Yui is transported back to their world, Miaka stays as Priestess of Suzaku. As priestess, she must gather seven warriors to summon Suzaku and receive three wishes. Yui finds a way to be transported back into the book with original intentions to help Miaka come back but instead becomes the Priestess of Seiryuu and fights against Miaka for revenge and jealously when first arriving into China together.

b. Genre: Historical fantasy, romance, comedy, martial arts, drama

c. Author: Yuu Watase d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 1992. Printed in English in

1999, reprinted in 2003. e. Publisher: Shogakukan (JP)/Viz Media (EN)

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7. Miracle Girls

a. Summary: Identical twins Tomomi and Mikage have the ability to teleport and communicate telepathically. For a relay race, Mikage asks Tomomi to switch identities as Tomomi is the more athletic of the two, and is paired with Mikage's enemy, Yuya. However Tomomi begins to fall romantically for Yuya which causes discord between the sisters.

b. Genre: Magical Girl, romance c. Author: Nami Akimoto d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 1991.

Printed in English in 2000. e. Publisher: Kodansha (JP)/Tokyopop (EN)

8. Alice 19th a. Summary: Alice rescues a white rabbit from danger and

receives a magical bracelet with a red stone, thus granting her the power of a Lotis Master. As a Lotis Master, Alice can use words and communication to enter the hearts of others but must use it carefully. Unfortunately for 15-year-old Alice, she is stuck in a love triangle with her older, perfect sister Mayura who is dating Alice’s crush, Kyou. Alice and the white rabbit Nyozeka are based upon Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland; from there author Yuu Watase created her own story that is Alice 19th.

b. Genre: Magical girl, romance c. Author: Yuu Watase d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2001. Printed in English in

2007. e. Publisher: Shogakukan (JP)/Viz Media (EN)

9. Gakuen Alice

a. Summary: Mikan Sakura is 10-years-old living in the country and follows her best friend Hotaru to a prestigious school in Tokyo which is for gifted people with "Alices", an ability unique depending on the individual. Mikan has a rare Alice, known as Nullification Alice which is difficult to classify. She is cheerful and naïve but realizes that the academy is full of deception and manipulation. Will Mikan find Hotaru within the devious halls of the academy? Or will others use her for her Alice?

b. Genre: Comedy, romance, drama, supernatural c. Author: Tachibana Higuchi d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2003. Printed in English in

2007. e. Publisher: Hakusensha (JP)/Tokyopop (EN)

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10. Pretear - The New Legend of Snow White

a. Summary: A mother's death and a father's remarriage to the wealthiest widow in the land with two stepsisters, 16-year-old Himeno struggles to adjust to life with her new family additions and school. She meets a Leafe Knight, Hayate, who tells her she is the Pretear, who must save the world from the Princess Disaster and demon larva which is absorbing life essence. As the Pretear, she can "fuse" with other knights in order to use their abilities. As Pretear how will Himeno juggle love for a certain knight and saving the world?

b. Genre: Magical girl, romance, comedy c. Author: Junichi Sato and illustrated by Kaori Naruse d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2000. Printed in English in

2004. e. Publisher: Kadokawa Shoten (JP)/ADV Manga (EN)

11. Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne

a. Summary: The Phantom Thief-Magical Girl Kaito Jeanne is really high school student Maron Kusakabe, the reincarnation of French martyr Jeanne D'Arc. With Finn Fish, an angel who gave her the ability to transform, she must gather pieces of God's power which has been scattered all over Earth. Demons are attempting to steal God's power and Kaito Jeanne is the only one to defeat them! She hunts demons hidden in artwork but when she defeats a demon, the artwork disappears and makes her look like she stole the art. Her rival, Kaito Sinbad attempts to stop her from her duty but who is he and why is he trying so hard to stop her from finding God's power?

b. Genre: Magical girl, romance, drama, comedy c. Author: Arina Tanemura d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 1998. Printed in English in

2005. e. Publisher: Shueisha (JP)/Viz Media (EN)

12. Shugo Chara!

a. Summary: Elementary school student Amu Hinamori is popular and seemingly extroverted with her classmates but has an introverted personality. She is too shy and has trouble expressing her introverted self. She wishes for herself to be reborn as her “true” personality. In the morning she finds three colorful eggs that hatch into her guardians who help and encourage her to find herself. With her guardians, she can transform her character with each guardian giving a special power, either attack or defense. Amu struggles throughout school as others are also attempting to find themselves with the help of their guardians.

b. Genre: Magical girl

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c. Author: Peach-Pit (manga author duo) d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2006. Printed in English in

2007. e. Publisher: Kodansha (JP)/Kodansha Comics USA (EN) (formerly Del Rey

Manga)

Full Moon O Sagashite

f. Summary: Idealized dreamer and orphan Mitsuki Kouyama wants to become a singer but is afflicted with sarcoma, a cancer that is slowly hindering her ability to sing. One day she encounters death reapers known as Shinigami who tell her she has one year to live. Poor 12-year-old Mitsuki realizes she’ll never achieve her dream until she makes a deal with the Shinigami: is they let her sing in an audition, she’ll leave with them when the time comes. With that, she transforms into Full Moon, a healthy 16-year-old girl who wins the singing competition and goes on to fulfill her dreams with the time she has left. Her main reason for wanting to be a famous singer? In the orphanage she lived in, she made a pact with an older boy she liked that the next time they meet, they’ll be able to achieve their dreams.

g. Genre: Magical girl, supernatural, tragedy, romance, drama h. Author: Arina Tanemura i. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2002. Printed in English in

2005. j. Publisher: Shueisha (JP)/Viz Media (EN)

13. Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura

a. Summary: 14-year-old princess Sakura is a force to be reckon with who would rather marry for love than marry someone she has never met. Her parents have passed and was under the care of her older brother until he succumbed to a disease. Alone, she is under the care of her arranged fiancé, Prince Oura. She runs away and becomes lost in the forest, looking at the moon. As a child she had been warned never to look at the moon because demons will come after her. Prince Oura’s messenger Aoba (secretly Prince Oura in disguise) and a priestess rescue a wounded Sakura, explaining that she is the grand-daughter of Princess Kaguya and is able to summon the mystical sword Chizakura to slay demons. Due her circumstances, Sakura wants to help end the war between humans and demons.

b. Genre: Fantasy, historical, romance c. Author: Arina Tanemura d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in Printed in English in e. Publisher: Shueisha (JP)/Viz Media (EN)

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14. I.O.N. a. Summary: When she was young, Ion Tsubaragi learned

how to chant her first name like a magic spell, resulting in a positive jinx that causes miracles to occur. Years later she develops a crush on a boy, Mikado, who is interested in psychic phenomena. During an experiment in the lab, Ion touches an object resulting in her receiving the power to levitate and telekinesis. She can activate the powers by chanting her jinx and uses it to save others from trouble. Unfortunately Ion is caught in a love triangle; she has feelings for Mikado but he doesn’t seem interested in her while the student body president, Koki, has feelings for Ion but hates anything to do with psychic powers.

b. Genre: Magical girl, romance c. Author: Arina Tanemura d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 1997. Printed in English in e. Publisher: Shueisha (JP)/Viz Media (EN)

15. Mistress Fortune

a. Summary: ESPer (Extrasensory Perception) Fortuna Tiara must battle Ebes, extraterrestrial biological entities, from invading Earth! Fortuna is really 14-year-old Kisaki Tachikawa, a girl in love with fellow ESPer Giniro Hashiba. However Giniro is haunted by the deaths of his father and older sister after an explosion caused by his ESP powers when he was 5, his mother being in a coma for 9 years. How will Kisaki win over Giniro while having to fight off Ebes?

b. Genre: Magical girl, romance, comedy c. Author: Arina Tanemura d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2008.

Printed in English in 2010. e. Publisher: Shueisha (JP)/Viz Media (EN)

16. Time Stranger Kyoko

a. Summary: Princess Kyoko is a normal high school student in the 30th Century protected by her two guardians of the Dragon Clan, no big deal. She avoids her status as a princess in order to live a quiet life, until her 16th birthday approaches and her time to inherit the throne is near. Kyoko is reluctant to take the throne but her father offers her a quest: If she could wake up her twin sister Ui, a girl she’s never known, from a coma, Kyoko would be free to be in the normal world and Ui will take the throne but at what price?

b. Genre: Magical girl, comedy, romance c. Author: Arina Tanemura d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2000. Printed in English in

2008. e. Publisher: Shueisha (JP)/Viz Media (EN)

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17. Kamisama Kiss a. Summary: Teenager Nanami Momozono's father skips out on

town and is left homeless. When she saves a man, Mikage, from a dog, he offers her a home at a nearby shrine. Taking the offer of a place to stay, Mikage transfers his status as Earth Deity to Nanami. She is reluctant at first but after spending time with Onikiri, Kotetsu (keepers of the shrine) and Tomoe, a fox demon, she begins to take her position as Earth Deity seriously. Slowly Nanami starts to have feelings for Tomoe but he rejects her, citing the taboo of a romance between a human and demon. However Tomoe has feelings for Nanami too…

b. Genre: Romance, comedy, supernatural, fantasy c. Author: Julietta Suzuki d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2008. e. Publisher: Hakusensha (JP)/Viz Media (EN)

18. Sailor Moon

a. Summary: Usagi Tsukino is a 14-year-old girl who loves cute things but doesn't do well in school. She admires the mysterious Sailor V crime fighter and wishes she could be as strong as her. One day she encounters a black cat with a Band-Aid on its head; taking it off the cat reveals a crescent moon and a cat that talks! The cat, Luna, gives Usagi a special brooch that allows her to transform into Sailor Moon, guardian of Earth who must gather her team of pretty soldiers to battle against evil!

b. Genre: Magical girl, romance c. Author: Naoko Takeuchi d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 1991. First printed in

English in 1997, 1998. Re-published in 2011. e. Publisher: Kodansha (JP)/Kodansha Comics USA (EN)

19. Cardcaptor Sakura

a. Summary: In her library, 10-year-old Sakura Kinomoto accidentally releases magical Clow Cards from a book named after Clow Reed. The guardian of the cards, Cerberus, decides she must capture all the cards. The cards battle based on their personifications sealed in (ie. Water spirit fights with water). She is joined by her best friend Tomoyo, who provides different costumes and films the battles, and Syaoran, a descendant of Clow Reed who comes to capture the cards himself. At first he is antagonistic but soon respects Sakura for her unwavering willpower in battle. The Clow Card's second guardian, Yue must determine if Sakura is the rightful master of the Card magic as the climax of capturing all cards.

b. Genre: Magical girl, romance c. Author: CLAMP (manga group) d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 1996. Printed in English in

2000 and re-printed as omnibus volumes in 2010.

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e. Publisher: Kodansha (JP)/Dark Horse Manga (EN) (Formerly Tokyopop)

20. Princess Tutu a. Summary: A powerful writer who could make his stories

come to life, Drosselmeyer, dies before completing his final tale The Prince and The Raven. The Raven breaks free from the story and escapes into the real world. To prevent the Raven’s evil from spreading, the Prince shattered his heart with his sword, the loss of his emotions and memory the result. Drosselmeyer, a ghost, wants to finish his tale but is unsure until he sees a duckling express her love for the Prince. He gives the duckling a pendant which allows her to transform into a 10-year-old girl and into the ballerina Princess Tutu. As Princess Tutu, she must find the shards to the Prince’s heart and return it to him so to find a happy ending. As Princess Tutu deals with her dilemmas though dance, she must face whether to keep the Prince as emotionless and near or gain courage to give him all heart shards and be with another.

b. Genre: Magical girl, romance, comedy, drama, fantasy, dance c. Author: Mizuo Shinonome d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2003. Printed in English in

2004. e. Publisher: Akita Shoten (JP)/ADV Manga (EN)

21. Magic Knight Rayearth

a. Summary: Three middle school girls are drawn to a magical world while on a school trip to Tokyo. From this world, the girls are tasked with rescuing the Pillar from an evil priest. While on their quest, the three girls, Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu discover elemental magic unique to each girl as well as the ability to summon large mechanical robots which each girl can pilot. As the girls came from different schools and are unfamiliar with each other, they must learn to overcome differences and complete the quest given to them.

b. Genre: Magical girl, adventure, action, mecha c. Author: CLAMP (manga group) d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in

1993. Printed in English in 1999. e. Publisher: Kodansha (JP)/Dark Horse Manga (EN) (Formerly Tokyopop)

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22. Romeo x Juliet a. Summary: Slightly based off of William Shakespeare’s

tragic play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo x Juliet offers a twist. Living among the skies in Neo Verona, Juliet is the only survivor of the Capulet Family, massacred by the Montagues during a rebellion. She disguises herself as a boy to avoid capture and fights under the alias the Red Whirlwind. Unwittingly she falls in love with Romeo, the son of her family’s killer. But when the great tree that holds up Neo Verona is slowly dying, Juliet’s heritage is realized and she must bond with the tree in order to save Neo Verona. Will Juliet sacrifice herself for the city or will she choose Romeo’s love and live happily ever after?

b. Genre: Drama, romance, supernatural c. Author: By Reiko Yoshida/COM, illustrated by Hiroki Harada. Based off of William

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Contributed by GONZO and SPWT d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2007. Printed in English in

2010. e. Publisher: Kadokawa Shoten (JP)/Yen Press (EN)

23. Tokyo Mew Mew

a. Summary: Cat girls assemble! Ichigo Momomiya visits an endangered species exhibit when she is bathed in a bright light. The next day she starts behaving with feline qualities. Until meeting Ryo and Keiichiro, she learns that her DNA has fused with the Iriomote Cat species of Okinawa which allows her to transform into the magical cat girl Mew Ichigo. She must defeat chimeras, parasites from an alien world, from infecting and turning animals into monsters! She isn’t alone; Mew Ichigo must find four other girls whose DNA has fused with different species of animals. Together they must defeat the chimeras or risk seeing the animal kingdom collapse.

b. Genre: Magical girl c. Author: Reiko Yoshida, Illustrated by Mia Ikumi d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2000. Printed in English in

2004. e. Publisher: Kodansha (JP)/Kodansha Comics USA (EN) (Formerly Tokyopop)

24. Ultra Maniac

a. Summary: Middle school student Ayu Tateishi is the calm captain of the girl’s tennis club with a cool demeanor… that is until transfer student Nina Sakura comes by! Nina is not from this world, she’s actually a witch in training sent from a magic kingdom to gain experience as part of her teachings. She takes to Ayu easily and, noticing Ayu having a crush on the “Prince Charming” of the school Tetsushi, Nina tries to help bring them together with her own bit of magic!

b. Genre: Magical girl, romance, comedy c. Author: Wataru Yoshizumi

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d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2001. Printed in English in 2005.

e. Publisher: Shueisha (JP)/Viz Media (EN)

Reader Discretion is Advised

25. Fate/Stay Night a. Summary: In Fuyuki City, the Grail War is approaching

and high school student Shiro summons Arturia Pendragon, King of Heroes and Saber Class fighter to the battlefield. Arturia is a woman and at her birth, King Uther Pendragon chooses not to let her gender or birth known to his subjects, fearing they would not accept her. She is raised by Merlin and withdraws the legendary sword Caliburn from stone. She rules Britain until her fatal wounds at the hands of Mordred. With her dying breath she asks to relive her life and is thus summoned into the Grail War. When summoned, she knows of the present world and will transform into her armor during battle. She has outstanding statistics in attack, magic, and defense, rendering her one of the best servants in the series. Arturia and Shiro must battle 6 other masters and servants for a chance to have a wish granted by the Holy Grail.

b. Genre: Action, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy c. Author: Dat Nishiwaki. Original story by Type-Moon d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 2006. Printed in English in

2007. e. Publisher: Kadokawa Shoten (JP)/Tokyopop (EN) f. Note: Originally a visual novel that has been adapted into anime and manga.

Should readers be interested in visual novel, it is for mature audiences only. Manga may not be suitable for readers under 13 due to violent content and implied rape (not seen).

26. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

a. Summary: "Would you like to make a contract?" Middle school student Kaname Madoka is asked this question by a kitten-like creature. The thought of signing a contract in exchange for a single wish to be granted and the ability to transform into a magical girl seems too good to be true. But what will her wish be? She muses this as she meets a mysterious girl who tells her to not make a contract. This girl, Homura Akemi, only says she must never be a magical girl. But why…?

b. Genre: Magical girl, horror, dark fantasy c. Author: Gen Urobuchi, illustrated by Hanokage d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in

2011. Printed in English in 2012. e. Publisher: Houbunsha (JP)/Yen Press (EN) f. Note: Originally an anime series adapted into manga. Director Akiyuki Shinbo

expressed to writer Gen Urobuchi that the burden and death of one of the

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characters was too much for middle school-age girls. However since it was integral to the storyline, I must add a disclaimer that death and surrounding circumstances might not be suitable for readers under 13.

27. Inuyasha a. Summary: Kagome Higurashi lives with her grandfather,

mother, and little brother in a house on shrine grounds. On her 15th birthday she is attacked by a demon and falls down the well within the shrine. She is transported to the Warring States Period of Japan and meets a half demon named Inuyasha who seeks the Shikon Jewel to attain his wish of becoming a full demon. Kagome is the reincarnation of Kikyo, the previous guardian of the Shikon Jewel and is able to purify and use magic. After observing how the Shikon Jewel causes demons and men alike to resort to violence, Kikyo wished to have it destroyed with her on her funeral pyre. Instead, the gem was reduced to shards and spread across the land. Kagome, Inuyasha, and friends must find all the shards to prevent the main antagonist Naraku from being granted a wish.

b. Genre: Adventure, romance, comedy, drama, supernatural c. Author: Rumiko Takahashi d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 1996. Printed in English in

1998. e. Publisher: Shogakukan (JP)/Viz Media (EN) f. Note: Author Rumiko Takahashi usually writes within the romance genre but

decided to write a more gritty series taking place during Japan’s Warring States Period (Sengoku Era) where many battles occurred. Due to the nature of the time period and situations Kagome and friends find themselves in, there are many instances of violence (blood, death, attempted sexual harrassment) and partial nudity that may not be suitable for those under 13.

28. Ceres, Celestial Legend

a. Summary: Aya and Aki are fraternal twins, who go to their grandfather's house on their 16th birthday. There she finds out that she is the reincarnation of a powerful celestial maiden named Ceres and Aki is the reincarnation of Ceres' former husband, Mikage. When Aya transforms into Ceres, she gains the power of flight, telepathy, telekinesis, super speed, and premonition. The Mikage Family (Aya and Aki's family) must kill Aya in order to prevent the legend of Ceres killing the family to come true. As Ceres, she must decide: Allow herself to die for the sake of her family or embrace Ceres and find the truth in the legend.

b. Genre: Action, fantasy, romance c. Author: Yuu Watase d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 1996. Printed in English in

1998. e. Publisher: Shogakukan (JP)/Viz Media (EN)

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f. Note: The series wouldn’t necessarily be tagged with a reader’s discretion but because the basic definition of a magical girl is limited to girls under 18 years of age, Aya falls in love and conceives a child during and after the series finishes which may or may not put the definition of what a magical girl is under scrutiny. Also the main theme in the story is attempting to kill Aya by her family members which is different from many magical girl series.

29. Revolutionary Girl Utena

a. Summary: Tomboyish Utena Tenjou wants to become a prince after witnessing an interaction with a kind prince during her childhood. She enrolls in Ohtori Academy and saves a girl from an abusive relationship with another student. The girl, Anthy Himemiya, is the “Rose Bride”, the prize that the winner of each duel receives. Utena fights for her against other student duelists who fight to claim the Rose Bride and a mysterious power used to revolutionize the world. Despite embodying the noble prince-like qualities, Utena has long hair and has characteristics of the naïve heroine whereas Anthy, while normally seen as passive, has a dark side due to her traumatic past.

b. Genre: Magical girl, drama, psychological c. Author: Chiho Saito d. Publication Date: Originally published in Japanese in 1996. Printed in English in

2000. e. Publisher: Shogakukan (JP)/Viz Media (EN) f. Note: One of the genres included in Revolutionary Girl Utena is yuri, a Japanese

term translating to “girls love” and implies that two girls have a relationship with one another or will eventually have one. It is somewhat debatable if Revolutionary Girl Utena is strictly yuri or not but the role-reversal between characters are prominent enough to transcend and question the definition of relationships.