Life has very few absolutes. And of those absolutes, none is as universal as failure. Lamentably, for us, failure hurts. The heartache that comes with realizing a dream you’ve chased isn’t meant for you can be so detrimental that you’ll never bounce back from it. Even if we give something our all, unfortunately, everyone eventually finds out that sometimes hard work is the least important aspect of success. Yet, failure isn’t permanent. If you can give it another go, or someone gives you another chance, you can chase your dream again. The Stories of Girls Who Couldn’t Be Magicians (Mahonare) covers this topic.
What’s Mahonare About?
We all have a moment in life that sets us down our path. For Kurumi Mirai, that moment was the passing of Copern’s comet, something she greatly wanted to see. Unfortunately for little Kurumi, life gave her ye ol’ middle finger, and foul weather ruined her chances of that. But before she’s ready to resign herself, a miracle happens. The clouds begin to part, and the sky lights up. When she rushes out to see the heavenly spectacle, she’s amazed to learn that the clear skies weren’t an act of God. Instead, it was a magician who brought her that miracle. This moment is so impactful that little Kurumi dedicates her life to a single goal: becoming a magician.
With a fire in her soul, Kurumi fast-tracks life and manages the top score in the mock entrance exam to the exalted Rettoran Academy of Magic magician program (Magumi). However, Rettoran apparently looks at meritocracy in the same way that Latin America does. So, while people far less capable than her make the cut, she’s forced to enroll in the school’s standard program like a filthy commoner after bombing the official test. And with that, her dream of being a magician heads the way of the Dodo. Or so it would seem.
But the thing is, you never really know what life has planned for you. It can always surprise you, so long as you’re still breathing, and Mahonare champions this. And to Kurumi’s bewilderment, on the first day of classes, their state-sponsored magician teacher announces she’ll make magicians out of all of them.
Why You Should Watch Mahonare
A while back, I half-watched an inflight movie, and while I didn’t pay attention to most of the film, its ending stuck with me. The main guy in it is dying and leaves a video message for his lover. The character mentions how he believes everyone is born with the gift of immortality. But, as we progress through life, we make a mistake that costs us that gift. I’ve tried for ages to find the name of this movie and had no luck, so J-List peeps, name it in the comments if you know.
Something about that hypothetical really spoke to me. What if it’s essentially like that, and we all have a hidden talent, but somewhere along the line, we did something that cost us that gift? In Mahonare, that “what if” is part of the story. Magic exists in their world, but most magicians can’t use it in and of themselves; instead, they rely on technology to cast magical spells. Meanwhile, magicians who can use magic without technology are increasingly rare. But rare doesn’t equate to impossible. It’s rare to win the lottery or get your favorite character on your first gacha pull, but it’s still a daily occurrence.
Second Chances and a Magical Digital vs. Analog Debate
Luckily for Kurumi, her new teacher is one of those rare magicians. With her help, she begins to learn the fundamentals of magic. Unlike the exalted Magumi, whom Kurumi so desperately wanted to join, she is learning magic without the aid of technology. This is a skill that would place her far above them. The ability she’s gaining is her own.
That slow burn growth makes this show a wonder to behold. Kurumi is in no grand rush. Our protagonist realizes she can’t run toward the finish line. She has to pace herself. What she discovers about how everything connects through invisible points is concrete. This applies to Mahonare and to us as well. Don’t believe me? Think back to when the Evergreen pulled a hentai protag move and got stuck in the Suez Canal. That happened in Egypt, but people everywhere complained about its side effects. Things are way more connected than you’d think. Mahonare excels at showing that. This is a show you can learn from, and you’d do well to pick up the lessons it’s giving you.
The Art Style Rocks
I like J.C. Staff’s works; DanMachi and Tsukimichi are some of my favorite shows. I’ve come to accept certain things from this studio. This was not one of them. When that first Mahonare episode played, and those warm, cozy colors engulfed my soul, I was shook. Everything about the show was so inviting. It was like a fairy tale drawing me into it. The episode was so enchanting that I watched it twice. After that, I rushed to MAL to see who was animating the show, and it shocked me to discover that J.C. Staff produced it. The animators there apparently saw all those “let him cook” memes and said, “Hold my sake.” Because, good lord, this show is beautiful.
The voice cast fits the show so well. Ayumi Mano makes Maki shine. Misuzu Yamada was the perfect person to voice the posh Yuzu Edel. And Hana Hishakawa gave Kurumi something unique that I can’t describe. I cannot stress enough how much this show would appeal to slice-of-life and iyashikei fans. It’s comforting and has a delightful story. The masterful pacing of each episode makes it fly by in the blink of an eye. The Stories of Girls Who Couldn’t Be Magicians is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
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