Magic User's Club
Encyclopedia
is a magical girl
/boy anime
, released as a six part OVA in 1996 and then a 13-episode TV series in 1999, which was broadcast by WOWOW
, and then by the anime television network, Animax
, across its respective networks worldwide, including Southeast Asia
, South Asia
and other regions. The original plan was done by anime director Junichi Sato
, with animation produced by Triangle Staff
and Bandai Visual
. There were also two manga
series made, a shōjo
manga
version by Tammy Ohta (太田 多美 Ōta Tami) and shōnen
manga
version by Shamneko (紗夢猫). The Magic User's Club anime is released in North America by AnimeWorks.
named "the Bell" (釣り鐘 Tsurigane) by humans descended upon Earth one day. Military forces attacked this entity but their attempts were in vain, as the Bell easily vaporized all human technology. The Bell sent out robotic probes to explore and analyze human civilization and, since the probes didn't cause any harm, people soon adapted and went about their everyday lives. A group of high school students at Kitanohashi High School's "Magic User's Club" attempt to combat the alien menace using magic.
&
Magical girl
belong to a sub-genre of Japanese fantasy anime and manga. Magical girl stories feature young girls with superhuman abilities, forced to fight evil and to protect the Earth. They often possess a secret identity, although the name can just refer to young girls who follow a plotline involving magic...
/boy anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, released as a six part OVA in 1996 and then a 13-episode TV series in 1999, which was broadcast by WOWOW
WOWOW
WOWOW was the first private satellite broadcasting and pay TV station in Japan. It has its headquarters on the 21st floor of the Akasaka Park Building in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo...
, and then by the anime television network, Animax
Animax
is a Japanese anime satellite television network, dedicated to broadcasting anime programming. A subsidiary of Japanese media conglomerate Sony, it is headquartered in in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with its co-founders and shareholders including Sony Pictures Entertainment and the noted anime studios...
, across its respective networks worldwide, including Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
and other regions. The original plan was done by anime director Junichi Sato
Junichi Sato
is an anime director.-TV anime:*Queen Millennia *Patalliro! *Bemubemu Hunter Kotengu Tenmaru...
, with animation produced by Triangle Staff
Triangle Staff
Triangle Staff is a Japanese animation studio, contributing to such productions as Serial Experiments Lain, Slayers, and NieA under 7.-Works:*Boogiepop Phantom : Animation*Catnapped! The Movie : Animation Production, Planning...
and Bandai Visual
Bandai Visual
, is a Japanese anime, film production and distribution enterprise, established by Bandai Co., Ltd. and a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings, Inc., which is based in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Since the reorganisation of Namco Bandai Holdings in 2006, Bandai Visual now heads the group's Visual and...
. There were also two manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series made, a shōjo
Shojo
The term refers to manga marketed to a female audience roughly between the ages of 10-18. The name romanizes the Japanese 少女 , literally: "little female". Shōjo manga covers many subjects in a variety of narrative and graphic styles, from historical drama to science fiction — often with a strong...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
version by Tammy Ohta (太田 多美 Ōta Tami) and shōnen
Shonen
The term refers to manga marketed to a male audience aged roughly 10 and up. The Kanji characters literally mean "few" and "year", respectively, where the characters generally mean "comic"...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
version by Shamneko (紗夢猫). The Magic User's Club anime is released in North America by AnimeWorks.
OVA series
An enormous cylindrical alien spaceshipSpacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
named "the Bell" (釣り鐘 Tsurigane) by humans descended upon Earth one day. Military forces attacked this entity but their attempts were in vain, as the Bell easily vaporized all human technology. The Bell sent out robotic probes to explore and analyze human civilization and, since the probes didn't cause any harm, people soon adapted and went about their everyday lives. A group of high school students at Kitanohashi High School's "Magic User's Club" attempt to combat the alien menace using magic.
TV series
The Bell has been defeated, but a massive cherry blossom tree stands in its wake. The Magic Club must meet once again to solve the problem of the giant tree, which is blocking off sunlight for the city. A mysterious figure descends from the tree and watches over the members of the club as they continue to deal with magic in their daily lives.OVA series
- I'll Follow You
- We Leave a Magic Club
- Magic Is So Easy, Isn't It?
- I Wish You... Wh... What?
- I See We Are the Same
- Well, Believe Yourself
TV series
- Sae, the Magic Club, and the Cherry Blossom Tree
- Nanaka, a Cake, and the Dangerous Evening
- Aburatsubo, Morning Face, and the Parent Teacher Meetings
- Sae, The Bathroom, and the Door
- Akane, the Hiccups, and a Strange Relationship
- Takakura, Origami, and the Secret Date
- Sae, a Tomato, and the Dance of the Paint Brush
- Alice, Railroad Tracks, and the Cracker
- Kimonos, Short Shorts, and the Age of Joy
- Snow, the Colt, and a First Kiss
- Akane, the Mirror, and the End of the Year Sale
- The Kite, the Whirlwind, and Micky
- Sae's Magic, Sae's Feelings, Forever
Magic Club
- A second-year student at Kitanohashi High School and a new member of the Magic Club, Sae is eager to learn magic, but often has setbacks due to her clumsy nature. She looks up to Takakura as a great mentor. Although she actually has feelings for him beyond that, she is too shy to express them. Of the five members, Sae has the greatest amount of power to utilize, but lacks the training and concentration to fully tap into this potential.
- Sae displays a clear ineptitude to flying on a broomstick in the OVA series, but her skills progress and by the TV series, she can fly on different pole-sized items without any problems, even without using her wand.
- According to character designer Ikuko ItohIkuko Itohis a Japanese character designer and animation director best known as the creator of Princess Tutu.-Works:*Spoon Obasan *Sasuga no Sarutobi *Bikkuriman...
, her own mother was an influence for the character of Sae, who has a similar klutzy nature.
- A second year and a friend of Sae since childhood. She just wants to be a normal high school girl and gets frustrated with Sae's obsession with the Magic Club, although she is proficient in magic herself. Nanaka has a crush on Aburatsubo but is afraid to admit her feelings because she knows they won't be returned. She describes her family as "all over the place", and though often embarrassed and aggravated by their antics, she loves them dearly.
- Voiced by: Junko IwaoJunko Iwaois a Japanese voice actress who has also released several CD albums as a J-pop singer. Her most notable role is in Cardcaptor Sakura providing the voice to Sakura's best friend, Tomoyo.-TV Anime:*.hack *.hack//Roots...
(Japanese), Nicole TieriNicole TieriNicole Lavana Tieri is an American singer and actress who was a contestant on American Idol in 2004, where she arrived at auditions on a kick scooter, which earned her the nickname of "Scooter Girl"....
and Stacey Williams (English)
- A first year and another new member of the Magic Club. Akane is a spoiled rich girl who often misses going to club meetings in order to go on dates with boyfriends. She seems to be a natural at using magic, and it comes very easily to her (such is her innate skill that she is able to make makeshift wands out of rudimentary objects, though they are rather primitive and weak compared to her regular wand), though the same can't be said for her flying. Akane often uses magic for selfish reasons against what Takakura has taught, which causes Sae to lecture her in several instances. Anything affected solely by her magic "spins" before the spell's true effect come to pass, something which she has no control over.
- In the TV series, Akane works as a model and appears in clothing advertisements throughout the city. Her mother is a famous actress.
- President of the Magic Club and third-year student at Kitanohashi High School. Takakura often has a tendency to show off in front of the girls and has perverted daydreams at inopportune times. He loves Sae, but will not admit his feelings because he is nervous and self-conscious of his position as Sae's mentor and upperclassman.
- Hiding from his childhood nemesis, Miyama, Takeo found a magical textbook called the Grimoire, along with the magic wand he later replicated.
- A third year and the vice president of the Magic Club. Aburatsubo is homosexual, but only shows affection toward Takakura; he never shows signs of being interested in any other boy. Takakura is uncomfortable with Aburatsubo's flirting, but doesn’t think much of it; though Aburatsubo continuously flirts with Takakura, he understands that Takakura will never return his feelings . He has a variety of talents and is involved in many other clubs besides the Magic Club, such as the tennis team and drama club.
- The television series establishes that he doesn't have a very good standing towards his mother, who constantly babies him, though he does love her.
Other Magicians
- Jeff is both the name of a mysterious silhouetted magician Sae met when she was a child and a stuffed teddy bear that he gave her. When Sae gets in tough situations, Jeff-kun the teddy bear aids Sae's magic powers. She meets the real Jeff again (only as a silhouette) when the rest of the club are trapped inside the Bell and he gives her the confidence to rescue them. Appears in the OVA, and at the end of the TV series.
- Jurika is a magician that seems interested in the members of the Magic Club and the use of magic, for reasons that are not clear at first. Jurika is highly androgynous, officially male as a student but having a very feminine look for the most part. He has the ability to read and translate the Grimoire that Takeo uses to teach the other Club members, going so far as to identify the Club's copy as "an older version that has mistakes in it".
- Jurika is actually a magical construct given life and personality by Sae's fondest wishes and ideals about magic. As a being of pure magic, he has the ability to manipulate his appearance, exist in multiple times and places, read minds, interact in the dreams of others and other numerous abilities. Since he is a byproduct of Sae's mind, he is aware of the personalities and relationships between the Magic User's Club members and utilizes this knowledge to manipulate them into using more magic. At the end of the TV series, he is absorbed back into his creator, Sae. Appears only in the TV series.
- Nicknamed by Sae. Miki is a friend and former mentor of Sae who lives in England. She was in the Magic User's Club for an unknown amount of time before leaving to England. Sae writes her constantly in the TV series, telling her what has been going on. Miki's father is a "grandmaster" sorcerer/magician based in England and she presumably has trained under him. She has enough magic training to fly without using a broom and can summon a magical serpent to aid her. Appears only in the TV series.
Journalists
- Minowa is a journalist bent on learning the truth behind the Bell. He investigates the Magic Club to find out if they have any connection with the Bell.
- Yoshimoto is a photographer and constant sidekick of Minowa, though he doesn't take the Bell issue as seriously as his boss.
Manga Club
- Miyama is the bossy President of the Manga Club, which is right next door to the Magic Club. She uses her enormous breasts to intimidate Takakura, and she's been teasing him since childhood. Miyama is constantly trying to dissolve the Magic Club and keeps taking back the space that was loaned to the club.
- In the tv series, Miyama's experience from being examined by the Bell (due to a spell cast on her by Akane) goes completely to her head and makes her declare herself as the planet Earth's "representative".
- She secretly harbors feelings for Takakura, despite her incessant tormenting of him. When a truth spell was cast on her, she confessed her true feelings about him, as well as the fact that she didn't actually enjoy tormenting him as a child. Also, in the TV series, she devotes a manga project with allegories to Takakura.
- Kubo only appears in the OVA series and is a faculty member who is club supervisor of the Magic Club and the Manga Club. He doesn't try to resolve any issues between the students, saying "Education is love". Kubo has a habit of giving his business cardBusiness cardBusiness cards are cards bearing business information about a company or individual. They are shared during formal introductions as a convenience and a memory aid. A business card typically includes the giver's name, company affiliation and contact information such as street addresses, telephone...
to everyone he talks to.
&
- Voiced by: Kazuya Ichijou (Japanese (OVA)), Yasuhiro TakatoYasuhiro Takatois a Japanese voice actor who works for Aoni Production.-Film and television:*Saruo in Dōbutsu no Mori , the film adaptation of the Animal Crossing video game series.*Mesopotamion Guy and Haou in Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo*Jean in Captain Tsubasa...
(Japanese (TV)), Michelle Newman (English)
- They are two boys who are Miyama's constant lackeys. Rinpun & Kojin do all kinds of menial tasks for Miyama and are sometimes called to spy on others for her.
Family
- Voice by: Atsuko TanakaAtsuko Tanakais a Japanese voice actress who works for Ezaki Productions. Her deep and sultry voice is often used to portray villainesses and mature female characters.-TV anime:*Angel Links *Black Cat *Berserk *Cowboy Bebop...
(Japanese (OVA)), Kazusa MuraiKazusa Muraiis a female Japanese voice actress.-Anime:*Angelic Layer *Boys Be... *Full Metal Panic! *Ginban Kaleidoscope *Haibane Renmei *Magical Play *Magic User's Club...
(Japanese (TV)), Shannon ConleyShannon ConleyShannon Conley is an American actress, voice actor, and vocalist based in New York City. She has done voice work for Central Park Media and NYAV Post...
(English)
- Sae's older sister who looks after her in Tokyo. Saki has problems with a boyfriend in the TV series, though they reconcile near the end. It's never defined whether or not she has any knowledge of the goings on in the Magic User's Club.
- She is Sae's mother, a woman with an energetic personality. Sae's parents own a ranch in HokkaidōHokkaido, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
.
- He is Sae's father, seemingly a man of few words. Sae's hairstyleHairstyleA hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human head. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal grooming, fashion, and cosmetics, although practical, cultural, and popular considerations also influence some hairstyles.-History of...
was inherited from him.
- He is Nanaka's younger brother, who is bratty and tends to annoy her.
- She is Nanaka's mother who runs a health food store. She also grows her own vegetables. Nanaka is frustrated when she doesn't seem to care about attending parent-teacher meetings, and when she acts in an embarrassing fashion when she does.
- She is Akane's mother who is a famous actress. Though somewhat critical of her daughter's acting, the two seem to genuinly enjoy each other's company.
- She is Takeo's younger sister. Takako seems annoyed by her brother's eccentricities and makes sure he does regular exercise routines.
- She is Aburatsubo's mother, who treats Aburatsubo very childishly and affectionately. Aburatsubo can't stand her.
Aburatsubo Safety Committee
- She is the President of the "Aburatsubo Safety Committee", a group of girls who are obsessively devoted to Aburatsubo in the TV series. Michiko is the most confrontational and jealous of the girls, and she insists that only she may call Aburatsubo "Aya-sama" ("His Ayaness" in the English dub).
- Madoka is another member of the committee who is highly obsessed with Aburatsubo. She has the habit of breaking the rule against calling Aburatsubo "Aya-sama" and gets slapped by Michiko when she does so.
- Hikaru is another member of the committee who has long bangs. She sometimes goes on small tasks for Michiko, like checking in the men's bathroom whenever Aburatsubo can't be found. She often dodges Michiko's back swings when she slaps Madoka.
External links
- Sae's Magic Hat - Fan site with information on anime, manga, and CDs (no longer updated)
- Animerica review