Rental Magica
Essential Information
Genre : Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural
Japanese Title : Rental Magica
Director : Itsuro Kawasaki
Original Story : Makoto Sanda
Series Length : 30min X 24 episodes
Distributor in US : RightStuf International
©2007 MAKOTO SANDA /pako/ KADOKAWASHOTEN/Rental Magica Partners
About the Series
Do you have a poltergeist problem? Have you or a loved one fallen victim to a magic spell gone awry? Perhaps you need to get in touch with the good people at Astral- they rent magicians for all of your magic needs!
Rental Magica centers on this mysterious organization and its members: Honami Takase Ambler- a Celtic-magic wielding schoolgirl/witch, Mikan Katsuragi an adorable little Shinto Shrine maiden, Ren Nekoyashiki- an Onmyoji mystic, Manami Kuroha - the ghost and rookie member of the team, and finally, their president Itsuki Iba- a non-magic user who was blessed/cursed with the mysterious “Glam Sight.”
On the episodic level, the show typically involves some type of taboo (a kind of magical rule-breaking) that leads to a spell wave contamination (basically a chaotic force running amok with various repercussions). It is Astral’s duty to stop this contamination before it gets out of hand and the cryptic “Organization” has to get involved. From time to time, the rival organization Goetia (headed by its headstrong and powerful magician Adelisia) will get involved and the two companies will either clash or be forced to work together.
The larger arc of the story delves into the characters’ (and their respective organizations) shady pasts- uncovering disturbing secrets and explaining the characters’ current status and their relationships to one another.
Review and General Comments
Rental Magica is a visually stunning and well made anime. Thematically, it is reminiscent of Fate: Stay Night in the way that you will see a blending of fantasy and magic with the modern day world. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the series is its inclusion of various types of magic- ranging from a Druidic, nature-based Celtic magic, to culturally distinct Japanese Shinto-style magic. The show’s typical combat scenarios are also quite unique. Rather than the all-too-common super powered demigods clashing on the field of battle (complete with shiny vibrating waves of power) we see our heroes attempting to conquer a conjured evil with their individual magic specialties. As is usually the case in anime, this fails. However, instead of resulting to everyone joining their powers together and shooting a giant energy beam (or magic tiara) the victory is one by the President Iba removing his eye-patch and using his strange “glam site.” This instantly changes his demeanor and he is given incredible battle insights- namely where to strike and what to strike with. The battle is won, but always seems to take a painful toll on our hero. (Explanation stops there for fear of spoilers!!!!).
First-time viewers of the series may start off a bit confused. The first episodes drops us right into the thick of things- it is action packed and quite entertaining, but we really don’t know who these people are or what exactly is happening. The show then takes a leap back in time to give us some important back stories and re-introduce us to all of our principle characters. When I first started watching the series, I thought the episodes were being made in some kind of crazy “Haruhi-broadcast-style” order, but once the flashbacks catch up to the present, they continue in a linear fashion. The show also honors one of the greatest anime traditions by including the always hilarious fan service “hot springs outing” episode!
Having seen many anime series in my day, I found this one to be quite enjoyable- I recommend it for anyone who enjoys the more character and story oriented anime style, and though this is not particularly a “moe” title, it does contain some essential anime archetypes that fans would love. If you are still debating whether or not this show is worth a try, I have two words for you: SCHOOLGIRL+WITCH!!!! If that isn’t a winning combination, I don’t know what is.
Our Magical Cast
The cast members of Rental Magica each represent a different style of magic and for your enjoyment I have compiled a brief list.
Itsuki Iba: The new president of Astral and sole non-magician of the team, Itsuki is an all around nice guy character. He is insightful and sensitive to the needs of others, and cares deeply for his friends (and even enemies!). He may not use any magic, but once he removes his eye-patch, he activates his mysterious “glam sight” ability. This allows him to see weak points as well as the true nature of a magical entity. Later in the series, he learns some basic martial arts which he uses to great effect when combined with his glam sight.
Honami Takase Ambler: Honami is the hard-working, tormented, and often serious member of the team. She is also the principle combatant, usually taking the forefront of dangerous magical situations. Her magic is very similar to what one would expect from the European mythological “Druid” archetype (though shape shifting is not in her repertoire). She can, to an extent, control the natural elements and summon tree roots to entangle an opponent so she can launch her deadly “mistletoe” needles at them.
Ren Nekoyashiki: A fox-faced easy going man of few words and generally light hearted demeanor, he is a senior member of the Astral team and another primary combatant. His dress and magic style are that of an “Onmyoji” (minus the sassy black hat). He is accompanied (and greatly aided) by his cats- who are named after four classic Chinese mythological creatures.
Mikan Katsuragi: A “Lolita” type character, she is both adorable and child-like in her appearance and mannerisms, though no actual reference to her age is ever made. She has great magical power, but is usually a supporting side-lines member of the combat team. Her dress and magic style are that of a Shinto Priestess, or “Miko.”
The Magic of Mikan and Nekoyashiki
I felt it important to give further explanation of these two particular characters as their styles are the most distinctly Japanese. If you are a fan of Japanese film and anime, these two archetypes should be quite familiar to you. Their fighting styles tend to involve very scary sounding chants, writing super-fancy-ancient-complicated Chinese characters (or Kanji) and long, thin strips of paper and either tossing them at demons or placing them strategically to setup a spiritual barrier. Mikan also regularly uses the classic method of spiritual cleansing that involves shaking a stick with white squares of paper attached to it and chanting. As their styles are so compatible, in the show, they often end up together, working toward the same supportive end.
Manami Kuroha: Kuroha is a gentle and shy girl with a strong desire to be helpful to her new friends- especially Iba. The newest (and deadest) member of the team, is not exactly a magician, but still has some mysterious (albeit not well explained) powers. She can make herself tangible (her natural state seems to be intangible) to interact with objects and people around her, she can teleport to some extent, and she can summon forth a strange green energy to use for either destructive or defensive ends.
Adilisia Lenn Mathers: Is the stubborn, arrogant, and headstrong rival of Honami. Rather than through hard work and study, her magical powers (at least to some extent) were inherited through the legacy of King Solomon. Her magical specialty is summoning, and she has at her disposal a host of demonic beasts who are prepared to do her bidding. Though she apparently has access to 72, we rarely see more than 3 different types summoned. The demons are powerful combatants, but can be destroyed. It would appear that after their destruction, they cannot be summoned again for some time.
Release Date
Rental Magica will be released in the United States courtesy of Rightstuf International this Fall. The series is divided into two volumes, with the second being released in the Winter. Please check them out. Want to see more? Check out the trailer and latest news at http://rental-magica.rightstuf.com/
