Review of The Ancient Magus' Bride

This is the story of a girl named Chise, and the creature who bought her, Elias. Chise is what's known as a Sleigh Beggy, a human that can see and interact with fairies, but it's more than that, fairies are drawn to her, adore her. This can be both good and bad, as they want to help her, possess her, and in some cases might even find her to be tasty. Growing up in these conditions left Chise feeling very alone and misunderstood as a child. Imagine being the only one who can see the monsters under your bed. Mix that in with certain issueswith her family, and Chise had to spend much of her childhood either alone, or resented. Being so lost and outcast from normal human society, she puts herself up for sale in a strange auction.

The man who buys her, Elias, is a half fairy, but as we go along in the story. It's clear that he doesn't belong in the fairy realm. An outcast, much like Chise, from his own people. And this leads us to what this story really is. Two people who are used to being alone and resented, learning how communicate and understand each other. And also finding their growing dependence upon each other.

Taste: This show is delicious, that's for sure. I couldn't really find an episode that I didn't find myself drawn into, and for a show that lasted 24 episodes it was still paced very well. It built into the story and just kept this wonderful tone. Tone is always important to a good show. At times there isn't much that is really happening. While at others, there is such great peril, and they match the tone of these events wonderfully. I can't help but love the growth that they give each character. Both of them are worriers, they want to please, and they want to be accepted. Chise takes this too far at times, and it puts her in trouble. While Elias still doesn't understand his emotions and feelings. (Maybe I should have him watch Violet Evergarden!)

Overall it's nice to watch their little family form. The side characters are also very well done and developed pretty solid. Each person has a past, and a reason for being who they are. No one is perfect. The villain of the show is also well done. He has the right level of creepy as well as a good sense of understanding in who he is and why he's doing things. I feel for you Cartaphilus! Taste gets the full 10 out of 10

Presentation: It's really spot on in a number of levels. The art is great, and they have enough wow scenes to really draw you into the world they've built. Magic in the show always seems to stand out. The music is well thought out and placed in very nicely, and I give a lot of bonus points to the openings. Both really great songs that fit the show wonderfully. There's a nice attention to detail in all things I think, I can't really find anything to complain about, I feel as though they even do chibi in a way that doesn't take away from the art of the series. So I give it a 5 out of 5

Originality: I think we have a pretty original story here. The way they do magic for example is very non traditional. It's about using the fairies. In a lot of cases they have a nice way of not having a lot going on, but having a lot going on. There was an episode about Chise getting her wand, that I just adored. Overall what the story really is, is two people growing together, and meeting others along the way. Experiencing new things, adapting when things go wrong. And a story like that can either be very one note, or, in this case, have so many notes that all build on each other. So we have another 5 out of 5

In conclusion we have a show that's must see, this is the best thing I've seen in a very long time, and a rare perfect score in the rating game. The start is wonderful. Everything just builds, things happen for a reason, and the ending is just marvelous. Everything just fits and flows together so nicely. Give this one a watch.