Review of The Ancient Magus' Bride

There are good reviews and bad reviews of this show. I can understand some of the bad reviews. They generally fall into one of two categories: (1) refusing to accept the premise that this is about a 400-year-old magus, a 15-year-old girl, magic, and fairies, and (2) asserting that all of the characters have simple, low-dimensional personalities. These are fair comments, because I also think it's weird that the groom is 400 years old (which is not, by the way, even close to the weirdest thing in the show). But I think that this is also part of the reason so many people like this show:the themes makes you uncomfortable, but in contradistinction Chise's tolerance, kindness, appreciation for others transcends that initial, surface-level prejudice. Don't get me wrong; this is not a holier-than-thou show that deliberately tries to assert a moral. But it is quietly inspiring nonetheless.

And I think if you look beyond any anime tropes and some straightforwardly kind characters, this is a beautiful and refreshing show. The show draws upon Celtic mythology and pays attention to detail in setting and art. It builds a world with interesting, breathtaking sights around every corner.

Hatori Chise's journey from trauma to rehabilitation may not be the newest idea in the book (and it is fine if you think real rehabilitation may be a more boring and arduous process than what the story has Chise go through), but one can't deny that each and every one of her encounters along the way highlights yet another beautiful or precious aspect of life. The magic and mythical creatures are wonderful elements in enabling this kind of story. Moreover, the show doesn't try to tell you that Chise has recovered from her rehabilitation; instead, we see Chise become a person that is kinder and more grateful to her close ones and her environment.

And I think it is very acceptable that Chise and Elias are low-dimensional characters. Sometimes we need complex characters, but often a show should use characters that complements and frames the themes and stories.

Just about every episode is creative, heartwarming, and suspenseful. It really rolls many emotions together, but resolves each arc gracefully. You may not like that Elias is strangely immature, but frankly I think that's just another technique the author's uses to build such a beautiful world. If given more time, I think this setup could yield many more touching, breathtaking short stories.