Review of The Ancient Magus' Bride

Why should you watch Mahoutsukai no Yome? Story is Outstanding (10). No matter how hard I think about it, I could not remember watching something similar as Mahoutsukai no Yome. How the magical/supernatural genre is married to the romance genre is like how Elias and Chise are: opposite ends of a magnet that attract and attach to each other to make one beautiful story. It is not just one aspect of the anime that is wonderful. All of my 5 senses are heightened by this wonderful anime. I find something new to dive in every episode. It's like the new things that uncover in front ofme would never stops. It keep me asking for more like a magical drug. It never pretended to be something that it is not. Truly, it stood out to me as something magical.

Art is Outstanding (10). This is the only anime that I have patiently read the manga side by side each episode. I do not want the manga to spoil me, so I had to restrict myself to read only up to the latest scene in the current episode. This opened a new experience for me in consuming the manga and anime media and made me realize two things about this story: the manga is well done and the anime enhances it a lot which is eminent to how the art is presented. From the lush and vivid locations and the quirky animation jumps from serious to clumsy is amazingly illustrated. You would really feel that all the characters are alive and not just a moving manga drawing.

Sound is Outstanding (10). One of the best opening theme, "Here" by JUNNA which was followed by change of mood with "You" by May'n that I have ever listened to in an anime series. It perfectly tells you on what the story is about and sets the feel for you that you are in for a magical journey with Chise, Elias, Ruth and Silky. And the great thing is that, it doesn't end with the Opening theme. The OST is one of the best in setting different moods of the story; one time it is cheerful and zesty and suddenly it becomes dreaded and sulky. The timing is perfect every time the music changes. You would almost know what is going to happened by just listening to the song. That's how the musical arrangement perfectly plans, sets, and executes the superb symphony. Simply, the music is a story of it's own.

Characters are Outstanding (10). You can never have a masterpiece of a story without a powerful cast of characters. Ancient Magus Bride has it all and more. From it's perplexing thorn mage Elias to the quiet and cute caretaker of the Ainsworth household Silky, every character has a purpose not only to move the story but to give a scintillating color to the story. As each episode can be a story of it's own, characters are well fleshed out, and they have a time to shine in the series. As for the focal point of the story: Elias and Chise, I know these kind of parings are already used in various series, but the execution of the characters is what separate them from the fake and fan-service characters to the ones that stands out. Clearly, every character is real and organic to the feel.

I can write more praises to Mahoutsukai no Yome, but I believe this is enough to at least spark the magic in your heart to watch it.

10 Silkys out of 10

#MahoutsukaiNoYome #TheAncientMagusBride #WinterAnimeRetrospectiveReview