Jun 2, 2014
I'll start by saying that I'm both surprised yet not that this anime isn't as popular as it could've been (by far). As my first review, this might be paced awkwardly so bear with me. That being said, I've watched dozens of animes and can easily say this one is review-worthy :3
The first season aired 2012-2013 while the widely famous Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin became and instant hit (not surprising! I thoroughly enjoyed that anime as well!) that same year; claiming a lot of attention and leaving equally worthy animes-- Magi being one-- overlooked.
I hadn't even started watching the first season until recently since
...
I wasn't sure whether it was really going to be good, what with the lack of popularity and reviews. However after watching, I can say that this was the freshest breath of air I've had in a long while C:
Also, I made the mistake of mistaking this for the first season which is partially the reason why I dropped it after watching the first episode ^^; (Oops) That being said, you will want to want Magi: Labyrinth of Magic first if you have not!
Now then!
Story: 9/10
The story is quite the interesting one! I love the take on the classic middle-eastern/Persian story One thousand and one nights, and though I am no expert on Persian history or culture, I recognized the names Aladdin, Alibaba, Morgiana, and Sinbad right away. But make no mistake, this isn't a mere retelling! It takes the foundation from 1,001 Nights for the basic character personalities and likeness, but adds a completely new twist to them. It's a heartwarming adventure with a nice touch of comedy and the faintest hint of possible future romance but hardly any at that. With that being said, I don't want to spoil any of it, but this was definitely one of Magi's strong points. As an artist and writer myself, I did catch tiny plot-holes and inconsistencies however given that the series isn't finished, I will be looking forward to seeing those explained. So for that, I give it a 9!
Art: 10/10
Absolutely loved it! I'm a sucker for comedic chibis to lighten up the atmosphere, and this was no exception to that! Although whether or not you like the art style is up to your personal preference, the animation was solid and the colors were full of life. Not much more to say. For what it is as an anime of this age, it gets a 10 from me!
Sound: 10/10
I feel like this is more of a personal preference type of thing. But I definitely loved the combination of Persian tunes with a modern touch. I found the soundtrack fitting and everything from intense fight scenes to the opening and ending tracks all flowed smoothly. 10!
Character: 9/10
This is yet another strong point of Magi. Your main characters grow so much. It's hard to say without spoiling some of it, but Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana start and end in the 50 episodes of both season as different people. Both mentally and physically (which was nice to see the physical growth as well! Especially in season 2!)
I definitely think the secondary characters didn't show much change (Sinbad, etc), though that wasn't too much of a surprise. Some did feel a little cliche-- Sinbad seems to me like your typical badass guy who can take on anything. There were hints of a darker side and perhaps his past but in the present, he isn't growing as much even though his presence is rather significant in the series. That being said, a side-manga is being published of Sinbad's past which should be interesting to read. Overall, characters get a 9. They're unique, have their own personalities, and what makes it for me ultimately is that you can relate to them. As much as Alibaba's weakness annoyed me, or Morgiana's stubbornness, etc, you can relate to them.
Enjoyment: 10/10
Fun fun fun! What can I say~ Finished both seasons in a matter of days.
Overall: 9/10
If this gets a third season (which I'm crossing my fingers for), then I'll hopefully be back to write a review that sums up more. Otherwise, this goes to my top favorites. My most favorites being Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Rurouni Kenshin, and the like. Although this comedic yet moralistic anime really does it for me.
Give it a go! If you're into adventure, action, and that slice of comedy, then this is a great show for you!
:D
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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