Mahoutsukai no Yome

Opening a book and reading word by word is simple. Jumping into a story becoming part of its world while being enveloped by its ideas is a whole different experience. Mahoutsukai no Yome (The Ancient Magus Bride) has a way that make us see through its world, characters, and story. If you fancy yourself for a creative fantasy experience that blends between the lines of fiction and reality, then you came to the right place.

An anime adaptation of Mahoutsukai no Yome is pretty inevitable in the eyes of many fans who are familiar with the author’s work. Ever since we got the 3-episode prologue OVAs, ... a full TV anime adaptation would bring in fans hunger for more. This TV anime adaptation focuses directly on the manga as it chronicles the life of Chise Hatori and guide the viewer through her experience. The life she once knew changed forever after meeting Elias Ainsworth, a supernatural being with traits of fae and humanity.

Jumping straight into this TV anime shouldn’t be a problem even if it’s the first time you’ve ever heard of this show before. The first few episodes successfully introduces the story along with a beautiful imaginative world. It shouldn’t take long for viewers to begin and understand the type of person Chise is. To describe her, Chise can sometimes be a normal teenage girl while other times feel like she’s not. She’s been through a lot in her life before meeting Elias and many events influenced her to develop a more subservient personality. She can also be a bit of socially awkward but if you look beyond that, Chise is really a person with strong heart and will to change people. Throughout the show, she changes herself too after meeting certain characters and experiencing a new life she’s never began to imagine before.

That brings in Elias, a supernatural being with mysterious origins. In the beginning of the show, he became Chise’s master after buying her at an auction event. Now you’re probably thinking…is this going to be a show about a master and a slave type of relationship? The answer is far from it as we see the depth of their relationship development. Despite being a supernatural being and not understanding humans, Elias develops genuine feelings of care for Chise while displaying human behavior. On the other hand, Chise begins to grow more confident of herself and accepting her role as an apprentice mage. Throughout the show, we can see how much she grows from an average teenage girl to a strong and dedicated woman. The loyalty she displays for Elias and her friends is admirable and throughout her experience as a mage, she learns much more about them and their world. This is what really gave me a favorable impression of the show. It’s how characters change and able to influence others while we understand them. In many ways, the story feels very human for the main characters. Teenage girls at her age tend to change a lot and whether it’s a good or bad thing can be a controversial topic. However, Chise’s change is displayed in ways that I can’t help but find inspiring. The show crafts her character from the beginning and capitalizes on her every action without wasting any time. Whether it’s meeting new people/supernatural beings, experimenting with magic, or battling her personal demons, she’s a character that you can’t turn a blind eye to.

Of course, this show isn’t just about Chise and Elias. While they are the main stars, Mahoutsukai no Yome does a lot to make the viewers get invested into its story. One of the first things people will find curious is the world setting. While there’s the modern setting of urban cities and streets, there’s also magic and a world with otherworldly creatures. Dragons, faeries, goddesses, and will-o’the-wisps are just a few to name. Possibly inspired by English, Scottish, or other European lore, it shouldn’t take long for viewers to recognize some of them. Furthermore, the show displays a wealth of magic with the many effects they can bring. It’s also interesting to note that magic in this show is considered a power that’s neither good nor evil. It’s used as a power that can have consequences or can really make a difference. At its most apex, magic can be extremely impactful that it can affect the story and change people in ways they can’t even begin to imagine.

Making a show like this takes a lot of risk too. Characters would have to at least make an impression that give viewers something to remember by. I can’t say this for all the characters but there’s definitely a list of them that people should take notice. These range from Chise’s familiar Roth to the beautiful vampire faerie, Leanan Sidhe. Chise encounters them in the story and makes her realize certain aspects about herself. However, there are also others such as Cartaphilius (Joseph) who can really bring out a side from Chise that she hopes others won’t ever have to see. The psychology and character chemistry between the cast isn’t just impactful but also characterizes their personalities. While there are probably some characters that will be more forgettable compared to others, the show still gets its priorities right to give viewers something to talk about.

As serious as this show may seem, it still balances between its light comedy at times so it isn’t just a moody story. When business picks up, you’ll realize how the author wants to make you feel. Other times, I feel like this anime really did a great job at capitalizing most of its ideas. As a manga adaptation, the show is mostly faithful at capturing the story without delaying or accelerating its plot. In fact, I think some scenes adapted from the manga looked even more impressive in the anime thanks to the modern talent of Norihiro Naganuma. Just be aware that the manga is still ongoing and with 24 episodes, it was inevitable that the anime would still leave out what’s ahead.

Adapted by Wit Studio, it feels like this show is a work of art. I don’t mean the type that you can see at some art gallery but more as a world that you can enjoy freely with an open mind. The beautiful world consists of many elements from modern fantasy such as enchanted forests, land of dragons, and to a more civilized city. Visual quality exceeded my expectations as there were no episodes that I found lazily made or sloppily animated. The character designs also takes time to accept but is creatively crafted. The most noticeable character to land eyes on is Elias. He has no human characteristics and looks like a creature you’d imagine from some dark fantasy. Other creatures in the show may look more familiar but fulfills its fantasy expectations. Adapted from the manga, they consist of characteristics that is incredibly faithful. Oddly enough, Chise is possibly the most normal looking character despite being a bit of an oddball. With her signature red hair, green coat, and necklace, she’s definitely the type of the character you can easily accept.

Matching its artistic elements, the soundtrack also brings in great value such as the OST and theme songs. The first OP song “Here” by JUUNA is masterfully crafted to showcase the potential of the show with its style. Similarly, both the ED theme songs capitalized on its fantasy setting. Unfortunately, the second OP song dropped the ball and didn’t manage to hold a candle compared to the first with reused footage. However, the OST manages to fully capture the thrilling feel of this adaptation. Some scenes adapted straight out of the manga is what I had pictured would be and with the music, it made it that much more alive. Character voice mannerism is also easy to take notice with characters such as Elias, Cartaphilius, Titania, and among others.

Every book has its meaning and intentions. For a show like Mahoutsukai no Yome, jumping into the story and world is like reading the text and realizing what the author wants us to know. Throughout watching this anime, I learned a lot about the characters and what it means for someone like Chise to experience her new life. The world setting remained committed to its premise while avoiding the mistakes of going overboard. While I can’t say this anime is for everyone, it definitely manages to elevate the heights of a fantasy tale.

Mahoutsukai no Yome, also known as the ancient Magus Bride, is a masterpiece. The world of this show is full of mystery and goes into depth more than just one or two times. However, if you are a new anime watcher, I don't recommend this as a show to start with. My reasoning for that is the story can be confusing and sometimes overwhelming - some people may also find certain situations unnecessary or "wrong" when if looked upon from my standpoint, is not true. Every detail in this show means something and I am excited to see more.

Story
The plot for ... "The Ancient Magus Bride" is both simple, and not at the same time. Chise Hatori has been able to see mysterious beings every since her young childhood. After losing her mother, she is tossed between different relatives, unable to find a home due to the fact everyone believe something is wrong with her. Now that she has grown up, she has lost any sense of attachment to this world. After meeting a strange man, she signs a contract and is held at an auction. All Chise cared about was having a place she could return to and call "home." There. Elias appears, a tall man covered in black clothing, his head replaced with an animal shaped skull. He is revealed to be a Mage, and had bought Chise to be his apprentice, as well as his future bride.
The story does not reveal itself right away, and that's because we are learning along with the main character, Chise, This can frustrate people at times, as they are confused, however the author does this on purpose. There are certain things that are to be revealed at a later time, so it is important to be patient with this series and to pay close attention to it. From my experience, I am captivated by how there is so much to this world, that it is practically impossible to just explain flat out. So instead, lay back and enjoy as the story unfolds.

Art
The art has a unique style to it. The characters have there own traits that make them distinguishable from each other. Most anime's have "same face syndrome," where take away the hair and eye color and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The Ancient Magus Bride instead has many different styles, but also many different expressions that are able to shine a light on the characters and their demeanor.

Sound
This probably takes the cake out of all the categories. The opening first comes with a different style and amazing vocals by Junna. To calm us from the experience afterwards, we have the soothing voice of Hana Itoki. However the OSTs during the show blow me a way. They went all out, with personalized tracks for side stories or characters. In only the 7 episodes I've watched, I have fell in love with each and every song.
The voice actors are also able to convey their emotions, and I'm really fond of both Elias's and Chise's voice actors. Chise can be a hard character to pull off, she's both numb from the pain of her past and yet is loyal as she does her best to please Elias. Elias is unable to show expressions as he has no proper face - this means all the emotions are in the tone and delivery of a line. His voice makes me able to see expressions that aren't there, which only helps make me emphasize more with Elias.

Characters
Sort of as a continuation of before, the main characters are unique and compliment each other perfectly. Neither are perfect, and both are unsure of the other, and yet they both compliment each other like to other. Elias, while he may have ulterior motives, still tries to give Chise what he believe she wants. And Chise, just glad to have a home and someone to call family, is willing to stay by his side and give him the companionship he needs. In only 7 episodes, I've seen both grow as people and open up more overtime. The supporting cast always holds a presence, whether its the neighbors, angelica, silky, etc. They all serve a role and show that frequently. Even characters that may be there for only one or two episodes became unforgettable to me. However as for antagonists, I am not completely sure yet as we haven't gotten much information on them. Therefore I have to leave this a little in the open.

Enjoyment
Personally, I've watched the released episodes multiple times. I am completely trapped in this world and am trying to head off to the manga. My life is consumed into the show and I am finding myself watching the episode countdown.

Overall
This show can be a challenging watch, but its worth it. Put aside everything for about 25 minutes for one episode and you'll find yourself hooked. Give it a chance and make sure to give it the attention it deserves, otherwise you may get confused and drop a wonderful show. I hope this was helpful and I hope you enjoy the show just as much as I do.

“I don’t care if he thinks of me as a toy, and throws me out when he’s bored. It’s because he… even though it was only one time, said to me that I am his family.” Chise Hatori.
The fall 17 anime season was a very interesting season for anime as we got a lot of shows that were actually good for the most part. Sure it that season had it stinkers like Ousama Game The Animation and Juuni Taisen but what am trying to say is that Fall 17 anime season reminded me how great the Fall 14 anime season was in terms of shows. ... However out of all the shows from the Fall 17 there was one show in particular that I had eyes ever since I watched the trailer it and that anime is Mahoutsukai No Yome or The Ancient Magus’ Bride in English.
When the first episode came out I watched it and while I liked it I thought the show was missing something in particular. After that I decided to watch the prequel OVAs and I loved it because not it was a lovely OVAs series but it I found that the TV was missing and it was Chise’s past aka her early life where it showcases how Chise became the person that she was in episode 1 of the TV series. Soon after I decided to watch Magus Bride weekly subbed along with some episodes dubbed and after watching all 24 episodes of Magus Bride I have to say this. The Ancient Magus Bride is not only one of the best animes to come out in the last 3 years but the show quickly became one of my all-time favourite’s animes.
So what made this anime so special?
You will soon find out.

Story.
The story of Ancient Magus Bride follows a girl named Chise who sold herself into slavery due to her not feeling wanted by her relatives. When all hope was almost lost a tall masked gentleman named Elias Ainsworth bids 5 million for the girl and outbids every other bidder in the room. Soon after Elias wins bid he takes Chise to her new home in rural England where she can begin her new life as an apprentice and future wife for Elias.
The story of The Ancient Magus Bride is absolutely brilliant in every way possible.
It's one of the best comings of stories I have ever seen period. It's was very well told, it perfectly showcased the rise of fall of Chise life in the new world as an apprentice and her journey from start to finish was very satisfying to watch as she's stars to find value in her new world and her own life.
Ancient Magus Bride is absolutely fantastic at presenting its world. Everything in its world feel alive has a purpose and it repents London perfectly. After experiencing the same old, boring JRPG, MMO fantasy setting that we all have seen before. The world for The Ancient Magus Bride feels like a breath of fresh air. If you though the Ancient Magus Bride is great at establishing its world than the worldbuilding is fantastic as it gives amazing attention to detail has been put to this setting from the food that they eat which is very British, the creatures races, the train sets from the First Great Western train to even the station itself that represents London Paddington Station. I know am diving in too about detail but it's these small that make the world of Ancient Magus Bride real and unique. I don't want to see an anime where for example having a British setting with anBritish cottage and some dude giving out Udon instead of Fish and Chips.
The small things in this show can mean a lot for your setting because it can give the setting more meaning compare to many throwaway Isekai shows like In Another World With My Smartphone and Knight’s & Magic. As a Londoner I was glad that the show managed to treat the city with London and the country of English with respect.
The pacing in this show is brilliant. Sure it may be too slow for some but keep in mind that this is a coming of age story where shows like this like to take time to establish the world, setting, themes and characters in a great and mature way. If only I can say the same thing to a certain shounen anime from the fall 17 done byStudioPierrot but we will get to that certain show another time.
Anyway, the show knows how to pace itself well to a point where the viewer can got invested with all the events that the show has to offer.
The first half of The Ancient Magus Bride is mostly a well-told collection of stories that meant to the new world that Chise is currently living as well as establishing the characters and Chise eventually growth. The second half, on the other hand, is more serious and darker especially the last four episodes where the show does a complete 180 with its tone. The first half and the prequel OVAs may have some dark moments but they are tamed when compare to these episodes where literally shit got real pretty fast. Both half’s were great but I personally preferred the second half overall due to it being more darker natured as well new themes and topics that completely changed the tone of the series not to mention some of the themes that were explored in the first half now have a darker edge to them. Speaking of themes let’s talk about quickly go through some of some of them now
One thing that I adore about The Ancient Magus Bride is the theme and messages.
Themes of hope, fate, rebirth, living, and especially love were well explored to where some of those themes link well with each other for example in episode 3 Chise visits a dragon who is ready to pass away.
Another thing that I love about themes in this show is how it showcases the downfall of characters where they don’t fully understand love, value and life. Two great examples of this are fully showcased in episode 21, 22 and 23 which I won’t mention due to spoilers. This show also does a great job tacking serious topics such like being curse where there’s nothing you can do about it and you can’t simply remove the curse that is inside you even if you decide to cut your legs or arms off.
The last thing that I want to talk about this the pedophilia controversy with Chise and Elias. Guys there is no pedophilia in this show plus the creators never even tried to glamorize pedophilia. If you watch an anime that features a lot of pedophilia that also features incest go watch Eromanga Sensei and enjoy the pedophilia as its glory as well being on the FBI watchlist.
Am sorry I had to bring this up because shit like that always infuriates me.
Overall the story of The Ancient Magus Bride was fantastic. It’s was well told, well-paced, it established its setting perfectly and the themes and messages were well handled and treated with respect
10/10

Characters.
Like with the story the charterers are brilliant as well-being likeable and well written.
I start with the main female protagonist Chise who is one of easily one of the best female leads I have seen in any anime. I honestly love this character from start to finish. She may appear to be a bit dull character at first but as the series progresses she greatly grows as a character that you can sympathise with.
Also, the one thing you should keep in mind is Chise is a tragic character where after the events of the prequel OVAs before episode 1 she was suffering from depression to a point where she sold herself to slavery.
Seeing Chise grow as a character was a great experience as she was very determined to keep on living.
Elias is also a great character. Just like Chise he’s is a flawed character where he doesn’t know the true meaning of love but as the series goes one he learns more about love and how it can it affect others. Like with Chise as the series goes on he quickly became a great and loveable character on his own right.
The rest of the characters were pretty great and enjoyable to watch as well severing they propose of the story very well.
Overall the characters in Ancient Magus Bride were brilliant and enjoyable from start to finish.
10/10

Visuals.
Where do I begin with visuals because this show visually is an utter masterpiece?
WIZ Studio did an awesome job with the production side of the show
The characters designs are amazing and well detailed and on top of that use of colour palates for the character designs is splendid and it makes the world even more presentable.
The camerawork in this show is brilliant. Everything from the basic mid shot, close up shots, wide to the establishing shots. Plus the contrast and lighting in the show were amazing.
The actual animation is top notch. It flowed well as being very consistent throughout its run.
One thing that I adore about the visuals is that is almost identical to the Prequel OVAs because usually, the TV series would be inferior compared to their ova counterpart but I was surprised of how great the TV series compare to the OVAs prequels.
The last thing I want to mention is the Chise Phoenix Segment from episode 12. That segment was honestly beautiful as it was very well animated and it perfectly symbolized Chise growth as a character as she now been reborn in her new world.
Overall The Ancient Magus Brides is a visual masterpiece of art.
10/10

Sound.
The soundtrack for The Ancient Magus is absolutely beautiful. This is one of the few shows where every single track and I mean every single track in the show was amazing and fits with the tone of this series.
My favorite track from the soundtrack is the one played in episode 3 Liberoara. As soon as that track/insert song I started to tear up because we the audience such as myself were about to witness an end to a life of an ancient dragon.
The first opening Here by JUNNA is a fantastic opening theme that perfectly fits with the first half of the show. Not to mention is catchy as hell.
While the first opening theme was fantastic the second opening on the other hand was pretty underwhelming at best. Not only the song itself did not fit well with the nature of the second half but visuals were terribly placed and timed. The final nail in the coffin that it literally feels like a badly made AMV where you can literally make it on Sony Vegas Pro or even PlayStation 4 Share Factory
If you hear the second opening theme do yourself a favor and skip it at all cost because it’s honestly not worth it.
On the other hand both ending themes Wa –Cycel by Hana Itoki and Tsuki no mou Hanbun by Aiki and Akino were equally good in they own rights.
Now for dub vs sub.
To be honest they are both amazing on they own rights but I personally prefer the dub overall.
For her first role as the main character, Dani Chambers did a fantastic job at voicing Chise as she has a lot of subtlety and personality to her voice. She's easily the best performance of the dub overall.
Brian Mathis is great as Elias as he able to sound like ancient magician perfectly despite Elias being unable to show expressions as he has no proper face.
9/10 one point taking off due to the terrible made 2nd opening.

Final Thoughts.
What a wonderful series. I was honestly shocked at how amazing this series was from start to finish.
The story was wonderful and well told. The pacing was brilliant, the themes and messages beautifully executed. The characters were all great and very enjoyable to watch. The visuals were outstanding and to top it all up the soundtrack and voice acting for both languages were top notch. The only bad thing about the show overall was the second opening theme with was unfortunately pretty bad and should be skipped but that didn’t ruin the show for me that much. It just didn’t work. Besides that this show is a masterpiece that should not be missed by anyone.
On my Little Witch Academia TV review I mentioned that it was my favorite anime of 2017 well after watching all 24 episodes of The Ancient Magus Bride it now completely stole that spot of favorite anime of 2017 and pushed that anime to 2nd place.
This show represents everything that I love about anime.
When this show gets a collector’s edition on Blu-Ray I will definitely buy this masterpiece so I can experience it again.
With all said The Ancient Magus Bride is not only one of the best anime to come out from this decade but it's one of my favorite’s anime series.
If you haven't seen this series please go watch it on Funmation as well being the Blu-Rays once they come out.
You won’t regret it.
Final Score 9.5/10

This is a good anime so far, this is why I'm still watching it. I like the whole world that was created, but the story doesn't seem to convince me. The characters, specially Chise, are very shallow. And her, as the main character, should be a little more explored. EDIT (ep 10): she is finally getting herself more prominent in the narrative - finally! And I also watched the OVA for this series that explores her past much more and explains her future actions.
Another thing that bothers me is that many things are left with no further explanation, I think this is cool to do ... with a thing or two but every episode you are left with a big question mark about something that happened.
Despite these things that I didn't like, I loved both the opening and ending themes, they're just lovely. The animation, and the world that was created are amazing as well.
I hope it gets better in the next episodes, so I'll come here again and rewrite this review, because I really want to enjoy it.

I've had a hard time trying to grasp what I don't like about this show/manga. After 8 episodes and 33 chapters of reading I think I've got a good idea of what's putting me off.

THE SHOW MOVES WAY TOO FAST.

I wish the show would move slower, everything that happens either happens way too fast or is way too big. It's hard to get a feel for it all and be attached or invested in what's going on because of this. To give an example or metaphor: It's as if we're introduced to a character who we're suppose to be invested in at some point but ... before even a minute has passed they push them over the edge of a cliff. The stakes are way too high and this all happens so fast that I can't get invested at all. The only exception is the relationship between Chise and Elias, apart from these two everything else is just so lackluster that it's cringe inducing.

Edit: I want to change my original review but I'll leave it above to remind myself of where I went wrong. It's been a long while but I decided to pick it back up and see how I felt about it.

I have a newfound appreciation of the world presented to us. I don't know exactly why but I had this notion that I needed to have everything in this world explained to me thoroughly and I remember being frustrated with how little I knew of it. I've come to enjoy the wonder of it and instead of asking how or why I've began to let my mind wonder. I didn't really get what this story was going for but since I picked it back up it's reminded me of Natsume's Book of Friends, Mushishi. I think if you take a step back and enjoy the little arcs presented to you while keeping an eye on the development of Elias and Chise you'll have a much better time with this show.

First off,
I've seen various reviews and I'm first going to debunk the whole idea of the pedophilia lolicon concept people keep throwing out there. Those who are watching with these concepts in mind are forgetting the most important details of their relationship. He is a NON-HUMAN being who's only recently entering into the human world. Therefore, he's even more innocent and child-like than Chise, in terms of building and maintaining human relationships.

Essentially, they’re both in the same platform, despite age, both essentially powerless in their own sphere, trusting each other out of their curiosity, fear of being abandoned and misunderstood.

I don't sense any feeling ... that the creators are trying to glamorize pedophilia and human trafficking. In this universe, however, this was essentially the way Chise was able to enter the world and meet a person who didn’t even realize the level of depth a slave auction entails. He doesn’t understand the depth of many of his actions but just calls things as he sees it and acts how he believes a human would act. This will be revealed as the humans in Elias’ life admonish him for his thoughtless yet naive actions. (Aka asking her to be his bride, bathing her without realizing there was something wrong in it, treating her as an experiment for him to understand humanity better). Never has Elias asserted his power of her in a way to make her feel uncomfortable purposefully. He never asserted himself sexually for his own pleasure or has made her feel powerless in situations where he could’ve and never has he seemed to want to. He just lacks the capacity to understand what is right and wrong. He just acts in a way he believes that humans would in an effort to understand them better. In a sense, they're both in a relationship where they are both learning from each other, both reduced to infancy, learning about each other's worlds, learning their limits and falling in love with each other through the process.

In the human world, this would be considered blasphemy, but this is solely based on social construct. He may be knowledgeable and wise in the world of Magic but he knows nothing of human society and does not understand humanity’s morals, boundaries and healthy relationships. Many of his relationships are only at face value and he’s constantly looked down upon for trying to be human, as if he were a monster or just some thoughtless child. However, he does have conscience and does not act out of his desire or put his desires over those around him. As the episodes pass, this becomes even clearer. Therefore, Chise, suffering from abandonment and neglect has finally found a world where she can learn to understand herself and Elias, a creature who has been shunned and admonished, found Chise, a girl who will teach him to understand his heart and what it is to truly be human. If Chise were older (or wiser/educated bc age doesn't necessarily have to be a factor to maturity level), she would have less of an understanding of Elias’ intentions as she would be subject to human morality and judgement to an even higher level than she would as she is now and she would mistake Elias’ naiveté for something else or completely admonish his existence, drawing him further away from humanity.

The relationship was well thought out and ingenious. It starts off slowly, so I can understand why people are quick to pass off the relationship but you have to give it time to develop in order to understand what's going on. If anything it reminds me of Beauty and the Beast. It makes sure to remind us that there isn't one way to life and despite discomfort or society's view, every situation has a story and as long as both parties make an effort to understand each other and respect boundaries when needed, something beautiful can bear fruit.

To the rest -
OST and Sound: The music in the show is perfect. It harmoniously plays in the background adding a greater level of depth, even to the simpler scenes. The sound is gorgeous. The effects used during magic scenes are incredible and aurally pleasing.

Animation: I thought the art style would disappoint me but, no, it is INCREDIBLE. The special effects and the landscapes are detailed. The magic is glimmery and majestic. The character designs are amazing. Every episode is visually enthralling and need I mention, the FOOD LOOKS GOOD.

Enjoyment: Every episode leaves me with a warm feeling in my heart despite wanting more. I can wait a whole week satisfied with what I have already watched.

Story: The story is simple but the journey is what makes me continue going forward. Every episode makes me even more excited for how both Chise and Elias are going to grow as two individuals. The story is so open-ended that anything can happen!

Characters: Every character started in a good place, a place where they essentially drive the story. Chise starts in a very underdeveloped place but her characterization is built through each passing episode and surprisingly so does Elias'. The side characters also have interesting backgrounds and further drive the characterization of the two protagonists.

Story: (9/10)
Just from the first few episodes I was in love with this very unique and original story. The main character unlike any other, auctions herself off because she has nothing left of her life. She was bought by a monster named Elias who is really much more than just some monster. All of Chise's life she has had special abilities that made her an outcast to everyone who had ever loved her. She is a special human named a Sleigh Beggy (Slay Vega as in the manga) who can see beyond the sight of normal beings. She sees mysterious things that many others cannot. ... This adds a lot to her character as we learn about more of her abilities.

From that day forward, Chise's life changes and she meets many new characters who help her through her struggles. She lives a new life learning magic with Elias, going on many adventures with dragons, learning the meaning of her existence, and giving herself a reason to live. Which also includes getting to know who Elias really is.

The plot may start slow, at first, but the development is outstanding. I highly recommend also checking out the ova which goes into a nice little backstory for Chise.


Art: (9/10)
From the manga to the anime the animation captures this beautiful world. The manga was always colorful in my eyes especially with the anime's representation of the wonderful world we are learning to love through Chise's eyes. Despite how beautiful it is the art style is nothing amazing or unique, therefore its rating an 8.


Sound: (9/10) Just what I was expecting, the soundtrack is so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes. The touching scenes soon to come I definitely know there will be even better music.

The folk sound really matches it just as I hoped. It gives a really magical essence. There is definitely going to be better music than these first few episodes. While watching the first episode I really thought there was a bird in my room it sounds so pure and beautiful.


Character: (9/10) The character development in the manga gets absolutely intriguing. To go deep in their characters is quite counterproductive in watching and getting to know them.

There are may antagonists that are included in these intriguing characters, Chise has a kind heart to them all. She learns through them as every one of them develop beautifully and we get to see many through Chise's eyes as she changes. Many of us can find Chise a very relate-able character in her past and present struggles. Elias may be inhumane but we see how he learns to act more human through bonding with Chise. Both main characters depend on each other.

Speaking of Elias, who may be a monster actually seems more human than we thought. Through each episodes he starts to understand emotions through his love for Chise. Visa versa, Chise learns to love with ELias and many characters to come.

There are a few favorites, a black dog named Ruth who came from the afterlife to protect the graves. An evil sorcerer who plans to make everyone his lab rat. A priest who gets caught up in their antics. Every character from evil to holy are all great influences on Chise through her short life.


Enjoyment: (9/10)
How could I not enjoy such an inspiring work of art?! I've always been a big fan of fantasy but this knocks it out of the park. I can really relate to Chise's hardships in her life and her struggles to overcome her past. Even though Elias isn't human and doesn't understand human emotions I feel like I can also relate to him.

Though I see lots of people look down upon this series for its lack of romance, I still enjoy the innocent bond created between Chise and Elias. Especially how they teach each other through the series.

I had very high expectations for this anime and I am not let down. I have a good feeling it will only get better from here.

Life is a wonderful, horrible, fascinating, disturbing, and complicated concept to experience.

The idea of existing is fascinating, as you get to have experiences that leave memories that you take with you and leave behind as you live your days in your world. No matter what twisted and painful situations occur in someone’s life, the idea of happiness, and memories worth cherishing, is nigh-universal. Everyone wants to have happy memories before they die. Death is a sad, chilling reality we must face, so we must cherish the life we have as much as we can, with people who will make us feel happy about living and ... having them in our lives.

Mahoutsukai no Yome serves as a brilliant reminder of this, with death looming as an intense shadow over everyone, characters whose lives were so devoid of meaning or love until they found someone who showed them any semblance of warmth that made them depend on said person and find meaning in their own life, and a world and atmosphere that is otherwise fascinating and majestic. It truly shows off a sense of life not many shows nowadays can, and in many ways, acts like a puzzle, slowly piecing itself together. Despite minor logical errors such as walking on water with nothing supernatural to back that up given the fantasy world (among other things that require explanation), Mahoutsukai as a fantasy, is leaps and bounds above its modern contemporaries, ignoring the occasionally photorealistic-esque CGI flowers and grass, and how the visuals for both openings largely consist of footage from the show itself.

Bit by bit, with each passing episode, we learn more and more about Mahoutsukai’s world, its creatures, magic, rules, and civilizations. The creatures we learn about have lovely, inviting designs that make you want to leap into the screen and explore nature to interact with them. We constantly learn about these fictional cultures and how they “interact” with each other and human societies. Not revelation about magic and this world feels believable, but most of them do. To have such large discoveries consistently make sense and feel even remotely like a powerful revelation, is a testament to the fantastic world-building this series showcases, as it is easily the show’s crowning aspect, partially thanks to WIT Studio, and partially thanks to the original mangaka's writing.

Revelations about Elias, other major recurring characters such as the show’s first antagonist, and about characters with their own stories to tell in miniature arcs, and even Chise herself, are all methodical and placed in such a way where they feel like a major highlight of any given episode. Given that you get one in every episode, sometimes upwards to three, it can be a nigh-overwhelming experience at times, if the emotional climaxes to many of these miniscule arcs fail to bring you to your knees as is. At least, that’s the idea, for you see, the series can feel quite droll at times, and the occasionally jarring and unwarranted comedy does not help with that. The color pallete getting dreary to the point of mandating a monumental shift in brightness settings only adds to the occasional mundanity of this series, to the point where some revelations and episode-defining moments fail to be as earth-shattering as others. Thankfully, the humor can still land fairly well when inserted properly, the atmosphere is often wonderful, and the emotional and chilling moments shine intensely at conveying their mood.

A majority of the characters are perfectly fine as they are, with their own emotional arcs that Chise wanders through and helps resolve, with some humorous banter and sweet moments to boot, even if they aren’t necessarily too entertaining. However, Chise, an emotionally detached person desperately looking for some real meaning and warmth in her life, is one of the more compelling protagonists of the year. On top of that, Elias is interesting to see get pieced together as distrust looms stronger in the air by the episode. It is nice seeing their relationship develop, and especially how Chise develops as a person. Additionally, Silky is the most precious thing and Ruth, while arguably the weakest of the main tetrad, is still an entertaining character to have around. The main antagonist, Cartaphilus, can be rather unnerving, with how childishly detached he is, how nonchalant he is about using and killing people, how he constantly questions himself abruptly, and how his body is merely a husk that can be destroyed and replaced casually. On top of what we learn about him, he’s utterly disconcerting to watch, intentionally so; he is easily one of the best villains of these past years. Other characters such as Lindel are fine too, though sometimes no one is truly enough to sustain a truly compelling viewing experience, notably in the second quarter of the show. Additionally, the best episodes of the early are the ones that really bring out the most of life and death, and/or reach for those delicate heartstrings, such as episodes 3 and 5, while after somewhat of a slump in the second quarter, the show truly picks up back to the best of what it was before.

Some of the music has been largely carried over from the OVA, namely some of the more melodic, instrumental pieces. Thankfully, there are a variety of new, often emotional tracks added to the mix. There are some nice vocal tracks as well that play in the midst of emotional moments (such as Kimi no Yuke), even if they never get played again. Both Openings, "Here" by JUNNA (OP 1), and "You" by May'n (OP 2), are rather memorable for different reasons, for better or worse. The former is a nice song that truly captures the feel of the song, with instruments like the spanish guitar being used to excellent effect and the vocals by JUNNA being wonderful. The latter feels like it stumbled into this show by mistake and the animators tried to dress it up as much as possible. On top of being the weakest May’n song I’ve heard, it just doesn’t fit; they should have used the former song for all 24 episodes. ED 1, "Wa -cycle- (環-cycle-)" by Hana Itoki (糸奇はな), is irritating to listen to thanks to the way the wind instruments are used, particularly in the beginning; even afterwards, the song isn’t memorable. ED 2, "Tsuki no mou Hanbun (月のもう半分)" by AIKI & AKINO from bless4, is a vast improvement, being a slow buildup to a wonderfully emotional and fitting climax that pays off brilliantly. It is one of the few good ending themes of the season.

Ultimately, while not as magical as anticipated, Mahoutsukai no Yome is a charming, calming, and occasionally sweet and somber series, showing some of the wonders in life, with the shadow of death ever so ubiquitous. It is certainly one of the better anime out there nowadays, especially for the anime fantasy genre. It can certainly be understood why so many have been enchanted to such a spell-binding series, even if it feels a bit withered in places. With all that said, as always, I bid you adieu.

I would gladly consider this a masterpiece of modern day anime and I will explain several reasons why I think this way.

1. It does not overemphasis on the characters. This creates a perfect balance where the audience can speculate on what is to come next and not been overwhelmed by the suspense.
2. The story is very well paced (arguable depending on the audience, but I find it perfect). It is slow enough to keep up with and fast enough to be interesting.
3. The art is marvelous.
4. The main characters do not follow the same meta of most animes. (Once again, arguable depending on the audience) ... The behavior of most modern anime characters can be determined within the first three episodes because they follow a particular meta. However, this anime brings something new to the table. The mysteriousness of the characters was able to keep me interested and at the same time not overwhelm me.
5. Well constructed world. The best way I can explain this is probably through the term 'realism'. (Once again, arguable depending on the audience)It does not focus on one particular aspect of the world (by world I don't mean just the physical world, I also mean the rules that governs it). The rules of the world are not elaborated which is why whenever something new shows up it feels natural. This allows for flexibility for how the story and character can develop.

That's all the reason I can come up with while writing this review. I highly recommend anyone to watch this anime.

The Ancient Magus Bride (also known "Mahoutsukai No Yome") is anime based manga made by WIT Studio with genre Slice of Life, Magic, Fantasy, and Shounen but i add the genre "Drama" because there's a drama scene in that anime.

Story:
The story is felt calm and more to journey, this is like story the beauty and the beast because the femal is human and the male is no human but this anime, the non human do the thing to saves the human from her darkest memories with makes her to be his dicipline and a wife. This story until now it's bit of romance, ... this anime is more to journey and fantasy. This anime have a moral message that we must make a good decision and make a solution to finish the problem.

Art:
WIT Studio makes Mahoutsukai No Yome better, although the art slightly different from the manga but the color of the picture is so fresh. The animation combining rotate of camera is make this anime good to see, effect of magic is so shine and glowing can makes people felt enjoyed to watch it.

Character:
The male characters looks pretty handsome and the female characters looks decent beautifull. I think when i watching another anime made by WIT Studio, when the male character smile, it's very similarity with this anime.

This anime good to watch it the people who likes adventure and drama, the storyline is very connected.

I’d call Mahoutsukai no Yome a very wholesome anime. It contains loads of different genres that are normally incompatible, but here are all beautifully melded together to create a work of art. There are aspects of drama, horror, comedy, slice-of-life, adventure, and even romance. And of course, it’s set in a fantasy world.

It has a unique pace; sometimes large amounts of screen-time are dedicated to small details and sometimes the anime will almost disjointedly jump from one scene to another. This can be quite disconcerting and takes some getting used to. However it is resolved several episodes in, and the anime begins to feel much ... more like a proper story. Or maybe you do just get used to it after a while. In any case, the second half of the series reveals the actual plot, and from there on the anime changes and becomes more focussed story-wise instead of staying events and environment based. I do also think the quality of the anime improves enormously from this point on.

The majority of the first cour is essentially what I’d call standalone episodes, you don’t generally need to have seen the previous one to understand. Chise is introduced to various characters and magical creatures, and helps them out of difficulties whilst simultaneously bonding with Elias. The fantasy world is explored minimally; information is provided on a need-to-know basis and exposition is scarce. Rather than being a source of frustration, this actually adds to the sense of mystery. It’s a bit like the Harry Potter Universe, so much remained unexplained even at the end but that just made it more intriguing.

The second half deals much more with the main antagonist. The anime delves into backstories in depth, explores the meaning of relationships and dependency, and brings a lot of the seemingly unconnected elements in the first half together. There are a lot more emotional moments and a lot more action scenes, leading up to a thrilling climax that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Not exactly what you’d expect given the tranquillity of the first half.

The art and animation are breath-taking. The scenery is stunning, the character’s faces show their emotions brilliantly (except for Elias, obviously), and the chibi moments are quite cute and add a sense of light-heartedness.

The music is absolutely phenomenal. All of it. The openings, endings, OSTs were all literally music to my ears. The first opening theme (as well as being one of the best I’ve ever heard), perfectly encapsulates the tone of the series.

But the characters are where it really gets interesting. Both the MCs actually grow massively throughout the series. Chise changes from a listless, withdrawn individual into a person who’s not afraid to speak her mind and will go to any lengths to help a friend. Elias develops from a stone-hearted and lonely individual into a being who starts to realise what kindness, friendship and selflessness actually are. Both of them still have a long way to go – Elias has only just begun to understand emotions after all – but watching such brilliant character development is immensely satisfying.

It’s done realistically too. Neither of them change overnight, they clearly grow as a result of the challenges they struggle through. Painful backstories, dependency, loss and betrayal; each of these things leaves an impact. Chise, in particular, agonises over some aspects of her life but eventually makes the decision to either accept them or change them. Others help show her the way, but she ultimately decides for herself.
The majority of the supporting characters are memorable and a fair amount of them also have a good level of development. Insights into Lindel’s, Silky’s and of course Ruth’s pasts bring a lot more depth to them. Cartaphilus’ backstory and subsequent actions after it was revealed managed to completely alter my opinion of him (and secured him a place in my list of famed villains), and characters like Oberon and Titania were just enjoyable to watch. I couldn’t help feeling excited every time I saw them pop up (whether they were bringing bad news or good).

Now to open up the can of worms.

As for the complaints that this glorifies human trafficking – I guess I can see why people think that way, even if I personally don’t. But if all human trafficking worked like this – ‘victim’ gets taken by their own choice, given good food, a warm place to stay with their own room and their own space when they need it, a loyal companion who cares about them, the opportunity to study and practice medicine and magic from a brilliant teacher, and the ability to leave and go off by themselves if they actually wanted to badly enough, I think the world would be a much better place. This is nothing like actual human trafficking, it’s an anime about magic and MCs almost always have tragic pasts. Yes, both of them are far too dependent on each other, but this anime isn’t going for a model relationship. It’s about emotionally damaged people slowly bonding.

And as for becoming his bride, it’s hard to talk about age gaps and glorifying paedophilia when one of the love interests is immortal and the other is doomed to die young. Besides, everyone has their own view on what a competent adult is anyway. Chise isn’t portrayed as a child; she’s more mature than most of the actual adults in the anime. I’m not going to discuss this in any more detail, at the end of the day there will always be people who interpret things differently. (It’s one of the things that makes life so interesting, after all.)

So what did I think of this anime? I liked it tremendously, but took a while to get there. I thought it was good from the beginning, but only really got invested in it about halfway through. I’d definitely say it was a worthwhile watch though.

It’s probably one to go for if you’re in the mood for something that’s serene, quiet, and emotional, but does show a sense of adventure from time to time. XD

To sum it up:
• First half an 8
• Second half a 10
Overall a 9

This is not only my own opinion but also, I don't rate how good this Anime is but rather how much I enjoyed it and the parts, right.

So this Anime so far is already my favorite of all time. It just takes a very very beautiful harry potter vibe to it, adds the heartwarming moments of Natsume Yuujinchou and a quite similar atmosphere as Mushishi has. This together is just perfect and it feels like it is made for me.

If you like any of the Anime that I just named, watch this. You won't regret it, I'm pretty sure.

A story that eclipses through fantasy-esque likeness with the cruelty of mankind: the love story of a mere human with magical mysterious powers unlike any other (Hatori Chise, a Sleigh Beggy (or Sleigh Vega which keeps true to the manga translation) and Elias Ainsworth, an ancient monster of a mage).

Disclaimer (Spoilers warned if skipped): For those who haven't been up-to-date with the series, I'd recommend watching the 3-part prequel OVA series (Those Awaiting A Star) as it sets the story for Chise's entrance into the magical world and reveals tidbits of her relationship with Elias with a firm grounding before engaging the main 24-episode series.

Coming ... from the manga source of the same name by Kore Yamazaki, I'd say that Mahoutsukai no Yome or The Ancient Magus' Bride is one of the more prominent works to have come out at this season, handled by a well-known studio (Wit Studio) that knows what it excels at, and magnifies it tenfold. Honestly, I'm quite impressed with the storytelling and the fluent and vibrant animation that is always perceived as top-notch, with a few exceptions that I'll get into a bit.

Story:
Coming off from the 3-part prequel series, we encounter 15-year old Hatori Chise, being sold off not just as a human slave at an auction, but a rare breed known as a Sleigh Beggy (which her powers made her a target of many ire people). Sold off to the weird monster-looking that is the ancient mage Elias Ainsworth, a simple sentence ensues: "I want to make you my puppy (which meant an apprentice)...NO...I want to make you my bride." And so the not-so happy-ever-after relationship of Chise and Elias starts with lots of stories folded into one, from magical dragon creatures to creepy Cartaphilus burning the rakes on the couple and other related characters as they go.

Being faithful and keeping true to the plot of the manga (heck, even the ending scares and tears me to death) that its consistency is right on par with the translation makes this work really a coveted one, and it's easy to see why. By just referencing off the original source material, the storytelling may have more plot holes to fill in, but whether may it be following or side-lining (also known as filter), the execution is brillantly well-done and it never gets old...but hey, no liberties (for a distinct high 8.5 score on MAL) right?

Characters:
Other than the well-foretold story comes its characters, and is considered as another strong point for the show.

Hatori Chise is not your usual young girl (that's for sure) as she is the "One For All" equivalent, jam-packed with magical abilities that render her both effective and not in times of distress, being a Sleigh Beggy that amplifies the power of magic around her, both used for good (that when threatened, her power is able to defeat all evil) and evil (when Cartaphilus comes in the fray). An emotionless girl due to her tragic past that saw her parents cut all ties with her at a young age, Chise may seem breathless and lifeless, probably due to the effects of her memories, but with Elias, she becomes the puppy that wags towards him, acknowledging his monster-like feature with a heart that wants to learn to be like a human, and for that, she's the most calm and composed girl that I have seen in quite a while, one that is strong under pressure.

Elias Ainsworth is (definitely) not your usual monster magus either, because of his weird antics (e.g. shapeshifting into human form, the one time where Chise was life-threatened and his monster-likeness grew hatred for Cartaphilus), but as always, the main character that preserves his life to protect the one he is growing to love, is a man in my books. It's as though sometimes we may not understand the fullness of Elias, but as the series progresses at its natural pace that we come to understand Elias more through his actions towards the surrounding people and his reasoning which is succinct to say the least.

The main antagonist, Cartaphilus (or the alternate good Joseph) is clearly the series "All For One" that you don't want to mess around with. A freaking jerk, a master experimentalist who uses others for his gain, a terrorist for his cruelness and terror. Though like Chise, his backstory (Spoiler warning: towards the ending) irks of the same amount of wreck that Chise had in her younger days, he will stop at nothing to commit lifeless acts that will benefit to him at the expense of others. Not to mention that he is a good-for-nothing negotiator, he is the epitomy of evil at its core.

The other characters:
Ruth and Silky both reprise their roles as Chise's watchman and guardian respectively and though their efficiency is not fleshed out much (even less for Silky), the anime adaptation DID at least showcased their prowess at what they could do.

Lindel and the dragons (at the beginning) were fun to watch for their antics, especially after the couple's encounter, and the young children feels kick in with the young dragons playing as though their happy days, and the most important dragon of all: the ever mature, old and dying but not decaying Nevin. Just by looking at Nevin alone, I honestly learned a lot of life lessons through this old dragon (and props for Nevin's VA, it's really good!) and it made the time watching this series a hell of good warmth.

Renfred and the gang made their appearances as ones who have first encountered Cartaphilus with his deadly acts of killing (first with Ruth who became Chise's dog/watchman, then the dragon rage and his parallel world), and these guys are in for the extermination for justice, that will stop at nothing to bring Cartaphilus down.

Overall, a large character library, with their roles reprised as they should be, with great fervor and confidence.

Art/Animation:
What to expect from a studio that's well respected for the brillant animation and visual feel? Simply nothing but the best, and that's the idea of Wit Studio coming in to direct this fantasy world with the most visually appealing look that at times may look dark and creepy and at times filled with the brimness and fullness of the world, and it works wonders. Even if you managed to spot a tint of inconsistency with the artwork, the show blemishes that out with the ever-so-smmoth animation that will come off as striking the instant you watch it, and it further stands out in the best way possible.

And something to note in the Winter 2018 season: most people think that masterpiece-like animation such as Violet Evergarden is a masterpiece in its own right, granted that is too, but there're others like YoriMoi and this too, and with the false thinking of knowing that with good animation comes a great story, it's easy to see why it's notable for all the wrong reasons.

Sound:
The OST is honestly a killer soundtrack, though I WILL stick to my beliefs that the 1st cour is better than the 2nd cour of the OP and ED. Not to mention that the times where the background music plays along with the different tunes of the show, makes it work tremendously well suited for the scenario at hand.

And for the same reasons, I remember that people harshly criticize the 2nd cour's OP and ED because of the high standards of the 1st cour that didn't match ideally towards the narration of the series progression up to that point, and I raise this question: If you would have thought of a much better interpretation for the series, would we see it come to fruition? The answer would be suited to your own tastes, but I can point out a few:
- 2nd cour OP had repeating scenes from the 1st cour OP: Seems lazy for the studio to have a new, fresh take on the series with new artwork, plus the music itself is good but honestly doesn't hold a candle to the one that preceded it.
- 2nd ED is technically better than the 1st ED, but the style of implementation is different: Notice the progression of beginning-midway and midway-ending. I know I'm not evident much, but its a subtle hint to the progressing episode(s) that come next.

Overall:
Despite all the minor (or major if you can spot) flaws it has, this series is really enjoyable, and a delight to watch from start to end. The various cliffhangers, sense of foreboding, understanding the world surrounding the characters, all that makes for a series that stays true to the hype from the manga and OVAs to this wonderful piece of a work that will ensure your investment of a time well-spent and honour via its conscious execution and well-balanced progression. As always, a recommended watch for everyone who is tired of the typical romance genre and needs a subtle genre mix with it.

Great show, I disagree with those who talk about it is wrong cause we see an adult man buying a girl as if it was a slave, or him behaving wrongly with her. This is a fantasy world with different rules and in the end what really matters is the purpose. You can see all the time that Elias intentions are good, taking care and respecting Chise, trying to do the best for her.
We cannot judge the show using our standards, otherwise we wouldn´t watch anything.
The music is beautiful,the art is excelent, there are very interesting characters, and the struggle between good and evil is ... well translated.
I really love this anime.

Firstly, this is not a series that I'll recommend to anyone or something that I think everyone will enjoy, but a series that I want everyone to at least give a try once. I also would like to mention that I categorize this more as an appreciation essay than a review for many reasons. With that being said, on to the essay!

From the beginning, this series felt like one of those worlds where I could simply get lost in. The world and magic of this anime induce that sense of awe and wonder in me. It has folklore and mythologies from Celtic, Irish, Christianity, ... British, Shakespear, Russia, Japanese and probably from all around the world at this point. Ever since I was young, I've adored mythologies and folklore from all over the world. Even though I do not believe in the supernatural, I've always loved watching and reading about these mystical and supernatural stories that have been a part of all of our cultures for centuries. So being such a mythos and folklore nerd, one of the most irritating parts about this medium is how it likes to butcher those already amazing stories into cliches or obnoxious rubbish. The West is a bit more respectful most times, but not every one of them managed to capture me. Some of those series that did manage to capture me would be those little book/ film series called Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. But even compared to those massively popular cliches, this feels better written and more authentic.

Not only the mythos but the magic and alchemy too is beautiful. In a medium swept of fantasy MMO RPG worlds with your usual NPCs, your usual class systems and your usual elemental, buff, debuff magic systems you don't really see anything new being made. Because of that, every world and story has become oddly familiar. And no matter how good the story or characters are, the worlds have gotten stale. Or as Garnt said, "Magic ceases to be Magical". So compared to all of those The Ancient Magus' Bride (or MahoYome for short) feels or rather is a breath of fresh air. Magic of this world isn't something that only exists for destruction, it's something beautiful yet frighting and mysterious at the same time. It's never fully explained or understood and that's the beauty of it. The supernatural isn't painted black or white either. It's a phenomenon that can be good, evil or even both depending on various circumstances. Only the bare minimum information that's required is given. We don't learn everything about the world and its magic nor do the characters know about them. Even though beings who've lived for centuries exists in this world, they are still nowhere near understanding everything it has to offer. It's simply a world that exists and has existed for a very long time. Just like our real world. Exploring and learning about that world beyond my understanding is part of what makes MahoYome so compelling and fascinating.

The well-detailed world only complements that marvellous magic in the series. Kore Yamazaki, the original mangaka has managed to craft a world that not only feels fresh but somewhat familiar too. The amazing attention to detail that has gone into the series from the architecture to the food and even to the bloody patterns in the train seats! These subtle things are what makes this world feels real and so captivating. One of the worst things a manga could do is to have an English setting with a traditional British cottage and someone eating a piece of Onigiri or a bowl of ramen in the middle of it. A lot of research and care has gone into crafting this little gem and a lot of praise should be given to both the mangaka and the animation studio for it.

The magic and world-building are what captured me at first but that's not all there is to this fairytale. Tossed into this mystical world with no magical knowledge and with the help of her "mentor" character, our protagonist Chise Hatori learns more about the world and to appreciate the fantastical elements of it. Which does happen but later on in the story, you'll realize those were more of a surface level backdrop to the story, a pit of quicksand that looks solid until you start to walk into it. It's kind of tough, cause while some Anitubers and reviewers did break this series down to the bone and explain its amazing plot and characters, I kind of don't want to. If I were to do that, I'd reveal many things that initially you aren't supposed to know that will somewhat ruin the fun. But I will mention simple things such as a lot of the character designs in this series are very unique. The designs and character names all have mythological value to them, that reveal either backstories or parts of their characterization. The plot is somewhat monster of the week esque but it's crafted in a way that with happiness, sorrow follows. So it feels well balanced and will always leave you at the edge of your seat.

Wit studio most certainly did a magnificent job with this title. They proved that not only can they do action-packed titles like AoT but they can handle some emotional and beautiful titles like MahoYome as well. With gorgeous animation that was followed by some magnificent music, the manga panels were truly brought to life. The inserts complement the animation and the mood of the story very well. Though I'm not one to watch OPs or EDs, this was one of the few instances that I did not skip them in a single episode. It's also mind-boggling that this exceptional production was made by a group of newbies. From the director to the composer are all new names to these titles.

Would I recommend this to the general anime fans? Aye, this series became one of my favourite anime of all time. How it handles mythologies and folklore in my opinion, is the best. Another nerdy thing I loved about this world is its mages, witches and sorcerers. Usually, most series only have one of these magic-user types and the one they do have would be either butchered or twisted in an odd way. The fact that three different magic-user types existed in the same world and they all have their intricately detailed features and abilities that differentiate them from one another, which is also very much how folklore had described them over the years blew my mind. Kore Yamazaki is a mythos nerd and it very much shows, which is such a delight for someone like me. Though as great the manga is I think this is one of the rare instances where I prefer the anime over the manga. While I do like the very expressive and detailed drawings of Yamazaki sensei, the excellent animation, soundtrack and voice acting stands tall over its source material. If I somehow managed to pique your interest in this show with this overly long essay then I'd highly recommend you try the OVAs first before watching the series. Though chronologically they should come right after the end of the first cour, the OVAs are what first sold me on the series. Finally, with clamming the 8th spot in my favourite anime of all time, I rate The Ancient Magus' Bride a 9/10.

Quite frankly, even after watching up to the most recent episode of Mahoutsukai no Yome (was on 11/28/2017), I still feel the same as when I reviewed when only 3 or 4 episodes were out. Objectively, the anime is good so far. Why is it objectively good? Because it follows the story line without any confusing nonsense. Of course, if the end doesn't explain and cover and loose end at the end, then I would have to reedit this review again. An anime series is like any other TV shows we've seen. Anything story telling related means that it must have a start, a middle ... and an end. If it accomplish that without any weird or unnecessary plot holes, then it would be objectively good. For example, Destiny 2 game storyline. A lot of people seems to dislike it and thought the story was dull. Whether it was or not, the main point is that it had a start, a middle, and an ending; therefore, it is objectively good because it pass the basic structure of a storytelling. Now, here is where people where argue against or with. Just because one dislike something does not necessarily mean it is bad. Of course, it works the same opposite way. Just because someone like something, doesn't necessarily mean that it is good. These is what I call subjectivity. The plot of MnY is not lacking, it just proceeding slowly. We get to see some action from main and major characters here and there. There are real antagonists, but not necessarily evil. But more importantly, main characters does have personality, and not plain one-dimensional. I'll say one thing so far though, I like Chise development more than Elias though. As a fantasy and magic type of anime, I think it's well done both visually and audibly. While story does feel like it is lacking something, it still holds it solid until we get a conclusion.

Story: Yes, it can be a little lackluster in terms of plot, but I think it's alright since this type of anime holds it together by characters. Meaning, story proceeds as character develops in some way. Otherwise, it's quite something. Each episodes holds true to their character and feel like it gives good surprises and impact to remember. Whether it was spiritual or tragedies, it holds it together to bring out an interesting tale, such as a little backstory, here and there before proceeding to the actual plot line. It's to make a purpose and to be relevant in order for the characters to grow in certain ways.

Art: Is majestic the right word? Visually, stunning and capture every beautiful moments. The art and animation work are very smooth, and while it is still has an anime look, it felt soft and realistic in an odd way. But more importantly, it stick true to its' genre, which is magic and fantasy.

Sound: Folksy music. Don't get me wrong, it's not the same as country music. Folksy type of music a perfect fit for a wonderful tale of magic and fantasy. But I think Shimotsuki Haruka would fit even better as both an ending and opening. Either that or MANYO composition would be nice to the show. Soundtracks are good. Happy moments, you hear happy sounds. Dreadful moments you hear dreadful sounds. The sounds itself plays a tale, not just the visual.

Character: It's difficult to judge characters if they don't have much scenes, and no, I'm not talking about the two main characters, Chise and Elias. However, it does seem to flow in a good direction, especially Chise. I really like Chise character and her development character is quite something. At the first episode, she was gloomy and pretty much just ready to die and be indifferent about the world and all, but after being with Elias and encountering many other characters, she becomes more bright and actually care both herself and others. Elias, on the other hand, still slightly plain, probably because he is full of mysteries, but on episode 7 to 8, we get to see how "disturbing and nasty" he can get when it doesn't goes his way. We also get a rather odd antagonist (or villain) in here. Still not much yet, and I expect it to be like that since there is 24 episodes, but so far, I'm just glad Chise character is not dull.

Enjoyment: I am enjoying the heck out of this anime right now. I just hope, the middle to the end doesn't fall short and makes me rate it badly.

Overall: A great tale about magic in a fantasy setting world. Many references are used, such as fairy folklore and such. I think if magic and fantasy is something you are interested in, Mahoutsukai no Yome does it right.

(This is my first review so it might not be too good and I'm trying not to contain any spoilers)

In an honestly pretty poor year for original anime in 2017, there have been a few strong animes. Personally 2 originals this year can be considered amongst the best, the first being Summer 2017's Made In Abyss, and Fall 2017's Mahoutsukai no Yome.

As the synopsis goes, Chise is a young girl coming from a broken family, who has given up all hope on her life and future, to the extent of even selling herself. She is then bought for an absurd amount by Elias, a demon? ... looking mage. He then announces that Chise will be his apprentice and his future bride.

With a premise like this, it seems as though this would be a recipe for disaster. But Mahoutsukai no Yome has been able to exceed all expectations for it, and become quite frankly a masterpiece.This boils down to a few points.

The important duo pushing the story forward would be Elias & Chise, the main protaganists. The seeminly uncaring Elias is seen by Chise as her benefactor and saviour even, who is allowing her to use her talent/curse as a Sleigh Beggy to discover a new purpose in life. The change of Chise from a hopeless, unconfident girl to one who is on the path of gaining strength on her own is forged by both Elias' "tutoring" and Chise's determination. Similarly interesting would be Elias' own background. While little hints have been dropped throughout the story about where he comes from, he is still quite the enigma as of Episode 12.

Other characters are not to be dismissed as unimportant either. Often, characters like Lindel and the old dragon have helped her discover important learning points that would not only be invaluable for her learning of magic, but for how she should live her life as well. These life lessons can also be applicable for ourselves, but I would not go into detail about these.

The set-up for the plot is amazing. With a community saturated with isekai and fantasy worlds literally being in a Middle-Ages themed MMORPG, Mahoutsukai no Yome shows how a real magical fantasy world can be introduced to the viewer in a similar fashion to the Harry Potter universe, with an potentially even wider and deeper realm than that. This is aided by strong characters and their significance with the story, how the characters interact with each other. (ie the other mages and Elias and the fairies with Chise)

The animation is stellar. it never fails the viewer with its beautiful colours and detailed drawing that would entice the senses. Coupled together with the beautiful soundtrack and the amazing songs (like Lindel's singing) it gives the magical atmosphere and moving and bittersweet feeling. The opening song is powerful, and the ending song does not disappoint either. These are both coupled with great animation in the OP/ED, with the OP's song tone making it feel as though one is transitioning between hopeless sadness to hope, reflecting Chise's journey, while the ED seems to remind us that there is still more darkness/mystery to come. (That's my own interpretation and definitely open to other opinions)

To address the criticisms, I do admit that the pacing could have been too fast, and while I have not read the manga, i would believe that it is caused by the short 24 episode length of this series. I also agree that occasionally comedic moments are placed inappropriately, but i would argue that they are useful in lightening the show's generally dark tone. Moving on to the biggest concern of most of the reviewers here, which would be this being the glorification of pedophilia/Stockholm Syndrome, I would only say that I personally feel that this show encourages neither of which, and the Chise's age and situation are key factors in stringing her personality together, as well as showing her own teenage need for love, acceptance and a place in the world, of which she is finding in Elias and others in this world.

I do hope that this show keeps up this amazing 12 episode run with an equally, if not better last 12 episodes that would certainly please us viewers and give a new classic masterpiece for the anime community.

Created by Kore Yamazaki, The Ancient Magus’ Bride manga began serializing in 2013. Published in Monthly Comic Garden, as of September of 2017, the shounen series is currently up to 8 volumes. An anime television series adaptation was announced on March 10, 2017, and premiered on October 7, 2017 on MBS, Tokyo MX, BS11 and other Japanese channels. The anime has been nominated for multiple categories in the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2017, including Best Drama. The English dub of The Ancient Magus’ Bride anime is being handled by Funimation.

Chise Hatori is 15. She, for some reason, sees otherworldly creatures and acts as a magnet ... for them. Because of that, her life is ruined and even her closest relatives, as the only thing she can rely on, are disappearing one after another. Chise, being absolutely alone, even thinks about ending her life. However, instead of resorting to suicide, she meets a person that suggests her selling her life to someone who would take her in. And Chise does find a person that wants to buy her--Elias. After some time, the two are teleported to Elias’ home. Warm, quite and extremely cozy--that home is everything Chise has ever dreamed of. Now Chise becomes Elias’ apprentice, who is a very respected mage.

As a mage, Chise will now have to find out more about the world she is afraid of, about the world that ruined her life and took everything, which was important to her. If you have not seen the OVA first, which you should do before watching the TV series, it might seem that The Ancient Magus’ Bride is somewhat light hearted and has no dark themes whatsoever. And that would be a big mistake. The story-line does a great job explaining the viewer about the world of this series and there is hardly anything you will not understand. The best thing about it, which is worth mentioning, is the fact that it is never boring. When it becomes boring, it immediately shows you something disturbing, or something you would never imagine.

The anime preview did not lie, the artwork, as it should be in any series that focuses on magic, is absolutely stunning. The colors are vibrant, glowing, and clean. What is more, the anime takes place in many different places, as well as countries: you will see the beauty of Iceland, which is the most beautiful place on our planet, and then you will be shown some quite disturbing pictures like Joseph’s laboratory. The series does not focus only on the beautiful, it also shows you some very dark elements, which is something you might find enjoyable and it will probably help you enjoy the series even more.

Music wise, it is extremely charming and exciting. Every piece of music fits this series and helps you dive in the world of magic and many secrets that surround the world of The Ancient Magus’ Bride. Surprisingly, both the English and Japanese dubbed versions are equally good, which is quite a rare thing to see. Feel free to watch it in whatever language you want.

The titular characters Chise and Elias are an incredibly strange duo. Right from the very beginning we find out that Elias wants make Chise not only his disciple, but also his bride. And it makes it pretty much obvious that romance will also play a very important part in this series. However, The Ancient Magus’ Bride approach to this genre is somewhat different from what you have seen in other anime. It is quite a challenge to describe their relations: I guess both of them are somewhat afraid of each other, they are afraid of making a mistake that might ruin their relations. And because of that there is actually no romance in this anime. Anyways, both Chise and Elias receive equal character developments and they both are very interesting to follow.

Enjoyments wise, The Ancient Magus’ Bride is quite a surprise. It does have a slow start and there is nothing unique about it. However, with every episode the series becomes more and more interesting: more characters are being introduced and you understand more about the series. And I must say this show is very enjoyable to watch.

Overall, it is worth watching – give it a shot! This anime feels like you are watching a fairy tale, which is sometimes very dark. The Ancient Magus’ Bride is touching, beautiful, and dark. It is definitely a show many anime fans will highly appreciate.

Grade:
Overall (sub): 10
Overall (dub): 10
Story: 9
Animation: 9
Art: 9
Music: 10
Voice acting: 10
Enjoyment: 10

This show has become my new obsession!

One complaint I have heard from many people is that it's taking a long time for the plot to come along, and as someone who has caught up with the manga, I can say that this isn't the kind of story that likes to throw it's viewers head first into a deep convoluted story, while trying to explain the rules of the world, and the back stories of every character involved, all at once.

If I could put it into words, it's the kind of story that rather than race through to get to the finish line, it likes to ... take a stroll and view the world around it while it heads to its destination. That's not to say that it's filled with fillers, Most story arks within it's grasp have some significance to the overall story taking place, whether that something is something big or small. But rather, it wants you to see the world around the characters.

The art style is gorgeous and it really goes all out to try and make your viewing experience as pleasing to the eyes as possible. The use of contrast to help highlight and emphasize the expansiveness and the all around wonder this world holds is breath taking. And the use of colors to set a mysterious, and enchanting atmosphere is phenomenal.

This isn't a story of adventure but a story of discovery. It focuses on the discovery of what makes life worth living, and finding the reason within all of us to keep living. It's a story of finding acceptance in yourself as well as in one another.

This show/story isn't perfect, but it is well worth the watch, and even though I have already read ahead, I still get excited when new episodes premiere. This show is also well adapted from the source material.

The world is truly vast, beautiful, mesmerizing, filled with mysteries that refuse to give up their secrets. Mystery inspires awe, and awe lies at the heart of man’s yearning to comprehend. You see, I love Science ever since I am in primary school. I discover something new, I find out how things work and I learn the laws that govern this world through Science. Every little bits of information that fills my mind slightly change the way I view the world. Though, the pursuit of knowledge does not obliterate the sense of awe and mystery. There’s always more to discover.

This is exactly how I ... feel when I'm watching Mahoutsukai no Yome. It is an enchanting tale which combines the elements of fantasy, romance and supernatural that takes viewers on a captivating journey through a world where magic and mythology intertwine. Set in modern-day England, the story revolves around Chise Hatori, a young girl with a troubled past who is sold at an auction to a mage named Elias Ainsworth, a mysterious and enigmatic figure who provides Chise with the guidance and support she needs. Chise is taken to Elias's home in the English countryside, where she begins to embark on a remarkable journey to learn about the world of magic and the creatures that inhabit it. Once struggling with loneliness and devoid of hope, Chise starts to find solace and purpose in her new life as Elias' apprentice and future bride.

The world-building in this anime is nothing short of magnificent. Set in a universe where magic is intricately woven into the fabric of reality, Mahoutsukai no Yome introduces the viewers to a vast array of supernatural beings, mythical creatures and awe-inspiring landscapes. The attention to detail in the anime brings these elements to life, creating a visually stunning experience that allow the audience to immerse themselves in a realm of wonder and enchantment. From sprawling forests to ethereal realms, every setting feels meticulously crafted. Unlike other anime, where things are explained to the teeth with clarity, audience are only fed with the same little amount of information as Chise. There's so much more left undiscovered as if the world in the series truly existed, rich with its own story, history and mystery. Even for creature like Elias, who has live for hundreds, if not thousands of years, there's still too much for one to fully comprehend.

Another standout is the anime's exploration of folklore and mythology - vampires, selkies, changelings, banshee, dragons and church grim, just to name a few. These influences are seamlessly woven into the narrative, contributing to the show's rich world-building, adding layers of depth to its storytelling and enhances the fantasy aspect of the anime. The term "fantasy" has been highly misused in the anime industry. Companies often goes for the easy money by integrating the magic seen in MMORPGs into anime and calling it a day. In reality, the magic is so familiar and similar such as the typical elemental attacks (water, fire, ice, lightning), heals, buff, debuff to the fact that "The Magic Cease to be Magical." - Gigguk. However, the magic in Mahoutsukai no Yome utilizes the elements of singing, familiar and Pilum Murialis (which literally means wall spear) which itself is fresh and new and gives the viewers a sense of wonder.

The soundtrack of Mahoutsukai no Yome is a masterful blend of haunting melodies and ethereal compositions. The music accentuates the emotional beats of the story, capturing the essence of wonder, longing, joy and melancholy. Each piece enhances the atmosphere and creates an immersive experience that lingers long after each episode concludes with my favorite piece being "Anthology by the Iron Strings" by Junichi Matsumoto. “How is it that music can, without words, evoke our laughter, our fears, our highest aspirations?”

As a whole, Mahoutsukai no Yome is an exceptional anime and a must watch for anime fans. The anime goes beyond the conventional range of the genre, providing a thought-provoking exploration of human emotions, relationships, trauma, self-worth, in addition to the search for one's purpose in life, and tackles these mature themes with sensitivity and grace. With its stunning visuals, rich mythological influences, amazing soundtracks, mature storytelling and relatable characters, Mahoutsukai no Yome is by far the best fantasy I have ever stumbled across.