Story: The story is very straightforward and intense at times. While the whole incest topic is taboo among many viewers, I actually kinda supported the ship. It didn't feel too disgusting, not even the scenes where it was taken to another level. Yes, Miyuki might be one of the biggest bro-con in anime history but I felt like the incest in this anime made the series better. I am not quite sure why but somehow, the series got a trademark which of course makes it stand out. It dares to go beyond the norms that are accepted but not too greatly as to gross out the audience. Another plot thing that has been done before that I enjoyed was Tatsuya's background. He is unable to feel any strong emotions. The only emotion he has left is his protection and love for his younger sister. Tatsuya might seem weak, but Mahouka actually shows off his strongest points. Tatsuya is a bad ass! The other protagonist is Shiba Miyuki, the ice queen and Tatsuya's younger sister. She is strong, beautiful, independent and perfect in every way. Her only weakness is her forbidden love for her brother. While she is the flawless and perfect one, Tatsuya is the irregular and worst one (oh the irony). In reality, Tatsuya is made to look like the perfect one and Miyuki the worst ones thanks to the plot. Almost every time a problem shows up, Tatsuya is the one who fixes it. I really liked this twist in the anime. Now, the actual plot is about Tatsuya who enrolls to Mahouka Koukou as a reserve or Weed while Miyuki enrolls as a Bloom, one with better test results and stronger magic capabilities. Right off the bat, we get introduced to fantastic characters who are friends with the siblings, all with varied and unique characteristics. Miyuki is adored by the entire school due to her being a Bloom as well as good looking while Tatsuya is discriminated and looked down upon for being a Weed. Yes, a cast system at a high school. This discrimination is short lived for Tatsuya as he proves himself to be more than meets the eyes. I won't spoil why but it's definitely badass.
TL: DR
It's about two siblings who enroll to a school where one of them is discriminated and the other adored. The older brother joins the student council and gets involved in serious shit. The rest is about a sort of contest between different schools and action happens.
Art: The art style is fantastic and it has that subtle futuristic feel to it. The colors are vibrant and make the world feel alive, being a perfect mix between redundant and realistic. The characters look unique and they really fit the story of the series looks. Background and nature are not the focal points of the anime but they look very nice and I didn't notice anything strange about them as the series progressed. There isn't a lot to say about the art other than what has already been talked about so I am moving on.
Sound: I must start off by saying that the two main protagonists Tatsuya and Miyuki's VA did an outstanding job voicing them. They fit the characters perfectly and were exactly how I wanted them before the series came out (I read the light novels before). They are flawless and I doubt anyone else could have done a better job, let alone compare. The music intense during action scenes and has a techno vibe to it. During dialogues, the music is calm and relaxing. I think the music is superb, but the only thing that's missing are a bit more varied music. Some tracks repeat themselves.
Enjoyment: The action scenes are very fun to watch with really cool moves being performed. Couple that with the outstanding animation and you get some of the best action in anime history. I feel that the number of action scenes can be a bit underwhelming and the dialogues that dominate can be off-putting but nevertheless, it is still really enjoyable. That isn't to say that you can enjoy the series dialogues but if you are looking for nonstop battles, look somewhere else. Oddly enough, the incest can be quite enjoyable as it is almost comedic at times. Romance is not the focus of the anime but the only romance you'll find is the incest.
Overall, I think Mahouka is one of the best anime in recent years. It really is good and enjoyable to watch. I highly recommend watching it, even if you find some of the stuff to be unenjoyable. Give it a watch and judge after the first four episodes or so.
