First off: The series seems to give many watchers rather uncomfortable moral conflict. I´m a tad surprised this is such a big problem for some here who (probably) can watch zombies munching on people´s brains or people killing people without much issue... Well, according to some cultural studies we westerners are more sensitive to romantic deviations than most other things. While there is no incest or non-con or real loli involved, „Ancient Magus‘ Bride“ depicts age gap and ignorance of personal boundaries by a character who is socially ignorant or simply prefers to ignore human social norms. From myanimelist: „He understands why humans feel the emotions they do, but has never experienced them himself“.
The series also presents a supernatural agency selling off humans as „creatures“ due to special powers they inhabit - Sleigh Beggy (start of ep 01). Personally I don´t agree with something like this but accept it in stories when it is a part of world building and plot history.
Moral compass aside: give this a try if you like shoujo anime with a slow(!) build-up with a pairing that would be a prime example of crackship turned serious in fanfictions. Tbh it is hard to say how the mains‘ connection will turn out. On one hand Chise is treated like a kid (with the nickname „puppy“). On the other hand our dear old not-quite-human Magus calls her his Bride in capital letters (whatever that means to him). Literal or not?
Definitely a nice approach to the human/fairy relationship that (for me) had a good start in the unknown yet enjoyable „Earl & Fairy“.
