Warning! Spoiler alert!
Story
Magical Sempai follows the adventures, or rather, misadventures of the titular character and her group of friends as they practice their magic tricks and attempt to become true stage magicians. Well, at least Sempai does, Assistant just there to make sure she doesn't get hurt while Masashi and Saki just want to practice street performances. Anyway, this show largely episodic in nature; there are a few plotlines that last a few episodes, but nothing that can compose a true overarching narrative.
Comedy is this show's meat and potatoes, with Sempai trying and, regularly failing, to perform magic, with her Assistant normally rushing in to bail her out of trouble. While the comedy in and of itself is fine, the lack of a deeper emotional component might turn viewers. I mean, there are episodes that imply there's something between Sempai and Assistant but these moments are overshadowed by longer, more consistent periods of comedy and ecchi content.
And speaking of ecchi content, this show has ecchi to spare. Whether's scenes of panties or Sempai's surprisingly endowed chest, there's plenty of sex appeal in this show. At one point, Assistant says that, for all of Sempai's ineptitude, she's fairly attractive.
Magical Sempai is a show for the fans of ecchi comedies, so if you're a fan, you're likely to enjoy this show. Otherwise, you may want to watch something else. (6/10)
Characters
Sempai is one of the funniest characters of the year. I got really attached to her because of her ineptitude, silliness and resolve to become a stage magician despite her lack of talent with stage magic. Even when her tricks backfire, Sempai never stops trying to be better and that's something I can admire. She's a character you can both laugh at and feel sorry for at the same time. Thankfully, her Assistant is always there to save her whenever something goes wrong. Sure, he often complains that he has to look after such a helpless girl, but deep down, Assistant would never abandon her in her time of need. I think I would have enjoyed the show a bit more if it had advanced their relationship beyond just… sempai and assistant.
Despite the small size of the supporting cast, the characters manage to be fairly entertaining. There's Saki, the aspiring street performance with an obsession with her brother, Masashi, Saki's brother who goes along with her sister's antics, and Madara, who is just like Sempai but with science instead of magic. We also get some fine comedy thanks to Sempai's big sister, who enjoys putting Sempai in ridiculous situations. (7/10)
Art
For a show with a 12-minute run per episode, its visual quality is actually kind of impressive. Sure, it looks cheap sometimes but does fit into the show's quirky and hilarious nature. Also, it seems like a huge portion of the budget went into the fanservice moments. Seriously, the show never stops reminding us how big Sempai's breasts are or how curvy her body is. If there's one thing Assistant likes about her, it's her physical attractiveness. (8/10)
Sound
Magical Sempai has a fantastic opener. It's easily one of the best things about this show. Praise should also be given to the two leading actors. Kaede Hondo is a fine actress with huge comedic talent. I don't think there could have been a better choice to play the titular character. Despite being a newcomer, Aoi Ichikawa did a fine job as the Assistant. The two leads have excellent chemistry with one another and I don't think I would have enjoyed the show as much as I did without their talent. (8/10)
Overall
Magical Sempai is a fine show. Sure, it's no masterpiece and the narrative progression could use a bit of work, but you can totally appreciate it for its comedy and fanservice elements. It can get a bit repetitive sometimes, but it finishes on a strong note and I definitely recommend it to fans of ecchi comedies. (7/10)
