Imagine if four magical princesses — a vampire, a werewolf, an android, and a witch — all boarded the same house, with little knowledge about the human world. For example, in Episode 2: まやかしの呪文はTVショッピング ("The Make-Believe Spell is TV Shopping"), the girls fall for some infomercial scams and order a ton of worthless items! The series itself is less of a monster show and more of a comedy, slice-of-life with a group of gal pals experiencing practical things, in the real world! As well as some strange supernatural events, like a group of devious ※Japanese raccoon dogs tricking the gullible girls into bathing in an imaginary hot spring!
※Also known as tanuki (タヌキ).
⚠️ This review is spoiler-free ⚠️
—Story/Characters
If you're a huge otaku, transitioning into a point in their adulthood that's really hard to handle, I suggest watching this anime. That is, if you don't mind a bit of ecchi in your cartoons. When I watched this series, there were a lot of things going on in my life, and I think that's why it's so special to me. I was at a point where I was feeling a caducity in my existence, and this series reminded me of the child-like joy that series like Doraemon (1979) helped me experience, once again!
Usually with moe shows, I don't expect the female characters to act like real girls. This is a controversial opinion, but growing up as a girl, I never related to the K-On! cast... despite being directed by Naoko Yamada, a woman, it always felt like they were what men imagine high school girls to be like, instead of the actual reality. I love Naoko's Yamada's Tamako Market, but despite a few nuances with adolescent confusion, the girls didn't feel like actual girls. The dialogue is very romanticized. But, in Renkin San-kyū Magical? Pokān, the dialogue flows naturally, like how actual girls would communicate.
Yes, there's otaku references. Yes, there are some pandering in the ecchi scenes. But, overall, the characters felt very genuine in their relations with each other and the comedy felt really natural. There are also some really nice scenes of wonderment, like the girls get to ride a space train, that directly parodies Leiji Matsumoto's Galaxy Express 999. You can probably tell from my favorites list, that I have a soft spot for flying trains, since the aforementioned Galaxy Express 999 and Night on the Galactic Railway, are in my top 150 list!
It's difficult to reveal too much — without ruining the experience for everyone else, but I felt a fervor for this series, that I don't for many animated shows. The friendships, the untethered humor, and the cast of characters had such great chemistry together! The mix of real-world practicality, supernatural wonder, and vivacious characters really made this series for me. I really did not expect to love it as much as I did, but here I am, singing its praises!
Luna's Favorite Works by Each Respective Creator = ✅
Ken'ichi Yatagai (director), notable works:
* Be-Boy Kidnapp'n Idol
* Dōjin Work
* Macross II: Lovers Again ✅
* Tenchi Muyō! Ryōōki — 2nd Season, 3rd Season, Omatsuri Zenjitsu no Yoru! ("The Night Before The Carnival"), and Galaxy Police Mihoshi Space Adventure ✅
* Zettai Bōei Leviathan
Commentary: Mr. Yatagai's work on the Tenchi Muyō! Ryōōki series and Macross II: Lovers Again are both respectable ventures. Based on what I've seen of his work, including a couple episodes of Zettai Bōei Leviathan — I am comfortable with saying that Renkin 3-kyū Magical? Pokān is, in my opinion, his magnum opus. No, the sakuga is not insane, off-the-wall, madness! But, similarly to the atmosphere in the Tenchi Muyō series, he's able to create an atmosphere that is both cozy and is a great setting for gag-humor! Perhaps, some of that charm was lost with his transition to digital animation, in Zettai Bōei Leviathan. Who can really say for sure? But, all of the components of this series: the visual style, the cast of brilliant seiyū talents, and the script writing staff (which oddly enough, weren't credited?) made this series coagulate into a vessel that is rarely experienced in the medium! Legendary director!
Momoko Saitō as Uma (or Yūma), notable roles:
* Choco, Chocotto Sister
* Tsuyuri, Dōjin Work
* Perrier La Mer, Hoshi no Umi no Amuri
* Maria Nanadan VII, Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari ("Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar")
* Hatabō, Osomatsu-san ✅
* Melancholy, Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle
* Momoko Tōyoko, Saki ✅
* Solty Sevant, Solty Rei
* Sakura Shishidō, Sora wo Kakeru Shōjo
* Nazuna Takanashi, Working!! ✅
Commentary: I haven't heard many of Ms. Saitō's performances, but her comedic stroke of genius as Yūma, made her my best girl — and I'm a really big fan of Aya Hirano, so I thought Pachira would be my favorite character, for sure! Her characterization is an amalgam of honestly adorable moments, silly mishaps, and sprinkles of adult, otaku-oriented "in-jokes"! Her earnestness and peppy nature, completely won me over! My favorite role from Ms. Saitō, is her performance as Momoko Tōyoko in Saki, even though I thought she was hilarious as Hatabō in Osomatsu-san, too! Amazing seiyū!
※Fun Fact — Yūma's rabbit creature is voiced by Nomico, the original singer of the song "Bad Apple" from the famous 東方Project MV!
Hitomi Nabatame as Liru, notable roles:
* Nanao Ise, Bleach
* Noi, Blue Dragon: Tenkai no Shichi Ryū
* Kanade Sakurai, Candy Boy ✅
* Kiri Kikyō, Canvas 2: Niji-iro no Sketch
* Sena Aoi, ChäoS;HEAd ✅
* Mana Aida, Dokidoki! PreCure ✅
* Bazett Fraga McRemitz, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya
* Kanade Yūki, Fortune Arterial: Akai Yakusoku
* Kei Kishimoto, Gantz ✅
* Erika Itsumi, Girls und Panzer ✅
* Kanade Jinguji, Gokujō Seitokai
* Yukiji Katsura, Hayate no Gotoku! ("Hayate the Combat Butler")
* Raynare, High School DxD ✅
* Sphene, Hōseki no Kuni ✅
* Nobue Itō, Ichigo Mashimaro ("Strawberry Marshmallow") ✅
* Unchō Kan'u, Ikkitōsen ✅
* Eriko Takahashi, Joshikōsei: Girl's High
* Momoko Orizuka, Kenkō Zenrakei Suieibu Umishō
* Sonken Chūbō, Kōtetsu Sangokushi
* Rokumon, Kyōkai no Rinne ("RIN-NE")
* Yuna Miyama, Maburaho
* Eriko Torii, Maria-sama ga Miteru ✅
* Rina Tachibana, Mushi-Uta ✅
* Miki Onimaru, Muteki Kanban Musume
* Cryska Barchenowa, Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse ✅
* Niboshi, Nyamen
* Reiko Shirai, Ōyasan wa Shishunki!
* Saori Makishima, Ore no Imōto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai ✅
* Shizuru, Princess Connect! Re:Dive ✅
* Kagura, Prism Ark
* Hime Petit, Prism Magical: Prism Generations!
* Shizuka, Queen's Blade ✅
* Matsuri, Rocket Girls
* Mikoto Suō, School Rumble
* Uzume, Sekirei
* Margery Daw, Shakugan no Shana ✅
* Arcueid Brunestud, Shingetsutan Tsukihime ✅
* Akira Tōdō, Special A
* Shizuma Hanazono, Strawberry Panic ✅
* Fanatio Synthesis Two, Sword Art Online ✅
* Yuma Tonami, To Heart 2 ✅
* Eirin Yagokoro, 東方 Niji Sōsaku Dōjin Anime: Musō Kakyō ✅
* Vivienne Ōtori, UG☆Ultimate Girls
* Minami Yūri, VitaminX Addiction
* Akane Ryūzōji, Walkure Romance
* Kazusa Tōma, White Album 2 ✅
* Ryoko Yakushiji, Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo
* Feena Fam Earthlight, Yoake Mae yori Ruriiro na: Crescent Love
* Misa Anehara, Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahō
Commentary: Ms. Nabatame is a very accomplished seiyū, I spoke about her recently in my White Album 2 review! Her characterization of Liru is one word: lovable! Even though I preferred Yūma and Pachira, Liru is, without a doubt, the internet's favorite! She even had a CG-animated, dōjin game made about her — the creator must have been an insanely dedicated fan! But then again, she is like a goddess in dōjin circles, she has played some of the most iconic eroge roles, like Arcueid Brunestud in Shingetsutan Tsukihime, and has even voiced Eirin Yagokoro, in the 東方Project dōjin anime! She also comes off as the straight-man in many of the princess' wacky, daily hijinks! Wonderful actress!
Aya Hirano as Pachira, notable roles:
* Miu Asakura, "Bungaku Shōjo"
* Minata Nagase, Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka
* Misa Amane, Death Note
* Mamori Anezaki, Eyeshield 21 ✅
* Lucy Heartfilia, Fairy Tail ✅
* Mei Etō, Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! ✅
* Kahlua and Tequila Marjoram, Galaxy Angel Rune
* Paiman, Gatchaman Crowds
* Nobume Imai, Gintama
* Ayumi Nonomura, Hyakko
* Mai, Itsudatte My Santa!
* Garnet, Jewelpet
* Lumière, Kiddy Grade ✅
* Ume Kurumizawa, Kimi ni Todoke ✅
* Migi, Kiseijū: Sei no Kakuritsu ✅
* Hannah Anafeloz, Kuroshitsuji II ✅
* Megami, Moe★Gaku5
* Layla Serizawa, Nana ✅
* Chizuko Mikamo, Nijū Mensō no Musume
* Kana Ienaga, Nurarihyon no Mago
* Momo, Otogi Story Tenshi no Shippo ("Angel Tales")
* Nanael, Queen's Blade ✅
* Pachira, Renkin San-kyū Magical? Pokaan ✅
* Sasha, Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas ✅
* Ekaterina Kurae, Seikon no Qwaser
* Haruhi Suzumiya, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yūtsu ✅
* Yuki Morikawa, White Album ✅
* Kaoru Akashi, Zettai Karen Children ("Psychic Squad")
Commentary: Ms. Hirano has a lovely voice, and despite her getting ousted from the industry for her "indecent" behavior — she is still, to this day, one of the best voices in the industry, and she has a wonderful singing voice, to boot! I would compare her role as Pachira to Ume Kurumizawa (Kimi ni Todoke) because she's a diva, Layla Serizawa (Nana) another diva, and Nanael (Queen's Blade) because she's a lovably, cute butt-monkey! Since Pachira is a vampire, she is naturally vain, to a silly degree — like all of the other characters, their preternatural attributes are heavily satirized — and Ms. Hirano is great at making the glove fit. Pachira is insufferable, but not to the degree that makes her unlikable; much like the whole cast in Urusei Yatsura! Great performance, I hope that we can see Aya Hirano in more comedy roles, she's pretty darn funny!
Satomi Akesaka as Aiko, notable roles:
* Kasumi Kurose, Ane Log
* Rinko Shirokane, BanG Dream! ✅
* Aomi, Chikasugi Idol Akae-chan
* Taeko Nomura, Coppelion
* Mutsuki Nakano, Danchigai
* Hinako Shiizaki, Date A Live ✅
* Nano-Nano Pudding, Galaxy Angel Rune
* Korokoro, gdgd Fairies
* Assam, Girls und Panzer ✅
* Kokoro Himote, Himote House
* Makoto Ōno, Hōkago Teibō Nisshi
* Chrome Dokuro, Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
* Yuki Asano, Kyō no 5 no 2
* Futaba Marui, Mitsudomoe
* Asuna Kisaki, Occultic;Nine ✅
* Chae Kyōng, Pretty Rhythm
* Teruha Andō, Shōjo-tachi wa Kōya wo Mezasu ("Girls Beyond the Wasteland")
* Kurusu Fuyukawa, Softenni
* Henriette Mystere, Tantei Opera Milky Holmes
* Hina Satō, Tesagure! Bukatsumono
* Tokiwa Kamikizaki, Urawa no Usagi-chan
Commentary: Despite being a new talent, upon the initial release of Renkin San-kyū Magical? Pokān, Ms. Akesaka was able to get in some genuinely hilarious moments. Most of which, had to do with her android body malfunctioning in really exaggerated ways! I really, really love Satomi Akesaka as Rinko Shirokane in "BanG Dream," too! Great seiyū!
Renkin San-kyū Magical? Pokān is a special series, it isn't everyday that I get so invested in a cast of characters or get a recurring juvenescence of warm-fuzzy feelings! This show is such a fun ride, and the very last scene — I won't spoil what happens, but it made me tear up with catharsis and optimism. This series isn't just an ecchi comedy, it's much more than that — it goes far beyond what you would expect out of either of those genres! With a heart full of appreciation, I give Renkin San-kyū Magical? Pokān a 9/10!
Rating: ★★★★★