For those of you who are okay with it: you're in for one heck of a ride.
MahouAko's anime adaptation is a mixed bag, speaking as a manga reader. Let's go over the bad points first:
- The story is nothing groundbreaking, nor is the premise innovative. It's an ecchi centered around magical girls, and while it does explore topics like sexual awakening, it's still an ecchi at its core. There's a caveat to this, but don't expect anything profound.
- The animation is lackluster more often than not. The art style also has a hard time emulating the manga due to the latter's top-notch use of shading.
- The characters are hit or miss. Personally I like all of them, but I can easily see some of them coming across as annoying to some. YMMV.
- The soundtrack is forgettable, though the OP and ED are quite decent.
If you want a riveting narrative or high quality animation, MahouAko isn't a good choice. However, it possses a lot of redeeming qualities:
- The story is well-written. It may not be innovative, but it makes up for that by being consistent. I'm not just talking the general tone, I mean this across the board. Plot developments are meaningfully addressed and are amplified through continuity. Characters experience meaningful arcs and their relationships naturally progress (at a swift rate, at that). The worldbuilding is straightforward, but that also makes it easy to understand.
Most importantly, though:
- The characters are not one-dimensional. Thank god, an ecchi that doesn't forget that its characters are people. Most members of the cast, even minor characters, are filled with personality. Utena is a shy introvert in one moment, a and a sadistic magical girl simp in the next. I do not say this lightly: she's Bocchi, but a closet perv. Where Utena really shines though is in how she comes into her own. As time passes, her dominant side grows more assertive while her shy side opens up. It's not a complete transformation, but there's a clear shift from start to finish. Kiwi is confrontational and possessive, but doesn't overplay her hand. Korisu is quiet and timid, but is also the most expressive of the bunch. On the whole, I'm satisfied with how characters are handled. They play off each other well, they manage to stand on their own, and they each posssess some loveable quirks. They're not the most nuanced characters in the world, but they're quite solid for an ecchi.
- This show has many flavors, both in terms of kinks and genres. Genre-wise, it balances a lot of themes be it CGDCT, Ecchi, Yuri, and Seinen. It flips between these as the story demands, but all of them are decently handled. The Seinen aspect struggles the most, but it doesn't detract from the rest of the show. Kink-wise...suffice to say that it manages to tick a lot of boxes. On average, viewers should have at least one kink that the show tackles, but again YMMV.
- The ecchi is bold, to the point where you'll sometimes question how even a censored version of the show aired. I can't go into spoilers, but when I say bold, I mean stuff you only see in hentai. To put this into perspective, the producer admitted to recieving complaints from the broadcasting staff for this exact reason. It really manages to push the limit, especially towards the end of the season.
- The show is funny, though I can't put a finger on why. Maybe it's the payoff and continuity. The iterative gags, the goofy shots...it doesn't go as hard as Bocchi, but the same spirit is generally there.
- The voice acting is quite good, ESPECIALLY from Fuuka Izumi. This is only Fuuka's second role on MAL, yet she absolutely kills it as Utena. She captures both sides of her personality well while rivaling Yoshino Aoyama's (i.e. Bocchi) level of expressiveness. This is a rookie with natural talent, so you'll definitely see her again. Beyond that, Aoi Koga works her Paimon magic as Kiwi while Yuuka Aisaka nails Loco. I'll also shout out Misaki Ikeda for her colorful work as Kaoruko. All in all, a great voice cast.
In summary: this is an ecchi that understands what it is and where it's going. It thrives in lewds and memes, but supports this through continuity and character development. Payoff is generally earned, comedic moments stick the landing, and the voice actors have a lot of fun. It's a lot like Blue Archive where if you can put aside the characters' age, the shenanigans are a load of fun. I can honestly call it a good show, though one with a specific target audience.
As for comparisons between the anime and manga: the anime is largely faithful, with some swaps and tweaks here and there. It struggles to match the manga's paneling (which plays a lot into the seinen appeal), but makes up for it by doubling down on lewder moments. I fully recommend the manga, especially for those who'd prefer a more serious version. Both the anime and manga are quite good though, so choose whichever you prefer.
Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete is a 7/10. It's certainly not for everyone, but it possses its own appeal while being surprisingly competent with its characters. Watch it to have fun, and remember: it's only fiction.
