Action "Magical" Girls AKA Symphogear-like Shows
Anime
Entries in this list may include the following:
1. Awesome action
2. Great music
3. Very thick yuri subtext
4. Nana Mizuki
I highly recommend the Nanoha series; Symphogear is basically a spiritual sequel to it.
Also, feel free to recommend more series to add to this collection, I'm always looking for more! Just comment on my Profile or something.
If you're into manga, try "Hero-san to Moto Onna Kanbu-san"! Sadly I can't change the type of stack after publishing it lol.
1. Awesome action
2. Great music
3. Very thick yuri subtext
4. Nana Mizuki
I highly recommend the Nanoha series; Symphogear is basically a spiritual sequel to it.
Also, feel free to recommend more series to add to this collection, I'm always looking for more! Just comment on my Profile or something.
If you're into manga, try "Hero-san to Moto Onna Kanbu-san"! Sadly I can't change the type of stack after publishing it lol.
Senki Zesshou Symphogear
Symphogear
TV, 2012,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:10
The entire reason I made this list. Watch the seasons (and OVAs) in release order! S1 -> G -> GX -> AXZ -> XV
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
TV, 2004,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:7
The one anime that started it all. Watch this, followed by A's and StrikerS.
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
TV, 2007,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:8
You can watch Nanoha Vivid and Vivid Strike after this, but they're more like a fantasy sports anime so I decided to omit them from this list.
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha: The Movie 1st
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha: The Movie 1st
Movie, 2010,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
A remake of the first season. Worth a watch for the updated action alone, but not as a replacement.
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha: The Movie 2nd A's
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha: The Movie 2nd A's
Movie, 2012,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
A remake of the second season. Worth a watch for the updated action alone, but the plot is heavily altered in this one so it also doesn't work as a replacement.
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha: Reflection
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Reflection
Movie, 2017,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Technically takes place after the first and second season, but watch this and Detonation after StrikerS.
Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru
Yuki Yuna is a Hero
TV, 2014,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
If you liked anything listed here then you will love YuYuYu. Start with this one, then Washio Sumi and Yuusha no Shou (they are part of the same season, but split into two titles; more details later), followed by Dai Mankai no Shou.
Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru: Washio Sumi no Shou
Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Washio Sumi Chapter
TV, 2017,
6 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This is actually three movies split into six episodes to serve as the first half of Yuusha no Shou. As far as I know there's no huge differences between the movie and episode cuts, so feel free to watch whichever! (Probably the episode cuts for convenience.)
Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru: Yuusha no Shou
Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Hero Chapter
TV, 2017,
6 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru: Dai Mankai no Shou
Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Great Mankai Chapter
TV, 2021,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
The final YuYuYu series which adapts some light novel-only entries. If you liked the NoWaYu segment, I recommend reading the light novel!
TV, 2019,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This one is more mecha than magical girls, but the pilot outfits are magical girl-esque so it still fits.
Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight
Revue Starlight
TV, 2018,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Revue Starlight is a lot less... straightforward than the other shows listed here. It plays around with visual symbolism and visual storytelling a lot to convey raw emotions, which is what I think the series is about. That said, it pretty much has the same spirit as Symphogear; they have even crossed over several times in their respective gacha games.
Special, 2018,
3 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Takes place after the anime series. Not mandatory viewing, but it's cute.
Movie, 2020,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
An hour long recap. You can skip it, but there are some new scenes added that tease the movie.
Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight Movie
Revue Starlight: The Movie
Movie, 2021,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
I cried watching this.
