Here’s my take after watching 8 episodes and reading 13 chapters of the otherworldly beauty which is Mahoutsukai no Yome by Wit Studio and the original art and story of Kore Yamazaki.
It’s rare for me to find a story that captures my imagination, and immerses me in the world and lore that is being projected in front of me.
Mahoutsukai no Yome did that for me and more. Both the manga and anime adaptations shackled my heart like how Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi and Hunter x Hunter did to me before until now.
I wanted to write this review taking into consideration both the manga and anime adaptation; and how great they are separately and as one media.
The story revolves around Chise Hatori a young girl aimlessly wandering without purpose, and Elias Ainsworth a Mahoutsukai (Mage) who purchased her in an auction for 5 million pounds.
It would only take 1 chapter of the manga or 1 episode of the anime adaptation to be enchanted in its world filled with magical creatures, amazing European-inspired settings, and quirky characters.
The art of the manga is superb and it is magnified even more with the anime adaptation. It has a Ghibli feel to it but it is only an initial impression and would not take away from the experience at all.
The music in the anime is what elevates the story to another level as it brings all the mystical elements together into one strong punch to your soul.
The omakes (extras) in the manga give you a well-deserved breather from the story with zany situations.
Character-wise, they may seem to be the typical stereotypes which can be a disappointment for some. Still, I believe it was meant that way to give more attention to the experiences and situations that they encounter.
If you love stories that take you away on a faraway journey to a magical Neverland and make you fall in love with their out-of-the-ordinary love story, this is a sure win for you.
With that said, I would give both the anime and manga of Mahoutsukai no Yome a perfect 10 enchantment stones out of 10.
