Magical x Miracle

xxenergizerbunnyxx Jun 6, 2014

10

I have read this manga so many times that I practically have the entire thing memorized.  But even having read it so often, I still enjoy it!  This manga has a beautiful art style, and a captivating story line to match. The main character in this series is Merleawe, a young girl who has just moved to a big city in order to attend a school for magic.  When she arrives, she is mistaken for a boy named Sylthfarn, who turns out to be the most powerful wizard in the land.  Unfortunately, Sylthfarn has disappeared without leaving any clues as to where he might have gone.  This is where Merleawe comes in.  Despite her innocence and lack of magical knowledge, not to mention the obvious discrepancy in gender, she is asked to pretend to be Sylthfarn until the boy can be found.  This leads to some hilarious events, but also many heartbreaking moments. The reason that I love this manga so much is because it has more than your typical Shoujo manga.  While yes, it does have some of the girly aspects one would expect from this style of manga, it also has many deeper, darked facets that make it a truly notable read.  The characters, each with their own back story that often leaves you weeping, bring a vibrancy to the story that is so rarely experienced, and further enhance the already spectacular plot line. All in all, this is a manga that I believe most people should experience.  It is truly amazing.  But don't take my word for it!  Try it out for yourself!

vulpecularing Mar 15, 2011

7

Magical x Miracle Back when I was 13 I stumbled into the manga section of book store and Magical x Miracle was the first book I picked up. I was instantly captivated by its cute cover and intriguing summary on the back. It became my gateway manga that introduced me to even more series. Needless to say my review might be bias, but I will do my best to be objective. I can say right off the bat this manga is more suitable for a younger audience, or someone new to the manga/anime world, but do not let that steer you away from enjoying this adorable tale. Story (7/10): Merleawe (nicknamed Mel) is a 14 year old wizard in training who has traveled from the country side to the great capital city of Viegald to study magic. On her way to her first day of school she is whisked away by a man, whom she does not know, that brings her to the cities' castle. There she is told by several young men she shares an uncanny resemblance to the Master Wizard, Slythfarn, who not long ago went missing. To avoid war and panic throughout the country they ask her to impersonate the Master Wizard until he returns. Merleawe accepts, but is she really ready for the tasks that face her? That is the plot in a nut shell. The five volumes following the first document Mel's struggles to understand who the Master Wizard is, what happened to him, and her own growth as a wizard. This is not a superficial manga, as it first appears to be. The story is cute and quite funny at times, with just the right amount of apprehension and distress. It has more depth than one expects. Though the story is gripping, it does have its flaws. It does not flow well, and in volume two it felt like the author was throwing in random events to keep things going. Yuzu Mizutani also does a sloppy job of revealing the past of the other four characters surrounding Mel. Magical x Miracle was the author's first independent manga, and for being a beginner she did well. I loved the story overall. Which is a bit strange, seeing as magical girl is one of my least favorite genres. Art (8/10): One of the things that attracted me to Magical x Miracle was the art. The cover art and illustrations in general are average to begin with, but with each volume the art becomes more attractive. By comparing volume one and six's cover you see this clearly. Character design is adorable and matches their personalities well. In addition, the outfits went along with the magical setting of the story. Though it was cliché in the sense that sparkles and flowers were overused, the feel was still nice. I usually don't go for cuteness, but this manga played it out well. One more notable thing about the art is that as the characters aged their appearance did as well. In many mangas I have read they characters do not seem to age. It takes away a sense of realism. Even if you am reading a manga about magic or aliens there should be some naturalness to it. Characters (8/10): One of the highlights of the manga is the characters. Magical x Miracle has a loveable cast that you are able to feel genuine concern for. Mel is our protagonist, and a lovable one in spite of her being slightly clichéd. Much like Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket she is almost too kind. If I were to encounter her character now, I might find myself slightly annoyed. But her refusal to give in was an inspiration to my young 13 year old self, and thus she became some sort of a role model. Fern, Glenn, Vaith and Yue are Sylthfarn's most trusted advisers and friends. They are also the four who requested that Mel masquerade as Sylthfarn. Each has their own distinct personalities and mix well together despite their differences and occasional fights. The common thread between them is their devotion to Sylthfarn, which is what really keeps them together in the face of fear and uncertainty. Watching as they all grew closer even as tragedy struck was wonderful. Character development was evident. For some it came slower than others, but in the end Mel's disposition had an effect on everyone she came in contact with. Overall (7/10): The ending was satisfying regardless of the fact that there were some things left unsaid. The one major downfall of this series in my opinion was the lack of romance (at the same time though I understand why the author kept it out, as it would steer away from the plot). So, whether you are novice or veteran Magical x Miracle is a manga you should defiantly give a shot.