One of the first Isekai anime ever made. Tough to say it could shatter nonexistent norms.

But then again, it is so early in the genre that the idea of an Isekai itself could've been considered norm shattering because you would typically just make a fantasy series at that point.

Aug 13, 2024 6:06 PM

Anime_God_King

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A subversion or deconstruction of what?

Aug 15, 2024 7:32 AM

JaceyFox

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KingSunWukong said:
Is Magic Knight Rayearth a subversion or a deconstruction or neither of them ?

of what?

if it's a subversion or a deconstruction, it has to be a subversion or deconstruction of something specific. If you don't specify what that is the question cannot be answered.

Beep boop

Aug 15, 2024 8:00 AM

Puntosmx

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KingSunWukong said:
Is Magic Knight Rayearth a subversion or a deconstruction or neither of them ?

Other commenters already pointed out that your question is incomplete.

But even if it was complete, the first problem is that we would need to define what Rayearth is about.
And Rayearth is a lot of things.

The first thing Rayearth is, is an isekai anime. From a time when isekai was still being defined. Every isekai anime was different because there was no standard as to what an isekai was.
But as an isekai, Rayearth is quite straightforward.
Characters get summoned. They accomplish their goal, and get returned to their world.
The most revolutionary thing may be that they get summoned twice.
Not a subversion nor deconstruction there.

The second thing Rayearth is, is a magical girl anime.
As such, the girls get their powers, get transformation scenes, get magic, fight enemies, forge emotional bonds, and accomplish their goals at the end.
Once again, twice.
Measured as a magical gurl anime, the most revolutionary thing they did was omitting repetitive transformation scenes. But they have repetitive magic casting scenes.
So, no subversions nor deconstructions there.

The next thing Rayearth is, is a mecha anime.
The protagonists go out, get their mechas, fight on them, and win their battles.
Maybe the most weird thing Rayearth has as a mecha anime would be that the mechas are sentient and magic-based.
But that is not a subversion and it does not get explored, so it's not a deconstruction.

The only real subversion that Rayearth has would be on the Maiden in Distress or Save the Princess tropes.
The girls get indeed summoned to "save Cefiro", and they immediately set out to save Emmeraude. Unaware that their goal is totally opposite.

I doubt that subverting one trope would make Rayearth qualify as a "subversive anime".
Much less a deconstruction, since nothing is analized nor explored as to their consequences in a non-fantastic setting.

It feels that way because it's an outlier manga/anime that mixes a lot of different generes.
It feels crude for a magical girl anime.
It has too few mecha scenes for a mecha anime.
And it has a peculiar take on its isekai components.
But none of those generes are really subverted not deconstructed.

I'd say "neither" to your question.

PuntosmxAug 15, 2024 8:09 AM

See All Discussions

Poll: » Magic Knight Rayearth Episode 16 Discussion YukiPwns00 - Jan 3, 2011	14	by LaShoujo »» Apr 1, 7:37 AM
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Poll: » Magic Knight Rayearth Episode 20 Discussion YukiPwns00 - Jan 5, 2011	26	by Safrichh »» Nov 2, 2024 8:58 PM
Poll: » Magic Knight Rayearth Episode 19 Discussion YukiPwns00 - Jan 5, 2011	13	by Safrichh »» Oct 27, 2024 9:05 PM

Is Magic Knight Rayearth a subversion or a deconstruction or reconstruction or neither of them ?

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