The realm of "Shonen" Anime & Manga is encompassed by two major things: Conformity and Mediocrity. The term itself; "Shonen", immediately conjures a vast plethora of negatively inclined connotations, many of which are based off of only a small array of relatively insipid and generic titles, thus leading to an offhanded generalization that "It's shonen, it must be bad.", leaving many other unknown titles failing to receive the attention they may or may not deserve. This seems to have muddled a lot of the thoughts of the average anime viewer, and so when one is suggested a title, say, "Magi: The Kingdom
...
of Magic", interest is initially sparked, only for it to dwindle down as quickly as it began upon their reading of the genres MAL gives (Shounen, Action, Magic etc.). Thankfully, the Magi Series gives us a refreshing and more mature indication of what a shonen series is capable of producing - A masterpiece.
What Magi does to differentiate itself from it's counterparts in the genre is that it does not rely solely on fighting or mind-games to solve the various conflicts that appear throughout the entirety of the show. While Magi does have it's fair share of Shonen-esque battles (Which mind you are absolutely stunning), Magi is a show which also has a heavy political and ethnic aspect towards the roots of it's overall story. The characters are faced with a range of different situations in which they must go through, and a lot of these encounters are heavily laced with issues that are incredibly relatable to our contemporary society. From political warfare to the most heated of battles, Magi definitely has a a variety of ways in which conflicts are solved which will keep you guessing and on your toes in tense anticipation of what is to come next.
Expanding on the political and ethnic aspect of the story, Magi serves as a commentary of sorts on our society as a whole, raising considerably harrowing and terrifying questions as to whether our society is wrong or right in our actions both past and present. Though not majorly enforced and implied, the messages are there. From racism, discrimination and segregation, poverty all the way to the harsh and chilling realities of what a war does to a nation and it's inhabitants, Magi's storytelling is fantastically intertwined with social, political and ethnic problems/morals that we as a society seem to blatantly ignore. This critique is what truly makes Magi shine above above the rest, the only other shonen which consistently deliver the same level of complexity in story Full Metal Alchemist and HunterxHunter.
Everyone in Magi has a role. Whether it be to act merely as a stepping stone for something greater or to bring calamity to the world, each character in Magi offers something different, something new, something exciting which will crack the biggest of smiles, the saddest of frowns and everything else in the spectrum of our emotions. Whether it be the ever-cheery, mysterious and hilariously perverted protagonist Aladdin; the altruistic, reckless and ridiculously relatable deuteragonist Alibaba Saluja or the beautiful, shy and incredibly powerful glutton Morgiana, the characters in this show are by far it's highlight. The interactions between these characters are alluring and entertaining as well as thought provoking. Paying extra detail to the words and looks exchanged between individuals is key, as one line you heard here will have vast relevance and foreshadowing to scenes of future events. Each character is well developed, every mistake and step forward made adding to their maturity and sophistication, further personalizing each individual into distinguishable, multi-dimensional characters. With fantastic writing put into every one of the cast as well as brilliant voice acting (Yuki Kaji and Kana Hanazawa just to name a few), you are bound to fall in love with at least one of the characters this show has to offer.
The world Magi is set in is one based on the classic tale, "1001 Nights", however, do not let that trick you into thinking Magi: The Kingdom of Magic has it's foot firmly planted only in one era, quite far from it in fact. Though we are initially faced with the classic Arabian setting, the blazing sun encroaching everyone to take shade, Magi's setting is one of many cultures and religions all jumbled together into a brilliant mess. From Imperial China, the streets and slums of India, Lebanese architecture and trade all the way to bloody Gladiatorial bouts to the death in Ancient Rome, Magi has a dip of just about any mainstream ancient culture, cultivating an immensely enchanting and fascinating universe. How these different areas are explored and expanded upon are brilliantly done, the ways in which we are shown what each setting has to offer and how our characters traverse such interesting areas something I, despite the countless moments of watching over and over, will never lose interest in.
Magi's artwork, both source material and adaptation, are both phenomenal and breath taking. As mentioned earlier with Magi's multicultural diversity in setting, different places give you completely different appearances, each character design becoming more unique and amazing as the one before. Though the main characters do have some generic hairstyles and colour, it is easily dismiss-able when faced with what the rest of the cast and surrounding environments have to offer. However, there are some instances (backstreets in urbanized areas especially) where a lot of the structures look copy-and-pasted, which is a great shame, given the fantastic and creative art style this series brings. Coupling the visuals is a soundtrack that truly knows it's purpose - that is, to add atmosphere to scenes where mere dialogue is simply not enough as well as fully encapsulate the audience into the theme of the show, which in essence is the Arabian Nights. With Shiro Sagisu behind it's score(Bleach, Berserk, Evangelion etc.), Magi's soundtrack acts almost as invitation into the world itself, each track truly capturing the emotion it's accompanying scene is trying to deliver. Though not the most spectacular, Magi's soundtracks are most definitely memorable, some tracks you will find yourself dying to find out the name of upon hearing.
In conclusion, Magi: The Kingdom of Magic is an anime you will most definitely not regret watching. With it's compelling themes and complex storyline as well as an expansive world filled with a variety of lovable and relatable characters, Magi has created an unforgettable experience which simply cannot be missed. Whether you're a fan of politics, or just want a fun yet intelligent shonen series, look out because Magi: The Kingdom of Magic has arrived and will clear you of depravity!
It is highly recommended for you to have viewed the Prequel series, "The Labyrinth of Magic" before watching The Kingdom of Magic as major plot points and character developments are addressed.
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Jul 23, 2015
Magi: The Kingdom of Magic
(Anime)
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The realm of "Shonen" Anime & Manga is encompassed by two major things: Conformity and Mediocrity. The term itself; "Shonen", immediately conjures a vast plethora of negatively inclined connotations, many of which are based off of only a small array of relatively insipid and generic titles, thus leading to an offhanded generalization that "It's shonen, it must be bad.", leaving many other unknown titles failing to receive the attention they may or may not deserve. This seems to have muddled a lot of the thoughts of the average anime viewer, and so when one is suggested a title, say, "Magi: The Kingdom
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