Maburaho: Bewitched and Bewildered (vol. 1)

Reviewed By: Carla Land

ADV Films DVD

Review based on 1 disk (episodes 1-4)

Rating TV 14

What it’s (basically) all about: Kazuki is in a high school that specializes in teaching magic. Unfortunately for him, he can only use his magic eight times before he turns to ash. Instead of being the class reject, though, he is being chased by all of his classmates- the girls because they want his genes for their children, and the boys because all the girls are ignoring them for Kazuki! On top of all of this, he’s starting to learn that his power, though it seems useless because he can’t use it too many more times, is a lot more powerful than anyone has imagined.

Nitty Gritty: Kazuki is one troubled kid. He has gone from being the school’s pity case to a hunted man overnight. He actually has immense magical power, but the trade off is that he really can’t do mundane things. He is also part of a long line of very famous and powerful magicians, which is why all the girls in school want to sleep with him- their children stand a great chance to be extremely powerful if he is the father. This turns out to be his biggest woe.

First up is Yuna, to whom he made a silly promise as a child. She’s now determined to be his wife, going so far as to move into his boys-only dorm room and announce it the whole school. Next is sword wielding Rin, who has been told she must marry Kazuki against her will, and has decided to kill him rather than marry him. Add to this the busty and powerful in her own right Kuriko and Kazuki is cornered on all fronts.

There’s fan service in every episode, especially when the girls are getting their magic exams (there’s at least one rather lecherous teacher in the nurses office) or they are trying to seduce Kazuki. Kuriko is perhaps the worst at this, and her jigglyness far surpasses the other girls. At the commercial break point there are usually pictures of the three main girls in bikinis playing around on the beach. The school uniforms are designed with fan service in mind (short skit, bustier, and strappy hosiery leave little to the imagination.)

Language is mild, and there aren’t too many bad words (none that I can remember or thought to make note of) and there isn’t really any violence (unless you count Rin constantly trying to run poor Kazuki through with her sword.) A couple of sequences are scary- notably when Kazuki is in dire situations against monsters and angry ghosts and he has to use his magic. Sexual innuendo is use frequently though, and even though Kazuki just wants to go to school and be left alone, he often finds himself in embarrassing situations.

Extras include Anime Network, Newtype Magazine, and volume two previews. (The volume two previews also play after the end of the last episode.) The Art of Maburaho is a slideshow of the characters, there are original Japanese promos, clean opening/ closing sequences, DVD credits and an interview with translator Richard Kim (which gives some interesting insight intpo the differences between our culture and Japan’s.) Previews included on the disk are for Chrono Crusade, Sister Princess, Cyberteam in Akihabara (fan service here), Full Metal Panic? FUMOFFU, Madlax, and Gravion Zwei (lots of fan service.)

Survey says: The story is interesting and teens will appreciate the underlying “high school is hard to survive” message, but the innuendo is a little mature at times.  This one is probably better off in adult sections.

Personal Ad: I liked it. There was more to it than just fan service, and Kazuki is a good person. He keeps using his magic to save people or make them happy, and he does it knowing full well that after eight times he’s turning to ash. Plus, the show’s pretty funny.