Magical Mirai is an annual event held in Japan that celebrates Hatsune Miku, a popular virtual singer. The event features live concerts, exhibitions, and merchandise sales. As part of the event, special limited-edition goods are often released, including nendoroids. Nendoroids are a type of collectible action figure produced by Good Smile Company. They are typically of characters from anime, manga, or video games, and are known for their cute and chibi-like designs. Nendoroids are highly popular among fans and collectors due to their high level of detail and customization options.
Although the float is a massive success among the festival attendees, it comes to a halt when Thomas’ friends steal the Shiny Rod in an act of trolling; combined with dark forces unwittingly released through the mayor’s excavation plans, this results in the release of a giant stone titan which runs amok, using electrical appliances and vehicles to strengthen itself – much to the townsfolk’s naiveté, believing it to be part of Akko’s Happy Time Project. Eventually, with help from Sucy and Lotte who finally aid Akko despite their initial hesitation at her renewed plans, they successfully power a spell which subdues the titan’s rampage, and lays it to sleep; much to their and the townsfolk’s appreciation. The movie ends with a rematch between the Luna Nova students and Thomas’ gang, now convinced of the witches’ usefulness, in a playful battle between tomato projectiles and magic.
The Enchanted Parade is presumably set sometime in between the first 13 episodes of the anime, as it begins during a potion-making class during one of the school semesters. Following a year of development, the film was released to audiences in July of 2015 at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, before being transferred to a worldwide release a mere 3 months and 6 days later.
Nendoroids are highly popular among fans and collectors due to their high level of detail and customization options. Magical Mirai 2021 introduced a special nendoroid based on Hatsune Miku herself. This nendoroid featured Miku in her Magical Mirai 2021 outfit, complete with a magical staff and translucent wings.
Anime Review #48: Little Witch Academia – The Enchanted Parade
I’m sure many of you remember Little Witch Academia. I certainly don’t – after all, it’s only been several months since I both watched, and reviewed this anime on my blog. However, prior to the production of this series in 2017, two separate films were released by Studio Trigger; one of them being Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade, in 2015. Following my successful, and rather memorable trip down the 26-episode series, I immediately jumped into this film as a means to continue the wonderful experience of Akko and her friends as they endeavor to become full-fledged witches at Luna Nova; and as the following paragraphs will demonstrate, here are my thoughts on it.
LITTLE WITCH ACADEMIA: THE ENCHANTED PARADE
Upon the success of Studio Trigger‘s foray to the Little Witch Academia (hereafter known as LWA) franchise with their eponymous 2013 film, director Yoh Yoshinari and crew commenced work on their next project, The Enchanted Parade, in 2014 following the airing of Kill La Kill. In order to raise funds to manage the film’s production, a Kickstarter campaign was launched by the company in May of that year which hoped to raise at least $150,000; rather, they saw 7,000 backers raise more than $600,000, or four times their expected goal, towards their efforts. Following a year of development, the film was released to audiences in July of 2015 at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, before being transferred to a worldwide release a mere 3 months and 6 days later.
Unlike the first LWA film, which mainly served as a short anthology-like introduction to the characters, world-building and the overall theme of the story, this one acts out in the style of a two-episode long series, complete with a plot, climax, conflict and a cohesive ending; additionally, the world of LWA is further enhanced as the movie introduces us to the neighboring town of Blytonbury, with its human residents and quaint atmosphere.
PLOT
SMOKE WEED EVERY DAY, NA NA NA NA NA
– Sucy Manbavaran, 2015
The Enchanted Parade is presumably set sometime in between the first 13 episodes of the anime, as it begins during a potion-making class during one of the school semesters. Following a botched attempt at creating a potion, intermittently causing havoc in the class, and now faced with the threat of expulsion, Atsuko (Akko from this point on) Kagari, Sucy Manbavaran and Lotte Jansson are sentenced to assist in organizing a different theme for that year’s local parade in the town of Blytonbury, England. Their goal was to make something that would help refine the image of witches among the townsfolk, since during last year’s parade, they were seen harassing the students of Luna Nova, degrading them through various acts such as throwing tomatoes at them, kicking them in barrels, or dunking them in water as a reminder of the medieval practice of witch hunting. Assisting them would be three other Luna Nova classmates, recently involved with some of their own heinous crimes: Amanda O’Neill (caught trying to steal some treasure a la Indiana Jones), Constanze Albrechtsberger (discovered as being part of an illegal magical arms trade), and Jasminka Antonenko (found out as a Soviet spy repeated food thief).
Akko enthusiastically devises a scheme known as the “Happy Time Project” aimed at improving the public image of Luna Nova students rather than projecting them as scapegoats, but immediately this plan faces a stumbling block as no one really knows what to do for it. Amanda’s plan of performing a breakdancing routine fails outright due to the group’s inexperience, and when Akko accidentally rips Lotte’s musical incantation scroll to shreds, the latter denounces the project as a failure and abandons it alongside Sucy. Amanda, Constanze and Jasminka leave as well after a violent run-in with some of the townsfolk, namely youngsters Thomas and his friends. Later that night, thanks to a burst of unintended reverse psychology from her self-proclaimed rival, magic prodigy Diana Cavendish, Akko’s spirits are rejuvenated, and she proceeds to singlehandedly work on accomplishing the Happy Time Project. Her determination eventually wins Amanda, Constanze and Jasminka to her side, as they complete their project in time: a large naval float, powered by magical remnants from the Shiny Rod complete with dancing brooms, magical candy and other paraphernalia.
We get it Akko, YOU REALLY LIKE SHINY CHARIOT
Although the float is a massive success among the festival attendees, it comes to a halt when Thomas’ friends steal the Shiny Rod in an act of trolling; combined with dark forces unwittingly released through the mayor’s excavation plans, this results in the release of a giant stone titan which runs amok, using electrical appliances and vehicles to strengthen itself – much to the townsfolk’s naiveté, believing it to be part of Akko’s Happy Time Project. Eventually, with help from Sucy and Lotte who finally aid Akko despite their initial hesitation at her renewed plans, they successfully power a spell which subdues the titan’s rampage, and lays it to sleep; much to their and the townsfolk’s appreciation. The movie ends with a rematch between the Luna Nova students and Thomas’ gang, now convinced of the witches’ usefulness, in a playful battle between tomato projectiles and magic.
WHAT I LIKED
- I liked the story’s simple and straightforward presentation. Coupled with nice animation as well as the generally fun atmosphere surrounding the film’s festival plotline, the film manages to make it enjoyable while not taking up too much of your time, nor requiring a lot of thinking on your part. It makes for a nice film to settle to on a Sunday evening.
- Another good thing was how nicely it lined up with the eventual progression of the anime, which would come two years later. As I’ve mentioned before, it could easily fall in somewhere between the first 13 episodes, but yet it manages to insert itself quite decently without throwing in any major hiccups or continuity issues. As a matter of fact I’d recommend you to watch this probably after episode 13 – even if it acts kind of like a filler episode that serves nothing to enhance LWA’s story moving forward.
- Speaking of the movie’s visuals, they were great. Whether it was Lotte’s singing that brings spirits to her yard, Akko and company’s successful rollout of a joyous and bright parade as well as their unexpected battle with a giant titan which seem like a family-friendly version of another well-known, yet overrated anime, the visuals took great advantage of the distinctive Studio Trigger feel to it.
WHAT I DISLIKED
- I found the part where all of Akko’s group-mates abandon her due to not being able to come up with a good idea for their project quite weak and rather cliché, honestly. I didn’t think the film would be one to make the characters give up that easily, even if the specifications of the project were a bit more than what they bargained for. Especially when they’re faced with expulsion, I don’t think their responses were quite realistic.
- Are the people of Blytonbury really that dumb? I mean, after a huge chunk of their electronics, appliances and vehicular property are absorbed by the titan and possibly damaged, and never returned to them once the titan is subdued, no one seems to bat an eye or display the least bit of displeasure at the Luna Nova gang? If that was my car that got wrecked during the event, I guarantee you someone’s going to get a five-figure lawsuit coming their way. Better yet, how do Akko and the rest even manage to escape this conundrum? Is there some kind of stature in English law exempting Luna Nova from any responsibility towards property damages?
CHARACTERS
Although I was pretty familiar with the anime and knew what to expect from the characters in terms of their personality, the film still finds a way to smoothly introduce them for folks who weren’t familiar with the franchise. Akko’s still the hotheaded lead heroine, Sucy’s still obsessed with potions and pranking people, Lotte’s pretty meek and gentle; Diana’s the blunt and serious one, Jasminka’s obsessed with food, Constanze doesn’t talk, Amanda is the typical American stereotype… you get the point. Outside of what has already been said about them in my review of LWA, there isn’t much to expound upon in this category; the characters retained their enjoyable charms and were quite predictable as to how they would react to certain situations.
MUSIC
Similarly with the above section, the music mostly remains the same as the ones that would pop up throughout the anime; various OST pieces that LWA fans are familiar with, such as the trumpet fanfare in Witches .vs. The Giant made its way into the film. Nothing much really surprised me in this section, and consequently there’s no need to additionally elaborate on this section. That being said, the only additional piece that was produced for this film was the ending credits song, Magic Parade, which was sung by Yuiko Ohara – who would also sing the end credits song for both halves of the anime two years later. While the instrumentals and the vocals matched the overall tone of the LWA franchise as well as the movie’s ending, I found to be weaker if placed in comparison to her other works for the franchise, but not to the point of tarnishing the franchise’s reputation.
“Magic Parade” by Yuiko Ohara.FAVORITE MOMENTS
Favorite moment: The short, 12-second clip where Sucy does that standing dance with the broom, cocking her head side-to-side when the crew is rehearsing Amanda’s dance routine is the thing I will remember the most from this series just because of how well-animated and random it was amidst the chaotic hullabaloo from other characters failing to replicate the choreography.
Favorite funny face: My award for this category goes to Akko who expresses her earnest displeasure at the benign treatment of witches during last year’s festival. This is a look that expresses nothing but multiple doses of horror, disgust, and inability to comprehend the rampant debauchery one is seeing before them, and is truly perfect for occasions such as anytime your friend says something stupid, reading Twitter threads that make no sense, Falcons fans’ reaction to their Super Bowl 51 collapse, or a bad movie.
“How did we lose another playoff series to Patrice Bergeron and the Boston Bruins?”
– Every Toronto Maple Leafs fan, April 2019
Favorite quote: Sucy straight-up dissing Akko after the former rescues her from impending death at the hands of a titan was both heartwarming and pretty funny to deal with:
Akko: Sucy? But I thought we weren’t friends anymore?
Sucy: Lmao you also said that you wouldn’t talk to me anymore. Unfortunately due to your gross incompetence your word isn’t really that reliable, so there’s that too. Plus, you also make for a great guinea pig to work with.
Akko: What’s that supposed to mean?
Sucy: In other words, you are the perfect test subject for my antics.
Sucy rescues Akko, and once more blows her mind with sass
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade has plenty of good things running for it. It has an easy-to-understand plot, a nice showcase of visuals and the characters for the most part still manage to retain their enjoyable personalities. Even though the additional music tracks and some of the absurd logical conclusions formulated by the plot were a bit wild, the movie makes up for it by serving as a nice setup to get people hyped up for the coming anime series two years later. It’s a fun flick that’s definitely something worth looking into: an additional dose of LWA for fans of the show who can’t get enough of the franchise, as well as newcomers who are looking to convince themselves of the franchise’s inerrant dank quality.
I mean, I don’t think so. I thought the movie was okay.
The figure also came with various accessories, such as different facial expressions and hand parts, allowing for different poses and expressions. The Magical Mirai 2021 nendoroid quickly became highly sought after by Hatsune Miku fans and collectors. Due to its limited production, the figure became a rare and valuable item. Many fans lined up for hours just to get their hands on the nendoroid, and it sold out within minutes online. The Magical Mirai 2021 nendoroid not only captured the essence of the event but also showcased the creativity and attention to detail that Good Smile Company is known for. It was a must-have item for any Hatsune Miku fan and served as a special memento for those who attended the Magical Mirai event. Overall, the Magical Mirai 2021 nendoroid was a highly desirable and collectible item that captured the spirit of the event and delighted fans with its intricate design and customization options. It stands as a testament to the enduring popularity of Hatsune Miku and the dedicated fanbase that has grown around her..
Reviews for "Bring the Magic Home with Magicao Mirai 2021 Nendoroid Collectibles"
1. Emma - 1/5 stars - I was extremely disappointed with the Magicao mirai 2021 nendoroid. The quality of the figure was poor, with sloppy paint jobs and loose joints. The accessories that came with it were also subpar, with some pieces not fitting properly or breaking easily. Overall, it felt like a cheaply made product that didn't live up to its price tag. I would not recommend this nendoroid to any collectors.
2. John - 2/5 stars - As a big fan of the Magicao mirai series, I was excited to get my hands on the Magicao mirai 2021 nendoroid. However, I was let down by the quality of the figure. The paint job was inconsistent and had noticeable imperfections, which was disappointing for a collector's item. Additionally, the joints on the figure were too loose, making it difficult to pose without it falling apart. While the design of the nendoroid was cute, the poor execution of the details and functionality made it a letdown for me.
3. Sarah - 1/5 stars - The Magicao mirai 2021 nendoroid was a complete waste of money for me. The figure arrived with several defects, including paint smudges and scuffs, which were very noticeable and took away from the overall look. The accessories that came with it were also lackluster, with poorly made pieces that easily broke when attempting to attach them to the figure. I was highly disappointed with the quality and would not recommend this nendoroid to anyone looking for a collectible item.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for the Magicao mirai 2021 nendoroid, but sadly, it fell short of my expectations. The figure itself had loose joints, which made it challenging to pose and keep in place. The paint job on the figure was also disappointing, with several areas where the paint had dripped or smeared, making it look sloppy. While the design itself was cute, the poor execution and quality control made it difficult for me to fully enjoy this nendoroid.