Magical girl friendship squads are a common trope in anime and manga, showcasing the power of friendship and teamwork in the face of evil. These squads typically consist of a group of girls with magical powers who come together to fight against a common enemy. In these stories, the magical girl friendship squads often start off as strangers or acquaintances who are brought together by fate. They may initially be rivals or have conflicting personalities, but as they spend more time together and fight side by side, they develop a deep bond and become inseparable friends. Each member of the squad usually has her own unique magical powers and personality traits, which complement and enhance the abilities of the others. This diversity of powers and personalities allows the squad to overcome various challenges and obstacles that they face in their journey.
Magic the Gathering has done a lot of crossover sets this year, and even one with Warhammer 40k. However, it should come as no surprise that it would be beneficial for those people actually to stick around for more than just that one release.
Then, the other part of the equation, according to Bank of America, is that Hasbro should expand the player base instead of just trying to get as much money from the current player base as possible. Haas adds in the report that other decisions that contribute to the larger problem are the Magic 30th Anniversary Edition proxy cards unnerving collectors and product fatigue.
This diversity of powers and personalities allows the squad to overcome various challenges and obstacles that they face in their journey. The main theme of the magical girl friendship squads is the power of friendship and the belief that together, anything is possible. The members of the squad support and encourage each other, and their combined strength enables them to overcome even the toughest of enemies.
Bank of America report on Hasbro sparks fears about Magic: The Gathering’s long-term future
Player concerns become the center of widespread conversation.
Image via Christopher Rush/Wizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast’s parent company Hasbro came under the microscope this week when a Bank of America analysis report dropped on CNBC outlining concerns with the company’s stock in the future with a particular focus on how several issues within Magic: The Gathering could lead to the degradation of the brand.
Analyst Jason Haas went into how Hasbro is “killing its golden goose.”
This is being done by the rapidly increased production of Magic products hurting the long-term value of the brand as a whole.
While Hasbro has touted its astronomical successes, spearheaded by Wizards of the Coast, its stock was downgraded by Haas to “underperform” for the future. Haas adds in the report that other decisions that contribute to the larger problem are the Magic 30th Anniversary Edition proxy cards unnerving collectors and product fatigue.
This is creating an environment where it could be players will be pushed hard enough that the brand will be damaged as a result, weakening the viability of investing.
The report sparked a conversation that rippled throughout the Magic community and renewed discussion on longstanding concerns about the current product output by Wizards of the Coast. While the report isn’t necessarily from the point of view of players but financial analysts with an eye on Hasbro as an investment vehicle, many of the topics outlined are typical issues cited in online discussions surrounding Magic.
Compared to other trading card games on the market, Magic has a busy release schedule filled with somewhat essential products that are relevant to various products. This is often cited as fans being tired of perpetual preview season. With the rapid-fire release schedule, there’s generally always another preview around the corner.
This year Magic has released 11 standalone tabletop products with only three not being full draftable booster sets.
Those are the Commnader Collection: Black, Universes Beyond: Warhammer 40K Commander decks, and Jumpstart 2022, a sealed product meant to be a self-contained play experience.
The full booster sets released this year are:
- Innistrad: Double Feature
- Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
- Streets of New Capenna
- Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate
- Double Masters 2022
- Dominaria United
- Unfinity
- The Brothers’ War
This list does not include the Secret Lair drops and Arena releases that consistently happen throughout the year. It’s been a steady hike since the current Magic boom that could be marked with the release of Dominaria in 2018. Since then, the Wizards of the Coast has been at the forefront of Hasbro’s financial calls, bringing in over a billion dollars of revenue between both Magic and Dungeons and Dragons.
The report also comes off the back of a conversation started by game designer Aaron Forsythe asking why Standard has basically died at the local game store level. Since the release of Magic Arena, Standard has been on a steady decline as a tabletop format and largely exists through digital play on Arena and to a lesser extent Magic Online.
Many fans blamed a variety of reasons why Standard is on the downswing on the tabletop. Some players credit the exorbitant price of Standard decks, which regularly sit around $300 to $400.
According to the Standard metagame page on MTGGoldfish, of the top five lists in the most recent Standard Magic Online league, only two decks are under $300, if they were purchased in paper. Standard decks being expensive is an issue because set rotation renders the deck inevitably obsolete and Magic Arena has made it easy to play for free or with little cost.
The expense of buying into other eternal formats is a notable concern with a focus on Modern, where decks regularly blow past the $1000 mark powered by infrequently reprinted cards and the newer powerhouses printed in Modern Horizons 2. However, eternal formats like Pioneer, Modern, and Legacy will never rotate and the metagames shift significantly slower compared to Standard.
Players that buy into these MTG formats are much more likely to have a deck that’s viable for years with only a few upgrades being necessary every few months.
While this has been an issue for the entire lifetime of Standard, the cost of Magic, in general, has gone up as Daniel Crabtree points out when replying to Forsythe. That cost increase combined with the pandemic hurting local game stores were common replies to why Standard has fallen out of favor.
With the report, many of the issues surrounding Magic have entered the conversation again and brought the community together to talk about what could be fixed.
Wizards of the Coast will likely not change anything in 2023 with its release calendar already established with more Universes Beyond, Secret Lair, and Standard Expansions coming down the pipeline.
About the author Xavier JohnsonMy name is Xavier Johnson and I'm a freelance writer who covers Magic: The Gathering. I love control decks and my favorite card is Teferi, Hero of Dominaria.
The oversupply of Magic cards means "card prices are falling, game stores are losing money, collectors are liquidating, and large retailers are cutting orders," Bank of America explained.
Another important aspect of these friendship squads is the emotional support and understanding that the girls provide to each other. They often share their fears, insecurities, and dreams, creating a bond that goes beyond mere teammates. This emotional connection adds depth to the storyline and makes the characters more relatable to the audience. Additionally, the magical girl friendship squads often emphasize values such as loyalty, courage, and sacrifice. The girls are willing to put their own lives on the line to protect each other and those they care about. This selflessness and bravery inspire viewers and teach important life lessons about the importance of standing up for what is right and supporting one another. In conclusion, magical girl friendship squads are a popular and beloved trope in anime and manga. These squads exemplify the power of friendship and teamwork, showcasing characters who support and empower each other to overcome obstacles and fight against evil. The emotional depth and the values portrayed in these stories resonate with audiences and make them an enduring part of the magical girl genre..
Reviews for "The Magical Girl Friendship Squad: A Tale of Friendship and Heroism"
1. Karen - 2/5 - I had high hopes for Magical Girl Friendship Squad, but it fell flat for me. The characters lacked depth and the storyline felt disjointed and rushed. The animation also seemed lazy and lacked the attention to detail that I have come to expect from other shows in this genre. Overall, it just didn't captivate me like I had hoped it would.
2. Mike - 1/5 - I couldn't even make it through the first episode of Magical Girl Friendship Squad. The humor was juvenile and felt forced, the dialogue was cringeworthy, and the voice acting was subpar. The animation style was not visually appealing to me, and the plot seemed incredibly predictable. I had higher expectations for this show, but unfortunately, it was a major disappointment.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - Magical Girl Friendship Squad had potential, but it failed to deliver. The character development was lacking, and the writing was uninspiring. The jokes fell flat, and the attempts at humor felt forced and unfunny. The overall plot was weak and unoriginal, offering nothing new or exciting. I was left feeling underwhelmed by this series and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Chris - 1/5 - I found Magical Girl Friendship Squad to be a complete waste of time. The characters were shallow and uninteresting, and the animation was mediocre at best. The dialogue was cringe-inducing, and the attempts at humor felt forced and fell flat. The storyline lacked substance and failed to keep my attention. Overall, it was a disappointment and I would not recommend it to fellow anime enthusiasts.