When does the magic begin? Magic is often associated with a sense of wonder and enchantment. It is a concept that captivates the imagination and suspends disbelief. But when does the magic truly begin? For many, the magic begins in childhood. It starts when we are introduced to the stories of wizards and witches, fairies and dragons. These tales transport us to realms beyond our own, where anything is possible. In books and movies, we witness characters performing extraordinary feats, using spells and potions to overcome obstacles.
Updated : Jan 20,2016 - 07:50 AM
Candy is a good queen; being selfless and caring who doesn t want to enter a battle with the Ogres and she sympathizes with them where she says that if they continue this fight, the cycle of revenge will only get wider. After all, Chocolat has more to drive her to win, as she wants to be just like her beautiful talented mother who was banished years ago for loving a human.
In books and movies, we witness characters performing extraordinary feats, using spells and potions to overcome obstacles. The magic we experience as children sparks our curiosity and ignites our imagination. As we grow older, the magic begins to take on new forms.
The Manga Test Drive
PLOT:
Chocolat and Vanilla are two witches in training from the Magic World. They are also both candidates to become the new Queen of the Magic World, and to determine the winner the girls are transported to the Human World. There they will literally capture the hearts of those around them, and she who collects the most and best hearts wins. The thing is that winning the hearts of young boys works differently between the Human and Magic worlds. In the Magic World, Chocolat's brash snarky ways make her popular, and Vanilla's gentle kindness is a liability. In the Human World, Vanilla is so hopelessly moe that boys practically fall over themselves to love her, while they are scared or intimidated by Chocolat. Worse still, Chocolat begins to fall for Pierre, the class prince whose beauty is only exceeded by his callousness and coldness. You see, while a witch needs to steal human hearts to succeed, a witch who loses her own heart to a human is banished. or worse.
STORY:
What happens when an established josei mangaka decides to take on the magical girl genre, that most girly of shoujo genres? You get something stranger, something snarker, and something more interesting than the rest.
Most of that comes from Anno's choice of lead. Chocolat is a veritable breath of fresh air when it comes to magical girls, as she is self-confident, tomboyish, and blunt. She's certainly more compelling than Vanilla, who true to her name is so sugary sweet and kind that she becomes something of a bore. I get the idea that Anno prefers Chocolat to Vanilla as well, simply based on what drives the girls. After all, Chocolat has more to drive her to win, as she wants to be just like her beautiful talented mother who was banished years ago for loving a human. Vanilla's mother is already Queen, and is herself is about as friendly and noncompetitive as they come.
Anno milks a lot of humor out of Chocolat's attempts at winning hearts, but it's not done at her expense; indeed, she's shown to be slowly but subtly winning some of her classmates over. For example, her first conquest likes her despite being convinced that she is an alien, and her second is an immature bully who ends up becomes something of a friend out of Chocolat's complete inability to be freaked out by little boy pranks. It's a good way to both build Chocolat's personality and that of the supporting cast, and it's well done.
It's also slightly clever in how this series approaches love and friendship, in comparision to its many genremates. In a typical magical girl story, love and friendship are treasured qualities, qualities that they may even be fighting to protect. Here love and friendship are literally little more than currency for witches, and humans themselves are viewed as something of a renewable resource for witches and wizards to exploit. The only time the subject is taken seriously is when it concerns the friendship between Chocolat and Vanilla; while the girls are competitors, they are friends first and foremost, and Chocolat never takes out her frustrations on her friend.
It also takes love more seriously when it concerns Chocolat's emerging crush on Pierre, and the clear parallels it has to her mother's fate. Honestly, this is one of the few places where I feel that Anno stumbled, as she telegraphs his true nature a bit too blatantly and reveals him as a villain too soon. She would have done better to play his character more ambiguously instead of having practically state upfront that he's playing the girls in his class for fools.
Sugar Sugar Rune, in spite of its sugary title, possesses a lot more spice and bite than its concept suggests, boosted in large part by its refreshingly different lead and its somewhat cynical take on magical girl clichés.
ART:
I was curious to see how Anno's distinct style would translate to the world of shoujo, and I'm happy to say that it works beautifully.
The character designs are typical for a Moyocco Anno work - slightly bobbleheaded, frequently pretty, and possessing enormous, dark, and frequently cynical eyes. Sure, the edges are a little more rounded, as befitting the youth of the cast, but all the usual qualities are there. She also puts a lot of detail and variety into the costumes and backgrounds, although sadly we don't get many glimpses into the Magic World. She also doesn't abuse screen tones for emotional moments like so many shoujo artists do, saving them instead for the instances of magic. Panels tend to be large and the characters often burst right out of the borders, giving the pages a greater sense of activity and life.
PRESENTATION:
Being a Del-Ray release, there are the standard honorifics guide in the front and the translation notes and untranslated preview of the next volume in the back. There are also a wide variety of little games and infographics between the chapters.
RATING:
Sugar Sugar Rune balances the whimsical sweetness of a magical girl story with the spice of a great lead and great art, and highly recommend it to both fans of Moyocco Anno and to those looking for something different in their magical girls.
This series was published by Del-Ray. All 8 volumes were released, but all are now out of print.
You can purchase manga like this and much more through RightStuf.com!
PRESENTATION:
Being a Del-Ray release, there are the standard honorifics guide in the front and the translation notes and untranslated preview of the next volume in the back. There are also a wide variety of little games and infographics between the chapters.
It manifests itself in moments of awe and beauty – a breathtaking sunset, a mesmerizing piece of music, or the sight of a loved one smiling. It lingers in the air during celebrations and gatherings, as we share laughter and create cherished memories. The magic can also be found in the small moments of everyday life – a comforting hug, a genuine conversation, or a kind gesture from a stranger. But the magic is not limited to external experiences. It can also be found within ourselves. It starts when we dare to dream and imagine a different reality. It begins when we set goals and work towards achieving them, defying the limitations imposed by the world around us. The magic lies in our ability to create and innovate, to bring something new and unique into existence. In truth, the magic is always present; it is up to us to recognize and embrace it. It can be found in the simplest of things, if we only take the time to look. It cannot be confined to a specific time or place; it is a state of mind, a perspective that allows us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. So, when does the magic begin? It begins when we open our hearts and minds to the possibilities that surround us. It begins when we choose to see the world with wonder and awe, embracing the beauty and mystery that exists within it. The magic begins when we allow ourselves to believe in the power of imagination, in the potential for something extraordinary to happen. And once the magic has begun, it never truly ends; it becomes a part of who we are, shaping our perception of the world and our place within it..
Reviews for "The Key to Wonder: When Does the Magic Begin?"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "When does the magic begin" because of all the hype, but I was ultimately disappointed. The plot was all over the place and the characters were one-dimensional. I couldn't connect with any of them and found myself not caring about what happened next. The writing style was also quite amateurish, with awkward dialogue and excessive descriptions. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and wished I hadn't wasted my time on this book.
2. Mark - 1 star - This book was a complete letdown. The story had so much potential, but it was poorly executed. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the plot lacked depth. I found myself struggling to stay engaged and had to force myself to finish it. The characters were also uninteresting, with no development or relatability. It felt like the author was just trying to tick off clichés rather than create a unique and captivating story. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this book unless you enjoy being bored.
3. Jessica - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "When does the magic begin" but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The writing felt unpolished and lacked finesse. The dialogue was stiff and unrealistic, making it hard to connect with the characters. The pacing was also off, with slow buildup that ultimately led to a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion. The magical elements in the story were underdeveloped and didn't add much to the overall plot. It's a shame because with better execution, this book had the potential to be so much more.