What better place to start a blog about magical girls than with Sally?

Based on a manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama that started in 1966, Mahou Tsukai Sally (Sally the Witch) is often considered the first mahou shoujo series (though it is predated by Akko-chan’s Secret by a few years.) It follows the adventures of Sally, the princess of the “Witch World”, as she visits Earth, makes friends and causes all sorts of mischief with her magic powers. Unlike today’s popular concept of “magical girls”, in which a “mundane” human girl obtains magical powers and uses them to do good for the world, a model based on the superheroes of American comics, Sally enters the scene already equipped with her magic. She uses magic not as a weapon but to accomplish all sorts of trivial, everyday goals; Yokoyama cited the American sitcom Bewitched as an influence for Sally, and Sally’s misadventures follow very much in the vein of Bewitched, with Sally being pressed to hide her magic while masquerading as a normal girl.

Yokoyama was an admirer as well as a rival of Osamu Tezuka, creator of the prototype shoujo manga, Ribbon no Kishi or Princess Knight. His sci-fi adventure series for boys, especially Tetsujin 28-go, were strong opponents of Tezuka’s Astro Boy; perhaps with Mahou Tsukai Sally Yokoyama wished to challenge Tezuka in the budding realm of shoujo manga. Tezuka, by the time of Sally, had not only Princess Knight and the cuddly Unico under his belt, but also the short series Angel’s Hill, a more dramatic story about a mermaid princess who comes to live among humans.

Whatever the purpose behind its inception, Sally quickly became a staple of a new genre. Stories about little girls with magical powers in the style of Sally emerged: Mahou Tsukai Chappy, Majokko Megu-chan and Mahou Shoujo Lalabel (Lalabel the Magical Girl) are successful examples; Go Nagai, another pillar of mahou shoujo and latecoming rival to Tezuka and Yokoyama, also created a Sally-style magical girl in Majokko Tickle. While today mahou shoujo draw more from Nagai’s other great magical girl story, Cutey Honey, we still occasionally see series about witch girls vacationing in the human world and the subsequent clash between the fantastic and the mundane. Examples include Hime-chan no Ribbon, Ultra Maniac and Sugar Sugar Rune; a shounen variant appears in Mahou Sensei Negima.

submitted by anon

Magical girls anime list

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w_bx_Gp2lHytZe7bCBrPHcuSafprJFr3tKjjFKuSFVk/edit?usp=sharing

I MADE A LIST TO WATCH ALL MAGICAL GIRLS ANIME

(well not all, bc some animes are hard to find:()

BUT PLEASE READ THE PARAGRAPHS!!

VHS Cover of “Mahoutsukai Sally: Astrelea Palace’s Party” (1990)

Similar to the lost quiz episode/video game of Sailor Moon, Sally the Witch had it’s own special episode where kids could call in & give their answers. 

The episode revolves around Sally taking Sumire & Yoshiko to Astrelea for a party, however if they don’t leave by midnight then Sumire & Yoshiko might not ever return to Earth again

Mahou Shoujo Watch Before the 90s

This is the list of 60s-90s Magical Girls anime. All shows are in order from release dates. Each slot includes information: start year, studio, origin, time per episode, no of episodes.

(1) Mahou Tsukai Sally (Sally the Witch) 1966 | Toei | Manga | 30mins, 109 eps Mahou Tsukai Sally 2 1989 | Toei | Manga | 20mins, 88 eps Mahou Tsukai Sally Movie 1990 | Toei | Manga | 25min

(2) Himitsu No Akko-chan 1969 | Toei | Manga | 24mins, 94 eps Himitsu No Akko-chan 2 1988 | Toei | Manga | 24mins, 61 eps Himitsu No Akko-chan Movie 1989 | Toei | 25mins Himitsu No Akko-chan 3 1998 | Toei | Manga | 24mins, 44 eps

(3) Mahou No Mako-chan 1970 | Toei | TV | 24mins, 48 eps

(4) Fushigi na Melmo 1971 | Mushi, Tezuka | Manga | 24mins, 26 eps

(5) Mahou Tsukai Chappy 1972 | Toei | TV | 25mins, 39 eps

(6) Miracle Shoujo Limit-chan 1973 | Toei | TV | 24mins, 25 eps

(7) Cutie Honey 1973 | Toei | Manga | 25mins, 25 eps Shin Cutie Honey 1994| Toei | TV | 26mins, 8 eps Cutie Honey F 1997| Toei | TV | 23mins, 39 eps Cutie Honey Flash: The Movie 1997| Toei | TV | 38 mins Re Cutie Honey 2004| Toei | OVA | 45mins, 3 eps Cutie Honey Universe 2018 | Reed | Manga | 23mins, 12 eps

(8) Majokko Megu-chan 1974 | Toei | TV | 25mins, 72 eps

(9) Majokko Tickle 1978 | Toei | TV | 24mins, 45 eps

(10) Hana no Ko Lunlun 1979 | Toei | Tv | 24mins, 50 eps Hana no Ko Lunlun: Konnichiwa Sakura no Kuni 1980 | Toei | TV | 15

(11) Mahou Shoujo Lalabel 1980 | Toei | TV | 24mins, 49 eps

(12) Mahou no Princess Minky Momo 1982 | Reed | TV | 23mins, 623eps Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume wo Dakishimete 1991 | Reed | TV | 24mins, 62 eps Minky Momo in Yume ni Kakeru Hashi 1993| – | OVA | 38mins Minky Momo in Tabidachi no Eki 1994 | – | OVA | 30mins

(13) Tokimeki Tonight 1982  | TAC | Manga | 24mins, 34 eps

(14) Nanako SOS 1983 | – | Manga | 23mins, 39 eps

(15) Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami 1983 | Pierrot | TV | 24mins, 52 eps Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami: Eien no Once More 1984 | Pierrot | OVA | 1hr 27mins Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami: Long Goodbye 1985 | Pierrot | Manga | 57mins Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami: Lovely Serenade 1985| Pierrot | OVA | 29min Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami: Curtain Call 1986| Pierrot | OVA | 45min Pony Metal U-GAIM Promotion Film 1986| Pierrot | OVA | 2min Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami no Otogibanash i2014 | Pierrot | OVA | 3min

(16) Tongari Boushi no Memole 1984 | Toei | TV | 30mins, 50 eps Marielle No Housekibako OVA 1985 | Toei | Manga |  1h 15min

(17) Mahou No Yousei Persia 1984  | Pierrot | Manga | 24mins, 48 eps Mahou no Yousei Persia Pilot OVA 2003 | Pierrot | Manga | 3mins Mahou no Yousei Persia: Kaiten Mokuba OVA 1987| Pierrot | Manga | 45mins Mahou no Yousei Persia: Escaoe! 1999 | Pierrot | Manga | 2mins

(18) Mahou no Star Magical Emi 1985 | Pierrot | TV | 23mins, 38 eps Mahou no Star Magical Emi: Semishigure 1986 | Pierrot | OVA | 1h Mahou no Star Magical Emi: Finale! Finale! 1986  | Pierrot | OVA | 17min Mahou no Star Magical Emi: Kumo Hikaru 2002  | Pierrot | OVA | 14min

(19) Dream Hunter Rem 1985 | – | TV | 40mins, 4 eps New 1990 | – | OVA | 37mins

(20) Mahou no Idol Pastel Yumi 1986 | Pierrot | OVA | 23mins, 25 eps

(21)  Esper Mami 1987 | Toei | Manga | 24mins, 44 eps Adesugata Mahou no Sannin Musume 1986 | Pierrot | OVA | 29min Majokko Club Yoningumi: A kuukan Kara no Alien X 1987 | Pierrot | OVA | 27mins

(22) Harbor Light Monogatari: Fashion Lala Yori 1988 | Pierrot | Manga | 48mins Mahou no Stage Fancy Lala 1998 | Pierrot | TV | 24mins, 26 eps

(23) Mahou no Angel Sweet Mint 1990| Reeds | TV | 23mins, 47 eps

(24) Mamono Hunter Yohko 1990| Madhouse | Manga | 36mins, 6 eps

(25)  Hana no Mahou Tsukai Mary Bell 1992 | Reed | TV | 24mins, 50 eps Phoenix no Kagi 1992 | Reed | TV | 43 mins

(26) Sailor Moon 1992 | Toei | Manga | 24mins, 46 eps Sailor Moon R 1993| Toei | Manga | 24mins, 43 eps Sailor Moon R Movie 1993| Toei | Manga | 1h Sailor Moon R: Make Up! Sailor Senshi 1993| Toei | Manga | 17mins Sailor Moon S 1994| Toei | Manga | 24mins, 39 eps Sailor Moon S Movie 1994| Toei | Manga | 1h Sailor Moon SuperS 1995| Toei | Manga | 24mins, 29 eps Sailor Moon SuperS: Sailor 9 1995| Toei | Manga | 1h Sailor Moon SuperS Gaiden: Ami-chan no Hatsukoi 1995| Toei | Manga | 15mins Sailor Moon SuperS Special 1995| Toei | Manga | 16mins Sailor Moon Stars 1996| Toei | Manga | 24mins, 34 eps Sailor Moon Stars: Hero Club 1996| Toei | Manga | 30mins Sailor Moon Memorial 1998| Toei | Manga | 1h 30mins Sailor Moon Crystal 2014 | Toei | Manga | 24mins, 29 eps

(27) Yadamon 1992 | – | TV | 10mins, 170 eps

(28) Hime-chan no Ribbon 1992 | Gallop | Manga | 23mins, 61 eps

(29) Miracle Girls 1993 | Japan Taps | Manga | 24mins, 51 eps

(30) Molvider 1993 | – | TV | 29mins, 6 eps

(31) Akazukin Chacha 1994 | Gallop | Manga | 24mins, 74 eps OVA 1995 | Gallop | Manga | 24mins, 3 eps

(32) Magic Knight Rayearth 1994 | Tokyo Movie Shinsha | Manga | 24mins, 45 eps Rayearth II 1995 | Gallop | Manga | 24mins, 29 eps

(33) Tonde Buurin 1994 | Nippon Animation | Manga | 25mins, 51 eps

(34) Ai Tenshi Densetru Wedding Peach 1995 | OLM | Manga | 24mins, 51 eps

(35) Nurse Angel Ririka SOS 1995 | Gallop | Manga | 24mins, 45 eps

(36) Kaitou Saint Tail 1995 | TMS | Manga | 22mins, 43 eps

(37) Shamanic Princess 1996 | Triangle Staff | TV | 30mins, 6 eps

(38) Mahou Tsukai Tai! 1996 | Reed | TV | 28mins, 6 eps

(39) Mahou Shoujo Pretty Sammy 1996 | AIC | TV | 23mins, 26 eps +7 specials +3 OVA Tenchi Muyou! 1995 | AIC | TV | 23mins, 26 eps Sasami: Mahou Shoujo Club 2006 | AIC | TV | 25mins, 26 eps + 13

(40) Utena 1997 | JC Staff | TV | 23mins, 39 eps

(41) Yume No Crayon Oukoku 1997 | Toei | Book | 24mins, 70 eps

(42) Detatoko Princess 1997 | JC Staff | Manga | 30mins, 3 eps

(43) Fushigi Mahou Fun Fun Pharmacy 1998 | Toei | TV | 12mins, 48 eps

(44) Cyber Team in Akihabara 1998 | Reed | TV | 23mins, 26 eps

(45) Fancy Lala 1998 | Toei | TV | 12mins, 48 eps

(46) Cardcaptor Sakura 1998 | Madhouse | Manga | 25mins, 70 eps Suteki Desua wa, Sakura-chan! Tomoyo no Cardcaptor Sakura Katsuyaku Video Nikki! 1998 | Madhouse | Manga | 5mins, 3 eps Movie 1 1999 | Madhouse | Manga | 1h 20mins Movie 2 2000 | Madhouse | Manga | 1h 22mins Clear Card 2018 | Madhouse | Manga | 25mins, 23 eps

(47) Super Doll Licca-Chan 1998 | Madhouse | TV | 25mins, 53 eps 1990 | Ajia Do | TV | 27mins, 2 eps Licca-chan Fushigi na Mahou no Ring 1991 | Ajia Do | TV | 30mins, 2 eps Licca-chan no Nichiyoubi 1992 | Ajia Do | TV | 125mins, 1 ep Licca-chan to Tamaneko Hoshi no Tabi 1997 | Aija Do | TV | 1h 18mins Super Doll Liccac-han: Rika’s Desperate Situation! The Doll Knights’ Miracle 1999 | Madhouse | Movie | 30mins

(48) Ojamajo Doremi 1999 | Toei | TV | 24mins, 50 eps Kaeru Ishi no Himitsu 2001 | Toei | TV | 26mins Sharp 2001 | Toei | TV | 24mins, 49 eps OVA 2001 | Toei | TV | 13mins, 3 eps Dokkaan! 2002 | Toei | TV | 24mins, 51 eps Na-I-Sho 2004 | Toei | TV | 25mins, 13 eps

(49) Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne 1999 | Toei | Manga | 24mins, 44 eps

(50) D4 Princess 1999 | Pony Canyon | Manga | 8mins, 24 eps

(51) Corrector Yui 1999 | Nippon Animation | Manga | 25, 52 eps

(52) Di-Gi Charat 1999 | Madhouse | Book | 4mins, 16 eps Di-Gi Charat: Hoshi no Tabi 2001 | Madhouse | Book | 21mins Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat 2002 | Madhouse | Book | 8mins, 48 eps Di-Gi Charat Nyo 2003 | Madhouse | Book | 12mins, 104 eps Piyoko ni Omakase Pyo! 2003 | Madhouse | Book | 15mins, 8 eps Winter Garden 2006 | JC Staff | Book | 23mins, 2 eps

If I missed one Before THE 90s please let me know!

Lists

2000s  |  2010s