The magical girl thread
Animeg3282
maigcal girl on the mahou shoujo list. Dave E., the curator of magical girls on
this list wrote a long response. I decided to share it with all of you because
uh...it sheds great light on the genre.
Subj: Re: [mahou-shoujo] Mahou-shojo rules list ^_-
Date: 7/13/99 3:27:39 PM Central Daylight Time
From: AiTe...@aol.com
Sender: mahou-sho...@whistler.cs.ucla.edu
Reply-to: mahou-...@whistler.cs.ucla.edu
To: mahou-...@whistler.cs.ucla.edu
I will respond to various points that the original person posted - more info
can be found on my site, Yas's site, Hitoshi's site, and my intro to the
Sailor Moon RPG guidebook. (I'll state right off the bat that the person
posting the original message evidently is not well-versed in the history of
magical girls - Sailor Moon is NOT a good example of the magical girl genre,
since it is only half majokko... the other half being sentai, or "team
fighting"... and therefore should NEVER be used as a "yardstick" for the
genre. One should never use an exception as a standard for anything...
majokkos are no different ^_-)
In a message dated 7/13/99 9:08:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time, z...@etel.ru
writes:
> 01: I will not keep a Cute Animal Sidekick for it's own sake. Retaining
> useful ones will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but if it can't
> outperform a mortal attack dog it goes straight to the animal shelter.
>
The purpose of the mascot varies somewhat, but the common thread throughout
majokko stories is for the mascot to act as the "voice of conscience" (or
maybe "voice of reason") for the young girl. The purpose of the mascot is
NOT to assist in attacking... in fact, the entire point of magical girls is
not to "fight" - as soon as the story starts going in that direction, we lose
the very essence of what defines a magical girl, and begin to introduce other
elements from other genres (for example, one can classify Miyu of Vampire
Miyu as a magical girl... but the story is generally classified under a
different genre, despite the elements it borrows from majokko stories, and
young shoujo stories in general)
> 02: My Frilly Brightly Coloured Outfit will be lined with Kevlar at the
> least if at all possible.
>
A magical girl is, generally speaking, a channel for "positive energy" -
think of it as Love, Life, and Everything Good. ^_^ Her brightness is not
just in outfits she wears - it is a matter of her Heart and Spirit ("kokoro")
> 03: If I outpower my True Love by several orders of magantude, I will
> not let myself be rescued by him merely in order to appease my my
> romantic tastes or his masculine pride.
>
A magical girl has absolute faith in Love, Dreams, etc... everything that
makes the purity and innocence of youth so special. Her "power" is simply
that of all Hope, Dreams, Love, etc. - and part of that power also comes from
the Heart and Spirit of her One True Love. (the stories are fairytales at
their best...)
> 04: I will make sure my True Love regularly visits his doctor and keeps
> current with his shots. Face it, with all the times he is mind
> controlled and/or ravished away by the Evil Queen he's probably caught
> whatever she's picked up from all the Demonic Minions she cavorts with
> more than once.
>
Again, the entire point of such stories is that no living being is truly
"evil". A magical girl is an Angel, and her role is to preserve all Life,
because all Life (ANY Life) is precious. However, all Life also deals with
Positive and Negative influences - denying the Negative (the "easy path"...
ie the "Dark Side" - young Luke ^_-) and embracing the Positive (the "true
path"... ie the "Living Force" - young Jedi ^_-) is often simply a decision
that we all are faced with as we go through life, but especially during
adolescence.
> 05: I will endeavour to learn how to tap into my Innate Powers (at least
> to some degree) without initiating my Transformation Sequence.
>
(snort) This obviously shows a total lack of understanding of the magical
girls, since there are two general types of majokkos. The original majokko
was Mahoutsukai Sari ("Witch Sari") - Sari-chan is literally a witch,
Princess of the Land of Astoria. She casts spells and does various
enchantments - she does not transform. The concept / standard of
transforming through the aid of a special "accessory" was established with
the second majokko, Himitsu No Akko-chan ("Akko-chan's Secret").
Taking this a bit further, there's even majokkos like Mahou No Idol Pastel
Yumi who do not transform, and do not really cast spells - instead, Yumi-chan
draws things in midair and brings them (temporarily) to life. The only
"spell" she casts is to enchant the image of whatever she drew and make it
become real... for a limited time, of course.
> 06: I will make every attempt to shorten my Transformation Sequence if
> it occurs in anything resembling real-time. If that fails I'll consider
> staying powered up 24/7 and changing clothes conventionally.
>
Transformations do NOT occur in "real-time"... on the contrary, they are
virtually instantaneous. You can see this in various cases, such as during
Mahou No Princess Minky Momo (the movie) or during Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding
Peach. The viewer is normally treated to the transformation from the point
of view of the majokko herself - the other people around her basically would
see a "flash of light" and (poof!) she's changed. Think of it like Clark
Kent transforming into Superman (I hate to use the superhero analogy, but the
time frame is similar, even though the stories are totally different)
> 07: I will lose any shyness about my body, as I _will_ lose my clothing
> completely whenever I transform.
>
Well.... that depends. For example, Kokubu Karin does not loose her clothing
completely - on the other hand, she's so mortified at being a cute pink pig
that she really wouldn't care if she did!
Again, if you are Pastel Yumi, you obviously could not POSSIBLY have a lot of
shyness left about your body after the first two episodes... (heh... heh
heh..... and anyone who has seen these knows EXACTLY what I mean!)
> 08: I will inform my family and close friends about my secret identity.
> It's a security risk, but hiding it from them is an unneded additional
> pressure, my enemies usually figure it out anyway, and at least they'll
> understand why _they_ are the ones getting possessed/drained/taken
> hostage/terrorized/etc.
>
No one else knows - if they did, you often would lose your powers. Also,
other people getting possessed isn't that big a deal, since they don't
remember anything anyway - they couldn't, or once again you would lose your
powers. That would just mean that a different magical girl would need to be
found to be the "Angel of Light". ^_^
> 09: I will prepare contingency plans ahead of time concerning what to do
> if/when my Secret Identity is blown wide open. Face it, you cannot
> assume that _everyone_ will be fooled by a Frilly Brightly Coloured
> Outfit forever.
>
That's not what hides a majokko's identity, of course. Also, contingencies
are not for the majokko to make, since she will basically lose her powers as
a witch if she is discovered.
Oh.... I guess I should mention that inherent time limits are also a standard
element. Now... considering how the happiness and joy of youth is such a
fleeting thing (for all it's painful learning experiences) this makes perfect
sense, ne?
> 10: No matter how much stronger/faster/more nimble than an Ordinary Girl
> my transformation makes me, I _will_ aquire combat skills above the
> level of Schoolyard Scrapper.
>
Once again, combat is not the forte of the magical girl - once you start
worrying about that, you have left the majokko genre behind and begun to
dabble in elements from other genres.
> 11: No matter _how_ unimaginably cute they are, I will not fall in love
> with the Dark General (however if he falls for me I will exploit the
> situation to the best of my ability).
>
Uh huh..... this is like saying "No - I can't STAND him!"...... ala Momoko in
Wedding Peach, plus LOTS of other young girls (and boys... although the boys
are usually saying "her" not "him" ^_-) Love cannot be controlled, or
chosen... the original poster of this message must be very young not to know
this.
> 12: I will not presume everyone with OtherWorldly Abilities is a minion
> of an Evil Queen or Dark General unless confronted with evidence of
> obvious malevolence. It saves time and energy better spent on
> recognised Threats to Humanity.
>
Well, gee, in many cases you will get visits from family members, friends,
etc. from the Lan of Dreams, Magic, etc., so obviously there are LOTS of
other people with other worldly powers, just like you. They are not
currently having an extended stay in the Human World as the majokko is, but
they still might visit, from time to time.
> 13: I will not shrink from killing Humans in battle if they are not
> controlled by outside forces, I mean if I can slaughter Demons, Youma,
> Aliens and other such sapients by the score I should have no problem
> whacking a mortal Homocidal Maniac.
>
We have no left the genre of the majokkos entirely, folks..... magical girls
do NOT kill or destroy life! A few stories have introduced that type of
element - such an element (Sailor Moon, Nurse Angel Lilika) is NOT a part of
the magical girls! Their actions may lead to life being lost (one Devil is
killed in Wedding Peach after being purified by Momoko... who refuses to kill
him, by the way, even when he asks her to) but it is NOT a task that they are
striving to do themselves - just the opposite. Even in a story like Nurse
Angel, Lilika is striving to preserve Life, and dispel the negative force
that is attempting to corrupt everything. Her goal is healing - that is why
she is the Nurse Angel, and that is why the Flower of Life ("Ena-gi no Hana")
is..... well, I won't say in case it would spoil it for people who haven't
seen the story.
> 14: I will, if remotely possible, aquire a firearm and proficency in
> using same. Why burn out your own lifeforce and devastate a
> civilisation to slay the Evil Queen if a 9mm HollowPoint between the
> eyes works just as well?
>
Because it isn't your own life that is the source, anyway... it's the
Positive energy in the universe. Using other means to combat Negative force
is simply a stop-gap measure... watch Dream Hunter Rem, for example, and
you'll see LOTS of items used to combat the evil energy of nightmares (often
directed by her nemesis, Mephisto Ferris).
> 15: I will study multiple works on military science and
> personal/small-unit tactics before going forth upon my Mission for Good;
> specifically the sections on suprise attacks, multi-pronged attack, and
> so forth.
>
And here we've gone into shonen territory, again.... combat is not the point.
Love is the point.... someone doesn't understand that, though.
> 16: Not to be redundant; but I will dispense with the Goofy Speeches
> entirely, or at least save them until _after_ the monster is at my
> mercy.
>
Well, it seems you are not Japanese - for that matter, you are not much on
etiquette, either. The speeches come from rules of combat that are very
traditional - we have similar rules (traditionally) which were always used to
conduct a dual... think of it that way and you'll understand perfectly.
> 17: I will investigate the possibility of changing or altering my
> costume while retaining my powers. If this is feasable I will
> definitely aquire/create mission specific outfits (no miniskirts and
> heels in the High Arctic please) and possibly ditch the Frilly
> Brightly-Coloured Getup entirely.
>
Since you are basically immune to the elements, it doesn't really matter, and
would be a waste of time and effort. However, many majokkos have various
outfits - Yumi-chan, of course, makes several of her own, but other majokkos
such as Rem-chan use different outfits, depending on what "world" they are in
(Rem uses her Dream Warrior outfit in the Dream World to fend off nightmares,
and usually dresses in a very cute skirt, top, and coat outfit day-to-day in
the real world... but changes this to wearing an efficient body suit outfit
when she must battle nightmares that have escaped into the physical world).
Dave Endresak AiTe...@aol.com http://members.aol.com/AiTenshi/
Founder, KASHA (Kawaii Shoujo, Anonymous)
<rest of .sig snipped>
Chisa Tori
Co-defender of the Scouts, AOL, and Relm
AGFF Goddess and Guru of Cute, Diminutive Mistress of Leather and Lace, and of
Small Words
Yaoi Brigade Member
Pledged to the Way of the Wimp
Rei-chan
anime...@aol.comkazewind (Animeg3282)AiTe...@aol.com writes:
:>
:>Heehee, someone posted that list of Things I would do if I ever became a
:>maigcal girl on the mahou shoujo list. Dave E., the curator of magical girls on
:>this list wrote a long response. I decided to share it with all of you because
:>uh...it sheds great light on the genre.
:>
:>Subj: Re: [mahou-shoujo] Mahou-shojo rules list ^_-
:>Date: 7/13/99 3:27:39 PM Central Daylight Time
:>From: AiTe...@aol.com
Lot of stuff about someone responding seriously to a humorous thread
snipped.
Please tell me that this guy understood this was HUMOR! There are
concepts involved in humor like taking small liberties like making
things sound a bit more outlandish than they actually are ... I'm
fairly sure we know not all magical girls have all these attributes
but to just go one by one through the list to rebut them?
Methinks this person needs to learn not to take things so seriously.
gal...@my-deja.com
> Lot of stuff about someone responding seriously to a humorous thread
> snipped.
>
> Please tell me that this guy understood this was HUMOR! There are
> concepts involved in humor like taking small liberties like making
> things sound a bit more outlandish than they actually are ... I'm
> fairly sure we know not all magical girls have all these attributes
> but to just go one by one through the list to rebut them?
>
> Methinks this person needs to learn not to take things so seriously.
>
>
On raam, its humor; on a mailing list dedicated to Mahou Shoujo,
the principle of "on topic" would require IMO that it be taken
seriously as a comment on magical girls. I think his rebuttal,
posted to the Mailing List, was well reasoned and to the point.
-Galen
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Animeg3282
Rei-chan said:
>Please tell me that this guy understood this was HUMOR! There are
>concepts involved in humor like taking small liberties like making
>things sound a bit more outlandish than they actually are ... I'm
>fairly sure we know not all magical girls have all these attributes
>but to just go one by one through the list to rebut them?
>
>Methinks this person needs to learn not to take things so seriously.
>
*remembers the Fansub Wars* He takes things very seroiusly..but..HA! I *still*
still Pastel Yumi is wanting for a translation!
Avatar
Rei-chan wrote:
>
> In message <19990713172831...@ng-cf1.aol.com> -
> anime...@aol.comkazewind (Animeg3282)AiTe...@aol.com writes:
> :>
> :>Heehee, someone posted that list of Things I would do if I ever became a
> :>maigcal girl on the mahou shoujo list. Dave E., the curator of magical girls on
> :>this list wrote a long response. I decided to share it with all of you because
> :>uh...it sheds great light on the genre.
> :>
> :>Subj: Re: [mahou-shoujo] Mahou-shojo rules list ^_-
> :>Date: 7/13/99 3:27:39 PM Central Daylight Time
> :>From: AiTe...@aol.com
>
> Lot of stuff about someone responding seriously to a humorous thread
> snipped.
>
> Please tell me that this guy understood this was HUMOR! There are
> concepts involved in humor like taking small liberties like making
> things sound a bit more outlandish than they actually are ... I'm
> fairly sure we know not all magical girls have all these attributes
> but to just go one by one through the list to rebut them?
>
> Methinks this person needs to learn not to take things so seriously.
Besides... the list is not what magical girls should act like. It's what
-you- should act like if you find yourself a magical girl. Remember,
most people are one hundred percent not interested in the dramatic
conflict in their lives, in favor of survival and getting stuff that you
want. I'd make a crummy hero, for example, because I'm just not that
sympathetic. <chuckle>
In other words, we don't want to watch shows like that, no. But if life
ever threw us in the same situation, we could use those suggestions,
learning from those shows that we've seen, in order to avoid making the
same dumb mistakes.
Avatar
m...@wenet.net
>
. Dave E., the curator of magical girls on
> this list wrote a long response. I decided to share it with all of you because
> uh...it sheds great light on the genre.
>
> Subj: Re: [mahou-shoujo] Mahou-shojo rules list ^_-
> Date: 7/13/99 3:27:39 PM Central Daylight Time
> From: AiTe...@aol.com
> Sender: mahou-sho...@whistler.cs.ucla.edu
> Reply-to: mahou-...@whistler.cs.ucla.edu
> To: mahou-...@whistler.cs.ucla.edu
>
> I will respond to various points that the original person posted - more info
> can be found on my site, Yas's site, Hitoshi's site, and my intro to the
> Sailor Moon RPG guidebook.
Way to go!!! I said in an earlier post that the intro to the SM RPG book
is the best damn essay on MG's yet written. In fact Dave, why don't you
write a book on the maho-shoujo genre...please!!
Sana-man Steve
Blackbird
> > :>maigcal girl on the mahou shoujo list. Dave E., the curator of magical girls on
> > :>this list wrote a long response. I decided to share it with all of you because
> > :>uh...it sheds great light on the genre.
> >
> > Lot of stuff about someone responding seriously to a humorous thread
> > snipped.
> >
> > Please tell me that this guy understood this was HUMOR! There are
> > concepts involved in humor like taking small liberties like making
> > things sound a bit more outlandish than they actually are ... I'm
> > fairly sure we know not all magical girls have all these attributes
> > but to just go one by one through the list to rebut them?
> >
> > Methinks this person needs to learn not to take things so seriously.
>
> Besides... the list is not what magical girls should act like. It's what
> -you- should act like if you find yourself a magical girl. Remember,
> most people are one hundred percent not interested in the dramatic
> conflict in their lives, in favor of survival and getting stuff that you
> want. I'd make a crummy hero, for example, because I'm just not that
> sympathetic. <chuckle>
>
> In other words, we don't want to watch shows like that, no. But if life
> ever threw us in the same situation, we could use those suggestions,
> learning from those shows that we've seen, in order to avoid making the
> same dumb mistakes.
That's the whole point. The same thing goes for the Great Mistakes
of the
Evil Overlords thing, and the other ones it's spawned on Evil Geniuses,
Evil
Empresses, Heroes, Sidekicks, Bystanders, Love Interests, and more
recently
Teenaged Mecha Pilots and Anime Characters. If any such characters
actually
did these things, it would likely ruin the feel of the
movie/anime/story/whatever.
But it would also increase the chances of the character's survival
substantially.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ewen "Blackbird" Cluney blac...@earthdome.com
Blackbird's Domain http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/6127/
Knight Kevlar of the Immortal Frog Silver Knight of Mihoshi
"Be nice to me; I might just develop
psychokinetic powers and destroy Tokyo!"
------------------------------------------------------------------
SgtCuvie
>-you- should act like if you find yourself a magical girl. Remember,
>most people are one hundred percent not interested in the dramatic
>conflict in their lives, in favor of survival and getting stuff that you
>want. I'd make a crummy hero, for example, because I'm just not that
>sympathetic. <chuckle>
How true! I'm sure the vast majority of people on the planet, let alone on this
newsgroup, would probably just do what Miho did in Fancy Lala--Just have fun
with the power/device.
SgtCuvie
PowerOfQi
>this
>newsgroup, would probably just do what Miho did in Fancy Lala--Just have fun
>with the power/device.
No, I'd try to save the world. But then, I read too many comics and I'm a bit
delusional. I'd probably fail miserably, to boot.
Dan Mastriani
Super Chikyujin L3
"It's like a woman who's taken off her clothes!" Leiji Matsumoto's Siegfried
My home page! http://members.aol.com/gaijind/ Home of the GRIT chat room!
Updated 2/11/99! You demanded the best, and now you got this!
David Nakamoto
popular, because Urd especially does what she basically wants to do,
and usually damn the consequences?! :)
Perhaps this is an indication of why it's good we don't have
magical powers?! :)
SgtCuvie wrote:
>
> > Besides... the list is not what magical girls should act like. It's
> > what -you- should act like if you find yourself a magical girl.
> > Remember, most people are one hundred percent not interested in the
> > dramatic conflict in their lives, in favor of survival and getting
> > stuff that you want. I'd make a crummy hero, for example, because
> > I'm just not that sympathetic. <chuckle>
>
> How true! I'm sure the vast majority of people on the planet, let
> alone on this newsgroup, would probably just do what Miho did in
> Fancy Lala--Just have fun with the power/device.
>
> SgtCuvie
--
-------------------------------------------------------
I goin' where the Sun keeps shinin'
Through the pourin' rain.
Goin' where the weather suits my clothes.
Bankin' off of the Northeast winds,
Sailin' on a Summer breeze,
And skippin' over the ocean like a stone.
--- Fred Neil
Name: David I. Nakamoto
E-mail: din@blankreg (David I. Nakamoto)
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