I usually write pretty straightforward articles on this site. But I don’t know, I wanted to be a little silly today. So why not, right? Join me as we explore the hangout vibes of five random magical girls who I basically picked out of a hat.
Inori “Buki” Yamabuki (Cure Pine) from Fresh Precure!
Perhaps the least complex of Fresh Precure‘s four main characters, Cure Pine (Akiko Nakagawa) strikes me as a deeply chill person. The only Pretty Cure to ever be given a canonical religion—she’s Christian, in what I assume was someone’s attempt to get Toei some merch money from Japan’s surprisingly large Christian minority—Buki is only lacking in complexity as a character because she’s the Fresh member who least needs it. She begins the show as a pretty well-adjusted person and basically still is one by the show’s end. Her parents are veterinarians, which seems neat. Buki is not the sort of friend you call up because you want to go clubbing, but she is the sort of friend who’d happily be your designated driver after the night is over. That’s called reliability, every friend group needs “the down-to-Earth one.”
Vibes: Peaceful Pineapple.
Special Friendship Skill: Will Pray for You (but Not in a Judgey Way)
Kirika Akatsuki from Symphogear
Is your friend group missing that one person who really seems like they should work at a Hot Topic, even if they don’t? That one friend who knows every single lyric to “My Immortal” and seems like she’d think the main character of My Immortal is genuinely cool? Do you need, also, someone who is a hyperactive ball of energy, a perpetually coiled spring ready to leap to their feet to join in on whatever inane totally badass plan you’ve cooked up for the weekend on zero notice? Well, I don’t know why I’m phrasing this as though she’s a car I’m trying to sell you, but Kirika Akatsuki (Ai Kayano) ticks all those boxes. The second-string Symphogear character is a highlight of the series’ cast, even if she’s occasionally subject to, we’ll be delicate and say, questionable things from the show itself. There is no friend group that would not be improved by adding in this adorable little edgelord. Just make sure you leave room for Shirabe Tsukuyomi (Yoshino Nanjou), the blonde beyblade and her yo-yo girlfriend are a package deal.
Vibes: Says “Death” a Whole Lot
Special Friendship Skill: Funny Noises
Momo Chiyoda (Fresh Peach) from The Demon Girl Next Door
At first blush, the rather reserved Momo Chiyoda (Akari Kitou) might seem like a strange choice for this list. But the real secret here, aside from the fact that much like 90% of anime characters who seem such, she just needs to be around the right people to open up, is that Momo has stories. You see, Momo is in the rare position of being mostly retired by the time we actually join the story of her originating series. Machikado Mazoku is a comedy show, and the big dramatic events that define the lives of most magical girls are several years in the rearview for Momo. She has been places and seen things—we know from the series’ actual text that she probably saved the world once—and in the right setting, she might be persuaded to share some of that wisdom. It’d probably be good for her, too, honestly. Momo is certainly the most emotionally troubled mahou up to this point on the list, even if she doesn’t show it often. (Machikado Mazoku is not usually that sort of series, after all.) Also her cat sometimes mutters ominous things in a deep voice, which is pretty fun.
Vibes: Seen It All
Special Friendship Skill: Property Owner
Asuka Tsuchimiya and Asuka Tsuchimiya from The Girl in Twilight
Easily the most obscure girl on this list, Asuka Tsuchimiya (Tomoyo Kurosawa) hails from forgotten 2018 battle girl anime The Girl in Twilight, the only full-length TV original from little-known studio Dandelion Animation. I don’t have the time or space to give TGiT the writeup it deserves here (despite being seen by just about nobody, the show is actually quite good), but the appeal of Asuka herself is easy to explain. One; she’s just an all-around good girl, an uncomplicatedly kind person who makes every room she’s in that much brighter. Two; she’s friends with a double of herself from another universe who is basically just the same person as she is but more badass, a fact that objectively rules. With Asuka, you get two friends for the price of one. There’s no beating that.
Vibes: Seeing Double
Special Friendship Skill: Ham Radio Expert
But alright, let’s say you’re tired of all the sunshine and quiet wisdom. You want to throw some anarchy and chaos into your friend group. Who do you call?
Anarchy from Mahou Shoujo Magical Destroyers
So, okay, full disclosure. This show doesn’t exist. Yet anyway. Mahou Shoujo Magical Destroyers is an upcoming anime based on a small group of characters created by fashion designer Jun Inagawa. We don’t really know what the show is going to actually be yet, the only extant trailer is very vague, as is the plot description. (Which kind of implies to me something vaguely akin to last year’s Rumble Garanndoll, but at this early stage who the hell knows.) But there’s no way Anarchy wouldn’t be a fun hang. Look at her. Look at her name! It’s Anarchy! She has a magic staff with an anarchy A on the tip. There’s no way this girl isn’t a living party-starter. If you want good vibes, you can call any of the other girls on this list. If you want to overthrow a government, you call Anarchy.
Vibes: Rage Against The Machine Fan.
Special Friendship Skill: Will lend you her copy of The Abolition of Work.
So that’s the list. Normally I try to concisely summarize the main point of the article in these closing paragraphs, but, you get the picture by now I’m sure. Did you like this article? Absolutely hate it? Do you want more of these (whatever “these” are) on MPA? I do have to say I feel a little bad that I only got one girl from a “traditional” magical girl anime in there. Perhaps a follow-up is in order? Let me know in the comments below. Also consider donating if you can! See you on Friday for the Kaguya recap, friends.
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