if you like slice of life + the magical girl genre i am BEGGING you to read this manga! the stakes aren't very high (so far) but its just such a cute and fun read it makes up for it. 5/5 always even if kana is a little closeminded still to her boss being a cross dresser
Magilumiere's slow-and-steady policy get called into question when a bigger company swoops in and finishes a job for them (a bigger company that has history with Shigemoto...) But the next assignment teaches Kana exactly why Magilumiere approaches jobs the way they do.
No jobs, no problem! The whole office is going to karaoke! (And Midorikawa is officially my favorite bean... he had enough valid coupons ready for everyone. Best employee! Employee of the Century!)
Then Kana gets put on a joint mission with another company to give her some more job experience... that isn't just Koshigaya's full throttle style.
This is a pretty chill story so far, I'm loving it. (Though now I'm worried it's going to turn dark like Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
Sekka Iwata's "Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., Vol. 2" offers a fresh twist on the magical girl genre by immersing it in the corporate world. The story follows Kana, an enthusiastic rookie at Magilumiere, as she tackles her first major assignment. Her extensive book knowledge and eagerness to apply her research highlight the challenges of transitioning from theory to practice, a relatable theme for many new professionals. The assignment, dealing with a tricky kaii outbreak, allows Kana to showcase her innovative thinking. However, her idea is rejected by President Shigemoto for conflicting with company principles, adding a layer of corporate politics and ethical dilemmas to the narrative.
The series excels in world-building, presenting a landscape where over 500 magical girl companies compete in a cutthroat market. This setting provides a rich backdrop for exploring themes of competition, corporate culture, and personal ambition. Kana's relationship with her senior partner, Koshigaya, is another highlight, offering a balanced dynamic of experience and fresh perspective. While the blend of magical girl elements with business jargon might be jarring to some, it is this unique fusion that sets the series apart. "Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., Vol. 2" is a compelling read that entertains while provoking thought, making it a standout in its genre.
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
Another solid entry in this series, volume 2 begins introducing us to the world of magical girl companies and how these all differ from each other, all while Kana is struggling to learn the ropes of her new job. In this setting, magical girls are not children, (though it's referenced that in the past it was indeed young girls who filled these roles) but young women working for companies to combat monsters infesting the city. It's a fun set up that is further developed here, as part of this volume begins covering Kana's partnership with a magical girl from another company. This company is very different from Kana's own employer, as it is attached to a cosmetics company and its magical girls also function as brand ambassadors. It's interesting to see different facets of magical girls and callbacks to the genre, as this new company's girls are much more in line with the classic idea of the genre compared to Magilumiere's more obviously technologically advanced aesthetic. This is a fantastic series that i'm excited is finally getting the Western release it deserves.
Kana has been at Magilumiere as a magic girl for a month when she and Koshigaya are sent out to deal with an infestation of kaii in a shopping district. Kana advises one approach but President Shigemoto rejects it as going against company policy. So after checking out the situation on the ground, they come up with a novel approach that solves the problem without widespread destruction. Very satisfying to all parties! Then Kan gets loaned out to another magical company to aid them with technology, but also to expose Kana to different approaches to being a magical girl. A good addition to the series that develops the characters and the world. It will be interesting to see what happens in volume 3!
Thanks Netgalley and Viz Media for the chance to read this title!
magilumiere co. ltd. is about a young college graduate who is struggling with job hunting until she's picked up by a magical girl startup company to help them hunt the monsters they call : kaii.
magilumiere is latest entry in the magical girl renaissance and put its own spin in the genre. the story tells us that being a magical girl is a viable career for adult women, a high-risk job sure, but pays fairly well and has many benefits and helping people is a plus!
magilumiere is a charming office drama with heartwarming and funny characters set in a captivating world.
This volume introduces us to some other magical girl companies! Our heroes having their job interrupted by some big ace company, and then Kana going on a job exchange with a magical girl company focused on cosmetic products. I like seeing how the other jobs work, compared to the rag-tag 'startup venture' of Magilumiere. Kana gets lectured a bit on what Magilumiere's "aesthetic" is by her boss, and then goes to a company seemingly all about aesthetics. With how corporate magical girls are in this series it's neat to see a company that is built around the magical "girl" part, and I'm excited to delve deeper into exactly what Lily and co. do.
This book was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This series keeps getting cuter and cuter, and I'm a major fan of getting character development. This ends on a great note, and I'm so excited to see what happens in the next volume! Count me in as a magical girl hype man, because Kana is a legend. The art is fantastic as well, you can see the love poured into this series and all the little notes that it hits from the history of the genre. For something that very much could feel like parody, it hits all the right notes into feeling like a love letter.
Becoming more and more obsessed with this series day by day. I love magical girl comics, and seeing them in this semi corporate setting is real funny treat. I'm super excited to learn more about the character that showed up at the end!
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.
Otra entrega super entretenida. Ahora se profundiza más en las diferentes compañías de Magical Girls que existen y en el propio origen de la magia que usan. Me encanta la fusión de magia y tecnología. Además se comienza a ver el pasado que tienen los presidentes de las compañías implicadas en este tomo.
Fazia um certo tempo desde que gostei tanto de um mangá de garotas magicas, acho que esse um dos poucos que me despertou uma profunda nostalgia, bem parecido com a época que assisti Tokyo mew mew, Sailor moon e Puella magi madoka magica. Quando li o primeiro volume, tive uma boa primeira impressão, a protagonista parecia divertida e fofa, na medida certa, mas me perguntava como o autor seguiria, se transformaria a história em um lago de sexualização ou se traria aquele sentimento de diversão e coração puro que só quem já leu um bom mangá mahou shoujo sabe como é, as garotas magicas são a união perfeita entre inteligência, beleza e força, as heroínas para todas as idades, e é por isso, que fico muito feliz de dizer que foi a segunda opção. Sakuragi mostrou um grande amadurecimento nesse volume tanto no ofício como em suas relações interpessoais, mas o auge foi a forma com que Sekka Iwata faz uma critica não muito sutil aqueles que abrem mão de seus princípios pelo sucesso e dinheiro. Sekka nos mostra com maestria que se manter integro nos dias atuais é visto como uma afronta pessoal aqueles que já cederam a pressão do sistema. Gosto da excentricidade dos personagens de como os traços do Aoki mesclam a delicadeza das transformações à insensibilidade nas cenas de extermínio. Minha única observação nesse volume, é a forma brusca que as cenas finais foram colocadas, não houve uma conexão fluída, os saltos temporais fizeram parecer que a cena foi cortada de repente sem uma explicação, diferente do anime que conseguiu conectar essas cenas sem deixar o questionamento sobre possíveis furos.