Mahou Shoujo Ni Akogarete: [exclusive]

A lot of people dismissed this show as “trash” when the first episode aired. And look, it is trashy. The nudity is excessive. The violence against the heroines is unsettling. But to dismiss it as mere shock porn misses the point entirely.

Warning: Spoilers for the manga’s later arcs (Lord Enorme, the Azure Flashback) are welcome in the comments, but tag them properly. Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete

For the uninitiated, the premise is deceptively simple: Hiiragi Utena is a run-of-the-mill otaku who loves magical girls. She collects merchandise, knows every episode by heart, and dreams of being a champion of justice. One day, a mysterious mascot creature offers her power. But instead of becoming a glittering hero, she transforms into a sadistic, leather-clad villainess. Her mission? To “properly” defeat the real magical girls of her city. A lot of people dismissed this show as

The series explores a fascinating question: The violence against the heroines is unsettling

This is where the show stops playing nice.