English Dub Season Review: Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. Season One

Based on the Japanese manga series written by Sekka Iwata and illustrated by Yu Aoki. The story takes place in a world where being a magical girl is a popular profession that involves exterminating mysterious creatures called Kaii, recent college graduate Kana Sakuragi struggles to find a job until she unexpectedly helps experienced magical girl Hitomi Koshigaya during an emergency. Impressed by Kana’s exceptional memory and quick thinking, Hitomi offers her a position at Magilumiere, a small startup specializing in Kaii extermination. Led by the eccentric president Kouji Shigemoto and supported by a diverse team, including customer relations expert Kaede Midorikawa and magic engineer Kazuo Nikoyama. Magilumiere operates in a highly competitive industry with hundreds of magical girl companies. Though initially unsure of her place, Kana quickly discovers that while she may not fit the corporate mold, she has the potential to become an exceptional magical girl in her own right.

On the technical side, this anime was produced by Moe and J.C.Staff and directed by Masahiro Hiraoka, with scripts written by Shingo Nagai, character designs handled by Hidehiro Asama, and music composed by Makoto Miyazaki. The opening theme song is “Order Made” performed by Mafumafu, while the ending theme song “Workout” was performed by Syudou. And despite this premiering first in Japan in 2024, It’s considered Amazon’s first Anime as Amazon Prime Video licensed the series for global streaming.

What happens when you mix Sailor Moon with Ghostbusters? You get Magilumiere, a unique take on the magical girl genre that trades in the usual themes of destiny and friendship for something much more grounded—corporate structure and workplace dynamics. Instead of a select few heroines chosen by fate, magical girls in this world are simply employees, part of a larger business dedicated to fighting supernatural creatures known as Kaii (pronounced “Kai-Yee”). By treating the profession like any other job, complete with departments for research, manufacturing, and field operations, Magilumiere introduces a refreshing and often humorous spin on the well-worn genre, offering not just “monster of the week” episodes but also “magical girl of the week” scenarios.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the show is its fantasy—not just in terms of magic, but in its depiction of an ideal workplace. The protagonist, Kana, finds herself in a shockingly positive work environment where her boss, President Shigemoto despite being a weird individual, embodies the kind of leadership rarely seen in real life. Rather than exploiting his employees under the guise of a “work family,” he genuinely values their efforts, treating Kana as an equal rather than a subordinate. His leadership is defined by encouragement rather than command, making for a surprisingly wholesome atmosphere. Alongside him, Kana is mentored by the charismatic and tomboyish Ms. Koshigaya, a senior magical girl who adds a playful dynamic to the team. The camaraderie among Kana’s coworkers stands in stark contrast to the cutthroat nature of many real-world industries, making Magilumiere an oddly soothing escape for those used to harsher professional realities. In later storylines, Kana meets other Magical Girls who come from different companies and walks of life and inspire her in different ways. 

While the series succeeds in establishing a compelling work-centric take on magical girls, its plot progression remains somewhat slow. The episodic structure allows for strong character development, but it comes at the expense of deeper worldbuilding. While we see the Kaii becoming stronger and the Magilumiere company steadily growing, little is revealed about the origins of magic or the history behind these supernatural threats. Similarly, the inner workings of rival magical girl companies and the larger implications of the industry remain mostly unexplored. There are hints that future seasons may delve into these aspects, but for now, the narrative remains focused primarily on Kana’s growth within the company. This approach is fine for a first season, as it successfully establishes the setting and characters, but it does leave some gaps in the larger story.

From the audio/visual side, the show delivers a mixed experience. The animation is generally serviceable, though it rarely stands out, with some noticeably stiff moments, especially in the opening sequence. However, the action sequences involving the Kaii and magic spells are well-executed, particularly in the season finale, where the visuals reach a higher level of polish. The concept of custom-made spells, created through programming to counter specific Kaii threats, adds an interesting technical aspect to the action. The music complements the show well, setting the tone for both lighthearted workplace interactions and more intense magical battles, though it doesn’t leave a particularly lasting impression. While the show does enough to maintain visual and auditory engagement, it stops short of being truly remarkable in these areas. Additionally, nearly every episode includes a post-credits scene, which offers some intriguing teases and additional character moments, while slightly comical, helping flesh out certain characters long after the main episode ends.

Overall, Magilumiere offers an entertaining reimagining of the magical girl genre, blending corporate satire with supernatural action. While its premise is unique and its character interactions are compelling, the worldbuilding remains somewhat underdeveloped, with many unanswered questions about the origins of the Kaii and the broader implications of the magical girl industry. The series focuses more on character growth and workplace dynamics rather than overarching plot progression, which works well for a first season but leaves room for deeper exploration in future installments. And with Season 2 already announced, I can’t wait to see how all of it expands on its world raising the stakes and leaving us wanting more.