A lot has been said about the striking similarities between Mashle: Magic and Muscles and the ever popular, Harry Potter movie series. Although it can’t be denied, is it really just that – a rip off? Well, I do not really care, it was entertaining as hell.
Ahem! Ahem!
Why don’t we dive a little deeper before we just judge it like that?
Mashle – Plot and Preview
Mashle: Magic and Muscle has spanned across 2 seasons now with a third season announced and is adapted from a manga series written and illustrated by Hajime Komoto. It has actually sold over 5 million copies as well which just shows its widespread popularity.
Set in a fantasy world full of magic, the bureau of magic equals law in this world. All humans have mana (magical power) naturally like hands and legs and those who do not have any within them are disposed of – yes, killed as per the law. Everyone here has at least a single line on their face which indicates that they have magical power.
We follow the existence of an anomaly, the MC, Mash Burnedead, such a cool surname right. He is a 15-year-old boy with no magic and of course no lines on his face (Nani!!), but he breathes muscles.
His father found and raised him away from the world of magic in a secluded forest to protect him and instructed him to muscle train since a very young age.
He turned into a tank and is unusually muscular.
Eventually he was found out by a government official, Brad Coleman, a sadist cop who found joy in exploiting criminals. As per the law, the existence of someone without magic i.e., Mash, was deemed illegal.
So, Coleman did try to apprehend Mash but soon found out that he was heavily outmatched.
To protect himself, he struck a deal: Mash must enroll at Easton Magic Academy and become a Divine Visionary. In exchange, Coleman will keep Mash’s existence hidden from the government and also provides him with a fake facial line.
Divine Visionaries are at the core of the Bureau of magic and are individuals of utmost importance. It is a title given to only one student every year.
It makes so much sense right, if he indeed becomes a divine visionary, someone without magical powers then the government will have no choice but to accept his existence.
So will Mash be able to become one and lead a peaceful life with his father. Watch it to find out.
Mashle Season Analysis
Professor glasses please! 👨🏻🔬
What’s with that Harry Potter reference, right? There is a pretty valid reason for that.
Student robes in the magic school which looks similar to Hogwarts, the concept of houses, flying brooms, a sport almost identical to Quidditch and God they also have a headmaster who looks just like Dumbledore. You can almost say that it was intentionally meant to be like that.
Although, Mashle does have a lot of material elements like that in Harry Potter, the world building and the plot here are completely different. Also, the humor and entertainment value this anime has is off the charts.
The MC is downright dumb, has difficulty in keeping up with long sentences, likes cream buns and breaks doors instead of opening them, not as a show of strength but because he always forgets how they open.
You might also feel that the main character has strength similar to Saitama (One Punch Man) and a face like Mob (Mob Psycho 100). However, the point that should be paid more attention to is that everything just clicks.
It doesn’t matter if you have watched hundreds of anime or if you’re just starting, this hits the mark. You will find yourselves enjoying this.
The character development in Mashle is pretty awesome! It’s quick and snappy, which really helps you connect with the characters. It’s like you’re getting a peek into what makes them tick and what shaped them into who they are.
When new characters pop up, their backstories are revealed in no time. Mashle keeps these stories short and sweet, and it totally works like “magic”—see the irony there? Haha!
About the progression of the series, there are hardly any boring sequences. It is super-fast paced and packs a punch. There are no detours yet from the original plot, there are no filler episodes and everything is to the point.
The fights in the anime are not stretched, they begin with a bang, simple strategies are employed and nothing is too complex to understand.
From a technical perspective, one could argue that the primary shortcoming of this narrative lies in its lack of creativity. If you are someone who loves additional layers and depth to a story, you might be disappointed as everything is somewhat predictable and straightforward.
Furthermore, Mash is portrayed as having a charismatic personality that touches the hearts of those around him. He doesn’t just simply defeat his enemies; he also inspires them to rediscover their true good selves.
All this just sounds clichéd.
The real key to enjoying this anime while watching is to not be too critical. Just enjoy what you see.
Future Updates
The manga from which this anime is adopted is already completed as of July 2023 and we do officially know that the 3rd season of this anime has been announced.
Bonus: Below you can find the opening theme of the anime which really adds to its entire charm.
Image & Video Source: Aniplex USA
