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magical girl
What does magical girl mean?
A genre (mahou shoujo) in which young girls gain magical powers and transform to battle evil, from Sailor Moon to Madoka Magica.
"That magical girl show looks cute but is secretly bleak."
Origin
English calque of Japanese 魔法少女 (mahō shōjo), 'magic girl'.
Frequently asked questions
What is a magical girl?
It is an anime and manga genre where young girls gain magic powers and transform to fight evil, spanning from Sailor Moon to Madoka Magica.
Is magical girl always cute and cheerful?
No. While many look cute, some series like Madoka Magica are secretly bleak, using the cheerful format to deliver dark stories.
What is magical girl called in Japanese?
It is 'mahou shoujo' (魔法少女), literally 'magic girl', which the English term directly translates.
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