'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to be Archenemies review is positive overall. Plenty of elements in the anime adaptation were enjoyable to watch, but it certainly wasn’t perfect since there were a few glaring issues. Viewers get a bit fatigued, given how repetitive it can sometimes feel.
That being said, it was an absolute treat from a visual standpoint, which is quite rare in most slice-of-life anime adaptations. This is due to the budget and animation studio that undertakes such projects. In this case, Studio BONES animated the entire season, and it was safe to say that the animation was better than some of the modern Shonen series that are currently airing.
The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to be Archenemies review: Enemies to lovers, a cliché yet entertaining trope for romance anime
The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to be Archenemies featured the popular “enemies to lovers” trope with a slight twist. Usually, when this trope is utilized, the opposing characters take quite some time before they like each other.
Trending
In this case, however, Mira and Byakuya seemed to like each other from the moment they met. They are enemies since one is a magical girl while the other is a lieutenant working for an organization whose sole aim is to destroy magical girls.
Therefore, they are staunch enemies based on their roles. However, their work doesn’t seem to affect their relationship at the time being. This trope is used often and can be repetitive for fans. This was the case owing to the series’ episodic nature since there wasn’t much of an overarching plot. Since this was the case, the episodes sometimes felt a bit boring.
The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to be Archenemies review: Use of hurdles to strengthen their relationship
Once again, The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to be Archenemies did something that most romance anime and manga series are guilty of doing — throwing problems in the way of the couple to strengthen their relationship. Given the nature of their jobs, there was substantial tension since Mira’s colleagues could not learn about his romantic interest in Byakuya.
Therefore, the story constantly had hurdles that forced Mira and Byakuya to work together. This strengthened their bond, and their initial infatuation developed into a deep sense of adoration and love for one another.
One of the best examples was when Byakuya lived in a haunted house, and Mira offered to help her. She was so comfortable with him that she allowed him to sleep beside her. Based on what was shown, she had a good night’s sleep after a long time.
Their relationship bloomed considerably throughout the series, which was heartwarming to watch. The show nailed the relationship dynamics as a romance anime by featuring plenty of wholesome interactions involving Mira and Byakuya.
The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to be Archenemies review: Incredible animation for a romance anime
Studio BONES is a reputed animation studio that has done a phenomenal job with the animation. Most romance anime titles don’t have big budgets; therefore, the animation studios undertaking these projects aren’t some of the best either.
The budget might have been a tad bit tight, which could have been the reason for the 12-minute episodes. The episode length was perfect, and the shorter duration allowed the animation studio to spend considerable time.
This resulted in a series with great animation and consistency throughout 12 episodes. The magical girl transformation sequences were well-executed, and the pastel color palette was pleasing. Studio BONES deserves a pat on its back for its work on The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to be Archenemies.
The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to be Archenemies review: Concluding statements
Overall, The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to be Archenemies was entertaining. There were a lot of positives, with a few minor issues that could have been worked on. The repetitive feel was one issue that impacted the viewing experience.
However, if fans can look past this, they can treat themselves to a heartwarming show that can be enjoyed with little to no effort from the viewer’s end. Overall, this is a great romance anime that works perfectly for those who consume this medium on a daily basis and those who wish to explore anime as a whole or romance as a genre.
Stay tuned for more anime and manga news as 2024 progresses.
Related Links:
- 15 best anime romance series with heartfelt stories
- 10 romance anime where couples get together early
