The Bleak Side of Ancient Magus' Bride | GR Anime Review
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
- This video (and all of the Review Week Of Awesome this year) was sponsored by Surfshark!
Get Surfshark VPN at surfshark.deal... and enter promo code GLASSREFLECTION for 83% off and 3 extra months for free!
Watch Ancient Magus's Bride on Crunchyroll:
www.crunchyroll...
Or Funimation: www.funimation....
For full Anime Reviews, go here. ► • Glass Reflection Anime...
► Support me on Patreon: / arkada
► Follow me on Twitter: / glassreflection
#Anime #Discussion #AncientMagusBride #Analysis #Opening #OP #ED #GlassReflection
also the one anime that has an accurate-looking England, lol.
Nah black lagoon
Ba dum tsss
Monster wad the best anime when it came to authentic settings (though that one was set in Germany and Prag)
@@edi9892 It's very good but Mahoutsukai no Yome also does a very good joob with rural England. Although it's more like the rural England in Good Omens than reality I guess. (Haven't been there yet.)
British countryside looks deppressed.
One of the things I LOVED about Magus Bride was that they didn't make the non-human beings human. They showed that they are inhuman. We don't see that often and it always bothers/annoys me. So seeing it made me SO happy.
The other thing was Chise and Elios' relationship. The love that blooms isn't sexual or even romantic. It's a deep understanding, acceptance and nurturing of two souls. And I think that's very beautiful. We always show love as romantic or sexual or familial. But we never really discuss what love is at it's core; a madness that brings out the best and worst in us. Something that heals and destroys. Something you can feel for anything and everything; yourself, the world, your family, friends, etc. It's a very simple yet complex emotion.
These are some nice selling points, it seems this series actually cared
Even the fan service, if it can be called that, serves to showcase fertility rather than titillation
As an asexual aromantic person this is my favorite anime
I see someone understands love
@@kostajovanovic3711 I mean there are basically less then 5 moments of fanservice in a sexual way around this show, and they are treated with care or to some degree realism (Titania comes to mind and from what I have been told, her robertsons are the way they are because she doesnt wear a bra and thus it looks more genuine without being bouncy or anything "pushing", heck even the leanne sidhe was protrayed accurately with care, showing she is more then just her looks and seeking to devour humans she grows attached to).
They do, remember when Elias gets "butterflies in his stomach" and queen and king are "happy for him". Yea ...
I never actually got the feeling Elias is portrayed the way this video present's him as. It is more like "if you are something less than a human, you just need someone that doesnt feel human" xD, you know, like a slave or someone prone to suicides and depression so if you threat to eat them they dont mind because you called them family and that is what matters xD
For me Elias is the character I understand the best. Maybe it's due to me having Asperger's, and being old enough that I didn't get diagnosed or understood as a child. Words like precocious and learning disabled were used back then. I always felt alien to my peers, never really understanding them, but knowing that I was not normal. Feeling at times monstrous. My emotional state has been predominately frustration or depression with little in between. I deeply understand Elias' feeling of otherness and his lack of understanding. But mostly his desire to be a part of humanity. I even went so far as to get a degree in psychology in my attempts to "become human." For someone like me who has given up on ever having a relationship, having failed in the past. Seeing this unlikely couple be patient and understanding with one another. Completing each other. Is a beautiful thing. A wonderful fantasy, where a monster could indeed find someone who could make them whole.
Same here.
same here having ADHD, especially the part about modeling behaviors of others while not being able to understand why people react/not notice. I got good at it, but had imposter's syndrome just knowing I didn't really understand the motivations. This is one of my favorite shows because I can relate to both Chise and Elias
Me watching the show two years ago, undiagnosed: hmm, there's something about Elias that I relate to, I just can't quite put my finger on it...
Me, watching this video, newly diagnosed with ASD: ...OH.
@@katherinemontgomery1063 No wonder he was my fav, too. XD
@@katherinemontgomery1063 can I ask what symptoms you experience and what prompted you to get a diagnosis? How do people with ASD differ from people without it? I’ve been fearing that I might have this but I’m already dealing with other mental conditions and I don’t want need anymore labels. Sorry if I overshared btw, just looking for some insight.
Just a little correction regarding the Silver Lady that I really felt the need to point out, she's not a banshee anymore she's a Silky a type of house fae that acts as a guardian.
Thank you!
@Shiki * it's why she still never speaks. She can't or risk hurting those she loves.
@Shiki * she’s a silky their like a brownie but they aren’t the same thing.
@@Yad626 lol
Silver WAS a banshee, but I believe the family she was set to watch over all died tragically in one massive accident, leaving no survivors or lineage. She was stuck as a "useless" banshee
@6:00 "When he asks Chise to be his bride, it's entirely possible he doesn't realize what he's asking or implying."
This is basically confirmed later in the manga when Chise meets Rahab, the woman who taught Elias and after whom he models a lot of his behavior. She explains that when Elias asked, she defined "bride" as basically "A person you'd like to be with", but due to his limited understanding of emotions and desire he could only comprehend "be with" as "living in the same place". And while it's possible Elias could have expanded his knowledge in the many years since he went out on his own, given his interactions with Ethan when the two of them were captured by Ashen Eye, he still doesn't really understand human families.
So, yeah, as far as we know Elias understands "bride" as basically "roommate", without romantic or sexual connotations.
Yeah, its fitting like a child sees a marriage or relationship. Someone to admire or be together in the most innocent way while watching each others back. This also is further elaborated as Elias doesnt understand human emotions as he once stated and thus I figured he didnt understand the concept of marriage like an adult does.
idk why but this just made me smile it's kind of funny how much Elias doesn't understand despite his (assumedly) long life and I can almost hear the gears turning as he attempts to comprehend human emotion/understanding of things, it's something I also enjoyed throughout the anime
I would like to think that love (the kind we hope exists between the two) for Chise is brewing unknowingly within Elias, if it hasn’t already. In this case, Rahab, Chise, even Elias himself, would be wrong about his current perspective and understanding on Chise being his bride, where once they were right.
The catch here is that none of them would pick up on this change (at least not easily). Perhaps Rahab and Chise wouldn’t think it possible for Elias to catch on feelings, and Elias wouldn’t even realise it himself that Chise has now become more than just ‘someone he wants to live together with under the same roof because it’s convenient’, that there’s actual love between them rather than simply being husband and wife in name only.
I think he has the potential for this. He had admitted that he cares and worries for Chise, he constantly wants her by his side and gets jealous. Still, it’s arguable that these might stem from possessiveness rather than romantic reasons.
Of course, I could be wrong, but it would be gratifying to see this as part of Elias’ growth in his part of the journey, that he finally understands and learns how to love.
Kinda weird title for the anime then XD
Chise is such a unique character in that she starts off with zero self-worth. She sells herself at an auction because she is at the point that she can't even commit suicide because that would be a bother to someone, she wants to be useful to someone and doesn't care for what purpose. Her story as a mage apprentice is like seeing a near dead sapling be slowly nurtured back to life while also being constantly beaten down by mother nature.
I like to call this anime the "protagonist anti depression therapy of understanding oneself and others while gaining selfworth" of animes, because of how much charactrerization and character development happen per episode and how they face their dark desires (known as shadows according to Carl Gustav Jung) yet still overcome those and accepting them, be it Chise, Elias or Cartaphilus.
To some agree I compare it to what the persona series once was before Persona 3 came around and changed too much on the formula, with its heavier psychological themes and darker atmosphere and being of power u won't be overcoming so u better stay away from them (unless they force you to a game, smiliar to what ashen eye did multiple times in the show).
The manga is still ongoing. The next arc starts right after the end of the anime. And is still going. Chise becomes a student at the magical college and Elias is hired to teach the sorcery/alchemy students there about mages and the fae. Chise becomes friendly/acquaintances with many others of her age who have strong magical connections and deal with similar problems and curses. Would definitely recommend.
Thanks
There was a trailer released not so long ago for the manga that gives a hint as to what a second season might look like if and when it appears. ruclips.net/video/Id72FaGlBAw/видео.html
Yep, lately the story has become "manga Harry Potter" XD
Not that it's bad thing, on the contary. We see the progress of Chise, now living a more normal life for a teenager, and feeling way better on the emotional side.
I feel this second part of the manga will end up focusing on Elias's past, the "pilum murialis" thing. I'm still waiting on learning the truth about Chise's family and their mistery!
I'm so glad this video exists. Ancient Magus Bride is one of my favorite shows, despite the fact that I find extremely underappreciated, I could never bring myself to recommend it anyone because I would have to explain why. It just feels too personal.
I think this anime is an underrated gem. It's beautiful and the world building is fantastic. The characters are well written, relatable, likeable and have understandable motives. I personally believe this is one of the best anime of the decade.
I had to rewatch it this year it's just such an absolutely amazing show.
i love it... if any show needs more eps...
Not sure how hidden it is but other than that agreed on all points.
Have you watched the OVA as well as the series? And yes in needs more.
I wonder how far the light novel and manga are.
@@aidanstockwell1326 Did the same. Mostly because I listened to the awesome OST and wanted to freash up my memory on the story.
Might have to give the manga or light novel a try.
@@otakuparadise3585 I kinda get what you are saying and will try out different incarnations. Is the light novel the original one or the manga? The spelling of names has been an "interesting" topic.
I honestly loved how they wrote Elias, he wasn't human therefore didn't understand human emotions and that's why the things he did for Chise seemed off. Throughout the story, he grows more and more human and in the process learning what jealousy feels like and anger, and all kinds of very complicated emotions that he needed Chise's help understanding. I loved that they taught each other things that they didn't understand before, for Chise it as a new love for the world she grew to hate so much, and for Elias, it was a deeper understanding of the world he has lived in for so long and hid from.
Yes. Elias not understanding what humans felt / what feelings meant / how humans perceived things, and therefore Chise being able to teach him, gave them each something of value to bring to their relationship.
As a fan of Celtic lore, I loved it.
The author really did some deep research, did you catch the strong hint in Elias`s surname as to who he might be in British folklore.
@@AbelMcTalisker but possible elias species came from american folklore tho, I think it's called wendigo?
@@dafaqu694 Whatever his origin he has probably been living in the British Isles for a LONG time. Known to the celts he may just possibly have lived in Sherewood Forest in the middle ages (or maybe not) but was living in the Windsor area by the Elizabethan period and got a mention in one of Shakespeare`s plays.
Sometime in the 1600`s, during all the Witch trials he must have made some sort of arrangement with the Church of England for some protection where he agreed to live quietly in the Severn valley and help the church with any awkward supernatural occurrences that they had to deal with. The local vicar being given the unenviable job as his "handler".
During the mid 1800`s he adopted the surname Ainsworth as it was also the name of a popular author of the time who had written a novel in which he sort of appears.
Well that`s my take on things anyway, based on some things I`ve read that I think the author might be drawing on.
Yeah, I cry every single time Chise share's the dragon's last dream. Always hits me like an emotional truck with the music and visuals. I think the thing that makes me relate to her so much in the first few episodes is the dark circles under her eyes, reminds me of looking in the mirror.
I can't praise this enough! 🌟 I actually had to pause watching the show for a bit when they revealed some of Chise's past (I have PTSD), but I still finished the show with a deep appreciation for the people who worked on it.
As a fellow sufferer of PTSD, I encourage you to gently expose yourself to media that may trigger you. Research has shown that simply avoiding triggers is not beneficial. Like with phobias, exposure therapy can be very helpful in overcoming those challenges.
So, this show cared?
@@alexevanspoppsychedelicren4158 True; I've used exposure therapy to get over things like a fear of darkness, cellars, & spiders. Unfortunately, the trauma happened around the time the show aired. I've been progressing well since then.
@@o0Avalon0o Cheers! I feel your struggle. I wish you continued progress in your journey :)
Oh boy, sounds like I won't be able to watch then.
Ah well :3
This series is so, but so good... But I actually like Elias. Precisely for the reasons you don't. He isn't human and he has a hard time understanding how humans thinks, doesn't know how to behave nor does he really feel the need to (at least at first), but he actually cares in his own way as much as magical creature can. And after a while he actually becomes endearing, after you understand what he is. I cannot say I like him under human standards, but I do like him as a really interesting character. Anyway, one of my personal favorite anime.
Ancient Magus Bride is one of my all time favorite series. I found Chise's growth compelling and I love celtic folklore BUT there are definately plenty of things that would turn someone off. There are pacing issues in the second half of the season and the exceptionly grey morality of the fae cast, particularly Elias, upset a lot of people during the show's initial run.
Also a heads up for people debating if they want to try watching, while not a focus in every mini arc, the show does delve into horror territory from time to time.
I think that the Fay being morally gray was actually a very good way to portray them.
Actually they run on tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlueAndOrangeMorality
Their moral compass is simply alien to ours. They will keep their word an follow the letter of any agreement they make, but not neccessarily the spirit. They might offer help but don't unveil the consequences until or asked.
And time is a somewhat fluid concept to them.
The Fae( any mythical being in any culture really) in actual folklore are exactly like this. Some are more or less fairly nice, some can be both good and evil depending on the situation, while some are just straight up vicious and malicious. They are a reflection of humanity in all it's forms after all.
@@kaltaron1284 oh, I absolutely agree! I love how they're portrayed. I just was sharing that it is something I've seen people drop the show over. Thank you for explaining it way better than me. Lol
@@greenpuppy54 I can understand why some people who are more familiar with the Disney versions than the historical ones would be offput. I prefer the historical ones. Not that the cute approach isn't bad.
I have to remember in which museum or castle I have seen a puppet house that was meant to be made for Titania.
When it comes to the Fae, another show that portrayed them quite interrestingly was Gargoyles. (Damn, that's from Disney.)
I think you made your point well and am just expanding on it.
@@bernieburton6520 Precisely. They were also on purpose made a bit inhuman to create a feeling of offness or otherworldliness.
All over the world you will find myths of strange creatures and how people dealt with them in a good or bad way to teach lessons.
I rember a Russian one about a fisher and his wife. When the fisher cought a strange fish he let it go and in return the fish promised to fulfill his wishes.
The fisher wished for a nice stable home and no more hardships but his wife wasn't content so she sent him out with more and more outrageous wishes until the fish finally got fed up and returned them to their old hovel.
The world was beautiful, and the magic system is one I wish was real. The magic specifically was explored a ton, and wouldn't feel out of place with the modern day.
Also: when you explained about the depression and such you articulated why I understood Chise; my childhood was miserable. I felt I was born just to suffer. I was so numb I didn't even think about suicide. In my eyes I was already dead. Something happened in 7th grade (won't go into it, sorry) that made me feel alive for the first time since I can remember (yes, the abuse at school started THAT young). Recently I've realized I haven't thought that phrase - I was born just to suffer - in a long time. And I'm glad. I still have issues (dealing with PTSD and depressive episodes being the main ones) but I'm in a far, far better place. I am living. And I didn't get why I understood Chise so much until you said it; she was simply waiting to die, so numb she can't even hurt anymore. It's like I was looking in a mirror to see my child self. So yeah, this show comforted me on a subconscious level I didn't even understand until you said it. Thank you.
yeah this was such a subtley healing show
This show actually helped me a lot when I was going through a rough time.
Glad for you and glad that this show shows promise, a hight potential to watch it soon
i feel like this anime IS kind of healing! maybe not to the same extent others are, but chise goes from selling herself into slavery and leaping into situations that very well might kill her, to understanding that people care about her and the value of self preservation. that doesn’t mean that she won’t do something risky if someone is in trouble, but at the end of the series she realizes her life is worth something more than she did at the beginning.
also if you haven’t read the manga that comes after the anime i would highly recommend :)
Is the manga finished by now? How about the light novel?
@@kaltaron1284 nope not finished yet! the light novels aren’t part of the main story, they’re side stories by other writers. but i enjoyed them! one of the ln stories (jack flash) even got a manga adaptation.
The manga is still ongoing. The next arc starts right after the end of the anime. And is still going. Chise becomes a student at the magical college and Elias is hired to teach the sorcery/alchemy students there about mages and the fae. Chise becomes friendly/acquaintances with many others of her age who have strong magical connections and deal with similar problems and curses.
@@bernieburton6520 Sounds interesting. Will seek it out. Although I prefer finished stories for such projects. I hate to wait for new material. (Berserk I'm looking at you!)
@@rotator666 Thank you. Guess I will give them a read. I think I have them lying around somewhere.
Chise is one of those rare characters where I related to her on a level where her breakthrough moments had a surprisingly cathartic effect on me.
I absolutely fell in love with Chise. Struggling with my own depression, her growth helped me push forward a lot and had a very positive influence on my overall outlook of just about everything. Seeing her go from hopeless to at least fighting to live touched me in a profound way. Wanting to see more, I started following a manga series for the first time ever.
This anime spoke to me so deeply, especially the episode with the dragon's last flight. I couldn't stop crying when Nevin said, "The living shouldn't envy the dead."
Even Chise and I shared the same thought when Nevin passed away. "I can't help but be a little envious of the peaceful way he passed."
Yes! More people need to talk about this anime. Chise is probably my third favourite main character after Hououin Kyouma and Mob.
This comment seems like déjà vu
The beginning of the show and Chise's backstory broke my heart. Poor girl.
This is one of the very few instances that I have watched an anime and was so satisfied that I would not mind too much if we never got another season. Don't get me wrong. I would love another season of this show, since the manga is still ongoing and I am invested in the characters, world, and story, but the ending of the season was so poignant and had an air of finality that I was very happy with. This anime and the story are truly gems.
You can just watch it on gogoanime for free
@@angelb.1503 That's illegal.
@@angelb.1503 It's on netflix ffs
@@angelb.1503 if you can't pay for it then watch it illegally, but not paying for anime is one of the main reasons why so many shows don't get a second season
I’m sad March Comes in Like a Lion didn’t make the cut, but I love Magus Bride, so I’m happy. It’s gorgeous and I have a strong connection to it. Rewatching it right now actually lol.
Is the second season better than the first? I want to pick it back up but I haven't taken the plunge.
@@manuelmartinez-ub7se its as good if not better
about the selling herself kind of thing...interresting point, never mentioned in anime and what might actually help people get over it a bit...Chise sold herself, so if i recall, she actually got to her name something around 50% of the money paid for her, those money given to her name directly
I think it’s actually mentioned once because I remember that detail, but yeah, it’s not focused on for long.
This point is adressed in the anime. It was something Chise used to try buy the kidnapped dragon.
So yes, she was selling herself out of her free will because she didn't see any point on going forward herself but the Agency was therefore treating herself as the seller and therefore she got her share of the selling.
They also told her the rules entirely and freely beforehand. Either they were being kind or they were following protocol and being sure she would agree anyway.
Probably the magic creatures seen, didn't deserve that kind of treatment.
The agency isn't portraied as horrible but neither are they good.
also the chains and clothing was to illicit sympathy from byers and she was told by the person who ran the auction that because she was so special, no one would waste millions of dollars on her to treat her poorly and that she would most likely find someone who truly wanted her around. she was fed properly, clothed, and educated while in the auctioneer's care.
@@kaltaron1284 yeah the auction stuff is very grayly protrayed, heck Chise did end at a more comfortable place to her overall instead of like.. at someones place as an "object of affection" which would make everything in her life worse and would even further led into the dark swamp of emotions and stress she experienced in her life before, leading more to selfhate then selfembrace. I rly wonder if Chise knew this risk, being so distant to what happened since her mother's death and not rly understanding social standards around her.
@@Evilriku13 I#m not sure I got your point correctly. But it's an interesting thought that for Chise the emotianally distant and clueless Elias might have been better for her than a "normal" human would have been. Well, as normal as someone attending such an auction can be.
I thiink another point that helped Chise was that contrary to anyone she'd met before, he could keep the really nasty beings (mostly) away from her. Sure the Neigbours cab be quite mischievous but they love her unconditionally and don't mean her harm. Some beings we've seen in Japan or in some dark corners on the other hand, think she's delicious and want to eat her.
BTW have you seen the movie? It makes some things about Chise's earlier live clearer and explains why the book she got from Angelica meant so much to her. (Am I remembering this correctly? Time to watch it all again or read the light novel I guess.)
One of the things I really appreciate about the show is that unlike Harry Potter and most other modern fantasy stories, Magus Bride doesn't try to separate the myths and magic from the pagan religions they sprang out of. While I tend to be wary of stories that glorify witchcraft, I do like that this shows the magic within its original cultural context.
Well then, let me say that they skimped at parts, being raised pagan for most my youth. As to whether or not I still am, I suppose it doesn't matter now does it?
@@odininmeemninido1498 well, the entire production team lives on an island essentially 2 continents away from where the stories originated, so unless something was horribly mangled, I think that's fair.
@@nyon7209 Oh yeah, I myself am also just not a fan of the show personally. I enjoy it for the visual spectacle and the references, but otherwise am unimpressed. To each their own however.
@@odininmeemninido1498 I stopped watching the show after about 13 episodes. Most of the Celtic mythology flew over my head. In fact I had to look up how many episodes I had watched before commenting only to realize I was further ahead than I previously though.
@@GenerationZ313 there's 24 eps. You should give the story another try
It annoyed me to heck that this show is so underated
'Like a child, doing things they've only read about'.
Is that not how I'm supposed to be living life?
Am I doing life wrong?
No you're not wrong, it's just most people don't self-reflect enough to realize that. We first learn social cues by mimicking things around us, wether that be watching people, reading stories or watching tv shows until we understand why they do that. It's why advertisements can change social behavior for an entire generation (like leg shaving, which was a relatively recently adopted behavior compared to human history).
Developmental psychology & Social psych. is really interesting.
@@o0Avalon0o That's one of the reasons why I think kids can shouldn't be given their own smartphone/tablet until later in life and the time on their parent's device should be limited. They need a foundation in learning from their parents and the real world before they get into the more complicated, addicting, and often fake world of media and the internet.
@@danielsjohnson I agree 100% on this for young kids. I have relatives trying this method but it's still important to teach your kids that advertisments are manipulative, because their kids are still watching their classemate's smartphones in school. Being an active parent, educating them on logical fallacies & reputable sources can help prepare them too; If they understand that & want a smartphone after around 10 (& you can afford a smartphone that will likely be wrecked because of the learning process) than it's probably fine to give them one.
I also related a lot to Chise. I’ve been through depression and suicidal thoughts, and boy did I feel her pain. What really made me love this show was how the other characters reminded me of people in my life that helped me recover. Her path through recovery also resembled mine (except mine didn’t have dragons).
The OVA really goes into depth what happened before Elias for Chise, and as the series unfolds, they really delve a bit deeper into her background as well. I **hate** where the series and it totally needs another season. Kore-san really goes out of her way to make sure every interaction feels organic.
It's funny that Arkada dislikes Elias, because I found him at first off-putting then oddly... cute? There's legitimate moments in the series where his inability to act normal is sort of charming to me.
I mean, i consider Elias to be the villain of the show
Elias is like a kid selfish jealous aggressive but that is because he feels alone he doesn't understand emotions but he have feelings is interesting
@@miguelangelhernandezsolis7849 agree, and that would be fine if he were just a kid incapable of much harm. But he is emphatically not a kid and not safe to be around. He's more of a nitro glycerin bomb that must be handled carefully or the consequences could be lethal. And it always seemed to me that Chise was growing I. Spite of Elias rather than because of his assistance.
These are why I name him villian of the show. It does make him existentially bad, or unsympathetic, it's just the role he's playing in the narrative
@@MagusSartori yeah he is dangerous because he never understand emotions or moral he is neither a human or a fae he is between word he is like
but now he is learning that's the reason for chise to become his human teacher for him finally understand humanity at the beginning both try to use the other elias to have a student and a spouse without understanding the meaning only for obligation
but latter he began to feel new emotions
but he can't understand his new feeling that's the reason for the danger
is like a child solder without a parent chils never learn to cope with his emotions because of that they become really sadistic
but now because of chise elias is changing
@@MagusSartori I don't think Elias is the villain of the show. Antagonist? Sure. But not the villain. He's someone with no concept of what kind of consequences his actions will cause. And while that does make him dangerous. It doesn't particularly mean evil intent. Villains are generally portrayed as people who actively try to sabotage for a malicious outcome.
Elias mostly stumbles along afraid of being alone and therefor does a bunch of stupid things just to make sure he won't have his most feared outcome.
Chise in that regard also is not a hero, she's not the saviour of the world or the one to protect the masses. She's a girl that's alienated herself so far from her species that Elias his unnatural behaviour practically forces her to remember what it means to be human. You actually see her hesitate at multiple points to explain stuff simply cause she needs to remember herself what that meant.
In a sense they're two sides of the same coin. Neither evil nor good, they just are and they try to reach their goal just like any other person on earth works hard to reach their own goal. In that sense, regardless of how alien they sometimes feel they're entirely relatable too. It's in the uncanny valley of a human personality.
Ruth is my absolute favorite. I love that dog
Oh, so the director of a show with a protagonist suffering from depression and self-loathing also worked on Welcome to the NHK. Makes perfect sense now
Magus Bride is still a series that has stuck with me. While I enjoyed it when it aired I've been planning on a revisit in 2021 for my podcast and this video has me excited about the revisit.
I was in the hospital after a hand operation and was watching this in a shared room with other patients while recovering and was balling my eyes out over this anime. Thanks for making this video. I love this show
I can’t imagine being that emotionally tied to this series even as much as I adore it and will claim it as my favorite tied with Snow White with the Red Hair.
@@madi7178 I just needed something to watch and at the time I was just getting back into anime and friend suggested it to me, so I had no idea what I was getting myself into, with it being on CrunchyRoll made it easy to watch as well.
This show is so special, and made me feel things few other shows ever have. Thank you for reminding me to rewatch it.
It's fascinating to me that you disliked Elias. I actually found him warm, understanding, and utterly adorable. Things fall apart at the end of the show, but the end of the show is basically incomprehensible to begin with imo.
Elias is like a kid selfish jealous aggressive but that is because he feels alone he doesn't understand emotions but he have feelings is interesting
I also find him adorable he is an mixture of an adult kid monster and a human
I found Elias interesting. His inhumanity made the character unique and fascinating. At first, I found him strange, but then I understood that despite his massive age, he's literally a kid who doesn't understand emotions. Simple things like what is beauty, someone being angry, is a mystery to him.
also something Mr Glass Reflection should have mentioend is that Chise knows ever since she was bought and made that contract with Elias once at his home that she is kinda tied to him and does what he wants to please him (we should be lucky Elias isnt human or a abusive human, like she was sold at a black market in such a young age that she could end as a object for sexual practices until she dies etc) even if she isn't feeling save. That also comes from CHise's past with her mother and father leaving her and "blaming her for being alive" which is why I think she was not always truthful towards Elias, also cuz she is in her teens and thus not fully self of herself to know of her actions and such.
Heck even the show later down pins out on the relationship disbalance Chise and Elias have and that she shouldnt give herself to him and do whatever he wants from her, which makes the show smarter to be selfaware of that issue.
Elias and Chise are smiliar in their past, about being exiled/pushed back and forth and having to deal with their emotional state of depression in extreme ways. Thats why I appreciate the show and the characters, even Cartaphilus/Josef for him wanting the same as those two: To be accepted like they are, and having some rest from the people around them.
@@Evilriku13 while the show addressed it, she never escaped that role. Even after elias was going to kill that girl she still folded and couldn’t put her foot down. She even accepted more rules from him. This completely threw me off and makes the whole thing feel predatory.
Ancient Magus Bride was simply beautiful and I will certainly purchase the blu-ray for it. This will become a classic soon and I dare say it's already a masterpiece for everyone here in the comments.
unfortunately, I think it'll be a hidden gem rather than a classic. The number of people who couldn't figure out Chise's silhouette, or thought she was the guy from fruits basket, or... why did they think he'd review decadence again? Anyway, the number of people who couldn't recognize it in the announcement video kinda shows how swept under the radar it was. Doesn't help that while it was airing, so were 3-Gatsu, Kino's Journey, Violet Evergarden, Yuru Camp, Pop Team Epic, Darling in the Franxx, Overlord, A Place Further that the Universe, Citrus, Fate, and Gintama. And even as a thing that might have flown under your radar, GLT had it beat.
@@nyon7209 Given time quality will always become a classic.
@@nyon7209 As he stated in the video it came out in an odd time that can be a big turn off especially if you want a clean slate for the following year.
I cannot stress enough how the wait between two scans of this series is KILLING ME. I love it to bits and I fell in love with its worldbuilding and its clever and smooth use in the narrative. It's this one along with Made in Abyss that made me want to write a book myself where I wish to pour as much care and passion into its worldbuilding.
I love this manga and anime so much.
As someone who is also dealing with depressive episodes, I felt such a connection to Chise and her emotional journey.
She goes from envying the dead to looking forward to the future with her new family. It is such compelling character arc, to see her become more and more assertive and take more control is great.
As a UK resident, I adore how the mangaka handles our native folklore and particularly how she handles the fey.
Fey are both beautiful and dangerous, they feel emotions to the greatest extremes and at times they don’t care if they hurt others to get what they want. Which is what you definitely see with Elias.
I understand why some don’t like Elias, I really do. He portrays that fickle and dangerous fey morality. He grows to deeply care for Chise, but since he hasn’t really cared about someone this much before he doesn’t really know how to handle it in a healthy way.
Elias is learning all about human emotions for the first time, so an emotion as powerful as love is going to be a lot for him.
It’s like a child’s love. He grows very attached and gets jealous whenever she gives others attention, like Stella. But the wonderful thing about it is that he comes to learn that he can’t ignore Chise’s wants and feelings for his own. Which is why he turns down Oberon and Titania’s offer to make Chise stay with him forever.
He realises that his fey way of thinking is what pushes Chise away and strives to understand her on a more human level and I love it.
I love the way their relationship changes. The power dynamic is of course heavily biased towards Elias at first, but slowly it starts to shift to a more equal partnership as Chise becomes more assertive and questions Elias’s reasoning as she starts liking herself more.
Ancient Magus Bride is easily one of my favourite anime, I enjoy all the characters be they human or not and the fact it is set in England is a plus. It also introduced me to folklore that I didn't know, one example being The King of the Cats.
Sometimes you come across a series that ......... "HITS DIFFERENT"
As someone who suffered through severe depression and extreme social alienation, Chise and Elias's story feels far too familiar for me. The fact that the story tackles both of their journeys through the mutual opening of love, it's... definitely healing for me too.
I just started watching this series a week ago and its initial episodes are beautiful, without needing to follow the accursed "3-episide-rule", since it was engrossing right off the bat. It makes me hopeful for the future of anime and that stories of depth and reflection will continue to be told for years to come...
If you love slice of life mythological folklore story, this is very good, and the author did really some research with his own tweaks on it
I adore elias and hope to see more exploration of his character nad history(currently reading manga)...he and Chise are both very...unique in their mindset lets say, both for very understandable reason, aslo this is one of the few cases where author managed to make character with believable ancient non human character...also the idea that evil as we understand it is only ever born of humans, and that is why Elias is so dangerous among his kind...anyone interrested in this more, write me, as i don't want to give spoilers to people who dont want those
My wife and I absolutely loved this show.
This show is fucking amazing. Wish there was more. There's so much overflowing emotion in it. The most emotionally involving show I've ever seen, and I've watched a metric ton of media. Some of the best animation and soundtrack too.
I've watched it 3 times and will probably watch it multiple times more over the years.
Elias design is so unsettling that is a good 80% of the reason I started to read the manga
Describing Chise as a character who is tired is spot on, as when the series starts, she is shown with dark circles under her eyes.
Now, this anime has one of the best depictions of magic that I've ever seen. The art style, the soundtrack, the characters and their interaction, all were amazing, and in many ways all of them contributed to the building of this perfect magical atmosphere that permeated every bit of this show.
The very same reason is why this anime is my most favourite. It’s by far my comfort anime, as someone who’s struggled with severe depression, suicidal tendencies and still does today, the anime captured it all super beautifully, not mocking it not making it a generic cringe story but making it feel real.
Especially that episode where Neven the dragon gave chise advice it still makes me cry till this day.
The world building is impossible to not fall in love with, the gorgeous painted backgrounds and the overal nostalgic feel I get from watching it just brings me chills.
I truly cannot wait to hopefully see more content of this anime in the future. I know the OVA series has been slowly releasing, I hope we can get a season 2 soon as well :)
Nice to see people talking about this still. Its a phenomenal anime that i have rewatched too many times and read the manga a few more. I love this show. Almost everything about this show agrees with me.
Oh and you know I cried every time for Nevin's death.
i liked this anime a lot when it came out but when i told some people they just responded with “yknow that’s just anime twilight right ha ha what a girl” and idk that made me feel bad about it
but i rewatched it again and no screw them it’s a beautiful show with amazing music and such a fun and mysterious portrayal of magic
Those people are really stupid (no offense of their someone your close to)
Ancient magus bride has a very strange spot in my heart as I not only relate to one of the characters. But kinda both. Bounced between them so hard did I that I thought it would be interesting if they were actually two sides of the same person :p except that would definitely limit their dynamic and growth.
I'm certain I'm preaching to the choir here, but for those who don't know there is a 3 episode ova with this show that is absolutely phenomenal. And you should watch it.
This anime... hoo boy. It's the type to put tears in your eyes, revive your hope in life. It's the type you find only once every few years.
This Anime...Changed my life. It set me on the path that I am now on. With a partner by my side, a job to go to that I genuinely enjoy and I have no more bags under my eyes. I wake up nearly every day and feel ready to take it on. All because, I feel, because of this Anime.
That said, I honestly feel that this is the Anime for Millennials. Myself included. It's a journey that we all must take but most of us will come out as better people because of it.
I’m Gen Z and love it so much but it makes me so happy to see it have such a good impact on someone’s life. All that effort has fruition in all those it has helped. Also you sound like Shirayuki from Snow White with the Red Hair with the way you spoke at first.
@@madi7178 Who?
@@VoiceOfTheEmperor A character from another anime.
I loved this anime so much, I related to it on such a deep level! Definitely deserves a watch for those who haven't watched it yet ❤️
Elias as well as Chise are amazingly developed characters, very easily visible development from ep 1-2 to ep 24
This is hands down my favourite show of all time, for the reasons you mentioned about how relatable it is. It is however one of only 2 shows that I have ever bought the Manga/Light novel for (other one is Overlord). I can say without a doubt that the show rivals the manga easily and is really well done and faithful to the source material. Furthermore the music as u said is outstanding and really adds to the show.
The one thing I wish you would have touched on a bit more in your review is the development of Elias. In my opinion the show is certainly about Chise, but its also about Elias turning around from that brutish character he is at the start and sharing himself with Chise. I feel myself relating to Elias a good bit myself due to the way I was raised and me being socially awkward. Much like how Elias can only guess how to act, I find myself in that position as well. I never found myself disliking Elias however because i never took him to be human and expected human values from him. Instead I found his desire to seclude himself from the world and to not be involved in human troubles relatable once again. I would have done the same if i were in his position and to a limited extent I do.
Finally to quote Ruth from the English Dub "Not long ago they seemed like father and daughter, now they seem more like Mother and son"
This line encapsulates a good amount of the show for me as it shows how the story is about the two of them learning to love each other in their own unique way. Its a learning experience for the both of them. Its like a balancing act between the two of them.
i cant man i just cant. this anime is everything i love and i dont watch anime anymore yet this one just hits so close and means a lot ot me...seeing any deep dive vidoes like this i always have to prepare myself mentally for it incase i just start crying. The shoe, the manga and even the chibi cartoons, its all just too good.
When I first watched this anime I was coming out of a deep depression and her blank look at the start, it reminded me of how I looked. I felt no one wanted, cared, or even knew about me, it took a while but I got out with good friends and amazing family.
But there was something watching this character just grow, getting happier that reminded me of me. Like when she learned the spell to fly back home and just that happy joy. That was me when I came home from work one day and I was just...happy for the first time in a long time
This show impacted me in a way that nothing has before or since. Chise’s flat, dead looking eyes in the first scene, had me hooked because I’d seen that expression before in a mirror.
Background: I’m a Trans Woman, that grew up in a broken, Conservative home. I ended up moving a lot between different homes, between my mom and my dad. By the time I was a young adult, I’d been kicked out of my family. My online friends helped me through that darkest period of my life.
2 years ago I moved in with them, to a small house in the countryside, where I’ve experienced true love, warmth and affection for the first time.
I first watched Ancient Magus’ Bride in the months before making my move and it gave me the courage to take the plunge and try to make my life better.
Conclusion: I love this show very dearly, and I’ll likely be reading the manga for a long time to come. Hopefully we’ll get another season sometime. The second major arc in the manga is quite interesting so far.
I really do not get the problem everybody has with the chains from the first episode. It made a lot of sense in the context of the show.
its also revealed in the manga that they were merely to illicit sympathy and nothing more XD she was treated well by the auctioneer while in his care and almost guaranteed her that no one would spend millions on her simply to mistreat her so the odds of her getting bought and abused were slim. i was extremely off-put by the whole first 2 chapters of the manga due to the whole slave-master feel but there is a certain depth that only the manga provides in some cases.
Not many words are needed. All I'll say is I will never forget this show. Re-watching it as season 2 is coming out now.
Excellent analysis, even though I like Elias clearly a lot more than you do ^_^
This is one of my favorite ideas for a Beauty and Beast scenario because everyone is so flawed and need each other to grow and both feel more human. I think the entire series as a whole is beautiful.
My thoughts exactly!!! You just summarized why I picked up this show in the first place.
I hope wit studio give us more seasons of this beautiful anime
pretty sure season 2 is in production. it will cover the current arc in the manga which takes place in the wizard college where Alice and her mentor work at.
@@harmonialarts nah. The manga doesn't even have enough content to have 12 episodes lol
Made this anime a family heirloom. I've only said that for two other anime's. praying for another season
I started watching this title due to a Glass Reflections recommendation at the end of another review video; The opening theme song grabbed me and I started binged watching the show from that moment. I highly recommend watching! :D
YES, I’m so happy to see you liked AMB! And for real, guys, if you haven’t heard the OP, give it a listen when you get the chance. It’s wonderful.
Have you seen the 3 part ova that came out before the main series? It's by far my favourite bit of the series as a whole
Had a bit of a Miyazaki feel to it in some ways but that`s probably because it was dealing more with Japanese folklore characters. Also did you spot some Easter Egg references to it with the book in the Mid-Season episode in the main series.
I was reading AMB before the anime series was announced, and I was thrilled that it turned out so well. I think it was a beautiful adaptation of a really great story (and I also felt that Elias didn't really understand what saying he intended Chise to be his bride meant, and as the series has continued on I feel that's still the case). I can say as a manga reader that Chise's journey to valuing herself is still ongoing, as under pressure she falls back into endangering herself, but she continues to find friends and people who care for her, and they are helping her grow.
I hope one day that the author's second series, Frau Faust, is adapted into an anime.
What's it about?
My favorite series of all time. And like you, it is because of how relatable Chise is to me personally. As I talk with more and more people who are big fans of this show, they all say the same thing: that the series touched them. That they can relate to at least one of the characters in this series: whether it be Chise with her depression and acceptance of things even if they will lead to her death or more trauma, or Alice and her desire to help and protect others, Ruth's big brother nature, or even Elias' inability to deal with social settings.
I hate how this phrase gets looked down upon but this series really does hit differently. Chise's growth is not done after 1 or 2 events but she grows at a more realistic pace. Even in the manga, nearly 30 chapters AFTER the anime ended, Chise still blindly jumps into danger to save her friends at the cost of her own well being. That kind of trauma and finding a will to live does not happen over night.
Also insert songs need to make a comeback.
Thank you for making this wonderful video.
You did such an amazing job narrating this, sorry I'm new but it just shocked me, thank you for blessing my ears.
I totally forgot about this anime. It was semi-popular when it aired. It was decent for the most part, but kind of struggled near the end.
Also their relationship is MAD WEIRD! I don't care what you believe, but you can't tell me their relationship isn't fucked up lol.
I mean both elias and chise don't really have a clue on what a 'healthy relationship' is and the whole point is that despite their relationship being complicated but at the end of the day they trust each other.
a lot of characters of the manga/anime say that their relationship resemble a father and child, a mother and son , a teacher and student, a bride and groom and more and they themselves can't define their relationship
@@miguelangelhernandezsolis7849 Eh their relationship leans heavilly on the spouse side.
I can't label it anything else in good faith. The sexual tension between the MC and the demon is too obvious.
@@Qweken8 I can because I say two "persons " how were lonely and now they find company but neither can understand completely that concept
in that chise have a little advantage she once was love and have a family
elias born alone never understood humanity and he was lonely at extreme
he is no a humana he's not a Fairey
@@Qweken8 he is both and neither
he have human emotions but can't fully understand
A Magus bride video in 2020? yes please
This is what I’m saying
3 years ago, I was very suicidal. No less than 4 people stopped me. One day, I decided to find a magic theme anime to lighten my mood and found this. And this broke me. It opened my eyes. Spoiler below:
Nevins speech at episode 12 really broke me. It's hard not to cry for me. Being a pessimist who often sees oneself as worthless, his speech really talked layers to me. I want to feel useful after I "help" someone but I can't find myself to be proud of myself. Feeling very useless at the time, Nevin said something that no psychiatrists I talked to ever said: "You helped people. Even just a little, even if they're not here anymore, you still helped them. To value oneself as though one was disposable is to say that those of us who they've saved is just as worthless. So I find myself wanting you to be proud of yourself." I can't stress enough, I never knew that is what I needed for so long. Thinking about it now, I just needed a hug after all that happened. I just want someone to acknowledge that I exist.
Finally! GR is finally talking about how great Mohoustsukai no Yome is. Everyone shoud just watch the anime and read the manga. Top 5 in my anime list and in my manga list.
Love this video and agree with almost everything you point out. Except I totally understand Elias, I felt the most related to him and felt a little hurt every time he was outcast and seen as a monster or dangerous. He didn´t have to "fix" Chise, nor he would be able to. Mental health it´s not something that others can solve, it´s a personal journey. It does help the company of someone that supports you without making it about themselves.
I love how you tell these stories. It makes me feel apart of these worlds. Thank you for sharing your talent 🙂
One of the very few Anime that I read the Manga First prior to being and I FELL IN LOVE!!! Seeing the magic from print to screen is beautiful!! Also the OP A FUCKING BANGER!!!!
This is an easy rewatch series, it's almost perfect, amazing series with great manga as well
best video and thumbnail gr has put out in a minute. Love how the review week is being handled this year
Idk how I’ve never heard of this anime, excuse ima go buy it on Amazon real quick, thanks for the recommendation Tristan
I can also recommend Brigadoon: Marin and Melan, since the author of Ancient Magus is a big fan of that show, to the point that she name drops it in the manga.
Dawg, I love this show on multiple levels for multiple different reasons. I'm so glad that someone is finally talking about it. Now it won't be lost to the season it came out in.
You've made me remember that I need to finish this series, or more likely re-watch it from the beginning, since it was put on my list for binge watch when it ends airing and I've forgotten about it completely.
Oh please do. It’s been about 3ish years since it’s release and I love it so much
What stuck with me from that show was the antagonist dissecting the little dragons alive. And one didn't die after he was done. It kept groaning in pain. I cried for it, even though it was a fictional creature in anime.
This show has been my favorite of all time in recent years. and i cannot remember a time were i loved a show so much since i was a child. i await the next season. and am enjoying the manga in the meantime :)
This Anime is just a damn Masterpiece for me. From the first episode to the last! I loved simply everything about it and how damn relatable Chise is to a lot of people and how the fantasy is build in the Story!
I'm still waiting for season 2. I loved AMB
I can relate with Elias sometimes is hard to understand your own feelings
I don't have emotional intelligence
Personally I can relate with Ellias quite well. Something about not completely belonging, even though you are so close to other like you and still being rejected.
This story for me was incredibly touching and helped me understand there are beautiful things in life. I was in a dark spot when I started watching that anime and it guided me into a better place, which I appreciated a lot. Chise is incredibly relatable for me, and I enjoyed her interaction with Elias, because of its purity. He wasn't trying to seduce her or dominate her, and that really helped me. His frankness about his relationship with her gave me so much hope and I love the entire show.
I really want to thank you for making this review. Even if it's late, I do want to leave my personal takes on this.
This show recently helped me through an incredibly rough period of my life, coming in at the end of several years of on and off depression, exhaustion, and isolation. Chise as a character spoke to me but strangely, I found myself much closer to Elias. I personally deal with a few mental disabilities, one of which being Autism Spectrum Disorder, and at a certain point in a series, Elias started to really exhibit a lot of the social issues I have with it, albeit much more extreme. The main things I tapped into was the emotional isolation he seemed to feel, something that I myself have experienced. I may have projected a bit onto him due to how little he puts forth, but the way he latches onto the first person who seems to welcome him as he is, and doesn't see him as a complete freak made me feel as if he's dealt with the same kind of pain I've felt with that constant feeling that you can never quite connect with anyone. This kind of got bolstered by his habit of trying to act as he's expected in any given situation but not seeming to understand what is or isn't appropriate.
I can't really see him as completely inhuman or even uncaring in my experience, just as someone who has been outcast and isolated, with nobody to help him sort out his emotions about it.
As a sidenote too, I feel that Elias being a monster, is a big part of the reason I feel I can relate to him this way, because personally, I've never felt entirely human myself either.
I'm glad to finally see someone else that enjoys the OST Rose, I am personally learning this song on the piano at the moment, it is absolutely beautiful and I could listen to it for hours.
I love this show, even if it kinda lost me at the end of the anime. I should probably rewatch this series now that I am older.
That's a good idea. The ending can get a bit confusing on a first watch.
I really disliked the last third of the anime, so my overall enjoyment was pretty meh, even though I really liked the first half and some after that.
@@fenrirr22 well since the third part of the anime mostly about the immortal alchemist guy, that's why it felt kinda off than any other part