REVIEW ANIME: MAHOUTSUKAI NO YOME(The Ancient Magus' Bride)

REVIEW ANIME: MAHOUTSUKAI NO YOME

Type: TV

Episodes: 24

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Oct 8, 2017, to Mar 25, 2018

Premiered: Fall 2017

Broadcast: Sundays at 01:30 (JST)

Producers: Production I.G, Shochiku, flying DOG, Mag Garden

Licensors: Funimation

Studios: Wit Studio

Source: Manga

Genres: Slice of Life, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen

Duration: 24 min. per ep.

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 8.38¹ (scored by 72,464 users)

Ranked: #173²

Popularity: #188

Members: 306,211

Favorites: 3,83

Synopsis

Chise Hatori, a 15-year-old Japanese girl, was sold for five million pounds at an auction to a tall masked gentleman. Abandoned at a young age and ridiculed by her peers for her unconventional behavior, she was ready to give herself to any buyer if it meant having a place to go home to. In chains and on her way to an unknown fate, she hears whispers from robed men along her path, gossiping and complaining that such a buyer got his hands on a rare "Sleigh Beggy."

Ignoring the murmurs, the mysterious man leads the girl to a study, where he reveals himself to be Elias Ainsworth—a magus. After a brief confrontation and a bit of teleportation magic, the two open their eyes to Elias' picturesque cottage in rural England. Greeted by fairies and surrounded by weird and wonderful beings upon her arrival, these events mark the beginning of Chise's story as the apprentice and supposed bride of the ancient magus.

Characters[edit]

Chise Hatori (羽鳥智世 Hatori Chise)

Voiced by: Atsumi Tanezaki^[4][5][6] (Japanese); Dani Chambers^[7] (English)

The protagonist and titular character of the story. She is the apprentice and future bride of Elias Ainsworth. Her father and brother abandoned the family when she was young, and her mother committed suicide in front of her. Feeling unwanted by her relatives, she sold herself into slavery so that she did not have to worry about anything, with Elias purchasing her. She is a Sleigh Beggy, a special magus who can draw magic from her surroundings and within herself, at the cost of dying young because of the strain on her body, hence why Elias took her in, hoping to prevent her death. She has about three years left to live naturally at most.

Elias Ainsworth (エリアス・エインズワース Eriasu Einzuwāsu)

Voiced by: Ryota Takeuchi^[4][5] (Japanese); Brian Mathis^[7] (English)

The Child of Thorns, Chise's master and fiancé, once apprenticed to Master Lindenbaum. A being with both fae and human elements, his origins are a mystery. Known as the Thorn Mage, the other faeries see him as an abomination, something he does not mind. Besides using glamour to hide his appearance, he can control and also turn himself into shadows, and when angry enough, he takes on a more monstrous form. He can even change his head to a human’s using magic. Despite claiming to lack human emotions, after some time caring for Chise he has slowly developed a true fondness for her. However, his innate lack of understanding certain human emotions makes Lindenbaum call him a child. One example of this being when Titania and her husband asked about him and Chise having children he felt an "unknown feeling" in his gut he couldn't identify. He dislikes children. He says they do not have magic powers, but they are talented in being able to see the true nature of things, so sometimes he is found out. He is called “Pilum Muralis” by the wizards.

Ruth (ルツ Rutsu)

Voiced by: Kōki Uchiyama^[4][5] (Japanese); Austin Tindle^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter nine, he is Chise's familiar, a black grim who was originally a church guard dog who chased away grave robbers and evil spirits. He was formally called Ulysse (ユリシィ Yurishī) and used to be owned by Isabel in chapter ten. He thinks of himself as a human, thus able to maintain human form, until he remembers who he is in chapter twelve. He shares a mental link with Chise and considers her a sister. When in his dog form Ruth resembles an Irish Wolfdog, although this form can change much like Elias, sometimes moving in Chise's shadow.

Angelica Varley (アンジェリカ・バーレイ Anjerika Bārei)

Voiced by: Yūko Kaida^[6] (Japanese); Janelle Lutz^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter two, she is an old acquaintance of Elias. She is a witch and a technician of the Magus Craft. She has a daughter named Althea.

Her father was a technician of the Magus Craft. Even though her father was a magician, Angelica, who only had the quality of a sorcerer, could not directly learn the ways of her father. She worked hard to find her own method of performing magic.

Silver (シルキー Shirukī, "Silky")

Voiced by: Aya Endō^[4][5] (Japanese); Rachel Glass^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter two, she is the fairy landlady of the house where Elias and Chise reside. Originally a banshee(chapter twenty four), she is now silent and takes care of the housekeeping duties in the household. She is protective of Chise and has a strong dislike of Simon Kalm, the village priest, glaring at him when he enters Elias house and wrapping her arms around Chise to protect her.

Lindenbaum (リンデル Rinderu, "Lindel")

Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa^[8] (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter three, he is Elias's magician Master, commonly referred as Lindel, lives in the Land of Dragons, the last sanctuary of dragons. He is the caretaker of the dragon’s nest. His title is Echoes, Song of Flowers and has lived for hundreds of years.

Leanan Sídhe (リャナン・シー Ryanan Shī)

Voiced by: Saori Hayami^[4][5] (Japanese); Morgan Garrett^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter fourteen, she is a beautiful vampire-like faerie who loves men and gives them talent at the cost of dying young. She had strong feelings for an old man named Joel Garland, but denied that they were in love as love would meant his inevitable death. Unfortunately, her presence was already killing him unintentionally at a slow rate. After learning this, Chise created a remedy that allowed them to see each other one last time (chapter twenty two). After Joel's passing, she tells Chise she will be living in Joel’s garden and will not look for more lovers anymore. She later received the name, Redcurrant (レッドカラント Reddokaranto), as Joel and Chise noted her eyes were the same color as the flower in Joel's Garden.

Simon Kalm (サイモン・カラム Saimon Karamu)

Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa (drama CD)^[4] (Japanese); Tyler Carson^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter three, he is the priest of the local church in the town in England where Elias and Chise live and is under assignment by his superiors to keep an eye on Elias. He has a breathing condition that is treated by Elias's medicine.

Michael Renfred (ミハイル・レンフレッド Mihairu Renfureddo)

Voiced by: Satoshi Hino^[8] (Japanese); Jarrod Greene^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter six, he is an alchemist who apparently hates Magus and magicians, but at the same time is caring towards his apprentice Alice. He was scarred in the face protecting Alice (chapter twenty seven) and later allowed Cartaphilius to take his left arm as material for an experiment so Alice wouldn't be used instead . He later rebels against Cartaphilius and also becomes interested in finding a way to prevent Chise's premature death.

Alice (アリス Arisu)

Voiced by: Mutsumi Tamura^[8] (Japanese); Jennifer Green^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter six, she is Renfred's apprentice. A former street urchin, drug abuser and drug seller, Renfred discovered her innate magic potential and took her in as an apprentice, hence her devotion towards him. Despite a few rough meetings with Chise, because of their similar circumstances and having been saved by her, she ends up befriending Chise.

Cartaphilius (カルタフィルス Karutafirusu, "Cartaphilus")

Voiced by: Ayumu Murase^[9] (Japanese); Josh Grelle^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter six, he actually dislikes the name "Cartaphilius" and prefers to be called Joseph (ヨセフ Yosefu), and is known also as the Wandering Jew, or the “Magician of the Flow”. He is a mysterious being that looks like a young boy, but is much older, so old that he even refers to Ainsworth as "little boy". A long time ago, people said that “God’s Son” cast an immortal curse on him for mocking him during the crucifixion, (much like Gestas); it's said his immortality will last until Judgement Day. Holding no clear intention, he’s just a monster that simply does what he feels like and travels around the world experimenting with the living and dead for no clear reason. He has the appearance of a human but the body of a non-human – as seen in chapter eleven when he was struck with a magic bullet. He claims his non-human body experiences constant pain and his one true desire is to be able to live without suffering.

Oberon (オベロン Oberon)

Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi^[10] (Japanese); Joel McDonald^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter eight, he is the mischievous Faerie King and Titania's husband. He resembles a satyr, with hooves and deer antlers.

Titania (ティターニア Titānia)

Voiced by: Sayaka Ohara^[11] (Japanese); Colleen Clinkenbeard^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter eight, she is the Faerie Queen and Oberon's wife. She looks like a beautiful and buxom woman riding a donkey.

Spriggan (スプリガン Supurigan)

Voiced by: Hiroki Yasumoto (Japanese); Chris Ryan^[7] (English)

Introduced in chapter eight, he is Titania and Oberon's bodyguard, who dislikes Elias. He is the one who gave Silver a new purpose and name (chapter twenty four).

Rahab (ラハブ Rahabu)

Voiced by: Kotono Mitsuishi (Japanese); Lydia Mackay^[7] (English)

Introduced by Linden as his teacher. She is the person that gave both Linden and Elias their names.

Riichi Miura (三浦 理一 Miura Riichi)

Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai^[6]

A librarian who takes care of Chise. He is seen in The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Those Awaiting a Star OVA.

Ashen Eye (灰の目 Hai no Me)

Voiced by: Jouji Nakata (Japanese); Greg Dulcie^[7] (English)

Introduced in episode 13 of the anime, he is an ancient fae that gives Chise a magical fox skin that she can use to become a were-animal of her choosing. Ashen Eye is spiteful of humans to the point he will use them to amuse himself.

Mariel (マリエル Marieru)

Voiced by: Maaya Sakamoto (Japanese); Jamie Marchi^[12] (English)

Chise first is the only one that sees or hears Mariel in Episode 19 at Seth's auction house. We meet Mariel again in the latter half of Episode 20 and find out that she is a witch.