*Magic User's Club!* is a Japanese anime franchise created from an original concept by director Junichi Sato, beginning with a 1996 OVA and later continuing as the 1999 television anime Magic User's Club! (TV).
It is a school-set magical comedy, often shortened to MahoTai!, and follows the chaotic daily life of a group of students who try to use magic while a mysterious alien object hangs over Earth.
The franchise began with an OVA released from May 25, 1996, to October 25, 1997, for a total of 6 episodes.
The television series aired on WOWOW from July 7, 1999, to October 6, 1999, for a total of 13 episodes.
The original work was credited to Triangle Staff.
The TV series was directed by Junichi Sato, with series composition by Chiaki J. Konaka, character designs by Ikuko Ito, and music by Michiru Oshima.
Animation for the television version was produced by Madhouse and Triangle Staff.
The OVA was produced by Triangle Staff, with Bandai Visual as producer for both versions.
One day, a giant mysterious object called the Bell arrives on Earth from space.
The armed forces of every nation attack it, but nothing works, and the object simply remains in place without explaining itself.
At that point, the Magic Club of Kitanohashi High School, led by Takeo Takakura, decides to take action.
What follows is a strange and lively school story full of failed spells, crushes, magical accidents, and a surprising amount of heart.
The TV series is a direct sequel to the OVA.
Its story begins immediately after the final episode of the OVA.
The Magic Club
Sae Sawanoguchi
Sae Sawanoguchi is the heroine of the series.
She is a second-year student in Class 2-B, born on December 31, 1979, with blood type O.
She is 159 centimeters tall, and her listed measurements are 80-55-85.
Sae is unbelievably clumsy, slow to notice what is happening around her, and not especially skilled at magic, but she always gives everything her best effort.
She deeply admires and loves Takeo.
She likes narutomaki fish cake and keeps an illustrated diary as a hobby.
Takeo Takakura
Takeo Takakura is the president of the Magic Club.
He is a third-year student in Class 3-F, born on March 11, 1979, with blood type B.
He is listed as 172 to 175 centimeters tall and weighs 60 kilograms.
He constantly has lewd fantasies, yet he is also strict with himself and dependable when things truly matter.
After discovering magical items in a cave as a child, he taught himself magic.
He knows more about magic than anyone else in the club and dreams of becoming a wizard instead of studying for entrance exams.
He cares for Sae more than anyone.
The character was modeled on Junichi Sato himself.
Nanaka Nakatomi
Nanaka Nakatomi is Sae's childhood friend from kindergarten.
She is a second-year student in Class 2-B, born on September 17, 1979, with blood type A.
She is 158 centimeters tall, with listed measurements of 83-55-84.
She joined the Magic Club reluctantly after being invited, and among the members she is the most sensible and grounded.
She is kind and good at looking after others.
She also has an unspoken crush on Ayanojyo Aburatsubo.
Ayanojyo Aburatsubo
Ayanojyo Aburatsubo is the vice president of the Magic Club.
He is a third-year student in Class 3-F, born on June 6, 1978, with blood type AB.
He is 178 centimeters tall and weighs 56 kilograms.
He is handsome, athletic, and highly skilled at magic, so popular that girls at school have formed a fan club around him.
He is in love with Takeo.
As the story progresses, he also begins to notice Nanaka.
Akane Aikawa
Akane Aikawa is a first-year student in Class 1-D and a new member of the Magic Club.
She was born on October 3, 1980, has blood type B, stands 159 centimeters tall, and has listed measurements of 86-52-86.
She is free-spirited and moves at her own pace.
She works as a model and often skips club activities because of dates or work, but she learns magic faster than any of the ordinary members.
She lives alone in an apartment.
J / Jurika Jinno
J, later revealed as Jurika Jinno, is a mysterious first-year student in Class 1-D.
Though delicate and youthful in appearance, J is an unusually powerful magic user.
J carries out a hidden plan and later becomes a new member of the Magic Club.
This character appears in the television series.
The Sawanoguchi Family
Saki Sawanoguchi
Saki Sawanoguchi is Sae's older sister and a medical student.
She is 19 years old and acts as a stand-in mother because their parents are often away.
She is reliable and athletic, but terrible at cooking.
She has a boyfriend.
In the OVA she is voiced by Atsuko Tanaka.
In the TV series she is voiced by Kazusa Murai.
Sawako Sawanoguchi
Sawako Sawanoguchi is Sae and Saki's mother.
She runs the Sawanoguchi Ranch in Hokkaido, where she raises horses for steeplechase racing.
Sakae Sawanoguchi
Sakae Sawanoguchi is their father.
He is known for his curly hair.
Nicole
Nicole is a horse at the Sawanoguchi Ranch.
Sae treasures Nicole dearly.
The Nakatomi Family
Naoko Nakatomi
Naoko Nakatomi is Nanaka's mother.
She runs a health food shop.
Naoki Nakatomi
Naoki Nakatomi is Nanaka's younger brother.
He has a cheeky attitude toward his sister.
The Takakura Family
Takako Takakura
Takako Takakura is Takeo's younger sister and a middle school student.
She resembles her brother in looks, but not at all in personality.
The Aburatsubo Family
Akiko Aburatsubo
Akiko Aburatsubo is Ayanojyo's mother.
She dotes on her son to an embarrassing degree, much to his discomfort.
The Amano Family
Azusa Amano
Azusa Amano is Akane's mother.
She is a famous actress.
Mizuha Miyama
Mizuha Miyama is a third-year student in Class 3-A.
She serves as head of the Manga Research Society, student council president, and representative of the school's cultural clubs.
She wears glasses and is portrayed as voluptuous.
She is Takeo's childhood friend and something like his natural enemy, constantly targeting him with criticism and harassment.
Deep down, however, she is in love with him.
Her feelings come out only as insults and violence, giving her a sharply twisted personality.
Rinpun and Kojin
Rinpun and Kojin are twin brothers in the Manga Research Society.
They serve Mizuha devotedly.
In the OVA they were voiced by Kazuya Ichijo.
In the TV series they were voiced by Yasuhiro Takato.
Tomiko, Chika, and the Male Club Member
These three are also members of the Manga Research Society.
Chika is a bob-haired girl with glasses, and the male member is a photographer.
Other School Characters
Katsuhito Kubo
Katsuhito Kubo is a teacher at Kitanohashi High School.
He is adviser to both the Manga Research Society and the Magic Club, though he often seems biased toward the manga side.
He hands out business cards to practically everyone.
His appearance is deliberately modeled after his voice actor, Akira Shirai.
Ayanojyo Safety Committee
Michiko Mikote and Rie
Michiko Mikote and Rie belong to Ayanojyo's fan club.
Michiko also serves as chair of the Ayanojyo Safety Committee.
Madoka Masuko and Hikaru Hirasaka
Madoka Masuko and Hikaru Hirasaka are also members of the Ayanojyo Safety Committee.
They help turn admiration for Ayanojyo into a full school institution.
Mitsuru Minowa
Mitsuru Minowa is a freelance journalist with a bold personality.
He investigates both the Bell and the mystery of magic.
He drives a Nissan Skyline GT-R and loves it dearly.
The Bell eventually wipes the car out of existence.
He appears in the OVA series.
Yoshito Yoshimoto
Yoshito Yoshimoto is a cameraman who works alongside Minowa.
He also appears in the OVA series.
Jeff-kun
Jeff-kun is Sae's teddy bear and carries a mysterious hidden power.
A wizard gave it to her when she was little, and she has treasured it ever since.
Miki Mizusawa
Miki Mizusawa, nicknamed Mickey-senpai, is Sae's senior.
She currently lives in England to play tennis.
She is the daughter of a Grand Master and can use top-level magic.
Sae admires her, and the other club members trust her as well.
She appears near the end of the television series.
Magic Club
The Magic Club borrows part of the Manga Research Society's room, so its space is extremely cramped.
Most students think it is just a suspicious stage-magic circle.
Magic
Magic in this world can move objects and turn wishes into visible form.
At higher levels it includes attack spells and summoning magic.
Spells are activated by reciting incantations from a grimoire.
The existence of magic is kept secret from the general public.
Magic Wand
The standard wand is a staff shaped like a bird.
Beginners need it to perform magic properly.
By inserting magic cards, the user can cast stronger spells.
The Bell
The Bell is a giant bell-shaped colonial exploration robot sent from space to invade Earth.
It uses many smaller robots to conduct its survey.
In the television series, it appears in the form of a gigantic ghost cherry tree.
The franchise began when Triangle Staff producer Yoshimi Asari approached Junichi Sato about creating an original project.
At the time, Sato was not familiar with the direct-to-video market and did not really know what kinds of works sold well there.
When Bandai Visual became involved, Sato discussed the project with producer Masato Terada.
From those talks, the key idea of combining machines and pretty girls emerged.
Sato strongly wanted Ikuko Ito as character designer, and she was chosen for the project.
Later discussion about the series noted its sensual, fan-oriented design style, something Sato felt probably reflected Ito's influence.
Sato said he was especially fond of the kind of heroine Sae represents.
To him, what mattered was that she lives in her own world yet still panics, struggles, and tries earnestly without wavering.
He also said Ito kept adding details that made Sae's feelings for Takeo emotionally convincing.
According to Sato, Ito had trouble drawing Sae without a princely ideal like the "prince on the hill" from *Candy Candy*, and that led to the creation of Jeff-kun the magical figure.
The setting of the series was modeled on the area around Nishi-Ogikubo.
The backgrounds closely resemble the real scenery of the time.
The television version also includes Ogikubo Station.
Its station signage can be seen in the anime.
A promotional video called Charge!! Triangle introduced the studio behind the series.
It included interviews with Junichi Sato and Ikuko Ito.
During production, the staff room reportedly became filled with narutomaki goods.
The staff even visited the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum for research.
At the planning stage, the working title was Everyday Magic User Tai!
The OVA was produced with analog cel animation, while the TV series was produced digitally.
The television anime aired on WOWOW in the Wednesday 7:00 p.m. slot.
It followed *Angel Links* and was followed by *The Big O*.
TV Staff
Director and original planner: Junichi Sato.
Original work: Triangle Staff.
Series composition: Chiaki J. Konaka.
Character design and chief animation direction: Ikuko Ito.
Art director: Tomonori Kato.
Color setting: Michiyo Iriomote.
Editing: Takeshi Seyama.
Music: Michiru Oshima.
Animation producers: Yoshimi Asari and Shojiro Abe.
Producer: Kazuhiko Ikeguchi.
Animation production: Madhouse and Triangle Staff.
Production: Bandai Visual.
TV Theme Songs
Opening theme: I Wanna Do More.
Lyrics, composition, arrangement, and vocals were by Ami Ozaki.
Ending theme: Should I Do?.
Lyrics, composition, arrangement, and vocals were also by Ami Ozaki.
The ending visuals use a fun format.
The first half shows highlights from the episode just broadcast, and the second half acts as a preview for the next episode.
TV Episodes
Episode 1, aired July 7, 1999: Sae, the Magic Club, and the Cherry Tree.
Script by Chiaki J. Konaka.
Episode 2, aired July 14, 1999: Nanaka, the Cake, and the Dangerous Night.
Script by Michiko Yokote.
Episode 3, aired July 21, 1999: Ayanojyo-senpai, the Morning Glory, and the Parent-Teacher Conference.
Script by Michiko Yokote.
Episode 4, aired July 28, 1999: Sae, the Bathroom, and the Door Beyond.
Script by Sadayuki Murai.
Episode 5, aired August 4, 1999: Akane-chan, the Hiccups, and the Suspicious Relationship.
Script by Sadayuki Murai.
Episode 6, aired August 18, 1999: Takakura-senpai, Tofu Skin, and the Secret Date.
Script by Michiko Yokote.
Episode 7, aired August 25, 1999: Sae, the Tomato, and the Dancing Paintbrush.
Script by Chiaki J. Konaka.
Episode 8, aired September 1, 1999: Alice, the Railroad Crossing, and the Sauce Rice Cracker.
Script by Sadayuki Murai.
Episode 9, aired September 8, 1999: Long-Sleeved Kimono, Short Pants, and the Age of Splendor.
Script by Michiko Yokote.
Episode 10, aired September 15, 1999: Snow, the Foal, and the First Kiss.
Script by Chiaki J. Konaka.
Episode 11, aired September 22, 1999: Akane-chan, the Mirror, and the Year-End Bargain Sale.
Script by Sadayuki Murai.
Episode 12, aired September 29, 1999: Octopus, Lightning, and Mickey-senpai.
Script by Michiko Yokote.
Episode 13, aired October 6, 1999: Sae's Magic, Sae's Feelings, Forever and Ever.
Script by Chiaki J. Konaka.
The OVA ran for 6 episodes between 1996 and 1997.
It later aired on AT-X in 2008, Channel NECO in 2010, Kids Station in 2012, and in a concentrated rebroadcast on BS11 from late 2014 into early 2015.
OVA Staff
Original concept, chief direction, and storyboards: Junichi Sato.
Original work and animation production: Triangle Staff.
Character design and chief animation direction: Ikuko Ito.
Mechanical design: Mahiro Maeda.
Art direction: Hiroshi Kato.
Color design: Michiyo Iriomote.
Photography director: Seiichi Morishita.
Editing: Takeshi Seyama.
Music: Michiru Oshima.
Sound director: Kazuhiro Wakabayashi.
Producers: Masato Terada for episodes 1 to 5, then Kazuhiko Ikeguchi for episode 6, along with Hiroaki Inoue and Shojiro Abe.
Production: Bandai Visual.
OVA Theme Songs
Opening theme: Stretching Up to Follow You.
Lyrics by Miho Matsuba, composition and arrangement by Shunro Yabuki, performed by the voice actress unit Magic Users Team.
Ending theme: See You Tomorrow.
Lyrics by Miho Matsuba, composition by Masami Okui and Shunro Yabuki, arrangement by Itaru Watanabe, performed by Masami.
OVA Episodes
Episode 1: The Bell, Takakura-senpai, and Flying Magic.
Script by Akinori Endo and Junichi Sato.
Episode 2: The Giant Spinning Top, Mizuha-senpai, and Failed Magic.
Script by Chiaki J. Konaka.
Episode 3: The Bamboo-Copter, Akane-chan, and Forbidden Magic.
Script by Chiaki J. Konaka.
Episode 4: The Sea, the Cave, and the Magic Party.
Script by Chiaki J. Konaka.
Episode 5: Nanaka, Aburatsubo-senpai, and Confession Magic?.
Script by Chiaki J. Konaka.
Episode 6: Sae, Jeff-kun, and Great Magic.
Script by Chiaki J. Konaka.
A short crossover-related bonus project was produced as a purchase bonus for people who bought the full OVA sets of *Magic User's Club!* and *Shamanic Princess*.
Both series were made by Triangle Staff and released by Bandai Visual.
It was originally planned as a true crossover starring characters from both works.
Production circumstances prevented that version from being completed.
Instead, the *Magic User's Club!* short was directed by Mitsuru Hongo, the director of *Shamanic Princess*.
The *Shamanic Princess* short was directed by Junichi Sato.
In the *Magic User's Club!* short, Junichi Sato even appears himself, doing both the drawing and the voice performance for his cameo.
A four-volume novel version was published by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko and co-written by Junichi Sato and Chiaki J. Konaka.
It was structured as a story leading into the OVA.
In the novels, each main character is one school year younger than in the anime versions.
The four volumes are:
Magic of the Spring Breeze
Memory of the Fragrant Wind
Autumn Freedom
Operation Intercept the Bell!
Two manga adaptations were produced.
One was by Tami Ota and serialized in *Fantasy DX*.
The other was by Samuneko and serialized in *Monthly Dragon Junior*.
Both kept the basic premise but told mostly original stories.
A radio program titled Magic Users Team's Kids! aired on Tokai Radio from October 1996 to April 1, 1997.
It was broadcast on Tuesdays from 11:30 p.m. to midnight.
The personalities were Minky Yasu, Mayumi Iizuka, and Hiroko Konishi.
It followed *TwinBee Paradise 3* and was followed by *Akiko Nakagawa Lucky Farm*.
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