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EP. REVIEW: Magical Destroyers


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Aerdra



Joined: 02 Feb 2022
Posts: 427
PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2023 4:30 pm Reply with quote
Three episodes in, I still don't quite understand what this show is supposed to be, but it seems like that's the point. This show lives on absurdity. Plot is an afterthought to spectacle. Both the OP and ED extend the chaos in the episodes themselves. Episode 2 made me wonder if it's me, not the characters, on drugs. I'll keep on watching for now.
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kamisu66



Joined: 03 Aug 2017
Posts: 15
PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2023 6:28 pm Reply with quote
Aerdra wrote:
Three episodes in, I still don't quite understand what this show is supposed to be, but it seems like that's the point. This show lives on absurdity. Plot is an afterthought to spectacle. Both the OP and ED extend the chaos in the episodes themselves. Episode 2 made me wonder if it's me, not the characters, on drugs. I'll keep on watching for now.


Think of the show as a (very) expanded Pop Team Epic skit of season length proportions (!).
It may lack the genius levels of PTE surreal absurdity but Magical Destroyers does evoke in me warm fuzzy feelings thinking of that show.
I, too, am in for now.
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Yuvelir



Joined: 06 Jan 2015
Posts: 1629
PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2023 7:21 pm Reply with quote
Funny you'd mention PTE. I spent all of episode 2 thinking how much Blue reminded me of Pipimi in those special skits and then the endcard hit.
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JoelBurger





PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2023 7:31 pm Reply with quote
Immensely funny that "poor oppressed otaku forming a resistance movement" is slowly becoming its own sub-genre.
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WatcherZer



Joined: 29 Dec 2016
Posts: 319
PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2023 8:08 pm Reply with quote
The Original Neon Genesis Evangelion is required viewing for this series as otherwise you miss 50% of the visual references (Adam hanging from the ceiling in the baddies conference room, the TV head guy doing Gendos trademark handclasp, the second episode drawing heavily from the psychadelic visuals of Third Impact in The End of Evangelion, the EVA like appearance of the baddies, the EVA Plug insertion, etc). And like you I noted the similarity to Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt. However the series is also drawing stylistic influence from FLCL (far more than its own sequels did) and also the madcap antics and parody of the week approach of Excel Saga.
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moozooh



Joined: 30 Sep 2022
Posts: 151
PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 3:46 am Reply with quote
This show truly feels like a love letter to the entire Gainax crew (and to a lesser extent their spiritual comrade Nabeshin).

Man, I miss Gainax.
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SpookyDollhouse



Joined: 29 Apr 2015
Posts: 39
PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 9:37 am Reply with quote
Newest review is anti-fun and anti-joy. Better suited for Letterboxd intelligentsia. Sad!
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TanyaTheEvil



Joined: 11 May 2018
Posts: 332
PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 11:28 am Reply with quote
I am so enjoying all the ridiculous shenanigans that this show gives us on a weekly basis. The artwork is amazing and I am totally wholeheartedly on board. What catches my attention is that this anime is not a cookie cutter or stamp out anime. It is unique and has a message it wants to tell.
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PotatoGirl



Joined: 16 Dec 2016
Posts: 82
PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 9:41 pm Reply with quote
Watched the 4th episode.

This is so dumb

I love it.
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absent
Subscriber



Joined: 15 Dec 2022
Posts: 38
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 11:33 pm Reply with quote
TBH: If the opening and closing animations didn't hint at something a lot more fucked up and weird than what we've been given so far, I probably would have dropped this by now. Still waiting for it to live up to that promise. Blue's joke was old by the third episode for me, and the other characters aren't really doing much to pick up the slack.
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catone2



Joined: 10 Aug 2021
Posts: 218
PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 12:16 am Reply with quote
I love this series so much, feels like I'm back in early 2000s with it, very old Gainax with it. And the overall premise is exactly how I feel about the current climate of my hobby. I need to rise and fight back in my own battle.
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maric



Joined: 05 Jun 2021
Posts: 25
PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 1:28 pm Reply with quote
It's a real shame that they weren't really able to translate the aesthetics of Jun Inagawa's art to animation. Aside from the OP/ED and some scenes here and there, the visuals and direction of this show are really underwhelming. At first I was kind of hyped for the imaishi/gainax vibes I was getting in the first episode, but as it goes on the show kind of just feels like a half-baked wannabe in comparison. Hopefully it'll pick up a bit, but the trajectory so far has not been promising
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scottydog



Joined: 01 May 2023
Posts: 1
PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 2:16 pm Reply with quote
WatcherZer wrote:
The Original Neon Genesis Evangelion is required viewing for this series as otherwise you miss 50% of the visual references (Adam hanging from the ceiling in the baddies conference room, the TV head guy doing Gendos trademark handclasp, the second episode drawing heavily from the psychadelic visuals of Third Impact in The End of Evangelion, the EVA like appearance of the baddies, the EVA Plug insertion, etc). And like you I noted the similarity to Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt. However the series is also drawing stylistic influence from FLCL (far more than its own sequels did) and also the madcap antics and parody of the week approach of Excel Saga.


I applaud this comment as the most absolutely perfect response to this show.
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dm
Subscriber



Joined: 24 Sep 2010
Posts: 1480
PostPosted: Sun May 07, 2023 11:58 am Reply with quote
Episode 5

Like James I think I’m missing some reference in the mountain climbing scene. Maybe I should finally get around to reading Summit of the Gods, or something.

But there’s more indications of something deeper going on when we see that spoiler[Markus is actually working for the authorities (who are holding his daughter hostage). This is presumably why he’s appearing as a deus ex machina to rescue them at the end. What’s going on here? Why are the authorities helping the otaku to get their macguffin?]
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Chipp12



Joined: 30 Mar 2012
Posts: 332
PostPosted: Sun May 07, 2023 1:45 pm Reply with quote
dm wrote:
Episode 5

Like James I think I’m missing some reference in the mountain climbing scene. Maybe I should finally get around to reading Summit of the Gods, or something.

But there’s more indications of something deeper going on when we see that spoiler[Markus is actually working for the authorities (who are holding his daughter hostage). This is presumably why he’s appearing as a deus ex machina to rescue them at the end. What’s going on here? Why are the authorities helping the otaku to get their macguffin?]

spoiler[Not just Markus but possibly that scientist as well as showcased by his supposedly precious figurines laying in a trash bin at the very end. ]I think that we got some clear hints about how in reality our main heroes are just dancing to Shobon's tune and we might be able to see in one or two episodes what kind of a scenario he's cooking up for Otaku Hero and the girls.
I'm hoping that it won't be a virtual reality/simulation/dream twist which kind of makes sense considering the absurd setting.
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