Days 17 and 18

Hello!

Fell a bit behind - we had a small, energetic visitor who requires attention and supervision.

So, today I decided to visit some early origins of the Magical Girl genre in Japan.

Sally from the 1960s Sally the Witch

Sally the Witch is considered one of the earliest magical girl shows around - its basic set up of "magic-that-must-be-hidden-in-normal-world" is the standard for plenty of others. It was also initially in black and white - so it was early!

Naturally, with going to the origins of magical girls, I wondered if the Father of Manga had done something (for those who don't know who the title belongs to, it is Osamu Tezuka - famous for Astro Boy and many, many other series - I have a wonderful book on his work, my uncle gave it to me). Anyway, he did. And it was called Marvelous Melmo.

Melmo from Tezuka's 1970-1972 Marvelous Melmo

Only counting as one face, since it is that same character (who takes a candy to switch between being a 9-year old and a 19-year old). Now, this is kinda funny, because Melmo was created as a children's introduction to Darwinist evolution and sex education, which caused problems because parents did not want to have that conversation with children. Hilariously, it was only aired in Japan and Italy. There was also some social commentary about the trials that girls experience while growing up.

Honestly Tezuka is one of the most interesting people to read about (I find anyway) - he was a pessimist of humanity (war, discrimination, etc), but seemed to hold children in high regard in that with proper encouragement, they would learn, change and florish.

I was told to not go political with 29 Faces, and I am not. But the more I read about Magical Girls, it is amusing just how political some of them are (natually overlooked and treated as only child things, and girl things on top of that).

That said, still won't watch Sailor Moon. Maybe one day, but not any day soon.

I have my reasons.

Well, have a wonderful day!!