Mahou Shoujo Research!
So I’m doing some research and of course the first mahou shoujo was by a man, the reason is obvious because our comics industry TODAY reflects Japan back in the 1960s. It wasn’t until the “Year 24” group it seems that there was a presence of women at all, THUS mahou shoujo stuff couldn’t be torn from the hands of men before that time. Now, can we say that mahou shoujo HAS been torn from the hands of men? I think it SHOULD be, but has it…
I couldn’t help but notice this in the mahou shoujo tag and I usually don’t like to be confrontational, but I had to say this.
Any sex, gender, race or species has the right to create a magical girl show. It’s a genre designed on the basis of selling toys to children. Most magical girl shows aimed at little girls are not created by just one person either, but a whole team of designers, artists, and writers. In the 70’s and 80’s (especially the 80’s) most shows were made by the animation companies. While I can’t speak for every production that was made in this manner, I’m willing to bet that women on the staff had some input.
And who made the rule that all male animators have some sort of agenda to keep women down?
Cutey Honey, made by Go Nagai, was originally going to be aimed at girls, but then was remolded into a boys show due to production and broadcasting scheduling issues. But despite the changes, girls still felt empowered watching Honey take down bad guys, take charge, and always do what was right. Honey is often featured alongside her “shoujo” comrades in Toei Animation’s magical girl lineups because of such.
The Sailor Moon anime too had been Directed by Junichi Sato, Kunihiko Ikuhara, and Takuya Igarashi (all male). Naoko Takeuchi barely had any involvement with the anime’s production, yet the Sailor Moon anime is labeled as “feminist” over and over again. Junichi Sato and Takuya Igarashi have added multiple popular magical girl shows to their resumes since then. (Like have you seen Futago-hime and Ojamajo Doremi?)
Kunihiko Ikuhara formed the group “Be-Papas” and together created “Revolutionary Girl Utena”, and I will fight anyone who says that show doesn’t promote a positive image for young women.
Also, Women have created multiple works that have mostly male casts and aimed at Male audiences. “Full Metal Alchemist”, “Hitman Reborn” and “Inuyasha” for example were written and drawn by women and all hits with little boys. So, if a male created magical girl show is considered a “lesser-work”, does that mean women making Shonen-manga is “lesser” as well?
I think if an writer and/or artist’s heart is in the right place and manages to create positive role models and lessons, even when putting together a juggernaut for plastic toys and DVDs, their sex should never be considered an issue.
