This edition of Manga Exploration delves into the world of Magical Girl mangas. Lighthearted in tone, this genre always has great characters and a deep storyline that values the powers of friendship and determination with those friends to accomplish a task together. Both of these series are dramatic and provide hours of entertainment for the reader to guess what will happen next!

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

Usagi Tsukino, an average middle school student in central Tokyo, befriends Luna, a talking cat who informs her she is destined to become a savior of Earth from evil! Through a magical staff, Usagi is able to transform into Sailor Moon, and quickly she finds out she’s not alone. Sailor Moon and the other Sailor Guardians defend Earth from dangerous monsters sent by Queen Beryl, who is searching for the Silver Crystal, a magical artifact that could destroy life on Earth! Sailor Moon also is assisted by Tuxedo Mask, who may be closer to Usagi than she ever thought!

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Madoka Magica, much like Sailor Moon, starts out with Madoka Kaname being approached by a talking animal, this one a cat like being named Kyubey. Kyubey is tasked with finding magical girls to combat witches, evil beings attempting to destroy the hearts of the humans around them. In return, Kyubey will grant you your deepest desire and equip you to fight. Madoka’s friends decide to make the contract, and Madoka wants to, but a transfer student named Homura enters her life and begs her not to make the contract, but won’t say why.

If you are reading Sailor Moon, it would be best to start with Codename: Sailor V and then Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon as the series occurs in mostly chronological order with few spinoffs, only sequels. If you are reading Madoka Magica, start with the original mangas before moving on to the spinoffs and sequels such as Kazumi Magica or Oriko Magica as they add more to the story!