Author: Kimling Toro
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How Digital Tools Are Changing the Look of Transformation Sequences
Transformation sequences have always pushed the limits of animation technology. In the cel era, layers of hand-painted acetate and multiple…
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The Rise of Magical Girl Merchandise: From Collectibles to High Fashion
Over the past few years, magical girl merchandise has moved far beyond the toy aisle. Today, fans can wear their…
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Magical Girl Anime Is Finding a New Audience on Streaming Platforms
The magical girl genre is experiencing a quiet renaissance on streaming platforms. Services like Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu have been…
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Reaching Out: How Video Games Let Us Own the Transformation
We have seen transformations in manga panels, animated cels, live-action footage, and theater stages. But there is one medium where…
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The Transformation on Stage: How Sera Myu Makes Magic Live Without Screens
Every transformation we have discussed so far relies on the editing power of its medium. Manga uses page turns. Anime…
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Two Transformations, Two Lives: The Ultimate Cost of Magic in Minky Momo
Among all the magical girls in history, Minky Momo holds a unique and deeply bittersweet place. Her transformations were not…
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Transformation Without Transformation: How Cardcaptor Sakura Rewrites the Rules Through Clothes
In almost every magical girl series, there is a transformation sequence. The girl says a magic phrase, light surrounds her,…
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Before the Brooch: Usagi Tsukino’s Wardrobe and the Fashion of Being Ordinary
We have spent many articles analyzing the light, the spin, the ribbons. But there is a question that deserves its…
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Prism Restart: Digital Aesthetics and Manga Loyalty in Sailor Moon Crystal
In 2014, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sailor Moon, Toei Animation launched Sailor Moon Crystal. This was not a…
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Gravity and Grit: The 2003 Live-Action Sailor Moon Transformation Revolution
In 2003, a live-action Sailor Moon TV series aired in Japan. Many fans were skeptical. How could you possibly recreate…