And I was hooked! Read the first couple of chapters and it never failed to disappoint. Unfortunately, I got caught up in other series and couldn't finish reading it. Though, I started to re-read it for the review and just because I was feeling a little nostalgic.
But, enough about the past. Let's jump into this review!
Starting off, the story starts with a magical creature named Meow (ironic I know), looking for a candidate to become a magical girl. He stumbles upon Kayo Majiba, a cute young lady who perfectly fit the description. However, his prediction was way off when the girl in question exhibits her delinquent behavior and very strong prowess. And just like that, Meow made the wrong mistake in picking her to be a magical girl.
This has to be one of the magical girl deconstructions that is actually "dark" and realistic. I'll even go as far to say that it's darker than Jubei-Chan in terms of monsters and themes. Speaking of which, let's talk about the monsters first.
One thing that I like about this manga is that the monsters are actually scary. Take a look at this! This is one of the monsters that Kayo fought right after she receives her magical powers.
Of course, she defeats the monster with one punch but it's still terrifying to come across. Imagine encountering a creature like this without magical powers. You might as well say your prayers and hope your death isn't too painful. And it's bad enough that the monsters are drawn to Kayo's negative energy, so she has to fight them off a few times a day. But she wins each time.
(This happens a page after she met the monster in the previous picture)
Onto the next subject, Kayo herself. Earlier, I mentioned that Meow mistaken her for being a pure girl really set up the smoke screen that this was going to be another magical girl anime. But as soon as she took out a cigarette, the illusion broke, kicking off some of the deconstruction.
There are some deliquent-esque characters in magical girl anime like Sailor Mars for example. But at least she's ladylike and "approachable." Kayo is something else entirely. I haven't gotten that far in the story but from what I've read, I think her behavior stemmed from the fact that she was a problem child. So, her issues went unchecked and it grew worse as she got older. Though, there are times where she shows her softer side around her friends and sometimes Meow when she's not using him as a punching bag.
(I like this side of Kayo)
Oh, I forgot to mention about the transformation sequence. Believe it or not, Kayo was able to fight most of the monsters without having to transform, which is something interesting. Usually when girls come in contact with magical beings, they instantly transform. Kayo on the other hand only got a power boost at the time. She first transformed in the second chapter when her school was under attacked by a monster. You would've expected a magical girl transformation to be awesome. But as the reviews would teach you, that won't be the case this time around.
When I first read this, I laughed out loud. I wasn't expecting a wardrobe malfunction. This must've been a reference to how magical girls go nude when transforming, hidden behind a glittery silhouette. This one doesn't do that and likes to embarrass Kayo, much to her annoyance.
As for themes I haven't gotten that far to pinpoint the exact one. However, I feel like one of the themes is to not judge a book by its cover. Now I know that sounds a little generic, but Kayo is a perfect example of this. We, along with Meow, first thought she was the ideal magical girl, but we were wrong. However, her delinquent side also has some softness to it, which takes us by surprise again.
In closing, Oops, I Turned the Wrong Person into a Magical Girl is a whirlwind of craziness and full of de(con)struction. If you like magical girls duking it out or overpowered characters, this is for you.
Great post! I like how you explained the twist on the typical magical girl story, turning someone like Kayo into one makes the plot feel fresh and unexpected. Your descriptions of the monsters and transformation scenes really captured the dark humor and intensity of the manga. I also agree with your takeaway about not judging a book by its cover, Kayo’s character shows that strength and softness can exist together in surprising ways.
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