Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito 魔法使いの嫁星待つひと

| Episodes: 3 | Score: 8.1 (131257)

Updated every at | Status: Finished Airing

Type: OVA

Producers:Production I.G | flying DOG

Streaming: Crunchyroll

Synopsis

Angelica sends Chise some magic supplies including a present. The present turns out to be a book Chise read in her childhood. Elias asks Chise to tell him the story behind the book. Chise tells him about Miura-san and the mysterious library she found in the forest as a child. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Voice Actors

Tanezaki, Atsumi

Sakurai, Takahiro

News

Reviews

Shirogari
08/19/2023, 07:45 AM
This OVA for the Ancient magus bride is a three episode story about an event from Chise's childhood. The story is told by Chise to Elias and Ruth when she receives a book. Even though the story is about her childhood and chronologically before most of the events from the first season, it makes more sense to watch this after the first season so you have knowledge of the relevant characters and have more context. The story Chise tells is interesting and surrounded with an air of mystery like in the main anime. It also gives you a better view on how Chise's life wasbefore she met Elias which makes it worth watching even though it doesn't directly contribute to the plot of the main anime. The most important character by far is Chise herself and there's barely any moments when she isn't on screen. The main supporting character is interesting. The other characters are all relatively simple but are also all reasonable and not annoying. The voice actors are the same as in the main anime and the voice acting is good. The animation is good too but is made even better by the great music which really makes the anime feel like another universe and makes this anime way more of a special experience to watch. Overall this OVA is definitely worth watching since it reveals more about Chise's past and the story it tells is interesting. The voice acting animation and music are all good and shouldn't be a problem for most people.
whiteflame55
06/24/2023, 07:05 AM
A beautiful story and my favorite entry in the franchise to date. Chise’s character, in particular, was one I got to enjoy - someone finding a glimmer of light in the darkest of times. Like in the first season, she spends much of this mired in depression, but you're given a lot of reasons why she feels that way, and particularly as she's a child facing all this down, you cannot help but feel for her from the outset. It makes me appreciate her character quite a bit more, which is how prequels should work. The animation was among the best I’ve seen for theseries, smaller in scale but made all the more affecting for the space it occupied. I wouldn’t say that her costar entirely worked for me, though. His story was pretty basic, his background not well explained enough to attach us to him or his aims, and the central conceit (the magical library) still only lightly explained and mainly via exposition. His actions did make sense, though.
veemon23
12/09/2020, 08:50 AM
Watched this first by accident before watching the main series... oof... but you know what?! It doesn't really matter because these 3 episode really gets you ready for what's to come and these three stand alone on it's own. This has been a anime on my watch list for a while but I never got around to it but if the main series is as good as the OVA, I'm in for a treat. If you like bittersweet ending, you will probably enjoy this one a lot. This is assuming if you plan to watch these first like I did. I don't regret it likethe man full of regrets. I think it's a good way to set up and get you excited to watch the main series. They stand along on their own and it is a beautiful telling of a story. For a OVA it captures so much story and plot in just 3 episode compared to most other shows with a lot of episodes. It did a wonderful job of telling a beautiful story start to finish in 3 short episode and I say, it's worth a watch!
BabyGirl06301
03/02/2020, 09:20 AM
Oh, this anime is absolutely charming; I don't understand why a chunk of people are so vehemently against it. The art is stunning. Stunning. I'm a sucker for good character design and color usage, and this set of prequel episodes nailed it. Not to mention the environments and lighting effects were also gorgeous. As far as the sound goes, it really stood out to me in certain places. I felt it conveyed tone very well and only served to immerse me more into this world of The Ancient Magus' Bride. This is technically a prequel because of the chronology of the subject matter, but really, it'smore of a side story-- and what a good side story it is. To me, the structure of the story was flawless. I, honestly, don't typically enjoy prequels because they always feel forced or rushed. These three episodes, however, were easy to watch and told an entire, interesting story. There isn't a whole lot to say about the characters beyond the fact that I enjoy watching them on screen, so I can't say much to that end. Actually, I get the feeling that character work isn't going to be something vital that's needed for me to enjoy this world because the main attraction is the world itself (similar to Natsume's Book of Friends). Speaking of the world, it's enchanting in the strongest sense of the word. It was not hard for the animation, art, sound, and story to completely transport me to another reality. This anime does it so effortlessly. It doesn't feel strange, it isn't overly done, it just is what it is, as though it's meant to be. All in all, I really loved these first three episodes. Though the remainder of this anime will undoubtedly be different, something tells me the magic that I found here will carry on into the next series. I look forward to telling you my thoughts on that in the future.
Kns-
08/07/2019, 07:25 AM
A distinctive feature of the all OVA series is the original plot, which in no way relate to the main picture. Thanks to this format, the author is able to reveal the main characters of the series and allow the viewer to plunge deeper into the universe, showing the latter some interesting aspects of the created world. Initially, Mahoutsukai no Yome is a manga, authored by Kore Yamazaki, whose publication began in November 2013 in the Magly Publishing House Monthly Comic Blade. The fifth volume of the manga announced the release of an anime prequel consisting of three episodes, Mahou Tsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito. Thecreation of anime was taken by Wit Studio. The series was sold on discs along with limited editions of the sixth, seventh and eighth volumes of the manga. The first series was also shown in cinemas for two weeks, starting on August 13, 2016. Let us dwell on this prequel in more detail. The addition to the limited editions of the 6-8 volumes of the original manga tells about some events that took place before the meeting of Chise and Elias. The action takes place in the modern world, where secretly from people there are spirits, dragons, fairies with which wizards, sorcerers and alchemists can contact. However, due to the urbanization of the earth's population, deforestation and the growth of the human population, the number of fairies is steadily declining, and for some reason wizards are on the verge of extinction. The powerful ancient magician Elias Ainsworth buys at an auction for a huge sum of money the fifteen-year-old Chise Hatori, a girl with great magical powers, so that she becomes his student and bride. So, Chise Hatori lived a life that was filled with alienation and violence, and also deprived of any form of love and care. Without family care and affection, the girl experienced all the hardships of life. Gifted by nature with magic, a girl once stumbles upon a mysterious library in the middle of a forest in which she meets a person like her, he also sees strange creatures and invites her to visit the library “every day if you like”, following some rules. Chise really begins to often come to the library, she enjoys reading and, after a while, she has less and less books to read, which is why she finds a strange book and asks the caretaker about it. Later it turns out that the man from the library was supposed to give this book to his beloved, but died while performing such a complex assignment. This is the main storehouse and source of the plot, and, in combination, the main collapse of the series. The fact is that the drama in the plot is based on the absurd and stupid actions of the library supervisor called Riichi Miura. At first, his death can give some drama to the series, but in the final episode we will learn his story, and it makes you despise and laugh at this character rather than empathize with him. The same feelings are caused by his beloved Mayumi Niikura, for the sake of which he tried to fulfill his promise. She says that she “loves the last pages of the book most of all”, hinting that she does not love her future husband. Moreover, she makes an appointment on the platform where her new lover should bring the book. In this case, it becomes very interesting what was the number of her future husbands in the list of her suitors, and how much her nature is false, if she could go so far with a person whom, in her own words, she does not love so much that she is ready to leave for another man almost from the wedding crown. I rule out a forced marriage, since the actions of the two heroes took place not so long ago, in addition, Chise finds Mayumi old at the end of the series and she already has grandchildren. Also of particular note is the stupid death of Riichi Miura. It is extremely curious why he chose the way to the station through the forest with ditches, into which he safely fell and died in it. Obviously, this is one of the most stupid deaths that I have observed in the modern anime industry. In the end, we have a stupid, nerdy, clumsy, awkward hero who wants to meet a married woman. Hero who has been stupidly (but deservedly) dead in a ditch, while carrying out the usual request to return the book. And the shameless harlot, a wife who wants to leave her future husband, spit on all concepts of morality. Empathizing with these characters is very difficult. In all stories, plots, films, books, if the author pursues a goal so that to his heroes sympathize, feel sorry and worry about them, then the latter must be done in such a way that the observer can see in them a piece of a real living person, a particle of himself or Something like that. The character must be in a stalemate situation in which there are no simple solutions, only then it becomes really exciting for their fate. But when my gaze is offered the fate of a whore, who did not have another love affair due to an unfortunate (and very absurd) case with a stupid man, it becomes not interesting for me to watch this. As a result, the last scenes evoke an absurd laugh rather than a sad smile.
Sesshomaru
11/30/2018, 01:32 PM
魔法使いの嫁星待つひと - Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito, the OVA gives a touching insight into the world of protagonist Hatori, Chise. Although this slice of life begins tragically, you will be deeply moved by the depiction of her childhood as an orphan. Story: tragic but beautiful and well paced, allowing the viewer to easily follow the plot (9/10) Whether you know the manga by Yamazaki, Kore or not, if you approach this OVA with an open mind, you will definitely enjoy it, if only because of the beautiful parallels to famous novels such as "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens, "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende orthe play "Pygmalion" (better known as "My Fair Lady") by George Bernard Shaw. The story begins in foggy London and the first character we meet is Angelica Barley. She runs a workshop for magical tools and is a technician for the Magus Craft. Her little helper, Hugo, belongs to the genus of the Vodyanoi, or water fairies. The parcel that the two of them are preparing contains a very special gift. When it arrives at its destination, the estate of sorcerer Elias Ainsworth, somewhere in the west of London, it triggers a flashback that reveals Chise's forgotten memories. This is the world into which these three episodes seek to take us. Character: Good, but too short to develop every personality (8/10) The characters' behaviour is reasonably, self-contained and understandable, even if you don't know how it came about. Chise as a little orphan is a good example. She behaves like someone who is alone and gets no help from anyone because no one understands her or even wants to listen to her. But Chise's world changes when she meets Riichi Miura. He is the librarian and the one who welcomes Chise to the library of the forest. Miura has a gentle personality, a bit awkward, but kind and honest. Incidentally, as Elias points out, the Library of the Forest is based on real Japanese folklore called Mayoiga. It can be read in "Legends of Tono" by Kunio Yanagita. You may need a little patience, but your reward will be a wonderful and touching story. Three episodes are not enough to fully flesh out all the characters, but the description of Chise and Elias does a good job of making them both understandable and sympathetic. It also makes you want to know more about their relationship and the other characters. The TV series "Mahoutsukai no Yome" will certainly satisfy that wish, and you might also be interested in reading my review of the TV series. Visuals: Art and animation quality are simply beautiful and enjoyable (9/10). Both the art and the animation are very pleasing to the eye. The experienced staff in the art department is certainly one reason for that. Directed by Takeda, Yusuke (other works: Shirobako, Eden of the East), the art impresses with beautifully detailed backgrounds, such as the forest library, as well as expressive character designs. It may seem like a small thing, but the increase in colour and brightness in situations where the plot takes Chise to a more beautiful setting is very pleasing. It reflects her emotional state very well. Certainly there are similarities with many other famous anime. I was reminded of Studio Ghibli's qualities by some of the aspects I noticed. For one, Tamura, Seiki is one of the art designers. He was also a background artist for the anime "Princess Mononoke". Then there is the mysterious creature with a shadowy body (in this case made of mice) that wears a mask. A similar creature called "No Face" also appears in the anime "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi - Spiriting Away". CGI is not usually my cup of tea, but here it was used very attractively. What matters is not whether CG has been used, but how. There are ways to use CG very well. The art and animation of this show is just beautiful to look at. Sounds: Beautiful, supportive, accentuating and appealing (9/10). The music underlines the atmosphere very well. For example, I liked the scene where Angelica starts to prepare the parcel, and as she talks to Hugo, the orchestral symphonic BGM begins gently. The music slowly increases and is complemented by some sound effects - in this case bubbles and water splashing. Anglica's own intervention stops the BGM, which makes this scenario even funnier. Just a small thing, but I like this kind of thing, and also that the speech performance is not disturbed by the music, but rather emphasises each other. The voice acting leaves nothing to be desired. I especially liked the voice of Angelica, which was given to the character by Kaida Yuuko. Her voice is a little deeper and beautifully clear. A beautiful and very rare case of a great realisation that combines the professionalism of understanding the story, its characters and a carefully imaginative adaptation of the very beautiful source material. Overall, a wonderful introduction to the world of "The Ancient Magus Bride". Thank you for reading, and have fun watching!
ReinisM
08/12/2018, 06:32 AM
9 - story a very pleasant and despite some (background?) drama also very calm story.With all fantasy elements story gave me even kind of Disney-ish feeling, but not as over sweetened. 9 - art While it is not "Kimi no Na wa." or "Byousoku 5 Centimeter" tier, art is still very beautiful and fitting. 8 - sound there wasn't really anything that stood out in this area, which I guess is a good thing. 8 - characterCharacter development is as good as you could expect in 3 episodes. 9 - enjoyment I enjoyed this on a lot more than I expected and in fact it's been a while since I had this much fun watching series, tho this more matter of taste. 8.5 - overall
molesys
04/21/2018, 01:29 AM
In my review about this anime I said that It wasn't a masterpiece however there were a lot of elements do a second season that can become a master piece and this OWA is a clear demonstration of that. I really enjoyed the OWA giving me a better connection with the protagonist and also it clarified many questions if the whole anime. In general the great problem with this anime is that the creators had overload this anime and there are many things with no conclusion. I thing this OWA comes to help to mitigate that overload and really I hope a second season.
Moomochi
04/09/2018, 11:08 PM
Out of 100 Nobles watching... 98 were impressed! 2 Were a tad disoriented in the first 5 minutes. Like many people who watched Mahoutsukai no Yome, the Hoshi Matsu Hito OVA episodes were the first taste of what this amazing piece of media had to offer. This 3 episode short is a must see and stands on it's own from its anime counterpart. I've rated this trio of OVA episodes a bit higher than the actual Mahoutsukai no Yome anime itself for a very simple reason. Timing and Direction. This anime moves slowly, but at no point in time is it ever wasting a frame. The visuals arefilled with environmental detail earning it well deserved comparison to Ghibli movies by many and the sound design couples well with this. At no point in time is a conversation meaningless or a characters visual portrayal acting as filler. In regards to the shows story, I'll first address what every person I presented this work to said to me in the first 3 minutes of watching it. "Is this the first episode or did we skip something." The initial splash of being thrown into the deep end of this magical world is really the only thing I can knock this anime's presentation for. The viewer is presented a well established "norm" for how the protagonist Chise is living her life which takes place in the dead center of episode 12-13 of the anime before we go into a flashback to cover the actual prequel content this OVA advertised itself as. While disorienting at first this method of story telling takes it's time to show a new viewer all the information they need to get the best picture possible of the fantasy world they are in. This anime's studio kicked the door in with a story to tell and a picture to paint and used it's allotted time to do so perfectly. The full anime provides even more of what this heartwarming and heartbreaking story has to offer albeit in a package that is slightly less tight.
tobioiisms
03/28/2018, 05:18 PM
Before I started becoming interested in Mahoutsukai no Yome, I heard somewhere that you should watch the OVAs after the series finishes airing. I knew that these came out earlier, and while I was anxious to know what they held, I waited patiently. I'm glad that I did. I think watching the OVAs after you've seen the entire series helps you appreciate them better. It makes them seem more like a reveal of Chise's past in specific more than what they show in the series. You get to see what happened to her between the times that her mother died and before she was bought byElias. If you watched it without the original series in mind, it may just seem like a little side story. I definitely would recommend rewatching them after the original series. While it didn't move me to tears, I think that this story was emotional in it's own way. It was very nice to see Chise's relationship with Miura and it was emotional to see what happened with it at the end of the day. I hadn't expected the story to take that kind of turn at the end. Each part of this OVA was beautiful and I enjoyed every part of it and would recommend it to anyone.
manu221335
03/12/2018, 08:44 PM
this was the most beatifull OVA i've ever seen so far. But not the other one , This one has it's own plot , this one has it's own emotional transitions . Well Story 9 Art 10 Sound 9 Character 8 Enjoyment 8 Overall 8.5 But , not the other one. This Show has charmed me To it's plot. May Spoilers... A girl with red hair, A mysterious air, A smooth scenario, and a lot to say about a little show. But unfortunately idon't have much time for this review. İf you interested in these cases, then check the Ova version. I think this is the way worth if we compare the other one. And again i think This one is more original than the other. So that was a review Have a time can be called good for you
iconicmomo
01/17/2018, 10:47 AM
NO SPOILERS !!! I HIGHLY recommend that you DO NOT watch this OVA before reading the manga or watching the anime (after it's completed). Doing so will probably leave you confused and discouraged to get into the series. !!! One fairly common complaint I've seen is that this OVA doesn't explain much of what's even going on. It's not meant to. It's a prequel meant for those already familiar with the characters and the world to enjoy. Of course, there are many people who would enjoy the OVA without needing any background knowledge, but others, like myself, would have trouble appreciating many aspects of the story withoutsome prior knowledge. I watched the anime (14 episodes have been aired so far at the time of writing this) and read the manga before watching this, and I totally enjoyed it. I think people who were put off by this OVA should read through some chapters of the manga and watch through some episodes of the anime, hopefully getting more into the story, then revisit this OVA. It should become more apparent that this OVA wasn't meant for people unfamiliar with the story. STORY- 8 It's pretty amazing how magical this series actually feels. This OVA in particular gives of some strong Spirited Away vibes. Seriously, just watch it and see for yourself. The OVA elaborates on some of the events in Chise's past that isn't in the manga. From my understanding, Kore Yamazaki still had a large role in the conception of this story. A very satisfying side story for fans of the series, though it can be just as captivating for first time viewers. I would understand if a first time viewer would find the premise of the OVA a bit cliche, so I'm still very much in favor of getting familiar the with source material first. There were some parts of the story that did seem a bit confusing and silly even for me, but I won't go much into those because it might invite some spoilers. ART/SOUND- 10 The art style is distinct and definitely my type. The animation is fluid. Just like this anime, it gives off a wonderful Ghibli vibe. The soundtrack aids the visuals in giving off a sense of wonder. Character- 10 Chise is such a complicated yet still very likable character. (I absolutely love her but that just me). Her complexity is more apparent with familiarity of the source material of course. This OVA serves as thorough explanation for her behavior and beliefs in the series. Her development can be seen as too slow or stagnant by others, but seeing what she went through in this OVA can provide a deeper understanding of her motives and such. Enjoyment- 10 I love this series! I only got into it less than two weeks ago, and I love it to the point where I'm willing to write a review on it. Overall- 9 If you're a fan of the manga, watch this OVA. If you've never delved into the manga or anime but love fantasy and magical worlds, you might really enjoy this OVA anyway.
Scientiiaa
01/09/2018, 07:56 AM
The Ancient Magus' Bride is a Japanese fantasy shounen manga series written and illustrated by Kore Yamazaki. (Frau Faust, Futari no Renai Shoka). The series is published in Japan by Mag Garden in its Monthly Comic Garden magazine. The manga is also licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment. Wit Studio produced a three-part prequel OVA of the manga, and an anime television series is currently airing. Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito follows Chise Hatori, a 15 years old girl. Being absolutely alone and having no place to go, the girl is bought for money by a non-human mage named Elias. Having seenthe unpleasant part of life, the girl finds herself in a new family. To her big surprise, she is now Elias’ apprentice, as well as his future wife. Chise enjoys her new peaceful life, when she suddenly receives a book from her past, which introduces us to her tragic backstory. This piece is a prequel to Chise’s encounter with the Thorn Sorcerer. Having read plot’s summary it might be too difficult for one to understand the anime’s main idea and it is close to impossible to do so, because Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito is a backstory and shows only Chise’s childhood. You will be shown her tragic childhood and you will not get an idea of what is going to happen in the anime’s TV series, which is currently airing. Anyways, enough with that long introduction. This OAV did a good job explaining most of the needed for Chise’s story things; yet, there is still a great deal of questions that should be answered. But let us give the TV series an opportunity to answer these questions. The real magic of this anime, of course, is its visuals and soundtrack. Do not get me wrong, it is not the only gem of this anime. Anyways, the anime’s visuals amazingly help the viewer find themselves in a very beautiful, but also in very dramatic fairytale. I would describe Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito as an anime somewhat similar to Ghibli pieces, but more realistic and perhaps even more dramatic. Sound wise, the anime also does its job introducing the viewer to this piece. Not only the OST, but also characters did simply an amazing job. Character wise, the OAV focuses on Chise’s backstory. She is the main character and the titular character of the story. Her existence can be described as an unwanted child that should just have stopped its existence. Yet, Chise is not just a child, because she is able to see what other humans cannot; this supernatural power does not give her happiness only grief and harm. That said, taking into consideration the fact that this OAV only introduces us to the story of the main series, I have to say that it does its job pretty well. Please do not think that this anime is a pure romance, harem, or anything else. (It has nothing to do with harem, though). Indeed, the anime’s synopsis screams that there should be romance, but everything is not that easy. The Ancient Magus' Bride OAV is an excellent prequel to the TV anime’s series that will introduce you to a heartbreaking story of a future sorcerer Chise. Overall, I give this prequel a very weak 10/10. As a prequel, it is simply near-flawless. It has been awhile since I last saw such beautiful and tragic fairytale, with a grain of realism, too. I highly recommend this masterpiece for all anime fans. It might be; however, boring, but, please, do be patient and you will be rewarded.
jkalyana
09/19/2017, 07:31 AM
Its essentially about a girl who experiences things not everyday people can and a magician who appears to be not from this world. This OVA is a recollection of her memory as a child. The story is told so brilliantly and cleanly that I fell in love with this. Also the graphics are brilliant and so is the sound. Please note that one needs to have a bit of sensitivity to truly appreciate this one (No offense to anyone). If you are looking for an anime with adrenaline rush or politics this is not fir you. Watch this with a peaceful mind and you will trulyappreciate this.
PhylloNakamura
09/13/2017, 04:00 AM
From the very beginning this anime draws you in with it's beautiful art style, regardless of being an artist or not the smooth details and bright colour are bound to entice you. I watched this series from the first episode airing to waiting 6+ months for each new episode. Even now as I completed episode 3 I am left with teary eyes for it. Sadly the story does take a back seat in this case because you are more likely to continue watching due to the art and music. The artwork and music really show why it took 6 months to make however the charactersare not bland either. The characters stories are really touching in conveying their emotions to everyone's individual circumstance. In 3 episodes I was brought to tears twice due to Chise's series of unfortunate events. The show has made me very interested in the manga and I am not a big manga reader. I really recommend a series like this to anyone who loves art and aspires to be an artist. It also holds a rare spot of being a 10 for me.
CodeBlazeFate
09/11/2017, 08:23 PM
*some spoilers for Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito* Literature is an interesting, often captivating medium, filled with immaculate descriptions, and exciting worlds to explore with your imagination as you read the carefully thought out words of an author who built that portal for your mind. Some may say that with the advent of animation and film becoming truly mainstream, that literature has become someone of an under-appreciated medium. The Mahoutsukai no Yome OVA, above all else, is a tragic yet pleasant reminder of the power of a story, especially the power it has on a child. Falling just shy of true greatness, it manages to stillachieve dramatic tension and absolute pleasantry, seeping into captivation. It's a major appeal of literature, especially for a child, in which this OVA captures greatly. As you know, this OVA is a prologue about the childhood of Chise, and it's a pretty tragic one, showing pretty well how Chise became the more reserved and quiet girl we knew today. She’s a decently strong protagonist facing a ton of childhood hardship due to what she sees and the isolation and scorn that comes of it, and it's tough to see her become so melancholy to the point where it seems like she may snap into tears at any moment, which she only does when something happy occurs in her life. Unfortunately, it doesn't show how she came into her current residence or how she began the study of magic, and given that this is a world in which magic still exists despite many people living without seeing magic or magical creatures, we never actually see any magic. Regardless, it's still a decently bittersweet tale, especially when Chise meets Riichi, a decent character/man who still struggles with guilt and anxiety over his promise and always wants the door closed to keep certain dark creatures away. You can tell how this ends. None of the other characters get a chance to really shine thanks to the time limitations of this OVA, but for what they were, they were decently pleasant additions (especially the ever-wise Elias and Silky, who keeps an annoyed state when her food is neglected), though as you’ll see soon, I find the best partly these characters to be the lovely character designs. Still, Chise carries this narrative on her unfortunate shoulders, as we see things from her perspective given that she narrates the bulk of the story to the cast. Yet we see some things from when she is asleep at some points, which is odd. I do have a few other minor gripes. Riichi saying his last words after being bitten borderline in half wrings hollow in this scene due to the fact that it’s insanely convenient. I heard someone say that this means he died a long time ago given the current age of the person he made a promise to, so his spirit was trapped in the library. However things are so unclear that he may as well have just gained immortality (the kind that can be revoked by being killed), and given that he interacts with the physical realm still, that seems more plausible, if still unclear. Also, how come Riichi’s and Chise’s eyes grow red when reading? If it's meant to be conveyed that they're emotionally unstable, not only was that already cleared up beforehand, but it is in and of itself a bit hamfisted, especially thanks to that. If no, we don't know why. There are a few other minor ones but I forgot them, so meh. Again, let me make it clear that none of these are major gripes but they do add up and prevent this story from truly reaching the greatness it could've had. It's still an emotionally resonant narrative with a nice protagonist and an ability to captivate us, so don't try to make it out to be that I find the story bad, but even with the very limited time it had, it could've done more. I can definitely forgive a few things thanks to this insanely limited run and the fact that it is ultimately a prologue. So, what else made the narrative captivating other than the protagonist and emotional resonance? Well, that should be quite obvious, dear viewers… WIT Studio was the main team in charge of this production and it looks really nice. The character designs are fantastic, with special mention going to the designs of Elias, Angelica, and Chise. The visuals are certainly captivating not due to the admittedly solid animation or the CGI furniture that only looks ok, but for the designs of everything from the creatures to the characters. The water fairies, in particular, are wonderful designs and again the actual character designs adapted by Hitotaka Hatou and done by Kore Yamazaki look lovely as well. The environments are also very pleasant to look at, especially in the scene where Riichi reads the picture book Chise treasures and we see all sorts of stars and galaxies in the sky. This, above all else really drew me in when watching, making an already sort of nice viewing experience that much better. The background OST is a pretty nice one that has decently pleasant, sometimes softly melancholic music, all of which fit rather well with the scenarios at hand, even if none of them are inherently standout tracks. There is also no OP theme, which felt weird, but the ED theme, “CLOCKWORK QUICK AND LIGHTNING SLOW" by Julia Shortreed, fits this exact same description as the rest of the tracks, so it's not very memorable, but it's decently melancholic. Like a good book, this anime drew me in. While it regrettably falls short from true greatness, even taking its inherent nature into account, it was a very relaxing and enjoyable anime to watch. As per its role, it made me eagerly anticipate the main body title that would follow this work. For doing it so gracefully, I commend this short series.
AK25
09/11/2017, 05:32 AM
The Mahoutsukai no Yome’s a neat little side story. The main appeal of the ova is essentially seeing how everything is presented rather than the actual narrative elements themselves. The anime doesn’t try and get you interested in Chise by telling you she’s an orphan hated by everyone for being weird, it wants you to get invested in her through scenes like her not being able to go to bed because there is literally a monster inside her futon or her talking about how happy she feels when she finishes a book. The story never asks you to doubt that it’s all going to work outfine, it knows its viewer has either already read the source material or totally understands she’s in a better place because of the first part of episode 1, it uses that knowledge to frame a vignette used to contrast her younger self: who always used to sit in a corner, walk with her back slightly bent afraid to connect to people, to her current self: upright, smiling and scared into eating her food instead of avoiding it. The catharsis doesn’t come from what’s framed. But rather the feeling that is evoked when looking at it. Chise didn’t grow much as a person when she gave the book and moved away, she lost more hope than she started out with, but the moment it goes back to her reading the book on Ains’ lap, surrounded by people who care for her, there’s this very understated feeling of relief and ease. The fact that it goes from her not believing that it will all turn out alright to her having turned out fine in a few seconds doesn’t take away from the unease and anxiety that filled her childhood because it was a retrospective to begin with and only furthers the message it’s trying to convey. In the same way Chise treasures the book after having had her life changed, the viewer is supposed to treasure her change in lifestyle using the dark past as a basis and not as the main aspect to the OVA. What’s important isn’t what’s in the past, it’s what’s about to come. Another big appeal is definitely the sound and visuals. The way it dulls down the colors whenever it’s a scene in the apartment compared to how lush the greenery looks during the library scenes or the comfy and warm colors used when she’s living at Ains’ house convey a lot about how she feels like she is happier when at those places. It sparingly uses music, like for parts where the colors are enough to convey whatever needs to be conveyed, but for parts like some scenes where the librarian talks to her, the piano keys perfectly match whatever’s going on onscreen. Seeing Chise’s bright red hair contrast with the foliage is very pleasing to the eyes and makes the scenes where her hair color’s muddled with the background to help convey her anxiety much more meaningful. The biggest highlight is definitely the scene where the librarian reads her the story: weaving together the book’s moral with the star imagery and what she was going through with what she will one day find, supported by one of the few times the music uses multiple instruments rather than just a piano to elevate the scene into something memorable, it’s just such a powerful scene, lives up to being the reason why she’s telling this story in the present day about why the book means so much to her. Ultimately, it’s pretty much just a sneak peek for the upcoming tv anime, but it’s very reassuring to know that the adaptation will try its best to portray the wonders of magic of its world and the relationship between the two mains and the baggage they each carry.
Diazo
09/10/2017, 05:51 PM
-Spoiler free review- I wouldn't usually feel the need to write a review, but the helpful reviews (at the time of writing this) are around the 6/7 mark. This OVA is, in my opinion, a masterpiece. I will start off by saying I've never read the manga, and the fully adapted anime is to be released shortly. Even with no prior reading I believe this show stands by itself fantastically, portraying a beautiful story with an almost Ghibli vibe. Story(9/10) What a beautiful story is was, endearing from start to finish. The premise of the story was very easy to grasp, and there was no need for anyprior knowledge to understand what was happening in the mc's (Chise's) life. The pacing is slow, but perfectly suited for the OVAs content. This pacing allows the viewer to fully absorb the beautiful world created infront of you, and it gives the viewer time to become emotionally invested in the characters. This emotional attatchment stems from the themes covered by the OVA, with themes such as loneliness, family and loss being hugely relatable to me on a personal level and Im sure many of you can relate to these themes. The story does touch on some overused classic "sob stories" to set up Chise's past, however, the portrayal of the influence these events on Chise have are beyond any anime Ive ever seen and the execution of these scenes are done perfectly. Art(10/10) It can easily be seen just how much time has been invested into making this one of the most visually stunning OVAs/animes I have ever seen. From the very first scene the art sets the standards high, and only improves from then on. This can especially be seen in particular highlight moments in episodes 2/3, where the art style compliments the story beautifully, bringing the whole OVA together as one. Sound(9/10) Personally, I found the sound track to compliment the OVA almost perfectly. I noticed almost every piece of music when it started, and I would say it managed to bring many scenes together beautifully. The soundtrack itself is not there to act as the centre of attention, it is there to reinforce the beautiful story and art and give a nice emotional touch (that might even tear you up) in many pivotal scenes. Character(9/10) The characters are fantastically made, with a deep intruiging backstory for Chise. The librarian's character is also incredibly well done, with his mentality and struggles being portrayed perfectly. There are, however, some virtually untouched characters due to the short length of the OVA. The only one of these I found to be an issue was the dog, with the skull-guy and the pink-girly being incredibly well introduced considering how little they feature. The dog, however, was not well done- so perhaps the anime (or manga) needs to be watched/read to do this character justice. Overall (10/10) This anime is a masterpiece, it will play with your emotions at many points throughout, and will leave you wanting more from this beautiful world. And good news! More is coming! I can only hope that the anime will do the OVA justice- especially in the art department- as it has set the bar high. If you were looking for a Ghibli-esque fantasy world and an emotional journey, youve found the right OVA!
Raibyou
09/10/2017, 06:52 AM
It was a beautiful story although it only lasted for three episodes. Keep in mind that there's a full length series coming this October. I've never read the manga and I don't intend to read until the I've finished watching the upcoming anime series. So, in this review, I'll only be talking about what I think only from watching the OVA. Story(8/10) The story was beautiful. If you haven't read the manga, you'll be kinda confused at first but not that much. As far as I see, the OVA mainly focus on Chise's backstory. And I have to say, it was very good. From the first episode,it might seem like it's very slow paced but the main story kicks in starting from the second episode. And the pacing and the story matches very well. And at the of the 3rd episode, it might make some people teary. Art(9/10) There's nothing really I can say about it except it was amazing. The characters look good and sceneries are breath taking. But I can't help but feel that they could have done a little better considering this was made by the same studio which took part in production of Attack on Titan anime. Sound(7/10) The sound tracks did't stood out that much but I have to say, it matches the story and setting very well. And he sound track did make the anime more beautiful. Character(8/10) The characters are pretty awesome. You won't see any of the character archetypes that you often see in other animes. But each characters were charming in their own way. Enjoyment(10/10) What can I really say apart from that it was really awesome. I waited for 1 and a half years for these 3 episodes and I'd say it was worth the wait. It was everything I hoped it to be and even more. Overall (9/10) Overall, this is a kind of anime that you won't really find that often. And it's still just an OVA and there'll be a full length anime series coming October. It might take the anime fandom by a storm or it might become a hidden Ruby among the anime fandom. These 3 episodes were conducted really well and makes me hyped for the upcoming series.
EnZanity
09/10/2017, 12:32 AM
Spoiler free review So The Ancient Magus' Bride is a show I'm eagerly waiting for when Fall 2017 finally decides to arrive. I have not touched the manga so I knew little about it, but the synopsis and the magical elements piqued my interest enough to check out this prequel OVA that took a year to finish airing 3 eps. After finishing it, I'm not exactly sure why this was necessary. The plot is simply a back story to the main girl Chise Hatori, seeing what her life was like as a child way before she found the world of magic. The drama shown during these episodesare pretty standard, we've all seen the same type of scenario before. You have the struggles of a strange and lonely orphan trying to find a place to call home, (The Ugly Duckling) and the forsaken love of a mysterious librarian. (similar to The Little Mermaid, and no not the happy Disney version) To be honest, this didn't do much to get me invested into the main series, as it felt kinda pointless to see the past of these characters that I have never met before I've actually gotten to know more about them. There is not given much reason to actually care about Chise, you’re just suddenly given a character that you're supposed to like and feel sorry for. This may have been enough for some people to care about her, say they have read the source and/or are able to relate to her as a character, but I personally feel that I needed to see more from Chise before I could actually see her as someone I should harbour feelings towards. Maybe if I had read the manga I would have enjoyed it more, but as someone that's never watched or read anything else from the series, I'm just left with a lacklustre taste in my mouth. I'd recommend watching this after the main series is finished airing or at least reading a decent amount of the manga, it might have been more impactful if I had actually gotten to know who these people are before delving into their previous lives. As something to start off an anime adaptation, I enjoyed the experience but I'm not too impressed with this OVA. Send feedback if you have any, thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts on this!

Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito 魔法使いの嫁星待つひと

| Episodes: 3 | Score: 8.1 (131257)

Updated every at | Status: Finished Airing

Type: OVA

Producers:Production I.G | flying DOG

Streaming: Crunchyroll

Synopsis

Voice Actors

Tanezaki, Atsumi

Sakurai, Takahiro

News

Reviews

Shirogari
08/19/2023, 07:45 AM
This OVA for the Ancient magus bride is a three episode story about an event from Chise's childhood. The story is told by Chise to Elias and Ruth when she receives a book. Even though the story is about her childhood and chronologically before most of the events from the first season, it makes more sense to watch this after the first season so you have knowledge of the relevant characters and have more context. The story Chise tells is interesting and surrounded with an air of mystery like in the main anime. It also gives you a better view on how Chise's life wasbefore she met Elias which makes it worth watching even though it doesn't directly contribute to the plot of the main anime. The most important character by far is Chise herself and there's barely any moments when she isn't on screen. The main supporting character is interesting. The other characters are all relatively simple but are also all reasonable and not annoying. The voice actors are the same as in the main anime and the voice acting is good. The animation is good too but is made even better by the great music which really makes the anime feel like another universe and makes this anime way more of a special experience to watch. Overall this OVA is definitely worth watching since it reveals more about Chise's past and the story it tells is interesting. The voice acting animation and music are all good and shouldn't be a problem for most people.
whiteflame55
06/24/2023, 07:05 AM
A beautiful story and my favorite entry in the franchise to date. Chise’s character, in particular, was one I got to enjoy - someone finding a glimmer of light in the darkest of times. Like in the first season, she spends much of this mired in depression, but you're given a lot of reasons why she feels that way, and particularly as she's a child facing all this down, you cannot help but feel for her from the outset. It makes me appreciate her character quite a bit more, which is how prequels should work. The animation was among the best I’ve seen for theseries, smaller in scale but made all the more affecting for the space it occupied. I wouldn’t say that her costar entirely worked for me, though. His story was pretty basic, his background not well explained enough to attach us to him or his aims, and the central conceit (the magical library) still only lightly explained and mainly via exposition. His actions did make sense, though.
veemon23
12/09/2020, 08:50 AM
Watched this first by accident before watching the main series... oof... but you know what?! It doesn't really matter because these 3 episode really gets you ready for what's to come and these three stand alone on it's own. This has been a anime on my watch list for a while but I never got around to it but if the main series is as good as the OVA, I'm in for a treat. If you like bittersweet ending, you will probably enjoy this one a lot. This is assuming if you plan to watch these first like I did. I don't regret it likethe man full of regrets. I think it's a good way to set up and get you excited to watch the main series. They stand along on their own and it is a beautiful telling of a story. For a OVA it captures so much story and plot in just 3 episode compared to most other shows with a lot of episodes. It did a wonderful job of telling a beautiful story start to finish in 3 short episode and I say, it's worth a watch!
BabyGirl06301
03/02/2020, 09:20 AM
Oh, this anime is absolutely charming; I don't understand why a chunk of people are so vehemently against it. The art is stunning. Stunning. I'm a sucker for good character design and color usage, and this set of prequel episodes nailed it. Not to mention the environments and lighting effects were also gorgeous. As far as the sound goes, it really stood out to me in certain places. I felt it conveyed tone very well and only served to immerse me more into this world of The Ancient Magus' Bride. This is technically a prequel because of the chronology of the subject matter, but really, it'smore of a side story-- and what a good side story it is. To me, the structure of the story was flawless. I, honestly, don't typically enjoy prequels because they always feel forced or rushed. These three episodes, however, were easy to watch and told an entire, interesting story. There isn't a whole lot to say about the characters beyond the fact that I enjoy watching them on screen, so I can't say much to that end. Actually, I get the feeling that character work isn't going to be something vital that's needed for me to enjoy this world because the main attraction is the world itself (similar to Natsume's Book of Friends). Speaking of the world, it's enchanting in the strongest sense of the word. It was not hard for the animation, art, sound, and story to completely transport me to another reality. This anime does it so effortlessly. It doesn't feel strange, it isn't overly done, it just is what it is, as though it's meant to be. All in all, I really loved these first three episodes. Though the remainder of this anime will undoubtedly be different, something tells me the magic that I found here will carry on into the next series. I look forward to telling you my thoughts on that in the future.
Kns-
08/07/2019, 07:25 AM
A distinctive feature of the all OVA series is the original plot, which in no way relate to the main picture. Thanks to this format, the author is able to reveal the main characters of the series and allow the viewer to plunge deeper into the universe, showing the latter some interesting aspects of the created world. Initially, Mahoutsukai no Yome is a manga, authored by Kore Yamazaki, whose publication began in November 2013 in the Magly Publishing House Monthly Comic Blade. The fifth volume of the manga announced the release of an anime prequel consisting of three episodes, Mahou Tsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito. Thecreation of anime was taken by Wit Studio. The series was sold on discs along with limited editions of the sixth, seventh and eighth volumes of the manga. The first series was also shown in cinemas for two weeks, starting on August 13, 2016. Let us dwell on this prequel in more detail. The addition to the limited editions of the 6-8 volumes of the original manga tells about some events that took place before the meeting of Chise and Elias. The action takes place in the modern world, where secretly from people there are spirits, dragons, fairies with which wizards, sorcerers and alchemists can contact. However, due to the urbanization of the earth's population, deforestation and the growth of the human population, the number of fairies is steadily declining, and for some reason wizards are on the verge of extinction. The powerful ancient magician Elias Ainsworth buys at an auction for a huge sum of money the fifteen-year-old Chise Hatori, a girl with great magical powers, so that she becomes his student and bride. So, Chise Hatori lived a life that was filled with alienation and violence, and also deprived of any form of love and care. Without family care and affection, the girl experienced all the hardships of life. Gifted by nature with magic, a girl once stumbles upon a mysterious library in the middle of a forest in which she meets a person like her, he also sees strange creatures and invites her to visit the library “every day if you like”, following some rules. Chise really begins to often come to the library, she enjoys reading and, after a while, she has less and less books to read, which is why she finds a strange book and asks the caretaker about it. Later it turns out that the man from the library was supposed to give this book to his beloved, but died while performing such a complex assignment. This is the main storehouse and source of the plot, and, in combination, the main collapse of the series. The fact is that the drama in the plot is based on the absurd and stupid actions of the library supervisor called Riichi Miura. At first, his death can give some drama to the series, but in the final episode we will learn his story, and it makes you despise and laugh at this character rather than empathize with him. The same feelings are caused by his beloved Mayumi Niikura, for the sake of which he tried to fulfill his promise. She says that she “loves the last pages of the book most of all”, hinting that she does not love her future husband. Moreover, she makes an appointment on the platform where her new lover should bring the book. In this case, it becomes very interesting what was the number of her future husbands in the list of her suitors, and how much her nature is false, if she could go so far with a person whom, in her own words, she does not love so much that she is ready to leave for another man almost from the wedding crown. I rule out a forced marriage, since the actions of the two heroes took place not so long ago, in addition, Chise finds Mayumi old at the end of the series and she already has grandchildren. Also of particular note is the stupid death of Riichi Miura. It is extremely curious why he chose the way to the station through the forest with ditches, into which he safely fell and died in it. Obviously, this is one of the most stupid deaths that I have observed in the modern anime industry. In the end, we have a stupid, nerdy, clumsy, awkward hero who wants to meet a married woman. Hero who has been stupidly (but deservedly) dead in a ditch, while carrying out the usual request to return the book. And the shameless harlot, a wife who wants to leave her future husband, spit on all concepts of morality. Empathizing with these characters is very difficult. In all stories, plots, films, books, if the author pursues a goal so that to his heroes sympathize, feel sorry and worry about them, then the latter must be done in such a way that the observer can see in them a piece of a real living person, a particle of himself or Something like that. The character must be in a stalemate situation in which there are no simple solutions, only then it becomes really exciting for their fate. But when my gaze is offered the fate of a whore, who did not have another love affair due to an unfortunate (and very absurd) case with a stupid man, it becomes not interesting for me to watch this. As a result, the last scenes evoke an absurd laugh rather than a sad smile.
Sesshomaru
11/30/2018, 01:32 PM
魔法使いの嫁星待つひと - Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito, the OVA gives a touching insight into the world of protagonist Hatori, Chise. Although this slice of life begins tragically, you will be deeply moved by the depiction of her childhood as an orphan. Story: tragic but beautiful and well paced, allowing the viewer to easily follow the plot (9/10) Whether you know the manga by Yamazaki, Kore or not, if you approach this OVA with an open mind, you will definitely enjoy it, if only because of the beautiful parallels to famous novels such as "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens, "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende orthe play "Pygmalion" (better known as "My Fair Lady") by George Bernard Shaw. The story begins in foggy London and the first character we meet is Angelica Barley. She runs a workshop for magical tools and is a technician for the Magus Craft. Her little helper, Hugo, belongs to the genus of the Vodyanoi, or water fairies. The parcel that the two of them are preparing contains a very special gift. When it arrives at its destination, the estate of sorcerer Elias Ainsworth, somewhere in the west of London, it triggers a flashback that reveals Chise's forgotten memories. This is the world into which these three episodes seek to take us. Character: Good, but too short to develop every personality (8/10) The characters' behaviour is reasonably, self-contained and understandable, even if you don't know how it came about. Chise as a little orphan is a good example. She behaves like someone who is alone and gets no help from anyone because no one understands her or even wants to listen to her. But Chise's world changes when she meets Riichi Miura. He is the librarian and the one who welcomes Chise to the library of the forest. Miura has a gentle personality, a bit awkward, but kind and honest. Incidentally, as Elias points out, the Library of the Forest is based on real Japanese folklore called Mayoiga. It can be read in "Legends of Tono" by Kunio Yanagita. You may need a little patience, but your reward will be a wonderful and touching story. Three episodes are not enough to fully flesh out all the characters, but the description of Chise and Elias does a good job of making them both understandable and sympathetic. It also makes you want to know more about their relationship and the other characters. The TV series "Mahoutsukai no Yome" will certainly satisfy that wish, and you might also be interested in reading my review of the TV series. Visuals: Art and animation quality are simply beautiful and enjoyable (9/10). Both the art and the animation are very pleasing to the eye. The experienced staff in the art department is certainly one reason for that. Directed by Takeda, Yusuke (other works: Shirobako, Eden of the East), the art impresses with beautifully detailed backgrounds, such as the forest library, as well as expressive character designs. It may seem like a small thing, but the increase in colour and brightness in situations where the plot takes Chise to a more beautiful setting is very pleasing. It reflects her emotional state very well. Certainly there are similarities with many other famous anime. I was reminded of Studio Ghibli's qualities by some of the aspects I noticed. For one, Tamura, Seiki is one of the art designers. He was also a background artist for the anime "Princess Mononoke". Then there is the mysterious creature with a shadowy body (in this case made of mice) that wears a mask. A similar creature called "No Face" also appears in the anime "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi - Spiriting Away". CGI is not usually my cup of tea, but here it was used very attractively. What matters is not whether CG has been used, but how. There are ways to use CG very well. The art and animation of this show is just beautiful to look at. Sounds: Beautiful, supportive, accentuating and appealing (9/10). The music underlines the atmosphere very well. For example, I liked the scene where Angelica starts to prepare the parcel, and as she talks to Hugo, the orchestral symphonic BGM begins gently. The music slowly increases and is complemented by some sound effects - in this case bubbles and water splashing. Anglica's own intervention stops the BGM, which makes this scenario even funnier. Just a small thing, but I like this kind of thing, and also that the speech performance is not disturbed by the music, but rather emphasises each other. The voice acting leaves nothing to be desired. I especially liked the voice of Angelica, which was given to the character by Kaida Yuuko. Her voice is a little deeper and beautifully clear. A beautiful and very rare case of a great realisation that combines the professionalism of understanding the story, its characters and a carefully imaginative adaptation of the very beautiful source material. Overall, a wonderful introduction to the world of "The Ancient Magus Bride". Thank you for reading, and have fun watching!
ReinisM
08/12/2018, 06:32 AM
9 - story a very pleasant and despite some (background?) drama also very calm story.With all fantasy elements story gave me even kind of Disney-ish feeling, but not as over sweetened. 9 - art While it is not "Kimi no Na wa." or "Byousoku 5 Centimeter" tier, art is still very beautiful and fitting. 8 - sound there wasn't really anything that stood out in this area, which I guess is a good thing. 8 - characterCharacter development is as good as you could expect in 3 episodes. 9 - enjoyment I enjoyed this on a lot more than I expected and in fact it's been a while since I had this much fun watching series, tho this more matter of taste. 8.5 - overall
molesys
04/21/2018, 01:29 AM
In my review about this anime I said that It wasn't a masterpiece however there were a lot of elements do a second season that can become a master piece and this OWA is a clear demonstration of that. I really enjoyed the OWA giving me a better connection with the protagonist and also it clarified many questions if the whole anime. In general the great problem with this anime is that the creators had overload this anime and there are many things with no conclusion. I thing this OWA comes to help to mitigate that overload and really I hope a second season.
Moomochi
04/09/2018, 11:08 PM
Out of 100 Nobles watching... 98 were impressed! 2 Were a tad disoriented in the first 5 minutes. Like many people who watched Mahoutsukai no Yome, the Hoshi Matsu Hito OVA episodes were the first taste of what this amazing piece of media had to offer. This 3 episode short is a must see and stands on it's own from its anime counterpart. I've rated this trio of OVA episodes a bit higher than the actual Mahoutsukai no Yome anime itself for a very simple reason. Timing and Direction. This anime moves slowly, but at no point in time is it ever wasting a frame. The visuals arefilled with environmental detail earning it well deserved comparison to Ghibli movies by many and the sound design couples well with this. At no point in time is a conversation meaningless or a characters visual portrayal acting as filler. In regards to the shows story, I'll first address what every person I presented this work to said to me in the first 3 minutes of watching it. "Is this the first episode or did we skip something." The initial splash of being thrown into the deep end of this magical world is really the only thing I can knock this anime's presentation for. The viewer is presented a well established "norm" for how the protagonist Chise is living her life which takes place in the dead center of episode 12-13 of the anime before we go into a flashback to cover the actual prequel content this OVA advertised itself as. While disorienting at first this method of story telling takes it's time to show a new viewer all the information they need to get the best picture possible of the fantasy world they are in. This anime's studio kicked the door in with a story to tell and a picture to paint and used it's allotted time to do so perfectly. The full anime provides even more of what this heartwarming and heartbreaking story has to offer albeit in a package that is slightly less tight.
tobioiisms
03/28/2018, 05:18 PM
Before I started becoming interested in Mahoutsukai no Yome, I heard somewhere that you should watch the OVAs after the series finishes airing. I knew that these came out earlier, and while I was anxious to know what they held, I waited patiently. I'm glad that I did. I think watching the OVAs after you've seen the entire series helps you appreciate them better. It makes them seem more like a reveal of Chise's past in specific more than what they show in the series. You get to see what happened to her between the times that her mother died and before she was bought byElias. If you watched it without the original series in mind, it may just seem like a little side story. I definitely would recommend rewatching them after the original series. While it didn't move me to tears, I think that this story was emotional in it's own way. It was very nice to see Chise's relationship with Miura and it was emotional to see what happened with it at the end of the day. I hadn't expected the story to take that kind of turn at the end. Each part of this OVA was beautiful and I enjoyed every part of it and would recommend it to anyone.
manu221335
03/12/2018, 08:44 PM
this was the most beatifull OVA i've ever seen so far. But not the other one , This one has it's own plot , this one has it's own emotional transitions . Well Story 9 Art 10 Sound 9 Character 8 Enjoyment 8 Overall 8.5 But , not the other one. This Show has charmed me To it's plot. May Spoilers... A girl with red hair, A mysterious air, A smooth scenario, and a lot to say about a little show. But unfortunately idon't have much time for this review. İf you interested in these cases, then check the Ova version. I think this is the way worth if we compare the other one. And again i think This one is more original than the other. So that was a review Have a time can be called good for you
iconicmomo
01/17/2018, 10:47 AM
NO SPOILERS !!! I HIGHLY recommend that you DO NOT watch this OVA before reading the manga or watching the anime (after it's completed). Doing so will probably leave you confused and discouraged to get into the series. !!! One fairly common complaint I've seen is that this OVA doesn't explain much of what's even going on. It's not meant to. It's a prequel meant for those already familiar with the characters and the world to enjoy. Of course, there are many people who would enjoy the OVA without needing any background knowledge, but others, like myself, would have trouble appreciating many aspects of the story withoutsome prior knowledge. I watched the anime (14 episodes have been aired so far at the time of writing this) and read the manga before watching this, and I totally enjoyed it. I think people who were put off by this OVA should read through some chapters of the manga and watch through some episodes of the anime, hopefully getting more into the story, then revisit this OVA. It should become more apparent that this OVA wasn't meant for people unfamiliar with the story. STORY- 8 It's pretty amazing how magical this series actually feels. This OVA in particular gives of some strong Spirited Away vibes. Seriously, just watch it and see for yourself. The OVA elaborates on some of the events in Chise's past that isn't in the manga. From my understanding, Kore Yamazaki still had a large role in the conception of this story. A very satisfying side story for fans of the series, though it can be just as captivating for first time viewers. I would understand if a first time viewer would find the premise of the OVA a bit cliche, so I'm still very much in favor of getting familiar the with source material first. There were some parts of the story that did seem a bit confusing and silly even for me, but I won't go much into those because it might invite some spoilers. ART/SOUND- 10 The art style is distinct and definitely my type. The animation is fluid. Just like this anime, it gives off a wonderful Ghibli vibe. The soundtrack aids the visuals in giving off a sense of wonder. Character- 10 Chise is such a complicated yet still very likable character. (I absolutely love her but that just me). Her complexity is more apparent with familiarity of the source material of course. This OVA serves as thorough explanation for her behavior and beliefs in the series. Her development can be seen as too slow or stagnant by others, but seeing what she went through in this OVA can provide a deeper understanding of her motives and such. Enjoyment- 10 I love this series! I only got into it less than two weeks ago, and I love it to the point where I'm willing to write a review on it. Overall- 9 If you're a fan of the manga, watch this OVA. If you've never delved into the manga or anime but love fantasy and magical worlds, you might really enjoy this OVA anyway.
Scientiiaa
01/09/2018, 07:56 AM
The Ancient Magus' Bride is a Japanese fantasy shounen manga series written and illustrated by Kore Yamazaki. (Frau Faust, Futari no Renai Shoka). The series is published in Japan by Mag Garden in its Monthly Comic Garden magazine. The manga is also licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment. Wit Studio produced a three-part prequel OVA of the manga, and an anime television series is currently airing. Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito follows Chise Hatori, a 15 years old girl. Being absolutely alone and having no place to go, the girl is bought for money by a non-human mage named Elias. Having seenthe unpleasant part of life, the girl finds herself in a new family. To her big surprise, she is now Elias’ apprentice, as well as his future wife. Chise enjoys her new peaceful life, when she suddenly receives a book from her past, which introduces us to her tragic backstory. This piece is a prequel to Chise’s encounter with the Thorn Sorcerer. Having read plot’s summary it might be too difficult for one to understand the anime’s main idea and it is close to impossible to do so, because Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito is a backstory and shows only Chise’s childhood. You will be shown her tragic childhood and you will not get an idea of what is going to happen in the anime’s TV series, which is currently airing. Anyways, enough with that long introduction. This OAV did a good job explaining most of the needed for Chise’s story things; yet, there is still a great deal of questions that should be answered. But let us give the TV series an opportunity to answer these questions. The real magic of this anime, of course, is its visuals and soundtrack. Do not get me wrong, it is not the only gem of this anime. Anyways, the anime’s visuals amazingly help the viewer find themselves in a very beautiful, but also in very dramatic fairytale. I would describe Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito as an anime somewhat similar to Ghibli pieces, but more realistic and perhaps even more dramatic. Sound wise, the anime also does its job introducing the viewer to this piece. Not only the OST, but also characters did simply an amazing job. Character wise, the OAV focuses on Chise’s backstory. She is the main character and the titular character of the story. Her existence can be described as an unwanted child that should just have stopped its existence. Yet, Chise is not just a child, because she is able to see what other humans cannot; this supernatural power does not give her happiness only grief and harm. That said, taking into consideration the fact that this OAV only introduces us to the story of the main series, I have to say that it does its job pretty well. Please do not think that this anime is a pure romance, harem, or anything else. (It has nothing to do with harem, though). Indeed, the anime’s synopsis screams that there should be romance, but everything is not that easy. The Ancient Magus' Bride OAV is an excellent prequel to the TV anime’s series that will introduce you to a heartbreaking story of a future sorcerer Chise. Overall, I give this prequel a very weak 10/10. As a prequel, it is simply near-flawless. It has been awhile since I last saw such beautiful and tragic fairytale, with a grain of realism, too. I highly recommend this masterpiece for all anime fans. It might be; however, boring, but, please, do be patient and you will be rewarded.
jkalyana
09/19/2017, 07:31 AM
Its essentially about a girl who experiences things not everyday people can and a magician who appears to be not from this world. This OVA is a recollection of her memory as a child. The story is told so brilliantly and cleanly that I fell in love with this. Also the graphics are brilliant and so is the sound. Please note that one needs to have a bit of sensitivity to truly appreciate this one (No offense to anyone). If you are looking for an anime with adrenaline rush or politics this is not fir you. Watch this with a peaceful mind and you will trulyappreciate this.
PhylloNakamura
09/13/2017, 04:00 AM
From the very beginning this anime draws you in with it's beautiful art style, regardless of being an artist or not the smooth details and bright colour are bound to entice you. I watched this series from the first episode airing to waiting 6+ months for each new episode. Even now as I completed episode 3 I am left with teary eyes for it. Sadly the story does take a back seat in this case because you are more likely to continue watching due to the art and music. The artwork and music really show why it took 6 months to make however the charactersare not bland either. The characters stories are really touching in conveying their emotions to everyone's individual circumstance. In 3 episodes I was brought to tears twice due to Chise's series of unfortunate events. The show has made me very interested in the manga and I am not a big manga reader. I really recommend a series like this to anyone who loves art and aspires to be an artist. It also holds a rare spot of being a 10 for me.
CodeBlazeFate
09/11/2017, 08:23 PM
*some spoilers for Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito* Literature is an interesting, often captivating medium, filled with immaculate descriptions, and exciting worlds to explore with your imagination as you read the carefully thought out words of an author who built that portal for your mind. Some may say that with the advent of animation and film becoming truly mainstream, that literature has become someone of an under-appreciated medium. The Mahoutsukai no Yome OVA, above all else, is a tragic yet pleasant reminder of the power of a story, especially the power it has on a child. Falling just shy of true greatness, it manages to stillachieve dramatic tension and absolute pleasantry, seeping into captivation. It's a major appeal of literature, especially for a child, in which this OVA captures greatly. As you know, this OVA is a prologue about the childhood of Chise, and it's a pretty tragic one, showing pretty well how Chise became the more reserved and quiet girl we knew today. She’s a decently strong protagonist facing a ton of childhood hardship due to what she sees and the isolation and scorn that comes of it, and it's tough to see her become so melancholy to the point where it seems like she may snap into tears at any moment, which she only does when something happy occurs in her life. Unfortunately, it doesn't show how she came into her current residence or how she began the study of magic, and given that this is a world in which magic still exists despite many people living without seeing magic or magical creatures, we never actually see any magic. Regardless, it's still a decently bittersweet tale, especially when Chise meets Riichi, a decent character/man who still struggles with guilt and anxiety over his promise and always wants the door closed to keep certain dark creatures away. You can tell how this ends. None of the other characters get a chance to really shine thanks to the time limitations of this OVA, but for what they were, they were decently pleasant additions (especially the ever-wise Elias and Silky, who keeps an annoyed state when her food is neglected), though as you’ll see soon, I find the best partly these characters to be the lovely character designs. Still, Chise carries this narrative on her unfortunate shoulders, as we see things from her perspective given that she narrates the bulk of the story to the cast. Yet we see some things from when she is asleep at some points, which is odd. I do have a few other minor gripes. Riichi saying his last words after being bitten borderline in half wrings hollow in this scene due to the fact that it’s insanely convenient. I heard someone say that this means he died a long time ago given the current age of the person he made a promise to, so his spirit was trapped in the library. However things are so unclear that he may as well have just gained immortality (the kind that can be revoked by being killed), and given that he interacts with the physical realm still, that seems more plausible, if still unclear. Also, how come Riichi’s and Chise’s eyes grow red when reading? If it's meant to be conveyed that they're emotionally unstable, not only was that already cleared up beforehand, but it is in and of itself a bit hamfisted, especially thanks to that. If no, we don't know why. There are a few other minor ones but I forgot them, so meh. Again, let me make it clear that none of these are major gripes but they do add up and prevent this story from truly reaching the greatness it could've had. It's still an emotionally resonant narrative with a nice protagonist and an ability to captivate us, so don't try to make it out to be that I find the story bad, but even with the very limited time it had, it could've done more. I can definitely forgive a few things thanks to this insanely limited run and the fact that it is ultimately a prologue. So, what else made the narrative captivating other than the protagonist and emotional resonance? Well, that should be quite obvious, dear viewers… WIT Studio was the main team in charge of this production and it looks really nice. The character designs are fantastic, with special mention going to the designs of Elias, Angelica, and Chise. The visuals are certainly captivating not due to the admittedly solid animation or the CGI furniture that only looks ok, but for the designs of everything from the creatures to the characters. The water fairies, in particular, are wonderful designs and again the actual character designs adapted by Hitotaka Hatou and done by Kore Yamazaki look lovely as well. The environments are also very pleasant to look at, especially in the scene where Riichi reads the picture book Chise treasures and we see all sorts of stars and galaxies in the sky. This, above all else really drew me in when watching, making an already sort of nice viewing experience that much better. The background OST is a pretty nice one that has decently pleasant, sometimes softly melancholic music, all of which fit rather well with the scenarios at hand, even if none of them are inherently standout tracks. There is also no OP theme, which felt weird, but the ED theme, “CLOCKWORK QUICK AND LIGHTNING SLOW" by Julia Shortreed, fits this exact same description as the rest of the tracks, so it's not very memorable, but it's decently melancholic. Like a good book, this anime drew me in. While it regrettably falls short from true greatness, even taking its inherent nature into account, it was a very relaxing and enjoyable anime to watch. As per its role, it made me eagerly anticipate the main body title that would follow this work. For doing it so gracefully, I commend this short series.
AK25
09/11/2017, 05:32 AM
The Mahoutsukai no Yome’s a neat little side story. The main appeal of the ova is essentially seeing how everything is presented rather than the actual narrative elements themselves. The anime doesn’t try and get you interested in Chise by telling you she’s an orphan hated by everyone for being weird, it wants you to get invested in her through scenes like her not being able to go to bed because there is literally a monster inside her futon or her talking about how happy she feels when she finishes a book. The story never asks you to doubt that it’s all going to work outfine, it knows its viewer has either already read the source material or totally understands she’s in a better place because of the first part of episode 1, it uses that knowledge to frame a vignette used to contrast her younger self: who always used to sit in a corner, walk with her back slightly bent afraid to connect to people, to her current self: upright, smiling and scared into eating her food instead of avoiding it. The catharsis doesn’t come from what’s framed. But rather the feeling that is evoked when looking at it. Chise didn’t grow much as a person when she gave the book and moved away, she lost more hope than she started out with, but the moment it goes back to her reading the book on Ains’ lap, surrounded by people who care for her, there’s this very understated feeling of relief and ease. The fact that it goes from her not believing that it will all turn out alright to her having turned out fine in a few seconds doesn’t take away from the unease and anxiety that filled her childhood because it was a retrospective to begin with and only furthers the message it’s trying to convey. In the same way Chise treasures the book after having had her life changed, the viewer is supposed to treasure her change in lifestyle using the dark past as a basis and not as the main aspect to the OVA. What’s important isn’t what’s in the past, it’s what’s about to come. Another big appeal is definitely the sound and visuals. The way it dulls down the colors whenever it’s a scene in the apartment compared to how lush the greenery looks during the library scenes or the comfy and warm colors used when she’s living at Ains’ house convey a lot about how she feels like she is happier when at those places. It sparingly uses music, like for parts where the colors are enough to convey whatever needs to be conveyed, but for parts like some scenes where the librarian talks to her, the piano keys perfectly match whatever’s going on onscreen. Seeing Chise’s bright red hair contrast with the foliage is very pleasing to the eyes and makes the scenes where her hair color’s muddled with the background to help convey her anxiety much more meaningful. The biggest highlight is definitely the scene where the librarian reads her the story: weaving together the book’s moral with the star imagery and what she was going through with what she will one day find, supported by one of the few times the music uses multiple instruments rather than just a piano to elevate the scene into something memorable, it’s just such a powerful scene, lives up to being the reason why she’s telling this story in the present day about why the book means so much to her. Ultimately, it’s pretty much just a sneak peek for the upcoming tv anime, but it’s very reassuring to know that the adaptation will try its best to portray the wonders of magic of its world and the relationship between the two mains and the baggage they each carry.
Diazo
09/10/2017, 05:51 PM
-Spoiler free review- I wouldn't usually feel the need to write a review, but the helpful reviews (at the time of writing this) are around the 6/7 mark. This OVA is, in my opinion, a masterpiece. I will start off by saying I've never read the manga, and the fully adapted anime is to be released shortly. Even with no prior reading I believe this show stands by itself fantastically, portraying a beautiful story with an almost Ghibli vibe. Story(9/10) What a beautiful story is was, endearing from start to finish. The premise of the story was very easy to grasp, and there was no need for anyprior knowledge to understand what was happening in the mc's (Chise's) life. The pacing is slow, but perfectly suited for the OVAs content. This pacing allows the viewer to fully absorb the beautiful world created infront of you, and it gives the viewer time to become emotionally invested in the characters. This emotional attatchment stems from the themes covered by the OVA, with themes such as loneliness, family and loss being hugely relatable to me on a personal level and Im sure many of you can relate to these themes. The story does touch on some overused classic "sob stories" to set up Chise's past, however, the portrayal of the influence these events on Chise have are beyond any anime Ive ever seen and the execution of these scenes are done perfectly. Art(10/10) It can easily be seen just how much time has been invested into making this one of the most visually stunning OVAs/animes I have ever seen. From the very first scene the art sets the standards high, and only improves from then on. This can especially be seen in particular highlight moments in episodes 2/3, where the art style compliments the story beautifully, bringing the whole OVA together as one. Sound(9/10) Personally, I found the sound track to compliment the OVA almost perfectly. I noticed almost every piece of music when it started, and I would say it managed to bring many scenes together beautifully. The soundtrack itself is not there to act as the centre of attention, it is there to reinforce the beautiful story and art and give a nice emotional touch (that might even tear you up) in many pivotal scenes. Character(9/10) The characters are fantastically made, with a deep intruiging backstory for Chise. The librarian's character is also incredibly well done, with his mentality and struggles being portrayed perfectly. There are, however, some virtually untouched characters due to the short length of the OVA. The only one of these I found to be an issue was the dog, with the skull-guy and the pink-girly being incredibly well introduced considering how little they feature. The dog, however, was not well done- so perhaps the anime (or manga) needs to be watched/read to do this character justice. Overall (10/10) This anime is a masterpiece, it will play with your emotions at many points throughout, and will leave you wanting more from this beautiful world. And good news! More is coming! I can only hope that the anime will do the OVA justice- especially in the art department- as it has set the bar high. If you were looking for a Ghibli-esque fantasy world and an emotional journey, youve found the right OVA!
Raibyou
09/10/2017, 06:52 AM
It was a beautiful story although it only lasted for three episodes. Keep in mind that there's a full length series coming this October. I've never read the manga and I don't intend to read until the I've finished watching the upcoming anime series. So, in this review, I'll only be talking about what I think only from watching the OVA. Story(8/10) The story was beautiful. If you haven't read the manga, you'll be kinda confused at first but not that much. As far as I see, the OVA mainly focus on Chise's backstory. And I have to say, it was very good. From the first episode,it might seem like it's very slow paced but the main story kicks in starting from the second episode. And the pacing and the story matches very well. And at the of the 3rd episode, it might make some people teary. Art(9/10) There's nothing really I can say about it except it was amazing. The characters look good and sceneries are breath taking. But I can't help but feel that they could have done a little better considering this was made by the same studio which took part in production of Attack on Titan anime. Sound(7/10) The sound tracks did't stood out that much but I have to say, it matches the story and setting very well. And he sound track did make the anime more beautiful. Character(8/10) The characters are pretty awesome. You won't see any of the character archetypes that you often see in other animes. But each characters were charming in their own way. Enjoyment(10/10) What can I really say apart from that it was really awesome. I waited for 1 and a half years for these 3 episodes and I'd say it was worth the wait. It was everything I hoped it to be and even more. Overall (9/10) Overall, this is a kind of anime that you won't really find that often. And it's still just an OVA and there'll be a full length anime series coming October. It might take the anime fandom by a storm or it might become a hidden Ruby among the anime fandom. These 3 episodes were conducted really well and makes me hyped for the upcoming series.
EnZanity
09/10/2017, 12:32 AM
Spoiler free review So The Ancient Magus' Bride is a show I'm eagerly waiting for when Fall 2017 finally decides to arrive. I have not touched the manga so I knew little about it, but the synopsis and the magical elements piqued my interest enough to check out this prequel OVA that took a year to finish airing 3 eps. After finishing it, I'm not exactly sure why this was necessary. The plot is simply a back story to the main girl Chise Hatori, seeing what her life was like as a child way before she found the world of magic. The drama shown during these episodesare pretty standard, we've all seen the same type of scenario before. You have the struggles of a strange and lonely orphan trying to find a place to call home, (The Ugly Duckling) and the forsaken love of a mysterious librarian. (similar to The Little Mermaid, and no not the happy Disney version) To be honest, this didn't do much to get me invested into the main series, as it felt kinda pointless to see the past of these characters that I have never met before I've actually gotten to know more about them. There is not given much reason to actually care about Chise, you’re just suddenly given a character that you're supposed to like and feel sorry for. This may have been enough for some people to care about her, say they have read the source and/or are able to relate to her as a character, but I personally feel that I needed to see more from Chise before I could actually see her as someone I should harbour feelings towards. Maybe if I had read the manga I would have enjoyed it more, but as someone that's never watched or read anything else from the series, I'm just left with a lacklustre taste in my mouth. I'd recommend watching this after the main series is finished airing or at least reading a decent amount of the manga, it might have been more impactful if I had actually gotten to know who these people are before delving into their previous lives. As something to start off an anime adaptation, I enjoyed the experience but I'm not too impressed with this OVA. Send feedback if you have any, thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts on this!

Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito 魔法使いの嫁星待つひと

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North American Anime & Manga Releases for January

PV Collection for Jun 12 - 18

Manga 'Mahoutsukai no Yome' Receives TV Anime for Fall 2017

PV Collection for Feb 20 - 26

PV Collection for Nov 28 - Dec 4

PV Collection for Sep 5 - 11

Additional Cast and Staff Members Announced for 'Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito'

Manga 'Mahoutsukai no Yome' Gets Three-Part Prequel Anime

Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito 魔法使いの嫁 星待つひと

North American Anime & Manga Releases for January

PV Collection for Jun 12 - 18

Manga 'Mahoutsukai no Yome' Receives TV Anime for Fall 2017

PV Collection for Feb 20 - 26

PV Collection for Nov 28 - Dec 4

PV Collection for Sep 5 - 11

Additional Cast and Staff Members Announced for 'Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito'

Manga 'Mahoutsukai no Yome' Gets Three-Part Prequel Anime

Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito 魔法使いの嫁星待つひと

Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito 魔法使いの嫁星待つひと