Rental Magica DVD Collection 1
(Nozomi Entertainment,400 minutes)
Consisting of 24 episodes adapted from a series of light novels by Makoto Sanda, Rental Magica spins together just about every type of magic one can think of, as it follows the adventures of Astral, a company of magic users who employ their skills to service others. Itsuki Iba is a high school student who finds himself roped into accepting the position as president of the company despite having virtually no experience in the use of magic.
Unlike other series of this sort, the characters have no reason to hide their abilities as magic is a commonly accepted concept. Throughout the set, Itsuki and his employees confront various threats, as he tries to prove himself a competent boss. Though several others feel he lacks the credentials to do an efficient job, he is given a temporary trial period to build his experience and demonstrate his aptitude.
Competing with Astral for assignments is the much more refined, Goetia Company. Though they are considered rivals, Goetia’s heir, Adelecia continually involves herself in Astral’s matters due to her growing infatuation with Itsuki. Though the company doesn’t play a huge part in part 1, Adelecia does, often showing up to offer aid to Itsuki, though not without a fair share of gloating.
Other members of Astral include the witch Honami, Adelecia’s rival as well as Itsuki’s childhood friend, Nekoyashiki, a spiritualist with an obsession pertaining to cats, and Mikan, the company’s youngest member. Each one views their coworkers as an extended family, adding a certain charm to the series. Later on, they gain another member in the form of Manami, a ghost with powers of her own. Over the course of the series, she and Honami display flashes of affection for Itsuki, though Manami is more subdued of the two.
Despite having no magic to call upon, Itsuki does possess the ability of Glam Sight, a demon eye that can see through magic. Unfortunately for Itsuki, the power, though considerable, takes a heavy toll on its wielder. Every time he uses the eye, his body is weakened, often leaving him comatose.
Zecxs provided the animation for the show, giving it a fairly traditional style. The character designs are distinctive though unremarkable; however this is due more to the original designs of the light novels rather than the studio. That said, the animation is merely average considering its age.
Regardless of one’s thoughts on the show, Nozomi’s treatment is certainly worth mentioning. Collection 1 comes in a heavy box, with illustrations of the characters adorning the front and back. The subtitles are easily readable, without any spelling errors to be found. Extras are the standard fare, including promos, trailers, and textless opening and closings. Though this might seem meager, the real meat of the set lies in the 120 page book that includes character profiles, explanations of the magic featured, and voice actor interviews. There is a huge amount of information to dig through and greatly adds to the value of the set.
Because the series was shown out of order when it originally aired, there are two options for viewers to choose from including chronological order and the original broadcast order. For better clarity, first time viewers probably want to watch the episodes in chronological order, as the story flows better.
Rental Magica is far from perfect, but one can’t deny its entertainment value. The characters are all given time to develop, with everyone getting time to shine in the early episodes, setting up for the main story that gets going just as the set ends. The show’s unique use of the various magics employed coupled with Nozomi’s standout presentation makes it an excellent package for those looking for something different in the fantasy genre.
Rental Magica DVD Collection 1 - B
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