| ANIME - The Ancient Magus' Bride |

SYNOPSIS: Chise sold herself in an auction, and was bought by a magus, Elias Ainsworth. She became his apprentice.

GENRE: Slice of Life, Magic, Fantasy
NUMBER OF EPISODES: 24

RATING: 6.8/10

I thought I would like this a lot more than I did. The story and the dynamic between the lead characters had so much promise. Sadly, it wasn't able to deliver. For a 24 episodes anime, the pacing was slow, and honestly, nothing much happened. It felt like most of the plot points were introduced, but they didn't play out well. Don't get me wrong, the build-ups and side stories were interesting to see, especially in the first few episodes. However, the conflict felt lacking, and I somewhat didn't care about them. I was disappointed because I liked the setting and the lore used. The fairies were intriguing creatures to know about, and I wish that more information about them was shown. The backstories of the lead characters weren't elaborated. We got some bits of information here and there, but it lacked coherency. The main thing I loved about this is the visuals. It was very pleasing to the eyes. There are also funny scenes and heartwarming scenes, so that helped. I think the source material would be better with dealing with all of the plot-wise stuff, so I think that it would be better to try that.

In terms of art, I loved everything about it. The character designs and the animation of the magical scenes were beautiful. I was able to appreciate everything about it. Also, there are times where Elias turns chibi, and I found that adorable.

In terms of characters, it was a bit lacking. Elias was a very intriguing character, yet sometimes he just served as comical relief. Also, I wanted to know more about how he became the magus that he is, but we didn't get that. We mostly just got angry and unreasonable, Elias. I get that he's still trying to understand human emotions, but it happened multiple times, and it pissed me off. Chise was the epitome of a self-sacrificing character I disliked the most. She had a hero complex, and she didn't care about how it would affect her and everyone around her. It's good that she wanted to help others, but I dislike it that sometimes it is at the cost of her life. It's like she forgets that she has a limited lifespan most of the time. 

In terms of the relationship, sometimes it was a bit weird. I like the relationship between Elias and Chise, but sometimes I get confused. Are they father and daughter? Lovers? Friends? Family? Sometimes the distinction gets blurred, but hey, the title is bride, so I guess they are lovers (or soon to be at least). There are also some disturbing dynamics about their relationship, especially with Elias buying Chise. Still, their relationship with the other characters was adorable, funny, and great to watch. Sometimes it was also heartwarming, so there's that. This is true, especially with Silky.

SHOULD YOU WATCH IT: If you like fantasy, then yes. Still, I really suggest trying the source material instead because the anime would just give you more questions to ponder after watching it.

WOULD I WATCH IT AGAIN: Maybe if someone wanted to watch it with me. I think the animation is worth sticking for. 

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SPOILERY THOUGHTS AND REACTIONS

THINGS THAT COULD'VE MADE THIS BETTER:

• Make the pacing and plot development faster.

• Reduce miscommunications or lack of communication between the lead characters.

• Don't just tease the backstories of the characters. Explain them well.

• Make Chise think more about her life and how her actions would affect it.

• More training of Chise's powers so that she doesn't just suddenly use overpowered skills.

• Reduce the angry and unreasonable reactions from Elias. Making him act more human and then suddenly removing all of his development is not a good thing to do.

• Remove the characters with minimal appearance and contribution to the plot.

THINGS I LIKED/ENJOYED/FOUND FUNNY:

• Angelica's care for Chise. She didn't stay with them, but you can tell how much she worries about Chise. She seemed like a mother-figure to her, and I love it, especially since Chise's didn't have parents anymore.

• Simon's interactions with Elias were hilarious. He loves to tease him. It was also funny to see Ruth's interaction with him.

• The family bond between Silky, Chise, and Elias was quite lovely. I was happy for Silky whenever they come home after a long trip. She was always waiting for them.

• The father-son/friendship that Elias had with Lindel. They have been through quite a lot, and it was fun to see them interact. It was funny too that Lindel refers to Chise as her granddaughter.

• The dragons were amazing creatures. I was pissed at the people who would try to harm them. My broke heart for Nevin, but I'm glad that Chise's wand materials came from him. I love their talks. He was such an inspiring creature.

• The story of Mina and Matthew was both heartbreaking and scary. I hated Joseph because of how he tricked Matthew into committing such hideous acts by making him think that it was to help Mina. He twisted their love into something wrong. I'm glad that they managed to get together in the afterlife.

• It's interesting to see that the king and queen in the faerie kingdom are Oberon and Titania. Titania was so beautiful, but Oberon was so weird. Chise and Elias' relationship with them were stressful and intriguing. It was funny whenever Oberon bugs Chise and Elias, and Titania intercedes.

• It's funny to see that everyone watches how their Chise and Elias' relationship would progress. It seems like they were entertainment, especially for the king and queen of the faeries.

• It was beautiful to see the relationship between Isabel and Ulysse. I'm still confused about whether he was just a dog or her brother, but I still love their bond. It was too heartbreaking that she died. I hate that Cartiphilus tried making Isabel into a chimera.

• I love that Chise did her best to protect Ruth against Cartaphilus and got mad at him for his sake.

• I found the story between Joel and Leanan Sidhe both heartbreaking and beautiful. I wish they could have been together longer, but it was still heartwarming that Leanan decided to stay in the garden.

• I love the part where Chise used powerful magic to fly back home to Elias. Also, their relationship was the best there because you could see and feel how Elias felt about being separated from Chise. 

• The trick that Shannon played towards Chise was a sick one, yet it had amazing effects. I appreciate a good scam. Also, her relationship with her husband was adorable.

• Joseph/Cartaphilus was a disgusting character, yet when his backstory was introduced, I felt heartbroken for him. The original Joseph just wanted to help Cartaphilus, but he had to suffer a fate worse than death. He didn't deserve it. Neither does Cartaphilus. Cartaphilus wasn't the best person in the world, but immortality with a rotten body is too terrible a fate. It still doesn't excuse the shitty things he did, though.

• I love the random magical creatures that popped up in their world. They looked adorable, even if some of them aren't helpful.

• I love the bond between Renfred and Alice. They were hilarious and heartwarming together. 

• It's beautiful that when Elias was stuck in his monster form, Chise didn't leave him, and amazingly, she didn't get scared. Also, it was hilarious that Silky was waiting outside the room with a weapon.

• I found Rahab to be very beautiful. 

• The celebration that happened in the Land of the Dragon when Chise came to make her wand was one of the most beautiful scenes in this anime. 

• It was heartbreaking to see Chise happy memories with her family before everything went wrong.

• The sheep in the shearing season were so fluffy. 

• It interesting to see that Silky was originally a banshee. 

• I love the Christmas scene and that everyone got Chise a gift. It was heartwarming because this was the first Christmas that Chise had where she was happy.

• Lindel's selkie is so cute. I love how Adolf carries her. HAHA.

• Elias' different human forms were interesting to see, and they were all beautiful. Except for the one that kind of looks like Simon.

• I love that Elias was against attending the auction to save the dragon, but just because Chise wanted to, he had no choice but to agree. Everyone was shocked and awed about how much effect Chise had on him.

• It was beautiful when Chise was able to talk with her inner-self and realize how much the other people in her life helped her. She realized that she was loved by her mother. It just so happened that everything became too much. She was able to move on from her trauma.

• I'm glad that Elias was able to realize that he should change his ways when dealing with Chise. 

• I love the wedding dress scene at the end with Elias and Chise. Even if their relationship is weird, I still found them adorable together.

THINGS THAT I WAS CONFUSED BY/DIDN'T LIKE/STILL HAVE QUESTIONS:

• The term Sleigh Baggy wasn't discussed much. I still don't understand what is so special about them and how come they are like that.

• Ashen Eye was a very confusing character. Was he just there to annoy the lead characters? He kept popping up out of nowhere and did random things that put the lead characters in trouble. It absolutely made no sense.

• The scene where Chise transformed into a fox made no sense to me. I get that it was just to tell her that she was free, yadda, yadda, and to show how much she doesn't want to leave Elias. Yet it seemed so useless because she returned immediately.

• The scary spirit in the graveyard surprised the hell out of me. I never want to see that again.

• There is a distinction between sorcerers and mages here, yet I'm confused by their relationships. Sometimes they are mad at each other, yet they were times when they collaborated. It felt weird to me.

• I'm still confused about whether or not Elias knew that Stella was possessed by Cartaphilus when he picked her to be the sacrifice. If he didn't, and he just picked Stella regardless, it was such a wrong thing to do. I get why Chise left him. 

• This is such a petty thing to get angry about, but I dislike the name Chise gave to the Grimm. He was a great character, yet he was named Ruth.

• I think that Renfred and Stella were such useless characters, and I didn't like them. This also applies to the entire witch coven. They just introduced another group of people that had little to no contribution to the story.

• I'm still confused as to whether Cartaphilus/Joseph is still alive or not? Also, did the Cartaphilus fragment inside Chise make her immortal? Or is it just helping her survive the dragon curse?

• I don't understand why Cartaphilus calls Elias as Pilum Muralis? 

• The boobs of some of the female characters seemed disturbingly huge. They were beautiful without focusing on that, so I kind of disliked that aspect.

• Elias and Chise always end up in a misunderstanding because they don't communicate well with one another. I don't like this plot device. It annoys the hell out of me.

• It was mentioned that Chise's father left with her brother. I wonder why that happened. He seemed like a good father. Why would he suddenly leave them?

• I wonder why Elias is a halfling. How did he become neither human, fairy, nor spirit?

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SUMMARY OF EVENTS

1. Elias bought Chise from the auction. She became his apprentice. He took her home and introduced him to Angelica, Silky, and Simon. He informed her that she was a Sleigh Beggy. Someone special to the faeries.
2. Elias and Chise visited Lindel in the Land of the Dragons.
3. They were asked to visit the King of Cats and help with the stagnation that was destroying their town. The stagnation was a man called Matthew, who was tricked by Cartaphilus into murdering cats in the name of his wife. Chise was able to cleanse him and helped him reunite with his wife, Mina, in the afterlife.
4. Chise overused her powers. The king and queen of the fairies came to visit her, and King Oberon woke her up.
5. Someone asked Elias to check out the Grimm in the graveyard. The Grimm saved Chise from a dark spirit. Alice tried to take the Grimm, but Chise put her to sleep. They were attacked by Cartaphilus. He stabbed Alice when she talked about his plans, and also hit Chise. Elias got angry and transformed into a monster. The Grimm became Chise's familiar, and she named him Ruth.
6. Chise and Elias had a misunderstanding because of the things that he wouldn't tell her, and it took a while for him to return back to normal.
7. Lindel asked Chise to return to the Land of Dragons. She was to create her own wand using the branches of Nevin's tree. Lindel told Chise about some of Elias' past. Chise used powerful magic to go back home to Elias.
8. Lindel and Chise were able to talk more about their past and share their feelings. Ashen Eye gave Chise a gift that turned her into a fox. Elias managed to convince her to transform back.
9. Chise decided to create a potion to let Joel see Leanan Sidhe. It was a powerful potion that drained her. She was taken into the Land of the Faeries to be healed by a Faerie Doctor.
10. Christmas came. Elias, Silky, and Chise spent it together.
11. Stella's brother was taken by Ashen Eye. Chise helped her find him. Ashen Eye also took Elias and makes a deal with Chise that if she finds him, he will return Stella's brother.
12. Chise began spending time with Stella, which caused Elias to be jealous. He had a tantrum.
13. Two dragons are kidnapped by Cartaphilus for his experiments. He tried selling them in the auction, and Chise and the others tried to rescue them. One of the dragons became a chimera, and to lessen him, Chise absorbed his magic. It resulted in Chise's hand being mutated, which cut her lifespan shorter.
14. In a witch coven, someone told Elias that he had to sacrifice someone to save Chise. He decided to kidnap Stella and make her as a sacrifice. He did know that Cartaphilus possessed Stella. Chise got angry at Elias, so she left the house with Stella. Because of that, Cartaphilus was able to blackmail her into coming with him.
15. Cartaphilus thought that if he swapped parts with Chise, he would be able to get Chise's short lifespan and give her immortality. Chise dreamt about her childhood and had a confrontation with the version of her mother inside her mind. Chise made a deal with the Cartaphilus fragment inside her to get a longer lifespan.
16. Cartaphilus' past was shown. He was a person who was cursed into being an immortal because he threw stones at Jesus during his crucifixion. He took over Joseph's body, and that's why they are messed up. The brain retained some memories, but he didn't understand what was happening to him. They were always in pain because Cartaphilus' curse doesn't involve staying healthy.
17. Cartaphilus and Chise had a confrontation about their traumatic experiences. Elias and the others arrived as back-up. Chise was able to put Cartaphilus/Joseph to sleep where he can rest properly.
18. Chise and Elias were able to get to an understanding of their situation and feelings. She continued learning.