Some details revealed in the October 2012 issue of Animage specifically state that SHAFT’s upcoming “Magical Suite Prism Nana” is “not a magical girl series” – but instead, simply a bishoujo based one with abnormality.
This perhaps confirms two things, the first being that Magical Suite Prism Nana is likely to be a televised series – as else, one has to question why it’s so elaborately formulated. Not to mention, it’s highly doubtful that this is a film – for obvious reasons. It’s very unlikely SHAFT would be outputting another theatrical production beside Madoka Magica – and SHAFT already is not a studio that delivers straight to the big screen.
Now secondly, moving to the subject at hand, and recalling the PV, think back on what it showed us – we explicitly saw the sight of Kantoku’s three cute bishoujos transforming, and yet, this is supposedly “not a magical girl series”. The subsequent result is difficult to comprehend in this case – if the girls can transform, however are not magical girls, one would expect the transformation to be something more encompassing, e.g., human to animal, or essentially shapeshifting.
Then again however, the material we’ve seen thus far could be deceiving in that it’s possibly hardly a trickle of what Prism Nana will be based around – the extent of the transformation, how it relates with the lives of the girls, and what exactly they can transform to, is never touched upon whatsoever.
The potential is still ready to launch at any direction – and it seems we still hardly know any of the truth of this series as of yet, despite what meager pre-release material has been released.
Sep 11, 2012 @ 5:03 CDT
So, if it wasn’t a mahou shoujo show, might it be a bishoujo slice of life show dealing with abnormality and magic ?
Sep 11, 2012 @ 5:07 CDT
Well it’s not about a jungle adventure…
Sep 11, 2012 @ 5:47 CDT
One of the pseudo-mahou shoujos is begging to be cosplayed by Kagami of Lucky Star. She has the proper eyes, hair color, and twin-tails. Perhaps some fan artist will remedy this.
Sep 11, 2012 @ 6:21 CDT
I remember someone said something about this possibly being a series about girls cosplaying as mahou shoujos – doesn’t sound too far-fetched any more.
Sep 11, 2012 @ 6:55 CDT
We gonna get SHAFTed again?
Sep 11, 2012 @ 8:47 CDT
It’s too late now.
Sep 11, 2012 @ 8:11 CDT
Then I can expect some Someday’s Dreamers vibes in this one.
Sep 11, 2012 @ 8:41 CDT
I was going to suggest something possibly like Kobato – not to say they will be the same concept, although I can see similar ideas, particularly in a stupid stuffed animal companion thing and the heroines not being all that they appear.
Sep 11, 2012 @ 8:45 CDT
Come to think of it, there’s transformations, that’s confirmed – and the girls look themed after individual elements, as someone once mentioned on an article. Water, fire, and earth in moe form – I see where this is going.
Sep 11, 2012 @ 9:17 CDT
Maybe it’s the opposite, transient beings different from normal humans struggling to fit in, in a moe way however.
Sep 11, 2012 @ 9:52 CDT
Sounds like Kobato.
Oct 17, 2012 @ 15:14 CDT
Just found this article. What I’m not particularly understanding is; If it’s not a normal Magical Girl series, why does the trailer clearly show them in “Witch-like” dimensions at one point and even fighting a giant monster-like creature.
It just seems like that would be completely pointless to put in the trailer if it has nothing to do with the series.
I can’t read Japanese, and I’m assuming you can and that’s where you got this information from, so I’m just curious as to your thoughts on this.
Oct 17, 2012 @ 17:16 CDT
“‘Witch-like’ dimensions at one point and even fighting a giant monster-like creature.”
So you’re saying “Witch-like dimensions” and fighting “giant monsters” automatically equates to magical girls? That is a small-minded view.
Now I’m certainly not calling you small-minded, although you need to recognize that the individuals who make this series, and this series in particular, are creative individuals. SHAFT is no ordinary studio, no animator should be lacking creativity to begin with, although they set out to make something original – not to make something that adheres to whatever trope standard you have in mind. If it quakes like a duck, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a duck.
Oct 18, 2012 @ 14:15 CDT
No, I’m saying that magical girls fighting monsters is… you know… magical girls. I know that SHAFT is very creative and talented, I’m not suggesting they aren’t. I know they can make magical girls into something totally out-of-the-box and unexpected. Hell, I didn’t think Madoka was going to be anything like it was.
I’m just suggesting that having magical girls fighting monsters is really… magical girl series-like.
I feel like it’s really hard to put into words the way I see it.
If I understand correctly, it’s just going to be unique and nothing like what people expect magical girls to be like, correct?
Oct 18, 2012 @ 16:21 CDT
You’re jumping to the assuming it has anything to do with magical girls.
Nov 14, 2012 @ 20:11 CDT
i hope it’s like a typical magical girl series because the “deconstruction” thing could get really old really fast.