Magical realism is a style of anime that often features a mashup of realistic settings and situations with fantastical or otherwise out-of-the-ordinary components. In this subgenre of anime, characters often exhibit magical abilities despite living in a realistic setting. Magic realism is used to address philosophical and psychological difficulties while also creating a unique and strange ambiance.
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Characters in coming-of-age novels often display elements of magic realism as they come to terms with and harness their unique abilities. Characters are often put in sticky moral situations and required to figure out how to put their talents to use for the greater good, making it fertile ground for exploring ideas like self-discovery, destiny, and morality.
8Tatami Galaxy
The protagonist ofTatami Galaxyis an unnamed third-year college student who tries to live a happy and successful life but is constantly foiled by unfortunate circumstances. He is stuck in a downward spiral of regret and doesn’t know how to get out.
He meets a mysterious older man in a ramen shop who offers him the chance to relive his college years in a number of different alternate universes, each with its own unique set of events. While traveling between worlds, he learns about himself and discovers the secret to lasting joy.
7Clannad
Tomoya Okazaki, the protagonist of the animeClannad, is an unpopular high school senior with a strained relationship with his father and no friends. Tomoya’s life takes a turn he didn’t expect when he meets a mysterious girl. Slowly, she pulls him into the strange and wonderful world of the five members of the student drama club, where he grows as a person, makes new friends, and may even fall in love.
During the season, the relationships between the characters get more complicated and nuanced. This leads to a series of heartbreaking events anda touching ending.
6Death Note
Magical realism describesDeath Note, one of the most-watched anime ever made. Yagami Light, the protagonist ofDeath Note, is a normal high school student who, until he got a Death Note that gave him the power to kill people, lived his life as usual.
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When used as intended, the death note can end a person’s life in a way no other notebook has before. As Death Note shows, the presence of the supernatural and the talents it bestows have a long-lasting effect on humanity and the world at large.
5Detective Conan
The story ofDetective Conanrevolves around Shinichi Kudo, a high school student, and amateur detective who was transformed into a child by poison administered by a criminal group known as the Black Organization.Shinichi, a young investigator, is on a mission to track them down and solve any number of cases that come his way.
Ultimately, he was successful thanks to the assistance of the Detective Boys, Ran Mouri, Kogoro Mouri, and Shinichi himself. A number of law enforcement officials, including Inspector Megure, Wataru Takagi, and Miwako Sato, are on his side. Kogoro Mouri, a private investigator who doesn’t know who Shinichi really is, helps out sometimes as well.
4Baccano!
Set in the 1930s, the story is primarily recounted from the perspectives of a large cast of individuals. The story follows a wide range of characters, including alchemists, thieves, gangsters, mob bosses, reporters, and even the police, as they get involved in many different plots and events that happen in different places and times.
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There’s a lot of excitement, suspense, and mystery in the plot. As our heroes investigate the legend surrounding this mysterious liquid, they draw closer to uncovering its secrets. As the story progresses, the characters become entangled in a web of events that will determine the fate of the world, and they must confront the consequences of their actions and the shadows of their pasts.
3Paranoia Agent
Shonen Bat, the main character ofthe psychological animeParanoia Agent, is a mysterious little boy who is the prime suspect in a series of seemingly unrelated attacks across Tokyo. When it becomes clear that the attacks were caused by the victims' mental health problems, the police are left with a hard puzzle to solve.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the attacks are symbolic of the victims' deepest fears and that Shonen Bat is a creation of their own minds. Anxiety, mental illness, and social isolation in metropolitan settings are only some of the topics discussed in the show, along with the various coping mechanisms that its characters employ.
2Erased
The plot ofErasedrevolves around Satoru, a seemingly ordinary man who has led a life full of sorrow but is given the chance to start over and rediscover happiness. The 29-year-old went back in time 18 years to try to save his mother and his childhood friends from the murderer who is waiting for them, as well as the disaster that is sure to befall them.
Erasedis a compelling blend of reality and fantasybecause of how suddenly Satoru’s life changed and how the only way he could have a chance at a new life was by using his ability to revive others.
1Madoka Magica
For those anime fans unfamiliar withMadoka Magica, it tells the tale of Madoka Kaname, a young girl who is granted a desire by a mysterious creature named Kyubey. Kyubey promises Madoka one wish if she agrees to become a magical girl and battle witches, who are created when human wants are given life.
Madoka sets out on a quest to learn the secrets of the magical world with the help of her closest friend Sayaka Miki and two other magical girls, Homura Akemi and Mami Tomoe, and ultimately to try to save the world from its imminent catastrophe. Madoka discovers the tragic truth about the fate of all magical girls as well as the true nature of witches on her journeys.
