40 Years of Magical Girls Project

This year, I endeavored on a project to celebrate a genre of cartoons close to my heart: Maho Shoujo, Japanese for "Magical Girl."  Those with a cursory knowledge of Japanese Animation may recognize Sailor Moon as one of these- imported to the United States in the 1990's, she is the most culturally visible of the magical girls, and the most iconic.  Sailor Moon continues to have commercial success all around the world- currently being re-released and marketed in Italy, with the comics retranslated and republished in the United States in the fall.

But Sailor Moon's legacy comes from a long history of characters that shaped the genre she epitomized, dating all the way back to the 1960's.  In 2004, Futari Wa Pretty Cure! (We Are Pretty Cure!) debuted, ushering in a success almost as extensive as Sailor Moon's.

To pay tribute to the genre as it evolved from 1966 until 2004, I painted a poster including 29 characters, spanning those years and including the main characters from series that inspired the genre's evolution.  As part of the 1000 Idols project, I've taken each character and made them into trading cards, and releasing them each week as part of the idols project.

01.Magical Witch Sally

02. Himitsu no Akko-chan

03. Maho Tsukai Chappy

04. Cutie Honey

05. Majokko Megu-chan

06. Hana no Ko LunLun

07. Lalabel

08. Minky Momo

09. Creamy Mami

10. Fairy Persia

11. Magical Emi

12. Pastel Yumi

13. Fancy LaLa

14. Sweet Mint

15. Hime-chan's Ribbon

16. Sailor Moon

17. Hikaru Shidou

18. Wedding Peach

19. Pretty Sammy

20. Revolutionary Girl Utena

21. Card Captor Sakura

22. Corrector Yui

23. White Pretear

24. Puni Puni Poemi

25. Mew Ichigo

26. Princess Tutu

27. Nanoha

28. Pretty Cure

For those of you with more than a cursory knowledge of the Maho Shoujo genre, you're probably asking, "What about Ribon no Kishi?  Princess Sapphire clearly predates Magical Witch Sally!"  To that, I have to say, this project is by no means comprehensive.  I could name another ten characters that could easily be on this poster, but I had to draw the line somewhere.  Sapphire didn't make the cut because I thought her credentials were a little off to be the first one in the series.  Written by a man and not necesarily having magical powers, I do understand her place in the genre, but thought it best to start with Sally. Sapphire's Idol, however, is here, if you want to know more about her.

Thanks for joining me on this adventure.  The painting is 20 x 30 inches on Arches paper, painted with Holbein Gouache.  Poster and trading cards were designed by Peter.