The Maternal King: Scheherazade’s Rearing of Reim

(This is part four of the essay series “What Makes a King: Monarchical Representations in Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. Link to the introduction and essay outline can be found here.) “Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.” -Robert Browning Regardless of any kind of story told through any kind of medium, whether the medium be literature or […]

Disenchanted Magic: Racism and Persecution in Magnostadt

(This is part three of the essay series “What Makes a King: Monarchical Representations in Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. Link to the introduction and essay outline can be found here.) In a discussion about kingship, it seems counter-intuitive to turn to Magnostadt, a country that differs from previously mentioned countries in so many ways. For one thing, […]

Kou and Empire: The Squalor of Imperialism

(This is part two of the essay series “What Makes a King: Monarchical Representations in Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. Link to the introduction and essay outline can be found here.) It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Magi. And unlike the coastal, debt-crippled country of Balbadd, the Kou Empire’s the top dog in the neighborhood. It’s of little surprise that their […]

Why Balbadd Failed: Negotiating Empathy and Difference

(This is part one of the essay series “What Makes a King: Monarchical Representations in Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. Link to the introduction and essay outline can be found here.) I know you’re the one who can do it! Because you’re a brave person who risks everything to save others, no matter what! Because […]

What Makes a King: Monarchical Representations in Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic (Introduction)

And now for something completely different… As Magi: The Kingdom of Magic heads into its final story arc for season 2, I can look back on both seasons as a whole and say with confidence that Magi is a thoughtfully entertaining anime. Though long-time anime fans may pass up Magi as another copycat shonen fantasy in the vein of […]

Black and White Dragons: Of Children and Evil Mothers in Magi: The Kingdom of Magic

On the ninth day of anime, an anime studio sent to me… …nine dashing Sindrian warriors. (All right, this one was a bit of a stretch, considering that this post will feature intensive coverage of a member outside of this party.) And now onto, Magi: The Kingdom of Magic, the sequel to Magi: The Labyrinth […]