Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins

Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins is a unique animated comedy series that first premiered on the SyFy network in 2020. This whimsical and fiercely feminist series, brought to life by creators Kelsey Stephanides and produced by Screen Novelties, mixes elements of magical realism with a fresh, twenty-first-century sensibility. It integrates traditional magical girl-genre tropes with contemporary themes, engaging dialogues, and adult humor offering viewers a fun, relatable, and decidedly modern take on the genre.

The storyline centers on two regular twenty-something-year-olds, Alex and Daisy, who lead ordinary lives, grappling with underpaid jobs, annoying roommates, overflowing laundry, failed dates, and life in a shared apartment in New York. However, life takes an abrupt magical turn when they're chosen by a diminutive, adorable red panda named Nut who propels them into an unexpected adventure. This mysterious creature from another dimension bestows upon them magical-girl powers, and the duo is tasked with an enormous responsibility: saving the universe from unknown forces of evil. They are expected to juggle their humdrum lives with their new responsibilities as chosen defenders of the multiverse. The way they stumble, learning to harness their powers, while also handling their everyday problems, forms the crux of the animated series.

A primary aspect that distinguishes Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins is its intelligent, snarky humor infused into the narrative, catering predominantly to an adult audience. The dialogues are realistically witty, culminating in a comedic-satirical output, making light of current social issues, pressures from the world of social media, or the millennial way of life. The plotline is over-the-top and outlandish, unfolding in an increasingly wacky and bizarre universe, yet deeply ingrained in a millennial reality.

The two main characters, Alex (voiced by Anna Akana) and Daisy (voiced by Quinta Brunson) are multidimensional, well-realized individuals with fleshed-out personalities, making them easily relatable to the audience. Alex, the introverted comic-geek, struggles with her job at a vintage clothing store, while the extroverted Daisy is often seen fighting with her never-satisfied bosses.

Despite their differing personalities, the chemistry between Alex and Daisy is palpable. Their friendship forms the backbone of the series, and despite their often chaotic messes, the viewers will find their loyalty and mutual support heartwarming and authentic. As a toast to female relationships, the series explores the nuances of female friendships, making space for vulnerability and contradiction, while also packing a lot of humor and action.

Visually, Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins brings an interesting visual aesthetic to the table. Its bright, colorful animation style is a mix of Saturday morning cartoons and Japanese anime. This provides a compelling visual environment for the eye-popping action sequences and set designs that the series offers. The animation also does a great job in detailing the magical transformations or the larger-than-life villains that our protagonists face.

The series also deserves commendation for its inclusive and diverse representation. It not only emphasizes strong, complex female characters but also includes characters from different ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and body types. It features a variety of themes, which includes sexuality, alienation, and self-discovery but always from a realistic and respectful viewpoint.

Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins is engaging, edgy, and entertaining, offering an alternative perspective on the traditionally child-oriented 'magical-girl' genre. It’s a blend of everyday millennial problems, magical adventures, and female friendships that ensures to keep you hooked till the end.

Whether you are a fan of animated series, a millennial struggling with adulting, or just someone who enjoys tales of friendship, magic, and adventure from a fresh, modern perspective, this SyFy series offers something for everyone. Its original voice, off-beat humor, and audacious plotlines make Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins a must-watch.