This Article is about the (Fanon) 4Kids dub of Madoka Magica. For the comic series reboot, see Magical Molly! (Comic Series)
- "Magic is the true power of friendship."
- ―The slogan of the Japanese dub of Magical Molly
| Magical Molly! | |
|---|---|
| |
| Despite the series' success, it was still a failure. | |
| Kanji | マジカル☆モリー！ |
| TV Series information | |
| Directed by | Akiyuki Shinbo |
| Producers | Atsuhiro Iwakami
Norman J. Grossfeld (Exclusive) |
| Writers | Gen Urobuchi (Original), Jim Malone, Matthew Ordek, Ted Lewis |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Airdate | July 2013 (USA)
January 2014 (Japan) |
| Languages | English (4Kids Dub)
Japanese (SHAFT) |
| Music By | 4Kids Entertainment featuring Kajiura Yuki
ZIZZ STUDIO |
| Picture format | 4:3, 720p (1st & 2nd Episodes in the first broadcast)
16:9, 1080p (Later broadcasts) |
| Opening Theme | English Version
Japanese Version
|
| Closing Theme | English Version
Japanese Version
|
| Studio | SHAFT |
| Distributor | 4Kids Entertainment
Magica Quartlet (since 2014) |
| Original Channel | USA:
Japan
|
| Original Run | August - October 19 (Episodes 1-10)
November 2013 (Episodes 11-12) |
Magical Molly! is a TV series distributed by 4Kids Entertainment & SHAFT. The series is the second English dubbed version of the popular Anime series, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and is targeted towards children rather than adults like the original series. Magical Molly! was introduced as part of 4Kids' "4Kids 4Ever!" lineup, an ill-fated attempt to bring back 4Kids' success in the late 90s and early 2000s. All anime shows in the lineup were targeted towards teenagers and adults in their original incarnation, such as Friends with the Titans (Attack on Titan) and SCISSORlaSCISSOR (KILLlaKILL).
The series' original airdate is intended to be at 2012, but it was pushed to 2013 instead.
An Alternate Universe comic series loosely based on the dub in planned. Strangely, an Animated "reboot" of the Magical Molly! series based on the comic series is planned. (Tentative)
Since December 2013, 4Kids dropped the license. However it doesn't stop the HUB reruns of the show, the comic series adaption, & the merchandising. (Same goes as the ask blog itself.) in 2014, Magica Quartlet currently owns the series' concept.
Summary
Molly Kelley, a normal schoolgirl, has her life turn upside down when she meets Cubey, an alien from outer space who can grant wishes to any girl. But, a Magical Girl called Hilda is trying to stop Molly from making that wish to Cubey...
Episodes
The first 6 Episodes are "family-friendly" due to censorship. However the last second-half are totally dark and somehow serious (despite the censorship made), compared to the previous Episodes aired.
The Japanese version of the dub begins to air in Japan in 2014 via NicoNico Douga & Youtube (username:: MagicalMollyJP), making the redub's release as an ONA (Original Net animation). After the streaming, the series began to premiere in TV Tokyo, MBS, & AT-X, for a limited time only.
The redub's Opening is Colorful by ClariS (which is also the opening of the movie: PMMM - The Rebellion Story). The Ending theme is Connect (Orchestra ver.)
- Episode 1: Molly's new day
- Japanese: 彼女の夢の中で謎の少女 (The mysterious girl in her dreams)
- Episode 2: A Promise to make
- Japanese: あなたの本当の願いは何ですか？ (What's your true wish?)
- Episode 3: Maria's last battle?
- Japanese: マリアの最終決戦？ (Maria's Final Battle?)
- Episode 4: The sword-wielding Magical Girl
- Japanese: 剣と青髪の魔法少女 (The Blue-haired Magical Girl with swords)
- Episode 5: Kacey, the red-haired Magical Girl
- Japanese: 赤髪の魔法少女：ケイシー (The Red-haired Magical Girl: Kacey)
- Episode 6: The Fight
- Japanese: 2魔法少女の間で決めるバトル（？）(A deciding battle (?) between two Magical girls)
- Episode 7: Sabrina's Despair
- Part 1 Japanese: 究極の絶望 (The Ultimate Despair)
- Episode 8: The shocking truth
- Part 2 Japanese: サブリナの終焉 (Sabrina's demise)
- Episode 9: The Mermaid Knight Witch
- (Japanese: 人魚騎士魔女が登場！(The Mermaid Knight witch appears!)
- Episode 10: Prelude
- Japanese: 前奏曲：魔法少女の暗黒の秘密！(Prelude: The Dark Secret of the Magical Girls!)
- Episode 11: Hilda's decision
- (Japanese: 究極のクライマックス！ヒルダVSワルプルギス! (The Ultimate Climax! Hilda vs Walpurgis!)
- Episode 12: Farewell, Molly
- Japanese: 最終決戦！モリーの別れ！ (The final battle! Molly's farewell!)
The 11th & 12th Episodes are delayed of airing in October due to the premiere of Madoka Magica: The Rebellion Story in Japan. The last two Episodes are to air this November.
The Episodes are later remastered (New opening/closing themes, error fixes, etc) for the Blu-ray Collector's box.
Spells of Rebellion Finale Trilogy
Spells of Rebellion is a proclaimed finale trilogy of the dubbed series. the last 3 Episodes were retooled & dubbed from the popular film Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Rebellion Story. The dub was finished, but it was taken down due to the finale trilogy being too graphic. The series' script & production notes were recoved from the guide book: Magical Molly! The Complete Works.
- Episode 13: Illusion
- Episode 14: False Happiness
- Episode 15: Finale: Rebellion
Trivia/Notes
- The film/finale trilogy had the working title "The Final Nightmare".
- The trilogy is said to be written as a "tie-in" of the comic series. However this doesn't work.
Characters
- Main Characters:
- Other Characters:
- Hilary Samantha
- Kyle Knowles
- Naomi Morgan (movie only)
- The Kelley family
- Judy Kelley
- Thomas Kelley
- Taylor Kelley
- Kacey Stevens' Family (Flashback only)
- Witches:
- The Garden Witch (Episode 1)
- The Garden Witch's minions
- The Desert Witch (Episode 3)
- The Desert Witch's minions
- The TV Witch (Episode 4)
- The TV Witch's minions
- An unknown witch's minions (Episode 5, 8)
- The Shadow Witch (Episode 7-8)
- The Mermaid Knight Witch (Episode 9-10)
- The Ultimate Clockwork Witch (Episode 1, 10, 11, 12)
- The Ultimate Clockwork Witch Minions (Ep 11-12)
- The Nutcracker Witch (movie only)
- The Garden Witch (Episode 1)
Censorships
The show contains a heavy censorships like:
- Name changes (Mainly)
- Removing religious undertones.
- Editing deaths.
- Removal of Japanese words, but they keep English ones.
However unlike the other 4Kids Dubs, the censorship in this show was also took under control by SHAFT & Magica Quartet itself.
Japanese Version
The series was redubbed in Japanese by SHAFT in 2014, under the title in the same name (マジカル☆モリー！Majikaru☆Morī!). Due to the fact that a straight 4Kids-style dub of Madoka would be even more unsuccessful in Japan, the show was dubbed as a semi-comedic parody of the original series and of American dubbing in general. This version is marketed towards fans of the original Madoka Magica rather than children, and attempts to slot itself into the continuity of the original Madoka Magica. Although most of the original Madoka voice actors return to their roles (save for Homura/Hilda), the characters retain their 4Kids dub names (though occasionally the original Japanese names are used in jokes). The Japanese version, in a bit of irony, is a more humorous version of the English dub. The script adds various jokes aimed at adult audiences and Madoka fans, similar to the American Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series, and also lampoons American dubs of anime and anime fandom in general. While all visual censorship is left intact, the characters often joke about their original uncensored fates (for example, there are numerous jokes about Mary losing her head in Episode 3).
Like the 2010 Promo Store Anime series Anime Tenchou The Movie & Tenchou X Touhou, the re-dubbed series' airing is merely private.
Differences between the English and Japanese versions
Additionally, the Japanese dub of Magical Molly! ties into the canon of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, as explained in Episode 10. Here, it is revealed that the original Homura Akemi accidentally created Magical Molly! herself during one time loop during a witch chase by spilling coffee onto the laptop of a 4Kids executive who was about to license Rocket Monsters, a Pokémon-like children's series. The incident caused a bug with his computer that caused him to license Madoka instead, creating the Magical Molly! universe. The Japanese dub uses a small amount of new animation by SHAFT for these additional plot points.
In the final episode, Princess Molly becomes aware of the original Madoka Magica series, and decides to reset the timeline and erase the coffee incident, allowing the main canon of Puella Magi Madoka Magica to occur.
Amusingly, the Japanese dub was originally presented to the Madoka voice actresses as a straight re-translation targeted towards children, much to their dismay. But when they read the real script, they "had a lot of fun with it" in their own words, leading to lots of humor and ad-libbing.
Comparison between formats in different versions
In the Youtube Broadcast of the Japanese dub, ihe picture format is cropped into 4:3, and still retains the 16:9 picture format (But it adds the narrow pictures of the characters from the show (right) & the series' title (in Japanese) with the Episode titles in Japanese (Left). The NicoNico Douga Broadcast remains the same 16:9 Picture format.
Homages/References to the other 4Kids Dubs
The censorship in this series also paid tons of homages to the previous 4kids Dubs:
- One Piece:
- Both of the dubbed series' sloppy editing is extremely similar. (They are NOT OVER-CENSORING, they are just plain idiots, what do you expect? )
- Sayaka's finisher, Ultimate Slash, is a reference to Zoro's Ultimate Three Swords.
- Somehow the violence is kept (for example: Gun/Sword fights), but only toned down, 4Kids style.
- Dragon Ball Z Kai:
- The Series' opening is Connect in English Translated version (Later an Instrumental version of Colorful is used in the reruns/Blu-ray Remaster).
- The death scenes like Mami being bitten by Charlotte is cut.
- Adding sparkles in explosions.
- Yu-Gi-Oh:
- The quote: "Believe in the heart of the Magical Girls" is a nod to "The Heart of the Cards".
- Sayaka's line: "Is that a witch, or just a dessert topping?" is a homage to Yami Bakura's quote.
- Sonic X:
- The weapons from Magical Molly is uncensored, however they are added with laser/beam sound effects.
Other Homages
- Although not being a 4Kids dub, the name changes used from the Japanese name's first intials are a homage to Funimation's dub of Case Closed (Detective Conan), for example: Ran Mori = Rachel Moore.
- The violence (Even though they had dumbed it down) in this dub is similar to Adness Entertainment's Kamen Rider Dragon Knight, which was also aired in CW4Kids.
Manga/Comic Adaption
A Japanese manga adaption in the same name, illustrated by Gun-P (Mori Koichiro & Sakura Akami), serialized in Manga Time Kirara Magica with other mainstream Madoka materials. However the manga isn't made into a tankōbon (standalone book).
Additionally, a one-shot manga comic was released depicting an episode of Rocket Monsters, the show-within-a-show that 4Kids was supposed to license rather than Madoka Magica in the Japanese dub of Episode 10.
Magica Quartlet X IDW Publishing adaption
Just hoped that this series is still better than the dub.
A Comic series in the same name, published by Magica IDW (Previously Magica Comics before it's merging with IDW Publishing). The comic's story is (somehow) similar to the original dub, but with different & all new storylines.
Compared to the 4kids dub, the series contains a fewer (sometimes many) references of Madoka Magica itself.
The series currently ran in 100 issues.
Spin-off
Two spin-offs was made based on the comic series:
- Sabrina & Kacey, a slice-of-life story starring Sabrina, Kacey & Yuma as main characters.
- Magical Knight Hilda (tentative name), a new comic series which serves as a spin-off, which it focuses on Hilda (with a new look) departs on her own adventure, after her exile to Molly's team.
Gallery
Character data
Others
Staff and Cast
Staff
Director
- Akiyuki Shinbo (12 Episodes)
Producers
- Atsuhiro Iwakami
- Norman J Grossfeld (Exclusive)
Writers
- Gen Urobuchi (12 Episodes)
- Ted Lewis
- Matthew Ordek
- Jim Malone
Music
- 4Kids Entertainment ft Yuki Kajiura
- ZIZZ STUDIO
Cast
- Rebecca Honig as Molly Kelley (Aoi Yuki in the Japanese version)
- Bella Hudson as Hilda Adams (Chiwa Saito in the Japanese Version)
- Kayzie Rogers as Maria Thompson (Kaori Mizuhashi in the Japanese version)
- Tara Strong as Sabrina Mickey (Eri Kitamura in the Japanese version)
- Lisa Ortiz as Kacey Stevens (Ai Nonaka in the Japanese Version)
- Amy Birnbaum as Cubey (Emiri Katou in the Japanese Version)
Music
- 4Kids English Dub:
- Opening = Connect (English Ver, TV Size)
- Colorful (instrumental, Blu-ray Box Remaster version)
- Closing = Luminous (Short Instrumental ver)
- Connect (Instrumental, Blu-ray Box remaster version)
- Opening = Connect (English Ver, TV Size)
- Japanese dub:
- Opening = ClariS - Colorful (TV Size)
- Closing 1 = Connect (Orchestral ver.) (Episodes 1-11)
- Closing 2 = Colorful (Episode 12)
Merchandise & Products
See: Magical Molly! Merchandise & Products
Reception
4Kids you are absolute scum, a disgusting rat of a corporation. How dare you. How DARE YOU! You have ruined the masterpiece that is PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA not Magical Molly. Not to mention other animes that you have tainted with your script changes which aren't true to the real works and the abominational editing. You have ruined countless anime series and now with this you have ruined the entire medium of anime. You are all vulgar maggots and a horrible company. You disgust me and I hate you
~A Tumblr user, in response to Magical Molly!
We apologize to all anime fans, young and old, for our poor treatment of our newest property, Magical Molly! From this point on, we will give Molly and her friends a brand-new face as a darker series that children and adults, boys and girls alike can enjoy.
~Norman J. Grossfeld
Magical Molly was very poorly received by the anime fandom, due to the numerous edits and cuts made to the show, similar to 4Kids' other dubs including One Piece and Date A Live. Additionally, many of the disturbing scenes in the original were not properly edited out, thus scaring the show's target audience of children and leading to complaints from parent groups. Until the second half of the series was aired any say that, if not for Aniplex's pre-existing Madoka dub, the franchise would have effectively been buried in the West thanks to 4Kids.
"As usual, the series is magically horrible compared to their dub of One Piece."
~An anonymous reviewer
"I think 4Kids entertainment had responded to many "What if 4Kids Dubbed X" jabs..."
~A Madoka Magica fan
Strangely the second half of the dub recieved mixed reviews, despite the censorship and Americanization. While still poorly-received by fans of the original Madoka Magica, casual viewers tended to enjoy the show more, as it took on a tone similar to 4Kids' own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon rather than its anime dubs. A similar occurrence happened with Breath Note, where instead of making people sneeze, the Breath Note caused people to come down with a severe, incapacitating cold, with the series attempting to emulate the original dark tone of Death Note.
Overall, Magical Molly!, along with Breath Note, Freestylin', Friends with the Titans, Casey and Friends, Kirsten's Splendid Journey, Stevey and his Robot Pals and SCISSORlaSCISSOR, resulted in a second round of financial losses for 4Kids. This caused them to cancel further marketing plans, including a "4Kids and Friends LIVE" touring stage show, and sell the rights to their anime dubs.
However, the Japanese version was gag-dubbed in a manner similar to the English-language Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series, and has become a cult favorite with Japanese and Western Madoka fans. This, in turn, has led to numerous unofficial English fandubs of the Japanese version, including one by LittleKuriboh himself and featuring a few of Aniplex's English Madoka voice actresses.
Despite this, the dub's soundtrack, composed by 4Kids Entertainment featuring Yuki Kajiura, recieved positive reviews. A fan slated the music is more better than the unfitting music used in the 4kids dub of One Piece & Mew Mew Power.
It was revealed that Magical Molly! is the 2nd most successful 4Kids dub after Pokemon.
Rating
The series currently rated 5.6 out of 10.
Trivia
- This is the first 4Kids Dub series being re-dubbed in Japanese, the second one is the Date A Live: THE MOVIE (Save that for the dubbed series).
- However the Japanese re-dub was never available in the Home Video Releases. However the videos are available online thanks to the decoders.
- The dub's music is also collabrated with the original composer of Madoka Magica: Kajiura Yuki.
- The dub's opening Music: Connect, translated in English, is used for the series. Don't expect any One Piece Rap-like themes anyway.
- The Japanese redub's opening: Colorful by ClariS, is featured.
- This dub is the second dubbed series to be aired in High Definition.
- The second half of the series homages the dark nature of Don Bluth's animated movies.
- This series is the very first 4Kids Dub aired on the Hub Network.
- This series was also the first 4Kids Dub to have a Blu-ray Release.
- The secondary music composer, ZIZZ STUDIO, which also worked for Madoka Magica Portable's music.
- Kacey and Maria appear in the second "The Stars of 4Kids Sing the National Anthem" video.
- Like the other 4Kids 4Ever! shows, the dub presented 4Kids' attempt to change their dubbing practices for the better by retaining similar music to the original and keeping some darker elements. However, 4Kids' insistence on name changes, censorship and Americanization led to their (second) downfall.
- A 4Kids dubbed print of Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion exists, but was never released due to financial losses. Footage of it was never seen until a vlogger managed to get his hands on the print, brutally criticizing it in a subsequent YouTube video review.
- Magical Molly! and the other 4Kids 4Ever dubs are a popular subject for YouTube Poops, bizarre and comical YouTube video remixes.
- The series in the second 4Kids dub to recieve a PG rating, after Mew Mew Power.