Magical Suite Prism Nana: New Shaft original anime project

[something]

http://www.prism-nana.com/ (at the time of posting this, the site is overloaded and unavailable)
http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-11040.html

Shaft + magical girls + original again, perhaps? I almost hope it's not mahou shoujo just so people don't incessantly compare it to Madoka, but it definitely does look like one. And I'm sure I'll love it no matter what. Also loving what looks like it *must* be Kantoku designs.

Edit: Kantoku designs confirmed.

[MelancholicMariya]

Yes. I will give you everything I own for this, Shinbo. (it's very likely it's Shinbo anyway.)

Also, I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing Kantoku designs.

[HitokiriShadow]

Anime original Shaft magical girl series?

When can I pre-order?

[superdry]

While it is SHAFT, I am more interested in this project because it looks like Kantoku is doing the character designs. He's one of my favorite artists at the moment.

[Draneor]

Designs by Kantoku would have me interested. Although being Shaft/Shinbo, I suppose there's a good chance I wouldn't like it.Mahou shoujo was always a genre I was super-picky about (save for reading Ribbon manga). Also, being similar to Madoka--which is what most people seem to want--is also a risk factor.

[MelancholicMariya]

Originally Posted by Draneor

Also, being similar to Madoka--which is what most people seem to want--is also a risk factor.

I'd rather not have another grim Mahou Shoujo series while Madoka Magica is still relevant/on-going. I want this to be just straight up magical girls doing magical stuff with a SHAFT twist on it. Or hey it could be a fairly heartfelt sappy tale. I don't want it to be dark at all. I've had my fill.

[Draneor]

Originally Posted by MelancholicMariya

I'd rather not have another grim Mahou Shoujo series while Madoka Magica is still relevant/on-going. I want this to be just straight up magical girls doing magical stuff with a SHAFT twist on it.

Dunno. I think you have to go where the money is. Especially with original anime productions. Well, I suppose it depends on who is funding it.

[MelancholicMariya]

Originally Posted by Draneor

Dunno. I think you have to go where the money is. Especially with original anime productions. Well, I suppose it depends on who is funding it.

But would any company really make the same studio do the same thing again? I understand chasing the money, but SHAFT can do all sorts of things especially with it's unique directing from Shinbo. (not that other studios can't do what SHAFT does.)

[Draneor]

Originally Posted by MelancholicMariya

But would any company really make the same studio do the same thing again? I understand chasing the money, but SHAFT can do all sorts of things especially with it's unique directing from Shinbo. (not that other studios can't do what SHAFT does.)

That's a good point. I'm not sure a classic Mahou Shoujo would be a good investment in this market, but perhaps they could be moving an entirely different direction (or like something said).

[something]

Originally Posted by MelancholicMariya

I'd rather not have another grim Mahou Shoujo series while Madoka Magica is still relevant/on-going. I want this to be just straight up magical girls doing magical stuff with a SHAFT twist on it. Or hey it could be a fairly heartfelt sappy tale. I don't want it to be dark at all. I've had my fill.

It could, of course, be a stealth entry into the larger Madoka Magica universe. It might not even need to be directly marketed as such initially, but could gradually tie in to the same themes and world framework. Urobuchi is supposed to have a mystery original anime coming this Fall (do we know anything at all about it yet?)

That's a long shot of course. I doubt they'd try the same "Surprise, Urobuchi!" thing again since it'd just get leaked like Madoka.

But I don't think they'd create an entirely new IP using the same approach as Madoka just yet. Not without tying it into Madoka somehow.

So most likely, this won't be a super-serious mahou shoujo show.

Or, again, might not be a mahou shoujo (strictly speaking) show at all. No reason these girls couldn't be in a My:HiME-like show, or other bishoujo fantasy action series. If we start seeing a lot of cute mascots and transformations, then ok, it's probably mahou shoujo.

...Still, Prism Nana is suuuuuuuuuuch a mahou shoujo-sounding title. I guess Prisma Illya coming out soon also influences that the perception.