Mahô no tenshi Kurîmî Mami

You don't know what magic means until you have seen this series. They don't make them like this anymore. Yuu is a 'magical girl' that lives a normal life. But then one day she meets a cute creature that gives her the ability to transform into an older girl, Creamy Mami, who will soon become a singing star... From then on she will have to live two very rich lives, with magic to help her.

No ugly alien, no fights with powers used as weapons, the kind of show for which they have lost the recipe. According to cartoon characters nowadays, all boys and girls want to do is fight. Many cartoons I see on TV are now computer generated, which would be fine if it meant better and smoother animation. Unfortunately, it just means cheaper production costs, and actually worse quality !

If you want a show that will make you and your kids dream, sing catchy songs and overall spend a very good time, look for this series and the video sequels... They are all available in DVD in Japan (no subtitles, though), and in France (as "Merveilleuse Creamy" for the dubbed version and as "Creamy Mami" for another box set in Japanese with French subtitles), and... cross your fingers for an American release... some day.

I agree with Greg but not totally. In this series there are also good fighting scenes & ugly monsters (and that's not a bad thing)! Actually, in my opinion: 1. yeah, drawings are 80's (and show different quality depending on which episode, higher or lower, sometimes tremendously high!), yet I think it still can work, even if compared with those strongly "coloured" current anime. Other jap cartoons of the same age & type (magic girls) can't be broadcasted anymore, while Creamy currently is.

(Few words about dressings: of course truly 80's, but many many times seem now days fashion! After almost 30 years!)

2. Monsters: wow this series is X-files in nuce... I mean that a main plot (pop music idol Creamy Mami's career growing in the show business up to movie star vs. Yu's everyday life issues) develops through the series by using different genres in each episode in a rondo like way (sf, fantasy, ghost story, then again sf, fantasy, gangster movie and so on).

3. Legends (also urban) and main sf & fantasy topics are well known to authors - evidence by their use more than by quotations. It crosses the ordinary life of a family and a business Company in familiar though lacquered Japan of the 80's with suspense, thrilling, sense of wonder - where a locus amoenus always brings a Verfremdungseffekt. Ironic in not trite way, this series is really enjoyable by adults I think.