This panel looks into a wide array of magical girls - their history, deconstruction and appropriation in American culture. Since Osamu Tezuka's Princess Knight, magical girls have explored gender, female friendship and sexuality. Magical girls have been a key innovator for the shoujo genre.
Through superhero thematics and magical powers, female characters are empowered, but also face personal struggles. Sexuality - both straight and queer - has always been a prominent theme in these stories. Recent series such as Shoujo Kakumei Utena and Puella Magi Madoko Magica explicitly address this but also bring a dark edge to the genre.
Hosts: Nicolle Lamerichs, Tamara van Staalduinen.
This lecture will be held on Saturday the 10th of June from 20:30 - 21:30 in Antarctica / G & P Collectibles Room.