The explosive popularity of the Harry Potter franchise in recent decades has helped spread the influence of the wizardry genre in the entertainment industry. Considering how the wizardry genre has such a large fan base, it was about time an anime, Mashle: Magic and Muscles, came along to serve those fans.
The plot of this particular anime revolves around our protagonist Mash Burnedead, someone who, while cannot use magic, has been gifted with superhuman strength. Mash has been challenged by the authorities to become a Divine Visionary, a title granted to whoever graduates from Easton Magic Academy, and the series revolves around his journey of the same.
It is easily observable how much influence and inspiration has been taken from the Harry Potter franchise while crafting the series. Following are five obvious references and inspiration taken from the famous series, making it a perfect watch for a Potterhead:
5) Episode Titles
The primary reference that Mashle: Magic and Muscles makes to Harry Potter is from the book titles. It is very noticeable how the episode titles have been cleverly named as if it was a Harry Potter book. An example of the same can be observed in the very first episode, titled “Mash Burnedead and the Body of the Gods“.
4) The Scar
The most noticeable feature of the Harry Potter franchise was the lightning scar placed on Harry’s forehead. The scar holds a high significance in the original franchise as well as in Mashle: Magic and Muscles.
In the world of this particular anime, everyone is born with or without a scar, determining if they can do magic or not, respectively. Mash’s scar in particular is a fake one placed to make him blend with other magicians. His scar, placed on his left cheek, is also very similar to the lightning one Harry Potter had.
Also Read: Not Just Akira Toriyama, Another Mangaka Deserves the Credit For Kamehameha in Dragon Ball
3) The Theme
It would be quite obvious by now how the theme of the anime primarily revolves around magic. While Mashle: Magic and Muscles does come off as an anime from the Shōnen genre, it remains quite similar to Harry Potter, where both the protagonists have embarked on a journey to prove their worth.
2) Multiple References
The scar and the episode titles are not the only references that this particular anime takes. The castle of the Easton Magic Academy is a lot similar to the magic academy of Hogwarts in the original Harry Potter series. Even the game of Quidditch has been used as inspiration and made into “Duelo” instead for the anime.
1) Similar Backstories Of The Protagonists
One of the most prominent similarities between the two series is the similar backstory of Harry Potter as well as Mash Burnedead. While arguably, Mash does have a loving adoptive father as opposed to Harry Potter, they both were orphaned when they were infants, giving them an almost identical backstory.
Also Read: “There were times when it was very hard”: Inaki Godoy on His Struggle Playing Luffy in Netflix’s One of the Most Expensive Shows
The plot of Mashle: Magic and Muscles is often debated to be a mockery of the Harry Potter franchise, which is one of the many reasons it makes a perfect anime to watch as if you are a Potterhead as it offers the storyline from another perspective.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
