Mashle: Magic and Muscles is a parody that was done right. You don’t even have to go past the first 10 minutes of the anime to know that it is a Harry Potter rip-off. But its adorable (dumb) protagonist makes it stand out from any other parody or comedy series.
Honestly, how many series have you watched that have visibly taken so many elements from a famous franchise and still managed to become famous? From the muscle-headed Mash to his equally silly friends, the anime does not miss a single beat to make you laugh.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into some of the major similarities between Mashle and Harry Potter that stare you in the face.
The Similar Lightning-Shaped Mark on Mash and Harry’s Face
One of the biggest similarities between Harry Potter and Mashle is the markings on their faces. Harry has carried a lightning-shaped scar on his temple since childhood, a reminder of Voldemort’s murder attempt. Mash does not have a scar, but he has to paint a lightning-shaped mark on his face to blend in, otherwise he will be exterminated.
Both the marks symbolize how Mash and Harry are different than the rest. Mash has no magical powers and has to hide his muggle status while Harry is an outcast in the magical world due to his late introduction and peculiar origin.
Mash and Harry try their level best to blend in with the others and, in the process, find very strong friendships. Their marks not only symbolize that they are an outcast, but later in the series, they show how special the protagonists are.
Mashle Episode Titles Follow the Style of Harry Potter Book Names
Here are some examples of Harry Potter book names: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, etc. Now here are examples of Mashle’s episode titles: Mash Burnedead and the Body of the Gods, Mash Burnedead and the Mysterious Maze, and Mash Burnedead and the Baleful Bully. Notice any similarity?
Yes, their naming style is exactly the same! The protagonist’s name is followed by the main event of the installment. This naming style has been willfully adapted to solidify the parody even more. This allusion is done so well that you can notice it right away. In fact, it adds more humor to the already hilarious anime.
Other Similarities Between Harry Potter and Mashle
There are several similarities between Mashle and Harry Potter. The first one being that both protagonists don’t have a parent and were brought up by someone else. The Daily Prophet, which is the name of the peculiar newspaper company in Harry Potter has also been copied. The newspapers in Mashle are also styled the same way with moving images and a read-aloud feature.
The presence of four different houses and the sorting hat are the same. But Mashle did try to change it up just a bit, by having a sorting unicorn. Both work in the same manner and sort people based on their capabilities and thoughts.
Next is Professor Dumbledore, who has been ruthlessly copied into Wahlberg, the principal who takes an instant liking to Mash. The students in Mashle play a game called Duelo, which is basically Quidditch but in anime form. Both Harry and Mash turn out to be spectacular players in it.
The fact that Mashle is inspired by Harry Potter is evident, but it is still entertaining. The pure stupidity and comic timings make the series worthy of its fame.
You can watch Mashle on Crunchyroll and read the manga on Viz Media.
