Gushing over Magical Girls

Akihiro Ononaka created Gushing over Magical Girls (Japanese: Mahō Shōjo ni Akogarete), a manga that flips the usual magical girl script on its head. The story follows Rikuo Uozumi, an ordinary boy who secretly dreams of becoming a magical girl himself. When he accidentally transforms into one, he must navigate school life while hiding his new identity from classmates and dealing with the chaotic demands of saving the world. This premise blends slice-of-life comedy with genuine fantasy elements to explore themes of gender expression and self-acceptance. The series started serialization on Takeshobo's Storia Dash website in March 2019 and has since grown into twelve tankōbon volumes as of February 2026. J-Novel Club handles the English release, making the story accessible to Western readers. Fans also got a visual adaptation when Asahi Production produced an anime television series that aired from January to March 2024. Sentai Filmworks licensed the show for streaming and home video outside Japan, and production teams have already announced plans for a second season.[edit]