Akazukin Chacha

Mangaka: Min Ayahana
Pub. Date: 1994
# of Vols.: ?

TV Series: 1994 (74 Episodes)
3 OVAs

Chacha is a little witch in training under the great wizard Seravy (don't let his obsession with his doll Elizabeth fool you, he really does know his magic). Chacha, in her red hood, is still getting the knack of focusing her magic and getting it to do what she intentions it to, usually with very funny results. Her best friend is a neighborhood werewolf, Riiya (though his wolf form is quite on the side of cute and cuddly instead of fearsome, resulting in Chacha's exclamations and swift dive to hug the furry pup). The trio soon gets rounded out by Shiine, an apprentice under the witch Dorothy, who also develops a crush on Chacha much to Riiya's displeasure. But the three are soon off to magic school, and life as usual becomes dealing with the comical attempts on Chacha's life by the Evil Magic Lord's minions, Riiya's plight with a mermaid who wants him for her boyfriend, and Chacha facing a new rival in Yakko of the black riding hood who has a crush on Seravy and doesn't like that Chacha is his pupil.

This is an incredibly fun and charming series for children. It's filled with a likable cast of characters who mostly lean on the eccentric side. And like some other children's shows it continually finds ways to make tiny references back to lots of Western popular children's fairy tales. Such as the beanstalk that gets conjured from Chacha's mishap at making flowers, Dorothy's obsession with her beauty and questioning her mirror ala the queen of Snow White, and an attack by the Three Little Pigs themselves.

There is actually only one element that puts this show in the mahou shoujo category, without which it wouldn't really be of mention on this site. Seravy gives Chacha a magic pendant that when combined with a bracelet and ring (which she of course gives Riiya and Shiine) she can transform into a classical warrior type Magical Princess, complete with long blonde hair and an older, more mature version of herself. The phrase for this is "Love... Courage... Hope..." (each word is said by one of the three possessors of the items) and then Chacha finishes with "Magical Princess, Holy Up!" Her attack is a magical bow and arrow (which only adds to the Artemis/Diana/Amazon look she has going). Her attack phrase is "Beauty Serene Arrow, Magical Shoot."

Magical Phrase
Magical Princess, Holy Up!
Beauty Serene Arrow, Magical Shoot

Magical Items
Magical pendant
Bow and arrow