Mahou no Star Magical Emi

English Title: Magical Emi
Mangaka: Arai Kiyoko
Pub. Date: ?
# of Vols.: 3

TV Series: 1985 (38 Episodes)
Adesugata Mahou no Sannin Musume (1986)
Majokko Club Yoningumi - A Kuukan Kara no Alien X (1987)
Finale! Finale!
Magical Emi Semishigure (Droning in Chorus of Cicadas)
One other OVA

Kazuki Mai is a little girl in a line of family members who've spent time in the spotlight of a magician's stage. Her grandparents run a troupe of their own called Magic Carat. Her mother once debuted under her grandmother, and now Mai hopes to do the same. Unfortunately, being very young, she's still learning and under estimated. One day while helping with packing and moving of boxes, Mai sees a light floating about her and follows it upstairs. The light floats into a mirror and introduces itself as Topo, the fairy of the mirror. Topo tells her he's to give magic to the child who can see him, but Mai doesn't pay attention right away and so Topo takes over the body of a stuffed toy flying squirrel the little girl seemed excited over. This brings the toy to life, and causes him to be later adopted as a kind of pet. Topo gives Mai a magical bracelet with a heart on it and the symbols of the four card suits (a spade, heart, diamond, and club). To use magic she first says Puritto! This conjures her wand that produces bubbles and transforms her to an older self, an alter ego with the words Pararin Ririkaru Parapora Magikaru. Mai's idol is a famous woman magician named Emily Howell, she was legendary. Mai even has a dream where Emily is performing and then Mai suddenly takes her place. She has a poster of her in her room. Mai chooses to name her stage persona and alter ego, Emi, Magical Emi in her honor. While Mai works hard and learns her magician trade, she also stands in as Emi for Magic Carat, earning the group recognition. As Emi she can do magic she'd otherwise not be able to do. Ultimately, she wants to use no trick or gimmick, but be a true magician.

The later series, Saint Tail, also uses the theme of a family of magicians and a young heroine who uses magician stage magic and tricks. Both Saint Tail and Emi have similar stage costumes as well.

I have a few small notes for the series here.

Magical Companion
Topo-mirror fairy

Magical Phrase
Puritto!-to conjure wand
Pararin Ririkaru Parapora Magikaru-to transform into Emi

Magical Items
Bracelet
Wand
Topo's mirror