What exactly is a “magical girl” anime? One might answer simply: “an anime where the heroine wields magic.” But a closer look reveals something more layered. The formula often begins with an ordinary girl who, by chance, gains magical powers—powers channeled through a special item or artifact. Most importantly, it offers a story that resonates deeply with its primary audience: young girls who can see themselves reflected in the heroine’s struggles and growth.

In that sense, ILLIT can be seen as carrying forward the very narrative of the magical girl. Debuting through JTBC’s 2023 survival program R U Next?, the group embodies the transformation of ordinary girls(trainees) into magical girls (idols). Since debut, ILLIT have consistently built on this concept, developing a distinct identity through the lens of the genre. To better understand ILLIT, I’ve selected six magical girl works to revisit. Spanning different eras, they offer touchpoints both nostalgic and new: for some readers, a chance to fondly recall, and for others, an invitation to discover. Listed here in order of their broadcast years.

Angel Girl Saeromi (Original title: Magical Angel Creamy Mami — 魔法の天使クリィミーマミ)
Produced by Studio Pierrot, the series aired from 1983 to 1984 and was introduced in Korea under the title Angel Girl Saeromi. With this work, Pierrot embarked on what would become its signature line of magical girl stories—tales of ordinary girls who transform into adult women and step into the spotlight as idols. The premise is deceptively simple. Ten-year-old Jang Yu-ri (Yuu Morisawa) helps a pair of fairies from another world, and in return, she is given a “magical compact” she can use for one year. With it, she transforms into a radiant 17-year-old, Saeromi (Creamy Mami), and makes her debut as an idol singer. From then on, Yu-ri moves between her everyday childhood and the dazzling world of show business, navigating new challenges while slowly growing into herself. By delicately portraying her shifting emotions between the magically created idol persona and her real self, the series captured a unique coming-of-age journey that continues to resonate more than 40 years later.

As the first to fuse the idol genre with the magical girl tradition—and to establish the now-familiar archetype of a heroine torn between two identities—the show also feels strikingly relevant today, echoing themes of “super me” versus “real me” that ILLIT explores in their work. Though it can no longer be seen at present, Studio Pierrot has announced a long-awaited return to the genre with Magical Sisters Lulutto Liliy (魔法の姉妹ルルットリリィ), set to air in 2026 after 28 years. For fans, it may be the perfect opportunity to rediscover the magic once more.

Fairy of the Moon, Sailor Moon (Original title: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon — 美少女戦士セーラームーン)
The work that most people were reminded of while experiencing ILLIT’s latest album bomb was, of course, Fairy of the Moon, Sailor Moon. Watching the “little monster” music video—which also doubles as the brand film for bomb—viewers couldn’t miss the nostalgic references: the tiaras worn by MINJU, MOKA, and WONHEE, MINJU’s long twin tails, and the bangles and chokers adorning their arms and necks all evoked memories of Sailor Moon. The video even features discarded or clustered magical items, and keen-eyed fans might recognize a few familiar objects as they flash by.

Based on the eponymous manga by Naoko Takeuchi, the anime aired from 1992 to 1997, running for an impressive five years. It was nothing short of sensational. At its peak, the show reached a 21.7% viewership rating (in the Kansai region), and its very first toy release, the “Moon Stick,” sold between 500,000 and 600,000 units—cementing Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon as one of the most popular anime series worldwide. The show debuted in Korea in 1997, where it likewise became a massive hit and is still regarded as a landmark in the history of the magical girl genre. Riding on its popularity, a 20th anniversary reboot project brought the TV series Sailor Moon Crystal to life in 2014, which aired until 2016. While neither the original nor the reboot TV series are currently available on streaming platforms, fans can still watch Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie (2021) and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie (2023) on Netflix.

Little Wizard Remi (Original title: Ojamajo Doremi —  おジャ魔女どれみ)
Whenever fans watch the five members of ILLIT playfully bickering and bonding in behind-the-scenes clips or self-produced content, one series naturally comes to mind: Little Wizard Remi. The show follows five distinct characters—Doremi, Yoo Sa-rang, Jang Mei, Jin Bora, and Na Mo-mo—who spend their days clumsily navigating life as apprentice witches. Along the way, they stumble, quarrel, and laugh, slowly maturing into young adults. By weaving everyday life seamlessly with a touch of magic, the series won overwhelming support from Korean elementary school viewers, who were the same age as its heroines when it first aired.

In the making film for bomb’s brand film, creative director Toshihiko Tanabe and film director Show Yanagisawa explain: “It’s not just special people who can be magical girls. It can be me, you, all of us in the world. Idols, ordinary people, anyone. Everyone can be a magical girl. That’s what I wanted to say. We are all magical girls.” This message perfectly aligns with the creative direction of Little Wizard Remi: shrinking the scale of magic to everyday life and portraying transformation not as a dazzling fantasy metamorphosis, but simply as changing one’s clothes.

MINJU delivers the line “Remember the magic inside you” in the brand film, and the directors elaborate: “In life, there are bad days and sad days and sometimes it’s hard to believe in yourself. But in moments like that, if you can recall the feeling you had as a child, when you believed you were invincible and could do anything—that confidence, that magical mindset—maybe you could face those days head-on again.” This very idea is also explored in the light novel series Ojamajo Doremi 1620s, which continues the story after the anime. The five girls have left their wizard days behind and move toward their own futures, and they inevitably face hardships and painful moments. Yet, by regaining their magic and rekindling their friendship, they overcome challenges and take another step toward growth. The series has already been confirmed for an anime adaptation. For those who grew up with Little Wizard Remi, the story continued on the big screen as well. The film Looking for Magical Doremi (Majo Minarai o Sagashite, 魔女見習いをさがして) focuses on the lives of women who once adored the series as children. In Korea, the film is available on several OTT platforms, offering a chance for fans—old and new alike—to revisit the magic.

Berry Berry Mew Mew (Original title: Tokyo Mew Mew — 東京ミュウミュウ)
The moment I heard “Do the Dance”, I couldn’t help but wonder if anyone else was reminded of Berry Berry Mew Mew. Its heroine, Hong Berry (Ichigo Momomiya), receives the DNA of the endangered Iriomote cat and transforms into “Mew Berry” (Mew Ichigo), a magical girl modeled after a cat. Amusingly, her transformation sequence resembles rhythmic gymnastics, as she performs a dance to trigger her metamorphosis. Not only Mew Berry but also other team members—like Mew Mint and Mew Lettuce—each perform a dance that reflects their character during their transformations. After awakening as a magical girl, Berry also displays cat-like traits: cat ears and a tail appear when she’s startled or overly nervous, and a kiss can even turn her into a full cat. This quirky detail finds a curious echo in the lyrics of “Do the Dance”: “My heart goes oh là là. Beating so fast right now. But why am I awkward? I turn into a rent-a-cat.” and “Is it me or not? The one in your heart. Hair standing on end, feel you.” The parallels are hard to miss. The series originally aired in Japan from 2002 to 2003 and was introduced in Korea in August 2004, about a year and five months later, where it enjoyed notable popularity. To mark its 20th anniversary, a remake was produced in 2022 and 2023, with a dubbed version also broadcast on KBS Kids in Korea.

Sugar Sugar Rune (Original title: Sugar Sugar Rune —  シュガシュガルーン)
“I’ll capture your heart!” With that catchphrase, Sugar Sugar Rune aired in Japan from 2005 to 2006 and reached Korean audiences in the summer of 2006. Based on Moyoco Anno’s manga, the story follows Chocolat and Vanilla, two girls from the magical world who descend to Earth to compete for the throne. Their task is to capture as many human hearts as possible—sometimes as rivals, sometimes as friends—and in the process, they grow more mature. Quirky elements such as the “peeking glasses,” which reveal the hearts inside people when you flash a V-sign across your eye, and the idea of harvesting affection points in a magical contest, made the show irresistibly kitschy and hugely popular among teenage girls at the time. That same sense of kitsch looms large in ILLIT’s own concept work today.

In their lyrics, ILLIT sometimes sound as bold, playful, and straightforward as Chocolat—(“Don’t wanna hide it, the magnet in my heart. Gonna follow my feelings and get with you, boy.” / “What if I like you first? I’ll make up my own mind, baby.”)—and at other times as shy, sensitive, and thoughtful as Vanilla—(“But love’s a tricky thing, gives rise to new worries. I still don’t understand what this feeling is.” / “Suddenly it got pulled, that dark cloud lever. Explode with jealousy and red-hot flavor.”). It’s no wonder the group evokes memories of the series.

Moyoco Anno, the creator, is well known as a fashion and beauty aficionado, and her refined aesthetic runs not only through Sugar Sugar Rune but also through works like Jelly Beans and Sakuran. Likewise, ILLIT reinterpret a wide range of styles—from school uniforms and sportswear to casual looks, frilly magical-girl dresses, and bold accessories—in their own unique way, presenting fresh concepts with every release.

In July 2025, a new anime adaptation of Sugar Sugar Rune was officially announced, meaning fans who remember the original will soon get to meet Chocolat and Vanilla in updated animation. Just as ILLIT carries the magical-girl narrative into the real world, Sugar Sugar Rune is preparing to pass that magic on to a new generation. The magical girl story is never-ending—it always finds a way to stay with us, in new forms. Just as ILLIT does.