You ever wake up one day and suddenly get drafted into an intergalactic battle against the forces of evil? No? Well, lucky you. Unfortunately for Hana, the star of Kiana Khansmith’s latest animatic, Pretty Please I Don’t Want to be a Magical Girl, she’s not that lucky.
Why You Should Watch Pretty Please I Don’t Want to Be a Magical Girl (Like, Right Now)
If you love magical girls but also love seeing the genre get roasted in the best way possible, Pretty Please I Don’t Want to be a Magical Girl is for you. It’s got:
✔️ Hilarious writing
✔️ Beautiful animation
✔️ A protagonist who reacts to sudden superpowers like a normal human would (with panic and regret)
Animator, director, and all-around artistic wizard Kiana Khansmith—known for her work on Big City Greens and Pokémon: Path to the Peak—has blessed us with a hilariously self-aware take on the magical girl genre. And folks, it’s a must-watch.
A Magical Girl Who’d Rather Not
The setup? Classic magical girl shenanigans. The twist? Hana doesn’t want any part of it. No glittery transformations. No fighting the forces of evil. No emotional speeches about the power of friendship. Just a regular girl who wants to live her regular life without being saddled with the responsibility of saving the world in a frilly outfit. And honestly? Relatable.
Armed with sarcasm and a deep unwillingness to participate, Hana stumbles her way through her newfound powers with the energy of someone who got roped into a group project they never signed up for. The result? A perfect mix of comedy, action, and existential dread wrapped in a beautifully animated package.
Kiana Khansmith: The Genius Behind the Chaos
If you’re wondering who to thank for this gem, look no further than Kiana Khansmith. With an impressive résumé in the animation industry, Kiana’s talent for storytelling and dynamic character design is on full display here. She takes all the beloved (and occasionally overused) tropes of the magical girl genre and flips them on their sparkly heads.
Her work is heavily influenced by her diverse background—being half-Japanese, half-Jamaican, and raised in Hawaii. That unique blend of cultural experiences gives her stories an extra layer of richness. Plus, she’s fluent in both English and Japanese, meaning she can weave in anime references flawlessly while also appreciating the universal struggle of avoiding responsibilities.
Kiana’s ability to craft engaging, self-aware narratives is exactly why platforms like Crunchyroll continue to shine a light on indie animators. As more independent creators get their moment in the spotlight, we’re seeing some of the freshest, funniest, and most heartfelt animations pop up in unexpected places.
What sets Pretty Please I Don’t Want to be a Magical Girl apart from other magical girl stories is its ability to both parody and celebrate the genre at the same time. Hana’s reluctant journey isn’t just about rejecting her role as a magical heroine—it’s about rejecting the pressure to be something she’s not. Her reluctance to play along with the typical “chosen one” narrative feels like a refreshing wake-up call for anyone who’s ever been asked to live up to unrealistic expectations.
It’s a reminder that sometimes, not everyone is cut out for the job, and that’s okay. The series doesn’t just have fun with the magical girl conventions; it also challenges them, which gives it a unique edge and makes it even more fun to watch. If you’re into animated gems like this, be sure to check out more cool content over at Blerd’s blog.
What more do you need?
Go watch the animatic, support Kiana Khansmith’s work, and follow her on YouTube and Instagram before she becomes too famous to acknowledge us mere mortals.
Content pieces like Pretty Please I Don’t Want to be a Magical Girl are crucial in offering diverse perspectives in the animation world. Kiana Khansmith’s work brings a refreshing, authentic voice to a genre that has often lacked the variety we need to see on screen.
