If you’re a magical girl, or just an anime fan, in need of some seaside R and R, this unique swimwear is for you.
On the surface, the hit anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica looks like a simple tale of good versus evil, but the surprisingly subversive series raises a number of difficult questions. “How different, really, is a seemingly heroic magical girl from a self-indulgent witch?” it asks. “Where do you draw the line between blind devotion and all-consuming desire?”
And now, Madoka Magica is presenting another blurred line, with a new line of swimsuits that look, at first glance, like casual roomwear.
▼ The swimsuits, pictured here, are a stark departure from the Madoka Magica lingerie sets, which look exactly like you’d expect underwear to.
Anime fashion brand Super Groupies has partnered with the designers at MIIA to produce the bathing suits, and while the core cast of Madoka Magica consists of five magical girls, right now it’s only the two biggest stars who are represented, with one set for protagonistMadoka Kaname and the other for Homura Akemi.
Super Groupies itself readily admits that the designs don’t immediately scream “swimwear,” but that’s completely deliberate. The company says that the non-revealing style makes the Madoka Magica swimsuits a great choice for people headed to beachside events or pool parties who want the option of going for a dip yet still having the coverage they desire for the lengthy amount of time they’ll be spending out of the water, too.
Both models feature the same cut and overall design, with a pattern featuring the magical girls’ soul gems and other shapes in a faux constellation motif. The three-piece sets include a top, shorts, and bikini bottom, all made of swimsuit material.
While the Madoka Magica franchise loves to submerge itself in gray-area issues of morality, the swimsuits are much more colorful. Madoka’s is pink from top to bottom, while Homura’s two-shade design reflects the duality of the character’s emotional state and motivations.
▼ Or maybe navy and lavender just go well together.
Both suits are priced at 15,000 yen (US$140), and include the illustrations seen here of their individual character wearing the outfit. Orders can be placed here (Madoka) and here(Homura) directly with Super Groupies, with delivery scheduled for early August.
Follow Casey on Twitter where, as someone whose wardrobe used to be about 50 percent anime T-shirts, he can often be found nodding in approval at the growing world of otaku fashion.
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