It has been two decades since Studio Pierrot last ventured into the magical girl genre. During the 1980s, the studio famously shaped the genre with beloved titles like Creamy Mami, Magical Emi, the Magic Star, Magical Fairy Persia, and Magical Idol Pastel Yumi. Following a roughly ten-year hiatus, they returned in the ’90s with Fancy Lala. Because these early series have historically proven difficult to find in English—Magical Emi is currently only accessible online with French subtitles, only one Creamy Mami movie is available for streaming, and neither Yumi nor Persia has any legal streaming options—Pierrot‘s choice to simulcast Magical Sisters Lulutto Lilly on their official YouTube channel is an incredible win for enthusiasts of classic, kid-friendly magical girl anime. Even better, *Lulutto Lilly* turns out to be exceptionally good.
In true Studio Pierrot fashion, sisters Rui and Fuu Nonoyama are granted the ability to transform into older versions of themselves (with Rui aging up into her mid-teens). The younger sister, elementary schooler Fuu, first crosses paths with space travelers from the planet Felix Star aboard a spaceship. An alien named Meeter hands her a compact containing a magic wand, granting her magical abilities for one year under the strict condition that she keeps it a secret from everyone, including her family. He also pairs her with two cat-like guardians, Uguisu and Azuki. While Fuu and Uguisu form an immediate bond, Azuki is drawn to older sister Rui, eventually letting her in on the secret and providing her with her own compact and wand. Both sisters independently transform into older idols scouted by the tiny agency Production Once More, remaining completely oblivious to each other’s secret alter-egos.
Admittedly, this premise stretches believability, even for a show aimed at younger viewers. While Azuki telling Rui presumably relieves Fuu of her secrecy obligations regarding her sister (though this isn’t explicitly addressed in the initial cour), it is baffling that neither girl notices they share the *exact same cats with the exact same names* as their household pets. In one particular episode, Lulu and Lilly actually send Uguisu and Azuki home together just to lie to their parents about their curfew—a plot hole sharp six-year-olds would instantly catch. The rule about keeping magic a secret also feels loose, considering how many Felix Star residents live in their hometown and openly know the girls’ true identities. That said, these relaxed rules are a blessing, especially since Fuu is practically bursting at the seams by episode eleven, nearly spilling the beans to both Lulu and Rui.
Beyond those minor nitpicks, Lulutto Lilly brilliantly captures the essence of classic Pierrot magical girl storytelling. This shines brightest through Rui and her alter-ego, Lulu. As a young child, Rui loved to sing, but an unspecified illness or traumatic event caused her to stop, creating a subtle emotional rift between her and her sister while driving the naturally timid Rui further into a shell. She presents herself as quiet and unobtrusive as possible, wishing to drift through life making zero noise. Her transformation and subsequent idol debut become profoundly meaningful because magic allows her to reclaim a lost piece of herself. As Lulu, she finds a voice, supported by Lilly, Sena, and Toko at Production Once More. Stepping into Lulu’s shoes gives her permission to truly exist—a resonant theme found in other classic magical girl titles, such as Maron finding self-worth through her transformation in Phantom Thief Jeanne or Michiru and Kaoru’s character arc in PreCure Splash Star.
Rui’s deeper emotional journey is wonderfully balanced by Fuu’s classic Studio Pierrot antics. Characters like Mami, Emi, Persia, Yumi, and Lala always treated their magical transformations as a source of pure fun and a way to explore the world around them. While those earlier shows featured serious undertones—particularly Creamy Mami and Fancy Lala—the primary focus remained on joy and growing up at one’s own pace. Fuu embodies this lighthearted spirit. She gets to interact with her crush, Rui’s classmate Shota (who becomes a fan of Lilly), explore the town independently, and enjoy “grown-up” milestones like shopping for trendy outfits. Her magical identity acts as a risk-free safe space to explore her budding personality without real-world consequences.
These thematic undercurrents are seamlessly woven into the episodic plots. Episode seven cleverly blends these themes into a haunted vacation rental scenario that might genuinely startle younger viewers, while episode twelve captures the sheer triumph of the girls’ first concert while highlighting the funny disconnect between mundane reality (Toko struggling to pull a cart) and magical idol glamour. Although Shota and other peers don’t get massive amounts of screen time, it is entirely forgivable given that this opening cour rightly prioritized settling the sisters into their dual lives.
Aesthetic and musical choices elevate the series even further. The animation relies on a charming pastel palette, complete with ombre hair and soft line work that serves as a loving homage to Creamy Mami (keep an eye out for fun cameos from Mami and Emi!). The soundtrack is delightfully infectious, especially the opening theme song, “Bubee Love”—even if it prompted confusion from family members wondering why anyone was singing about a grandmother (given that “Bubbe” is Yiddish for grandma). Anyone who adores classic magical girls or holds a nostalgic spot in their heart for vintage Pierrot anime owes it to themselves to check out Magical Sisters Lulutto Lilly. It is fun, sweet, and provides a wonderfully magical escape back to childhood.